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Dubai: A 25-year-old Indian model and student of dentistry cannot bring herself to look in the mirror and keeps looking at an old photograph of herself instead.
Life came to a standstill for Nirmala [name changed to protect her identity] in March when the quad bike she was riding crashed, leaving her with third-degree burns to her face, a bruised back and fractured nose.
Her life today is restricted to staying indoors, a precaution advised by her physicians after she underwent skin grafts to her left cheek. She is required to undergo further surgery and has been advised to wear a silicon mask for at least three months.
Nirmala, who is an only child, talked about the trauma that she and her widowed mother have to deal with every day, not forgetting the medical bills. So far she has spent Dh60,000. Further treatment will cost another Dh50,000. With no income and her savings diminishing she fears she will never get her life back.
Career plans
"I came to the UAE on a short holiday to see my cousins. I am now stuck here. I cannot move out of the house without help. My mother and the rest of the family are doing all they can to give me moral support but I can't help thinking what if I fail to get my looks back," she said.
It took her all her courage to come to terms with her scarred face and she waited a week before looking in the mirror.
"I just could not believe it was me. I had a fledgling modelling career back home in Mumbai and had plans to do a post-graduate degree in dentistry but all that is now on hold."
She said that as a first-time rider she did not receive instructions, even when she asked the quad bike centre.
"I have participated in many adventure sports before and have always been careful to ask for safety regulations. But then again I do not want to ponder on these things right now. All that I am concerned about is to be able to feel the sunlight on my face.
"I love the camera and want to go back to modelling. I want to be able to wash my face and have a good scrub. But for now all that seems like a dream."
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