Sujatha Rao

Inspirational Others

4.1  

Sujatha Rao

Inspirational Others

Going Places in her Wheelchair

Going Places in her Wheelchair

5 mins
904


“Madam, do you remember Malavika from your customer service team who used to handle the escalated complaints?” Sumita asked over her phone call.

“I am sorry Sumita, that name doesn't seem to ring a bell.” Jahnavi replied.

“She is an entrepreneur now. She wanted to talk to you. Can I give your mobile number to her Madam?”

“Sure Sumita. But, what exactly is she doing?” Jahnavi’s interest was pricked the minute she heard about Malavika being an entrepreneur, since she held entrepreneurs in high regard. As per her knowledge, Malavika was the very first one to have become one from her team.


“I think it’s worth hearing it directly from the horse’s mouth, Madam.” Sumita replied.

Jahnavi had retired after a full time career in customer service. Around the year 2007, she was heading a service centre comprising of hundreds of executives, team leaders and team managers. So it wasn’t surprising for her not to remember Malavika.

Jahnavi received a call from Malavika the very next day. As she heard the pleasant voice at the other end enquiring about her health, Jahnavi tried to place the voice, but failed to do so. So she apologized to Malavika about her inability to connect Malavika’s voice to a face.

“Ma’m, do you remember the Team Leader who used to wear a lot of accessories made of coloured beads from your team? You used to comment upon that very regularly.”

That’s when the image fell into place for Jahnavi.

“You are my beads girl!” exclaimed Jahnavi.

“Exactly Ma’m. Now you remember me.”

“I can totally visualize you now. I heard you are running something on your own. What do you deal with? Don’t tell me it’s beads.”

“Of course, Ma’m.” Malavika replied giggling away.


“You don’t say!”

“And a whole lot of other stuff. I am mostly into jewelry and apparels.”

“You have an outlet or what?”

“Yes. I also have a website.”

“That’s wonderful Malavika. But I am curious to know what made you get into it, leaving a secure job.”

“Life, Ma’m. Life! After my marriage, I moved to Mumbai. But that marriage didn’t work out. I struggled a lot to come out of it. But soon thereafter luckily I found my Mr. Right. As we were settling into our lives comfortably, I met with an accident which left me paralyzed from below my waist. I went into a major depression and never thought I would come out of it.


That was when my sister challenged me with this idea. She said I should turn my attention towards something I can do rather than mope about things I couldn’t. That set me thinking, and I started making a few jewelry items from my wheel chair and sold them to friends. Once that business started picking up, my husband and I decided to move to Bengaluru to stay closer to our families. Rest as they is history.”

“WOW! Malavika. You really are an inspiration” a stunned Jahnavi reacted.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my husband, sister, my family and friends Ma’m.”

“Even with all that, it is your positive mindset that has achieved all this Malavika. You deserve the full credit for that.”


“Ma’m. I would be lying, if I say I am really very happy to be where I am. There are days when my body doesn’t cooperate with me at all, especially during winters making me feel miserable. But then this is what it is. Though I am trying to choose positivity, many times I fail.”

“Even while having such good health on our side, we all do Malavika. Anyone else in your place would have been wallowing in self pity, whereas you are doing your best to do whatever you can even while being confined to a wheel chair. You are proving to the world that if you have the will, you will find a way. Kudos to you, really.”

“Thanks Ma’m. I do feel happy to be of help in my own way. I have been giving talks over Youtube about coping with disabling spinal cord injuries. ”

“That’s wonderful Malavika. Do send me the link. I would like to watch.”


“Will surely do. I will also send you the link to my website Ma’m. You can see if you like anything in my collection. I have a pool of weavers from whom I buy directly. I meet them regularly and guide them about the designs. Hence my products are unique and more creative than what you would find outside. Since there are no middle people involved, my prices are also reasonable.” 

“OMG, Malavika, that was an amazing sales pitch, I say.” Jahnavi said with a chuckle.


“Ma’m. If you are not happy with the product, you can also return it within 15 days, on “as is where is basis”. No strings attached.”

“And there comes the Team Leader Malavika with the eternal service attitude. I am so glad to see that Malavika alive and kicking in you.”

“Ma’m. That stint as the TL laid the foundation for my life I feel. I know that all products have to be built with the customer in focus. I think that is the secret behind my success more than anything else.”

“Enough. Enough. I am already sold. I will not only browse your site, I would also forward the link to a few of my friends, who I know would be interested.”

“That would be really great, Ma’m. Whenever you come to Bengaluru, please do call me so that we can meet some place.”


“I would definitely do that. Meanwhile please take care and continue to do the great work. And remember that you truly are amazing.” Jahnavi said before she hung up the phone.


This story, based on true incidents, is being submitted in celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons on 3rd December. 



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