Kannur: "Charithra loves to talk, and I love to listen. That’s the foundation of our friendship," said K Devana, gently pushing Charithra Ashok's wheelchair.
"I had no one to listen to me in school. Now, I feel like I've regained something I lost back then. With Devana in my life, I realize that what I lost was a true friendship," Charithra shared, speaking fondly of her friend, who has become the mirror of her soul.
Charithra Ashok, the only daughter of P V Ashok and T V Kalpana of Shivam House in Onakkunnu, Karivelloor, and K Devana, the daughter of K Raveendran and Kshini of Devarsh House, are both second-year BA English students at Kannur's Payyannur College, agovernment aided college located at Edat, Payyannur. Although they hailed from the same place, they only became acquainted during their college admission.
Charithra, who uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, comes to college with her father, a retired teacher, in a car. Every morning, Devana arrives at the college and takes over the responsibility of helping Charithra. She assists in transferring Charithra to the wheelchair and ensures she gets back into the car in the evening. Devana accompanies her friend to classes and roams around the campus with her.
The duo spends their days together, attending classes, studying, having lunch, and chatting with friends. In the evening, they leave the college together in Ashok’s car, and Devana returns home after dropping Charithra off.
"During lunch breaks, we sing our favourite songs together. Charithra never gets tired of talking, and I never get tired of listening," Devana says, reflecting on their special bond.
"People used to see me as an outsider, like an alien," Charithra says, holding Devana’s hand tightly. Devana adds that Charithra doesn’t like being viewed that way. Charithra dreams of pursuing research in music, while Devana aspires to become an author.