In 2013, Veena Ambarish discovered renewed energy and function to stay as she waited in line to gather a certificates confirming her bodily incapacity. Earlier than that, she was misplaced and depressed, even making an attempt suicide after a life-altering bus accident took her proper foot and led to a six-month hospitalisation.

At solely 17 years previous, she noticed others round her dealing with extra difficult conditions, but managing to smile. Impressed by their resilience, she made a agency resolution — she too might pursue the life she desired and obtain her desires.

Veena, a Class 12 science pupil on the time, modified to the commerce stream as a result of she realised she couldn’t endure lengthy hours standing for science sensible lessons. Ultimately, she accomplished a Bachelor of Enterprise Administration (BBA) diploma, adopted by a Grasp of Enterprise Administration (MBA) diploma, and labored a number of jobs as a gross sales officer in banks, put up which she switched to IT as a software program tester.

Lengthy hours at a desk job, sitting for greater than eight hours and tending to a household of 5, together with two younger kids — a boy aged six and a lady aged 4 — proved too troublesome. She but once more recalibrated, selected to be her personal boss, and determined to show her love for meals right into a enterprise.

She arrange a dosa stall in Bengaluru in April 2023, christening it ‘Kari Dosa’, a tasty deal with present in Tamil Nadu, particularly Madurai, the place the dosa is slathered with an omelette and a mutton curry on prime.

The meals stall now sees lengthy strains within the mornings, with folks patiently ready to savour totally different dosa varieties, beginning with a plain dosa for Rs 10, to mutton kari dosa, rooster kari dosa, prawn kari dosa, and extra.

Run by the affable 30-year-old, folks flip up from totally different components of the town to have this delicious deal with, leaving with a smile and a full tummy.

Turning round life at 17

Veena led a contented, busy life earlier than the fateful day in July 2012. She was a Class 12 science pupil and a Bharatanatyam dancer making ready for her arangetram (debut on-stage efficiency as soon as a pupil finishes coaching in classical dance) the subsequent yr.

On the best way to school, she was crossing the highway when a BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Company) bus jumped the sign and rode over her proper leg. “The bus first touched me and I fell down, after which a tyre rode over my proper leg. Fortunately, I used to be sporting heels that day, on account of which, among the strain was absorbed by it. I don’t even keep in mind what occurred after that,” Veena tells The Higher India.

Her proper leg was so badly affected that she had to spend so much of time within the hospital. Docs tried alternative ways to assist salvage her foot, however three surgical procedures failed, and eventually, a pores and skin graft was carried out.

“Since I used to be a rising youngster, makes an attempt by docs to make use of flesh from my left thigh to rebuild my foot failed. They tried unsuccessfully thrice and located that nothing labored. They lastly grafted some pores and skin and informed me that I needed to stay with it. It’s nonetheless very delicate and I’ve to bandage it every day earlier than stepping out. I used to be bedridden for six months,” she provides.

After leaving the hospital, Veena managed to stroll for 2 years with a strolling stick. At first, it was extremely arduous on account of extreme ache. She underwent three surgical procedures with backbone anaesthesia, leading to backbone issues and a weakened spine. This era marked her lowest level as she frightened about her future.

“My life revolved round dance. Now, I might not dance or pursue science. I felt depressed and puzzled what would occur to my hopes and desires after I couldn’t even stroll three steps with out wincing. I tried suicide too,” she says.

Her wake-up name got here within the type of a go to to the Victoria Hospital to gather her bodily incapacity certificates. Right here, she met a girl who didn’t have each toes and had travelled to Bengaluru from Tumakuru, with an toddler in tow. Veena watched in awe as that woman fed her child and performed with him.

“My troubles felt inconsequential in entrance of hers. She was blissful and even managed to cook dinner. She acquired her child from so distant and led an everyday life. So I believed why couldn’t I? I too might and would do every part I ever wished,” she says.

Again residence in January 2013, with hardly two months for the board exams, Veena began going for tuition lessons, assisted by her father. She managed to move the exams with an honest rating. Since going to school in a metropolis like Bengaluru can be troublesome, she shifted to Puducherry to her grandmother’s place and pursued her levels there.

After her post-graduation, she switched jobs from banks to IT however the stress of a desk job was an excessive amount of to take.

“I had a venture with a South American firm, which meant workplace work from 9 to six adopted by conferences at 9:30 pm which regularly acquired over by 1 to 2 am. The stress on my leg led to an infection and hospitalisation for 15 days. That’s after I determined to stop the job in February 2023,” she says.

Serving a style of Tamil Nadu in Bengaluru

After quitting, Veena determined that she might comply with her ardour for meals and open her personal stall. Staying in Bengaluru since childhood and for work, she hadn’t discovered a single kari dosa place, which she craved. So when she considered serving one thing that wasn’t simply accessible in Bengaluru, she considered this.

Kari dosa, historically made with mutton kheema, originated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

She labored on perfecting the recipes and tastes for 2 months earlier than launching her meals cart in J P Nagar, Bengaluru. Initially, her household wasn’t in favour of her beginning this meals enterprise that requires bodily labour and standing for lengthy durations of time, however she was firm.

“I wished to create my very own model and obtain one thing. I wished to push my limits and do one thing new day-after-day. If I might do a desk job for eight hours every day, why can’t I stand for 4 hours?” she says.

From a comfortable job in an air-conditioned workplace, Veena now slogs it out on the streets of Bengaluru, within the vastly aggressive avenue meals market.

She begins her day at 4:30 am day-after-day and sells kari dosas made with rooster kheema, prawn thokku (curry) and mutton kheema. A plain dosa is priced at Rs 10, whereas the mutton kari dosa prices Rs 150. The stall is open from 7:30 am to 11:30 am.

Veena managed to ultimately persuade her household. She says her husband, a health coach by career, is her largest cheerleader. He helps her arrange the cart every day whereas she manages all of the purchasing, cooking and serving herself. She faces loads of challenges with standing for over 4 hours a day, however she pushes via as her thoughts is blissful, she shares including that she finds happiness within the satisfaction of her prospects.

“Ache is every part. It’s a must to tolerate the ache and discover methods to beat it. Have a look at people who find themselves in worse conditions and thank your stars in your life. That’s how I have a look at it. We are able to’t obtain something with out going via a wrestle. Life is about overcoming hurdles,” she provides.

Veena lives by the mantra: “Regardless of how arduous life hits you, be stronger than earlier than.”

You may go to Veena’s stall at Cassia Block, JP Nagar seventh Part and attain out to her right here.

Edited by Pranita Bhat