The beauty of life is that it never stops. Moreover, life is never linear. The outcomes, obstacles, and challenges should never stop you from embracing it. At 23, I met with a fatal accident, and I have never been the same. I sustained a C5 spinal cord injury that left me with quadriplegia. But I don’t let this narrative determine who I am. I didn’t let the accident limit my life. I have been fortunate that I had a lot of support from my family and friends to get me where I am today. But the incident that occurred 25 years ago made me realise I had to evolve, I couldn’t let it be my only identity.

There has been a fair share of struggles, too. At 23, when your mobility gets affected, you are dependent on others for simple tasks, and helplessness creeps in. There is a looming darkness over the future. It gets tough both mentally and physically. But was it the end? No. With medical support and rehabilitation, I was able to gain perspective. I observed other mobility aid users at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC) in Delhi, and that galvanised me to think beyond my disability. I decided to confront myself about my truth and limitations, and how I could use them in my stride. Slowly, I understood I couldn’t be who I was before, and hence I had to find a “new me”. A version that wouldn’t be restricted to what happened to me. If the world around me didn’t stop, why should I? We humans are designed for survival, and so am I.