The Triumph After the Dead End

The national championship match against Haryana loomed as a pivotal moment in Suniti’s journey. It was not just a game; it was a chance for Suniti to demonstrate her strength, both to herself and to the world.

The match began with high stakes and intense competition. The Bangalore team faced setbacks, including injuries and a challenging first half. Despite these obstacles, Suniti's determination remained unshaken. Her focus was unwavering, and her desire to win was fueled by her personal struggle and the support of her team.

As the game progressed, Suniti's performance became a beacon of hope. She scored crucial points, and her efforts reinvigorated the team. Last 3 minutes of the match were exhilarating, with the Bangalore team trailing by one point; they needed at least 2 points to declare it a clear win. All eyes were on Suniti Rathod, chants were heard from the spectators supporting the Bangalore team, Mr. Sharan, her coach too was holding his breath, Suniti’s team members had also lost all hopes, they just prayed Suniti was in all form. But Suniti’s determination remained there unshattered. She had stepped on the field that day only to return with the Cup in her hand. Those three minutes saw the career best performance of Suniti after a prolonged break. She scored 2 goals in 2minutes 35 seconds. And she was just aiming to keep the ball with her team for the last 25 seconds. That was the Suniti everyone knew. And then blew the whistle and the Bangalore spectators jumped in joy for the Bangalore team had lifted the Cup! 

The crowd's reaction was electric, and the joy of winning the national championship was overwhelming. For Suniti, the victory was not just about lifting the cup but about reclaiming her identity and proving her strength. The tears of joy from her teammates, coaches, and family reflected the collective triumph of resilience and dedication. As the celebrations continued, Suniti took a moment to reflect on her journey. She confronted the questions that had lingered in her mind about societal expectations, personal freedom, and the treatment of acid attack survivors. Her victory was a powerful statement against the societal norms that had sought to confine her and diminish her spirit. As she stood on the podium, holding the championship cup, Suniti Rathod was not just a champion in the world of rugby but a symbol of resilience and strength.

As the team was celebrating Suniti excused herself and burst down into tears. She could visualize each day from the past 7 years of her life. When Suniti Rathod was at the zenith of her career, it appeared that her life was destined for greatness. Her achievements in rugby had made her the pride of Bangalore, a beacon of hope and inspiration for young athletes everywhere. But, in an unforeseen and cruel twist of fate, her life took a sharp, devastating turn. From the peak of her sporting success, she descended into a pitch-dark abyss, devoid of any hope or light. The years of relentless effort she had invested in her career seemed to crumble into nothingness, leaving her grappling with an overwhelming sense of futility.

Suniti Rathod was not just another rugby player; she was the heart and soul of the Bangalore Women's Rugby team. Her presence on the field was electrifying, embodying both skill and passion. Yet, like any young woman, Suniti had a personal life intertwined with her professional pursuits. Despite her unwavering dedication to rugby, she faced the challenges of love and heartbreak. Her life took a turn towards a dead end when a boy, unable to handle her rejection, inflicted an unimaginable horror upon her—an acid attack. This brutal act not only altered her physical appearance but also shattered her confidence and self-worth.

Once a vibrant athlete who soared across the rugby field with joy and determination, Suniti found herself confined within the dark recesses of her room, overwhelmed by a deep sense of despair. The girl who once clung to a rugby ball with unbridled enthusiasm now recoiled from her own reflection. The scars on her face, once a testament to her resilience, became symbols of her internal anguish. She found herself trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and self-loathing, her former glory now a distant memory.

The societal response to her plight was equally disheartening. The very community that had celebrated her successes now turned against her, criticizing her for prioritizing her career over traditional expectations. Newspaper headlines, instead of offering support, criticized her choices and perpetuated the notion that a woman's worth is tied solely to her role in marriage. One particularly painful article read, "You are a girl; you must know your limits and prioritize marriage. After all, marriage is the only event that holds importance in a girl's life. If you had accepted his proposal, you wouldn't have to hide yourself like this."

