Rahim started by explaining the fact that he does not feel disabled any more and has learned that people are not hostile towards him. He feels the same way every other human being does and the thought of being disabled rarely crosses his mind. Having self respect, he refuses to accept favors from other people who do it out of sympathy. At this moment he claims to be working hard to improve his speech and hearing range. Due to a recent loss he may adopt Cochlear Implantation and Orthodontics. Both being costly processes, he will wait till he graduates and can afford to treat himself. Further more I asked him if he had a problem mixing in with people, to which he bluntly said ‘NO’, and then started to explain. He initially did have this problem but at this point in life he faces similar challenges in social life like any other college student does. Though he has always neglected a major social life and his prime goal is to have a good career and satisfaction from life. Besides that, he has a pretty stable circle of friends. After hearing this statement, there was a fountain of happiness in my heart.

Moving on with the questions, I asked him to explain his entire past. He claimed that he did have incidents where he was hurt but did not have a black past like several other disabled children who suffered from hostility and pain through out their lives. From his facial expression I could judge the effort he was making to stop his tears from pouring out, he seemed not only to hide from others but even from himself the pain he felt deep within. He then referred to another cousin named Zahra Manji, who was disabled and smart yet felt that she was not able to mix in with others. Every answer to my question reflected that he was proud for what he is today, not out of egoism but out of self satisfaction. He then started to tell me the benefits he received while working on his academic career; he was given special attention but never special and unjust benefits through his schooling years. At Purdue University he has been assigned a writer who types the lecture notes for him during lectures and often gets lecture notes from professors. He then said, “I try my best to understand what the professor is saying, and it is not that hard of a job; even the professors have started knowing me personally after judging my enthusiasm for learning in class.”

 
On asking if he recently faced any problems coping with the stereotypical college lifestyle, he answered saying, “I don't feel inferior to anyone having a better college experience than me.” Explaining to me the benefits of hearing aids, he claimed that hearing aids turned his life around. He took his aid off demonstrating with it he showed he how the machine amplified sound. These small pieces of machines are what he depends on today, he said that every hearing impaired child in this world should have the benefit of hearing aids and should learn to live without the feeling of being disabled. He then stated telling me about the benefits of cochlear implants and said that it is still at an experimental stage but when it is over that stage it will be the most revolutionary thing for hearing impaired individuals.

For him, sign language is the worst form of communication and he claims that it does nothing but ruin ones chances of being independent. He said once a person starts relying on sign language, he/she will never make the effort to communicate verbally and will feel disabled all their lives. Rahim completely discourages sign language when other forms of support such as hearing aids and speech therapy are available. In the end Rahim proudly said he will try to devote part of his time and money in future to personally help disabled children, not only by donating money but by sacrificing time to practically help these children at special homes and recognize the efforts of his mother who devoted her life to give Rahim and other hearing impaired children the ability to speak.

This interview just demonstrates an old saying, ‘Where there’s a will there is a way.’ I have learnt how lucky I am to be born without any disability and also that I live in a world where technology can give aid to the disabled. I also have learnt that no matter what you are, even if you are blind, deaf or physically disabled, you should be happy and learn to live the way you are; because complaining and giving up on life is not an option. This is the valuable lesson I learnt from my brother and this interview. In the end I would like to urge others to help people who are not as capable as them, not out of sympathy but out of love for other human beings.