A woman who suffered horrific
burns and lost her eyesight after having acid thrown in her face because she
turned down the sexual advances of three men has married the love of her life.
burns and lost her eyesight after having acid thrown in her face because she
turned down the sexual advances of three men has married the love of her life.
Brave Sonali
Mukherjee-Tiwari, 29, was left with 70 per cent burns to her face when three teenagers
broke into her home and threw acid over her after they branded her ‘arrogant’
for turning them down.
Mukherjee-Tiwari, 29, was left with 70 per cent burns to her face when three teenagers
broke into her home and threw acid over her after they branded her ‘arrogant’
for turning them down.
Sonali, who was just 17 at
the time, was forced to endure more than 28 different surgical procedures as
medics battled to limit the damage the acid had done to her skin in the 2003
attack.
the time, was forced to endure more than 28 different surgical procedures as
medics battled to limit the damage the acid had done to her skin in the 2003
attack.
Having been left blind and
disfigured, Sonali spent much of the next decade hiding in her parents home,
but following a number of appearances on TV in India, her story touched the
heart of one viewer so deeply, he had to get in touch.
disfigured, Sonali spent much of the next decade hiding in her parents home,
but following a number of appearances on TV in India, her story touched the
heart of one viewer so deeply, he had to get in touch.
After a period of getting to
know each other, Sonali and 29-year-old Chittaranjan Tiwari fell in love and
tied the knot on Wednesday.
know each other, Sonali and 29-year-old Chittaranjan Tiwari fell in love and
tied the knot on Wednesday.
Sonali said: “I never
believed marriage would happen to me. I was building myself up for a life time
alone.
believed marriage would happen to me. I was building myself up for a life time
alone.
“I’ve spent the last ten
years building my strength and independence but this is a dream come true.”
years building my strength and independence but this is a dream come true.”
Electrical engineer
Chittaranjan first clapped eyes on his future wife in 2013 on a TV crime
programme and felt compelled to get in touch.
Chittaranjan first clapped eyes on his future wife in 2013 on a TV crime
programme and felt compelled to get in touch.
He managed to find her
mobile phone number on the internet and decided to get in touch with her.
mobile phone number on the internet and decided to get in touch with her.
Sonali said: “Lots of people
get in touch with me and wish me well, I thought Chittaranjan was just another
well wisher.
get in touch with me and wish me well, I thought Chittaranjan was just another
well wisher.
“He was very kind and said
some very lovely words and we just kept in touch. Over time we got very
friendly.”
some very lovely words and we just kept in touch. Over time we got very
friendly.”
Over the coming months, the
couple would continue talking for hours on the phone and got increasingly close
until Chittaranjan decided to pop the question.
couple would continue talking for hours on the phone and got increasingly close
until Chittaranjan decided to pop the question.
Sonali said: “One day last
year he proposed; I couldn’t believe it. They were words I never imagined I
would hear.
year he proposed; I couldn’t believe it. They were words I never imagined I
would hear.
“I was in so much shock I
told him I had to think about it. I asked him ‘why do you want to marry me; I’m
blind?’ and he answered saying that if two people were married and there was a
tragic accident they would not separate, they’d stand by one another so this
was the same thing.
told him I had to think about it. I asked him ‘why do you want to marry me; I’m
blind?’ and he answered saying that if two people were married and there was a
tragic accident they would not separate, they’d stand by one another so this
was the same thing.
“He told me I was a complete
woman for him and that was amazing to hear. I never thought a man would ever
say that to me.”
woman for him and that was amazing to hear. I never thought a man would ever
say that to me.”
After Sonali spoke to her
parents she eventually said yes and they are now legally married – but are
still organising a big reception to celebrate.
parents she eventually said yes and they are now legally married – but are
still organising a big reception to celebrate.
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