Sadaf’s childhood was happy. She enjoyed going to school and meeting her friends. But one day, she returned home running a high temperature.
“We thought it was regular flu. But we were told that I would not be able to walk ever again now,” she recalls.
Sadaf was just 10 years old then. After the family was turned down by doctors in Kashmir, they went to Mumbai, where an operation was performed to treat her legs. But eventually, Sadaf had to rely on a wheelchair to move around. By this time, she had to discontinue her education.
Things worsened when her father, her “only source of support”, passed away. “Everyone except my father doubted my capabilities. But he always encouraged me to dream big. I missed him.”
“There were days when I would end up crying all day, sitting alone in my room. I was getting into depression,” she says.
“By now, I’ve realized that I have to either end my life or struggle to prove myself. I chose the latter. I wanted to prove to the world that people like me can also achieve something. I had just lost my ability to walk, not my ability to use my brain,” she adds.
That is when Sadaf decided to step up for herself. In 2015, she opened a shop but had to shut it a couple of years later as the work affected her eyesight. She says, “But I wanted to try my hands at everything. So I decided to play basketball as well. I have also been awarded multiple times by the Jammu and Kashmir Basketball Association.”
Recently, Sadaf tried selling unique spices of the Kashmir valley. “Today, I have established my own business without anyone’s emotional or financial support. People would question me what I could achieve sitting in a wheelchair, when their educated and able-bodied children sat idly (闲散地). Now the very same people give my example to others,” she says.
Sadaf believes that people with disabilities should never doubt themselves. “If you hear others say something not so positive, you may end up depressed. Instead of living within the confines (限制) of a room, try to prove yourself,” she advises.
4. What did Sadaf lose after her father’s death?
A.Walking ability. | B.Financial support. |
C.Spiritual backing. | D.Precious eyesight. |
5. Why did Sadaf try basketball?
A.To build up her body. | B.To prove herself. |
C.To win awards. | D.To pursue her dream. |
6. Which of the following can best describe Sadaf?
A.Talented but inflexible. | B.Disabled but learned. |
C.Independent and honest. | D.Determined and capable. |
7. What message can we get from Sadaf's story?
A.A fine example has limitless power. | B.Do not let your disability rule you. |
C.Encouragement is the source of power. | D.Do not put all your eggs in one basket. |