Bhawanipatna: The marriage between Sagarika and Harinarayan, solemnised in Bhawanipatna Sunday brought light in one of the darkest corner that our society is blinded by. It will not be wrong to say, that when all doors closed for Sagarika, heaven opened its doors and someone incarnated to rescue her of her misfortune.
This marriage was different because Sagarika is an ostracised girl who has been an inmate of a short stay home since 2009. She was deserted by her lover, thereafter rejected by family and thus she became an inmate in the short stay home at Bhawanipatna.
At the time when she was spending days like nights and all the moments in between were filled with wonder and prayers for a better future; she not even once must have thought that the future was anything like her present.
Her prayers were heard and Harinarayan, a resident of Khadalpada in Sonepur district, came forward to shower all the happiness she needed; a home, a family and a life partner.
“Should one suffer entire life for a single mistake? We knew God would hear her prayers. We always prayed for her well beings. And lo, the day has come and she has a life partner,” the staff of the shelter home observed.
Courage is required to accept an ostracised girl. And the courage Harinarayan showed in accepting Sagarika, is worth a million smiles. He has set an example for others,” some others observed.
There are many such girls who are duped by their lovers, are victims of acid attack and have somehow strayed away from family and are languishing in several short stay or shelter homes across the state and the nation. Like Harinarayan, more youths should come forward to make their lives worth living, a member of the sangha observed.
Durga Shankar Mahapatra, Jayshree Mahapatra and more than 50 inmates of the short stay home took part in the marriage ceremony.
District Legal Aid Services secretary Indira Priyadarshini, district child welfare committee chairman Rajesh Kumar Nayak, regional transport officer Dinabandhu Shundhi, managing director of Vikas College and many other respected persons attended the ceremony as guests.
They all wished the newlywed couple happiness and prosperity in their lives lay ahead and a prayer for all those waiting for a future like Sagarika was made.
PNN