I am here to tell you about how I was able to weather the storm that once hit me ! When I go back to that period of time in my life, one thought overshadows everything:

जितना है उतने में काम चला लेंगे, इरादे पक्के है कोशिश पूरी लगा देंगे | वक़्त का काम हे हराना, हम ज़िन्दगी जीतने में लगा देंगे ||

It was 18th April when the word Cancer came uninvited into my life. Although, my mother in-law had already battled it and got a mastectomy a year or two ago, it never occurred to me that it’d one day come knocking on my door too. We were well acquainted with the do’s and don’ts but my family was flabbergasted as to how it had extended its claws towards my life. It wasn’t possible! I was hale, hearty and kicking. “Oh really!! Are you sure? It can’t be me!” were the thoughts that initially flooded my mind.
Well, God had planned it that way… He knows I am a fighter and showed me the warning signs. On a short holiday to Krabi my husband noticed a little change in the shape, and advised me to visit a Doctor, once we landed back.

Dr JD Vig confirmed it and announced it on 27th April after the biopsy to my husband. We needed to get ready for a war ! Fighting for the country with me by his side was different than fighting the tears and the unknown million cells which might kill me and take me away from him and the entire family. Well, I don’t like sad endings in any stories. I remember watching a movie in which Anushka Sharma suffers from the ailment and dies. I thought, why depict she dies! They should have shown that she lives! The days of Rajesh Khanna dying due to cancer in movies are long gone. It’s time to LIVE IT, and I surely lived it beautifully!

Operated upon and cared for by the doctor, I was sent back home with a promise that my normal life will carry on and I could plan my events: which is my lifeline. Apparently, it was 3-A and I had to undergo 8 chemotherapies and a set of 20 radiotherapy sessions. This announcement was more shocking than the operation and I surely wasn’t prepared for it. The thought of losing my hair was even worse, but it never crossed my mind that I will not be able to survive.

With the help of my friend, a wig was made. As advised by Dr Rajiv Bedi, my head was shaved and I came out of the Salon looking prettier with my new hair style. My family loved the new look and claimed that I rocked it with my big hooped earrings. Most of my friends and clients did not know about it and were very impressed with the new hairdo!

Now was the time for the next round of fight, the fight to organise events which unfortunately I had to let go as the family did not want me to be at risk for infections of any kind during the treatment.

I continued to organise my own private exhibitions and fashion shows. By then, I had found myself and was following my passion for painting and designing. I would paint before going for my chemos, got pampered by my mom with great food, followed by the multi vitamin injection the next day and again I’d be on with my work.

Life had suddenly become beautiful; I was beautiful – hair or no hair, my son Arjun fondly called me Takli! I was spending time with my parents, indulging in gardening; my kids were around me, my family and friends all pampered me. My husband was happier!

This was the beginning of a new me, who had gotten lost somewhere. I once again embarked on a new journey of enjoying every minute of life. I decided to also give back to the society, which taught me there’s lots to give and learn. It gives me strength to know that I can overcome anything. I cherish my new life, a life that I dreamed of; this is what I was cut out for, and I have miles to go. This is just a bend and not the end. In fact it is the start, a new beginning to walk with courage on the road of new visions, letting go off the sad, loving each moment that I have, and to do lots before I sleep ….