It was no Abhi-Ash marriage. But, arc lights, flash bulbs and a host of VIPs were there to shower blessings. This was a special wedding and bridegroom Patibandla Santosh Kumar was a special man. Santosh (27) was a runaway kid who had lost his hand and a leg when a train ran over him at Warangal. He was 11 then.
Vijayawada-based Navjeevan Bal Bhavan, a home for the destitute boys, took him under its wings and nurtured him. There, he took to studies and went on to become the proud winner of a gold medal in MA (Social Work) from Acharya Nagarjuna University.
Now, a team member of Young at Risk, a New Delhi-based NGO, he fell in love with Suneetha of Warangal, an MBA and a social activist. Both met at their workplace and felt a strong desire to become man and wife.
"This is the first marriage of an inmate of Navjeevan Bal Bhavan. Santosh is a success story. From a streetkid to an MBA gold medalist, he travelled a long way and proved that given proper care and support, these boys can work wonders. Santosh is now a success story for other inmates of Navjeevan Bal Bhavan," said Fr Koshy of Balbhavan.
Koshy shed tears of joy as the destitute boy that he had picked up years ago had made his own destiny.
"Fifteen years ago, he lost his limbs in Warangal. Today, he lost his heart to Warangal," quipped a friend of Santosh even as others were lustily cheering the bride and bridegroom.
The marriage was performed as per both Hindu and Christian traditions as Santosh is a Hindu and Sunitha is a Christian. Former MLA K Subba Raju, industrialist Chukkapalli Koteswara Rao and several others were present.
