BENGALURU: Manjunath and Shankaramma fell in love at a centre for the blind. They were residents of Rehabilitation and Basic Training Centre (RBTC) at The National Association For the Blind, in Jeevanbheemanagar.
Today, they are the proud parents of two children – three-year-old Bhavya and one-and-a-half-year-old Nikita. The older daughter is often called upon to describe to her parents anything beautiful – sunrise or sunsets – she sees. There is always laughter in the small, family home.
It is not easy to remain cheerful because money is in short supply. The couple earn their living by begging near a church near Gangamma Circle.
The 31-year-old Manjunath had a happier childhood with doting parents. When he turned six, he lost them and the hard reality of leading his life all alone dawned on him.
For a short while, his sister took care of him, but after she got married, he became wholly dependent on the care he could get from the centre for the blind. Here he found a new meaning to his life.
He found solace in the company of Shankaramma, another resident at the centre.
She was from Belgaum and had studied till 10th class, while Manjunath managed to pass 6th and abandoned the idea of educating himself further. With some help from the authorities at the school, they were married in 2009.
Today, they live in the comfort of their small family. The two children help their parents in daily chores, with Bhavya even overseeing boiling milk for her baby sister.
Parents see a better future for their children. Shankaramma, now 28, believes that her dream of educating her children will one day come true. Manjunath says that they could do with some financial help for that.
Anybody willing to help this family, please write to nageshpolali@newindianexpress.com