We have many inspiring stories that can be any genre. This story has set an example to this generation importance of love in
relationship and marraige. Every love story has many obstacles in its path but love is all about
overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding
and never letting go.
Real Life Kedarnath - Love Story
Vijendra Singh Rathore works at a
travel agency in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Every now and then, he travels to
various heritage and tourist places as a part of his job, but a trip to
Kedarnath in Uttarakhand in 2013 was to change his life, forever.
On June 12, 2013, he and his wife left for "Char Dham yatra". he had taken 30 passengers in the bus of the travel company he
worked for. He had last spoken to her on June 16, 2013, when the floods
struck Kedarnath and devastated the region of Bhikampura village in
Alwar district.
Little did they know they were reaching Uttarakhand just as the
devastating floods had affected the state. In the havoc that was a result of the floods and landslides, Leela
got misplaced, and unfortunately, there was no way that either of them
could contact each other.
It is likely that Leela must have been frantically searching for her husband, but the chaotic
situation in the flood-affected area coupled with the damaged roads led
her further away.
Since that day, He never left Uttarakhand and must have gone to a
thousand villages in the hope of finding her. He had faith in God and
in destiny that he would meet her again and that she was alive.
Officially, she was declared dead and his family even got a
compensation of Rs 9 lakh from the government while he was still
camped in Uttarakhand. One day turned to week and one week turned to
one month. Vijendra could not find his wife, but he wasn’t about to
lose hope. The search was painful. Even his family members urged him
to return, but he didn’t give up. Many people thought that he had lost
his mind. All he had was her picture that he showed to
villagers.
Over the next 19 months, Vijendra intensified his search and even
sold his ancestral property so he could fund himself and keep his young daughters, Raj Lakshmi, Pinki, Pushpa, and Seema Devi,
and son Sagar , back home safe and well-fed. His love and faith kept him
going. He spent difficult nights on the roads with no shelter or
food.
His dedicated efforts were not in vain. On January 27, some people of Gongoli village in Uttarakhand told
him that they had seen a woman in a mentally unstable condition
who resembled his wife. The ravages of time and circumstances had
made her unrecognizable but he knew it was Leela.
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| Vijendra Singh and Leela |
Leela after reaching home, Sagar wept on seeing his mother and
said in this way “Maa ne mujhe pehchaan liya (mother recognized me)”. But Leela’s condition remains a worry as she isn’t talking to
anybody since she reached home. “She’s unable to recall anything, but when my sister and her
son-in-law were leaving, she applied tilak on her forehead and
performed ‘vidayee’ (a send-off ritual). We are hopeful,” said Sagar.
Vijendra and his daughters, Raj Lakshmi, Pinki, Pushpa, and Seema
Devi, and son Sagar, are all praying for her quick recovery.
Vijendra said that they were not talking to her about what
happened, but trying various things to make her normal and bring the
smile back on her face.
It has been three years since the family was reunited, and we
sincerely hope that Leela has recovered and is happy to be with her
family.
Finally, Vijendra’s efforts to find his wife, when even after the
government had declared her dead are nothing short of heroic,
besides being incredibly heartwarming. Recently, it has been
reported that Siddharth Roy Kapoor has acquired the rights to his
story and will soon make a feature film on him.
Finally, "Distance teaches us to appreciate the days that we are able to spend together and the distance teaches us the definition of patience. It is a remainder that every moment together is special, and every second together should be cherished"
