Four Wheel Freedom

Tedex, Chennai

Anchor : Hi all, Let’s welcome our today’s guest speaker Ms.Amudha to stage please. Let’s put your hands together guys

A girl with wheelchair approaching to middle of the stage. Whole audience is surprised and confused. Murmuring voice heard all over the stadium, after few seconds all went silent and she start speaking

Amudha : I thought that am going to live my whole life within the four walls of my house along with my wheelchair. But on one day I expressed my feelings and because of that am here now guys



Amudha started narrating her story:

Selvam is a single parent who takes care of her daughter Amudha (A) Ammu who is a stroke kid by birth. Ammu’s both legs and left hand will not function, only her right hand works. Ammu is 16 years old and all her life she’s been inside her home only, with the wheelchair. She’s doing her studies through online classes.

Selvam works as Accountant in private sector, his revenue is not more enough, they live a life of middle class family in the city. Selvam won’t interact much with others, even his colleagues and neighbors don’t know that he has a daughter like this except few. Selvam leaves the house for office at morning and return back by night only, at this time being her house maid Vasugi amma will take care of Ammu. Selvam won’t take Ammu out for any reason; whatever she needs he’ll buy or arrange to get from home itself. Even in their neighborhood only few saw Ammu most of them don’t even know that she is exist.

On one fine normal day Selvam is in office and Ammu in home with Vasugi amma. Suddenly Ammu got severe stomach pain and started crying. Vasugi amma working in kitchen heard a sound and rushed to see what happen. She saw Ammu crying and asked her what happen, Ammu explained. She understood, she called Selvam and informed that his child became an adult. Selvam got so emotional and rushed back to home. He reached home and saw Ammu in wheelchair, Selvam was in tears went next to her and kissed in her forehead. Selvam don’t know what to do next he’s totally blank. He asked Vasugi amma about what are all the things to be done and she explained. Then he went and brought the things which are all needed that Vasugi amma listed. And Vasugi amma did the traditional things to Ammu in their home itself in the presence of Selvam alone. Selvam didn’t go to office for next 3 days, he’s in home with Ammu to take care of her. Selvam kept a flower to his wife’s photo closed his eyes and started praying, after few seconds his eyes are flooded with tears. Ammu noticed this and went near him

Ammu : Appa, What happen?

He opened his eyes and saw Ammu in wheelchair. He sobbed and cried even more after he looked her.

Ammu : What happen pa? Why are you crying?

Selvam : I’m afraid Ammu

Ammu : Why pa? What happen?

Selvam : I don’t know what you are going to do after my period. Who will take care of you? Whatever I do this question is always being in my mind

Ammu : Why you are worrying by thinking such things pa. I’ll be fine.

Selvam : No Ammu it’s not easy as you think, especially on your condition

Ammu : Why pa? Do you think I am unfit for the society?

Selvam nodded his head saying no and he was silent.  

Ammu : Do you think the outside world won’t accept me or I can’t face them because of my disability?     I know pa, physically I can’t compete with others but mentally I can. I have a dream of becoming Teacher pa, I wish to lead others to succeed in their life, I don’t know whether it’s practically possible but definitely I will try and work hard to be in that position pa

Selvam : What? Then why didn’t you tell me Ammu?

Ammu was silent and constantly looking the floor.

Selvam : Tell Ammu, why didn’t you tell me?

Ammu : Because am already a burden for you pa, I thought you feel ashamed to show me for outside world that you have a daughter like this

The thing which Ammu said is so hard for Selvam, he broke down and flooded in tears.

Selvam : Please Ammu don’t think like that. I don’t want other people to criticize or tease you with your disability that’s why I don’t let you out. And also I didn’t spend much time with you am always keen on my job, that’s because so that I can save some money for your future

Ammu : It’s ok pa, please don’t cry. If normal people can succeed whatever they want or need with their two legs means, then I can do more with my four wheels pa

So far Selvam thought Ammu as a pity girl who need someone support to do even any of her daily activity, that’s why he had a big fear about her future. But after Ammu spoke he gets to know that only her body is in wheelchair not her mind. By seeing her dad crying Ammu also started crying. Then Selvam wiped his tears and wiped Ammu's tears also. He called Vasugi amma and asked her to make Ammu ready by changing new clothes. He took the flower from his wife’s photo and kept it in Ammu’s hair.

Selvam handled Ammu’s wheelchair and took her outside of the house. For the first time he’s taking Ammu out. All their neighbors saw Ammu and welcoming her with smile, this is not what Selvam expected. He’s taking her to the photo studio which is in corner of the street. They took photos and came back to the home. The day was awesome for Ammu because she didn’t saw outside world so far, first time she experienced. While they having dinner 

Selvam : Ammu, I asked for permission in office tomorrow let we go and enquiry few teacher training institutes regarding the preparations and also we can buy some books for you   

Ammu was so happy and she nodded her head saying yes for her father’s idea. Both of them went to their beds and Ammu checking the photos in her phone which they took in a studio early. After several swipes, she selected one photo which had both herself and her dad. She posted it as a profile picture in Facebook.

Ammu in Tedex  

“Till now my Facebook profile picture is that photo only guys. Thank you! Thanks for your patience”

Anchor : Ms.Amudha won Tamil Nadu state award for Teachers of last 4 years consecutively 

Crowd applauded with huge noise and gave standing ovation for Ammu.

The End