Physically-challenged novelist to publish second masterpiece

Aizawl, Aug 26 (UNI) Bestseller novelist Mafeli, who is also physically-challenged, has proven to be a glowing inspiration even to those who are physically able.

Mafeli, who cannot even hold a pen properly or type on a computer keyboard, has successfully penned her second novel, which will hit the bookstores shortly.

At the age of 25, Mafeli has just completed her second love story - ''Bawih'' - which is a followup of her debut and best-selling novel ''Confession'' published last year.

Mafeli completed the 216-page ''Bawih'' in a span of five months, compared to the record 26 days for her 202-page ''Confession''.

''If not for my inability to use computers, I could have finished Bawih in less than five months. After authoring the manuscripts on a manual typewriter, I took a Christmas break last December. However, on uploading them in my computer after Christmas, I realised that I had lost some pages. Later, I had to confront various technical problems thanks to my lack of computer knowledge,'' Ms Mafeli told UNI here.

Mafeli had worked on her ''Confession'' on a manual typewriter by hitting the keyboards with a pen. This time, she was lucky enough to be gifted with a PC by a generous PHE executive engineer Lalrammawia, which she affectionately christened ''Confession Computer'' since that very novel had compelled the engineer to gift the computer to the author.

Mafeli found the computer more convenient to use, for she was not compelled to use a pen to hit the keyboard. However, it was still difficult to touch the keyboard with her fingertips, she disclosed.

Despite all hardships, Ms Mafeli has now become so adept at computer technology that she herself designs the covers of her book.

Just like ''Confession'', ''Bawih'' is presented in first-person style but not by the protagonist. The narrator is a bodiless wandering soul, who had died before marrying his love Zodinpuii. The novel has another character Azuala, who would rather die than being subjected to arranged marriage. It does not have a fairy-tale ending, the author revealed.

Mafeli was afflicted by a bone-joint disorder after she was treated following a fall from a chair on her second birthday on March 21.

''On her second birthday, her older siblings seated her on a wheelchair from which she fell. Following this fall, she developed pain in her legs. We took her to a doctor who prescribed medication.

However, she started complaining of pain in all the joints of her body soon after which she became incapacitated,'' Ms Mafeli's mother Lalvuani said adding that most people believe she had been subjected to incorrect treatment.

Long stays in hospitals had not proved effective as a result of which she had to undergo her limited schooling at the Special School established by the Spastic Society of Mizoram here.

''I was able to read and write even before I attended school. I cannot recall how I came to have reading and writing skills. In Special School, my first class was Class II. The teachers there put me in Class IV the next year because I was so proficient. The year after this, I was put in Class VII but could not sit for the exams because of illness,'' Ms Mafeli said when asked about her school education.

She also had to suffer frequent nose-bleeds and this prevented her from writing the Class VII examinations. Until last year, Ms Mafeli had to be given blood transfusions from time to time because of her regular loss of blood which, fortunately, has stopped now.

Even in this modern age of medical advancement, her affliction baffles doctors, who say they can find nothing wrong with her.

However, all her limbs are stunted as a result of which she cannot walk or hold anything properly in her hand.

Mafeli, who lives with her parents, sister and brother at Kulikawn here, would continue to provide inspiration to millions throughout the country.

UNI