The Survivor

Arun Patil

His story can be told now.
For exactly a month, Arun Patil has been coming religiously to the Garden every morning -- nattily dressed, a grey duffel bag stylishly slung across his right shoulder and presenting a picture of happy confidence and positivity. He walks with a purposeful gait and if it were not for a slight limp, it would be hard to tell that he 'wears' an artificial leg. The walking stick he carries is more of a style statement than serving any utility.
Barely a year back, nobody would have given him a chance in hell to survive this long – let alone ever show his face at the Garden. His blood sugar had hit life-threatening levels, there was no money for treatment, the right foot was rotting, family and friends had abandoned him… Arun was living on borrowed time. Jobless for long, he had already scraped the bottom of the barrel.

Bijoy Gupta (in blue) is on a collision course with Shekhawat today

He had nobody to turn to.
Worse was to follow. He was framed in a legal case of moral turpitude and packed off to prison. After two months when nothing could be proved, the case was dropped and he was released. Anybody else would have become a broken man by then. But Arun, quietly and resolutely went about salvaging whatever was left of his life. He sold his apartment and moved into a rented place. Before long, he got himself operated on and is now back on his feet.
This, in short, is the story of our friend. It is a rare inspirational tale of fortitude and resolve -- of defying rotten luck, social opprobrium, advancing age, penury, loneliness… and eventually, emerging all-smiles. More than anything else, this is a story of reclaiming self-dignity. It is time, Arun pens all this in his own words.
Kiran Prakash:
The way Arun has charted his life is an example for those of us who get stressed on tiny adverse situations. In fact, I was conveying my feeling to him this morning in the Garden. Arun, I salute you.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd) from Mohali:
The true test of any relationship is in times of adversity. Fair weather relatives and friends abandon you as saaya (shadow) leaves you in chhaon (darkness). It is a testing time for the man to live bravely, with fortitude. With grit and determination nothing is insurmountable. It will certainly take time to attain your goal, but you would certainly reach it. This is what Arun Patil has proved to us. Good luck and three cheers for him!!!