A Wife’s Struggle for Her Bedridden Husband
Love is a feeling so profound, it cannot truly be described in words. It is the eternal and sacred union of two souls—a bond that endures both joy and sorrow. Even today, in many households, love remains a source of strength and resilience.
In such a timeless tale of love, Mani Parida, a resident of Puruna Budhakera village in Satyabadi Block, stands as a shining example. Her husband Gandharva Parida has been bedridden for four years. During Cyclone Fani, while trying to secure the cattle in their cowshed, a palm tree fell on their house, trapping Gandharva inside and leaving him severely injured.
Though he recovered after treatment at AIIMS, he remained paralyzed from the waist down. He can no longer even clean himself and requires about ₹2,000 worth of medication every month. With the head of the household confined to bed, the burden fell squarely on the family.
Once a farmer who supported his household through agriculture, Gandharva’s family of four now lives in poverty. They survive on the little support they receive from relatives and fellow villagers.
Yet, Mani Parida has never given up. Her love for her husband has never faded. To support her family, she took a courageous step: starting a small business making and selling “biri badi” (handmade lentil dumplings). She not only manages the household but also covers her husband’s medical expenses through the sale of her products.
Encouraged by his wife’s determination, Gandharva himself remains hopeful. From his bed, he helps with the packaging of the products and dreams of educating their children and raising them to be good human beings.
Though the family awaits government assistance, it is Mani’s love, strength, and perseverance that continue to keep them going. Her efforts have not only sustained the family but have given Gandharva the emotional strength to believe in a better tomorrow.