This stark revelation about society's fickleness and superficiality struck Suniti deeply. The people who had once cheered her on now turned their backs on her when she needed them most. Her relatives and acquaintances questioned her decisions and blamed her for the attack, adding to her sense of isolation. The pain of this societal betrayal was compounded by the struggle of hiding from the world, enduring relentless scrutiny, and facing the stark reality of her changed appearance.

For seven long years, Suniti remained sequestered in her room, hiding her face even from her parents. Her life was a constant battle with herself, battling the inner demons of self-recrimination and regret. Her dreams and aspirations appeared to have been extinguished, and the once-proud rugby player became a recluse, burdened by her own sense of defeat.

However, in a twist of fate, hope began to emerge from an unexpected source. Mr. V. K. Sharan, the new coach of the Bangalore Women’s Rugby team, became aware of Suniti's story. Sharan, a former captain of the Bangalore Men’s Rugby team, had faced his own share of disappointments due to sports politics. Yet, he chose to channel his passion for rugby into coaching, nurturing young talents and guiding them towards success. His journey, marked by his own setbacks, allowed him to empathize with Suniti's plight and fueled his determination to help her.

Mr. Sharan visited Suniti’s home, trying to reach out through her closed door. Mr. Sharan spoke in a low yet appeasing voice, “Use your scars as swords, they have the power to leave a confident trail just travel every step with temerity, roar loud to show the world your comeback. Show the world who a woman really is. Don’t even give it a thought when the entire world says you ‘cannot’, just believe in the ‘can’ and leave the ‘not’. Don’t join any clan or community waiting to drown you in the waves of pity, remember you are born with the wings of fire to bear the menstrual and pregnancy pain use them to fly in your own palace - your Rugby ground. The entire male race will salute you, the man who threw acid on your dreams will adore you each day. The people who demeaned you for your decision of rejecting him will eat their words one day, the ones who ridiculed you as a mere female will bow down and put you on a pedestal. The tears that you shed all this while would drench the fire that burns under your feet. Go out boldly without your scarf show the world that talent doesn’t need a pretty face. Show that boy, he could only disfigure your face but not snatch your dreams. You must rise for yourself. You must realize your power. Outcry and lit up the dawn. Your wound’s will fade off, don’t worry. Your sorrow will end one day. You have the potential to come out and fly as a new born Dove born to rule the sky". Saying this he was not only giving hope to her, but was also giving hope to himself and his team, he was indeed fighting the society, fighting that boy. He slipped an air ticket under the door and spoke words of encouragement that resonated deeply with her. His message was a lifeline, an anchor amidst the storm of her emotions.

His words of motivation were a catalyst for change. They stirred something within Suniti, igniting a spark of resolve and determination. For the first time in years, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. As she paid heed to Mr. Sharan's empowering message, she realized that her journey was not over—that she still had the power to overcome her past and forge a new path.

Just then her coach came besides her and told her the true emotions he felt that day when he went to meet her. Little confidence did he have in his words as the clock struck 7.28 p.m.  with just two minutes to board the flight only to turn back and see her standing behind him with a full, new born confidence to rule the world.

And Suniti added that she just gave his words a thought for the first time that day that , “if he can commit a crime and roam around with his face uncovered, then why can’t I stand out at the crowd again when I haven’t done any crime, why must I hide like a criminal.” With newfound confidence, Suniti decided to confront her past and the person who had inflicted so much pain on her. She met with the boy who had attacked her, and in a powerful act of defiance, she unveiled her face and threw her scarf at him. This act of bravery was not just about reclaiming her self-worth but also about making a statement. She was determined to show him and the world that her spirit could not be crushed by his cruelty.

Stepping back onto the rugby field was both a physical and emotional challenge. The memories of that fateful day were still vivid, but Suniti was resolute. She broke down at the flash of her teammates pouncing at her as they told their coach, “This year we will surely lift the trophy to become the National Champions, after all our best player is back again on the field.”

Her coaches sat down by the two sides of her, and her team brought her parents in the room. All of them said in one voice, “We are proud of you”. That was the only sentence she needed at that time.