Laxmi, the name that shook the nation nine years ago due to her acid attack, now has a reason to smile. Then aged 15, she declined a marriage proposal as a result to which she suffered a horrifying acid attack that changed her life forever. But today, she has a special reason to smile.

Hindustan Times had recently highlighted series of stories about acid attack victims. Laxmi now 24, has a story that gave courage to many of the other victims then and has once again given a new hope to people. She shows how victims with your high spirits can find your life partner and have a beautiful life.

Her life partner is a social activist based in Kanpur, who runs various campaigns of social networking platform Spot of Sham and Acid Attacks. Alok Dixit, 25, said it was Laxmi’s spirit that bowled him out. He said “When she came to us, she was bold and smart. Unlike the other girls, who shy away from society and usually move about with covered faces, Laxmi moved freely with an open face. I saw a fighter in her and gradually we fell in love”.

Laxmi, a Delhi resident had avoided the society ever since the attack in 2005. It took her eight years to find the courage to come back to the society. She joined Alok in May 2013 and soon they fell in love. Families of both have happily accepted their relationship and have also respected their decision of not tying a traditional wedlock. “We don’t want people to come to our wedding and comment on my looks. The looks of a bride are most important for people. So we decided not to have any ceremony,” justified Laxmi.

Laxmi has undergone seven surgeries so far and might be more in the future. Laxmi said the journey of finding a companion from the isolated society was very painful.”I learnt to live with the physical pain but the way the society reacted was more hurting. My own relatives stopped seeing me. I stayed indoors for eight years and ventured out only with covered face,” said Laxmi. She further added “I tried to look for a job but nobody was willing to hire me. They said people would be scared if they see me in an office”. She also questioned the society “I always ask the society, ‘what is our fault’? People accept those born blind or those who are physically challenged, but we are shunned”. Further adding to this, she said “I feel our condition is worse than the rape victims because with disfigured faces we even lose our identities”.

Alok’s campaign that he started from Kanpur has spread to other major cities through his social media activities. About 50 other victims have joined Alok in this campaign that demands justice for acid attack survivors. The couple is now campaigning from New Delhi for bigger and better reach.