Twenty-two year-old Rajni lives in Jahangirpuri, a crowded, resettlement colony in New Delhi. Belonging to a poor family, Rajni had to drop out of school after her tenth standard though her ambition was to become a teacher. She was, however, fortunate to come into contact with Action India, a group working with girl children in slums and resettlement colonies. She began teaching young children as part of their education project. With the money she earned she began educating her younger siblings. She thought she had realised her dream. But little did she know that a nightmare would soon unfold.

Living opposite her home was a young man who worked as a cosmetics salesman. She occasionally made small purchases from him. One day, much to her surprise, he declared his love for her. Rajni replied that she would be unable to reciprocate his affections and asked him to never talk to her again. A few days later, he approached her again. Rajni again requested him not to bother her and told her family about him.

Some days later, when she was filling a bucket of water from the public tap, the man caught her by surprise and stabbed her on her neck. He then proceeded to stab himself. As both of them had suffered serious injuries, they had to be rushed to a nearby nursing home. The doctors, however, refused to treat them till a police case was registered. There was no choice as Rajni had sustained deep wounds both on her hands and her neck as she had tried to protect herself. She had to receive several stitches on her neck and hand.

When she returned home she was greeted not with compassion but hostility. She had to withstand searching questions and vicious rumours spread about her. Her neighbours advised her against going to work. They believed that her going out would provoke the man to kill her as he had recovered as well. As the situation was thick with tension, the Action India group intervened and tried to persuade the community members that Rajni was not at fault.

But it was Rajni who eventually had a say in her future because she decided to face the situation squarely. When she regained her strength, she made up her mind to rejoin her teaching assignment. She was convinced that staying home or running away to another place was not the solution. She also loved her job as it gave her tremendous confidence so she was determined to retain it. She felt it was her right to seek justice for herself by pursuing the criminal case registered against the man who almost killed her and her dreams. Her family supported her decision.

Says Rajni, "In today’s world, men want to marry beautiful women. If I do not get married, I will continue to live with my parents and support them in their old age. I just pray I remain strong and that I am capable of facing future challenges."