Lulu Happiness February March 2017 Lulu Happiness February March 2017 | Page 19

step further and set up a spa all on her own called Shree Spa that employs visually challenged therapists. How did it all start? “When I was in school, I happened to miss my bus one day. I must have been around 14-15 then. There was a Blind School on the opposite road. My mom had told me several times that I should visit it. It was really hot that day and I decided to cross the road and go to the blind school out of curiosity. I sat under a tree watching these kids playing cricket. One of the kids came and sat next to me and and started touching my face. That’s how a visually-impaired person comes to know whether it is a new person or old. He asked me what made me come there. I told him, ‘I want a glass of water as I have missed my bus.’ He started laughing. I asked him why he was laughing and he said, ‘I am blind, still I never miss my catch. How did you miss your bus?’ His innocence got me intrigued and I started going there for their Diwali melas. When I moved to Mumbai, I wanted to start something for visually- impaired people with whatever little money I had. Once my mother and I were on an outdoor shoot in Bangkok for a month, where my mother learnt the basic course for becoming a spa therapist. We came to know that there was a course in Mumbai where they taught visually-impaired people to become spa therapists. We decided to open up a spa with the two-room place we had. We have five therapists who do all kinds of massages. Each one of them is very intelligent. The visually-challenged are blessed with a keen sense of touch and healing. The sad part is that we, in India, and in many cases internationally, don’t view disability normally. We aren’t encouraged to study with children with special abilities in school; we can’t accept them like other members of the workforce. It is a question of trust, you know. Our clients say that it is on par with any other spa. You should visit sometime. Seeing is believing.” Who does she rely on most professionally and personally? “My mom for sure. I fight with her but I love her the most. She gave up everything for me. She supported me in every aspect of my life; she has stood by me regardless of the situation. I share everything with her. She knows me like nobody else does. I am what I am because of her.” Is there a special someone in her life? When does she plan to get hitched? “I would love t