Navi Mumbai: A Vashi family recently showed how they adapted positively around a spastic family member for 70 years. Taking care of a spastic child or a person is often seen as a “cumbersome responsibility” for the family.However, for the Vashi-based Ruparel family, it is a sheer joy taking care of a 70-year-old spastic woman, Vimla Ruparel, who has been suffering from cerebral palsy since birth.However, every year on Sept 24, they celebrate her birthday with much fanfare. The entire housing society of Maharani Building in sector 17 participated in this special event as Vimla cut her birthday cake.Her younger brother, Jitendra Ruparel (68), who is a grain merchant, told TOI: “It’s been 70 years of sheer joy looking after our sister, Vimla, who is rather alert and can communicate with us through sign language despite her severe disability. We do not consider her to be a burden, and she has a cheerful disposition.”One of the favourite pastimes of Vimla is urging her brother Jitendra Ruparel or other family members to take her to the local beauty parlour for makeup and hair colouring. “She is quite particular of the colour of her dresses, and at times chides me in her own inimitable way if she sees me wearing an old, worn-out shirt! She also enjoys watching the popular television comedy serial Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma. She has fixed timings for having her meals, going to the toilet etc,” said her brother, who has also kept two assistants for Vimla.Her sister-in-law, Rashmi Ruparel, commented: “I have been married in this family for over five decades, and so have been with Vimla for that many years. If I somehow become late in having my lunch, she too won’t have her meal until I sit down next to her to eat. So, she has a very loving personality which we can fathom, though others may not be able to see this sort of love.”Jitendra’s sons Amit and Sagar, besides his grandson, Aarav Ruparel, are also very attached to her, and school-going Aarav often plays with her in the house by “driving” her wheelchair.“Every year we celebrate her birthday. We also celebrate Raksha Bandhan, as I have promised to keep her happy and cheerful till the very end. Vimla has proven that being a spastic is not a hurdle,” said Ruparel.
