Willpower

Will I be fit to walk again or will I limp throughout my life, thought Supritha as she sat on the sofa with great difficulty, one hand on the sofa and the other on a walking stick. She said, “Hush, appa,” while sitting. It was like climbing a mountain for her. Her legs had become, especially the right one, a little curved because of arthritis. So she could not walk properly. She could not go anywhere—no shopping or travel. The only thing she could do was sit in her balcony chair and watch people. At times, she would glance at the TV or mobile. Once, as she was seated on the chair, she saw a limping dog coming to her compound. He was crying and hungry. She noticed that his leg was broken because of an accident and blood was half dry. She took pity on it, brought two rotis, and gave them to him. She saw him eating happily. The next few days, the same process repeated—the lame dog coming and her feeding him. She observed how, despite all that pain and suffering, the dog still played, jumped, and barked at strangers. She thought, If a dog can do this, why can’t I try to repair my leg? The next day, with willpower, she started doing some asanas. She had so much pain, still she was determined. Gradually, it became a habit and her leg became steadier. She walked a few kilometres. She could go shopping again. She thanked the dog by giving him a bone. She called him Chompu and kept him as her best friend.