With a stronger sense of verbal articulation, I have taken the role of being Ved’s voice for this article. He began by narrating the events that his mother narrated to him growing up, which introduces the origin of his Autism, and his journey with it thereafter.

Ved was around the age of 2 on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic when his parents were approached by a crewmember regarding Ved’s apparent amiss behaviour. His mother dismissed this observation but it remained present in her subconscious. It was only later when she came across an article in a Reader’s Digest about autism, that she was able to join the dots.

On their return to India, Ved’s mother read anything and everything related to Autism. She then got Ved evaluated by an expert who diagnosed him with Asperger syndrome. Asperger is a developmental disorder on the Autism spectrum affecting the ability to effectively socialise and communicate. The first question that Ved’s mother asked the doctor was if her son would be able to share his life with a partner.

Ved’s parents did everything in their capacity in the hope to connect the dots of their discovery to form a straight line. Only to later be revealed that Ved was meant to be a square peg in the round holes the world has been designed in. Of course, Ved adds, he remembers none of this as it is a story his mother often narrates. So he picks up on those pieces that he can recall to tell me this.

Ved was about 11 or 12 years old when his parents decided it was time to have the “Autism chat” with him. To his relief, it clarified many things he found difficult to understand. Like why it took him more effort to comprehend schoolwork as compared to his peers, or why he struggled socially. Ved could finally conclude that he was not dumb, just Autistic.

When it came to friends in school, Ved had close to none. Ved found that friends too had been typical – herding with the popular kids. An experience that Ved remembers distinctly was a school trip where the class clicked many pictures, but Ved was not in any of them. One night during that trip, he laid out 5 packets of Lays chips on his bed and took a photograph, the only picture he was able to take back to his family to tell them that these were his best friends.

Scream
The scream, depending on his mood, Ved sometimes associates this prompt with a scream of frustration, or other times as an uninhibited expression.

Ved recalls a memorable learning experience which was with the Pomegranate Film Studio. He participated in a course on editing and direction. With these skills, he made a short film on the streets of Mumbai which got screened at G5A Mahalaxmi. When Ved was later invited for a panel discussion and featured in the DNA newspaper, he felt like the hero of his own film.

When it narrows down to Ved’s personal development with regards to his Autism, he worked extensively with Umeed (with their counsellors, psychologists and therapists). He gave a special mention to his special educator who would work with him, while also introducing him to visual art as a medium of expression. With this, he found his calling. Art is now Ved’s safe house and a good place to rest.

Ved’s mother once asked him if he would want to be referred to as an Autistic person, or someone who has Autism. After giving it thought, he decided that he is a person with Autism. It is part of who he is, but only a part. He recognised that he is so much more than his Autism. With time, he was able to find friends who see that too. He is also now the class representative in his junior college, a role embedded with social responsibilities that he takes extremely seriously.

When it comes to the lessons learnt on his journey with Autism, Ved acknowledges that there will always be challenges. He struggles with simple things that come naturally to others. For instance, as a child, he had to learn how to swing because of his inability to propel himself. He had to learn to manage his hyperactivity and impulsivity. He had to learn to control his excessive hand movements which people would find weird, or process his thoughts through acceptable social filters before he spoke. He had to learn to fit in so that the world would be comfortable around him. Something that may seem as minute and comprehensible for the rest of the world, was an experience Ved required extra effort to gain.

Ved is often marveled at for his unique ideas, and his innate ability to think out of the box. But interestingly, that kind of thinking process comes naturally to him. He wonders why people are even restricted to a box when there is so much space outside of it.

Finally, he concluded much to his mothers amusement that he did go out on a date, putting to rest her fear of him not being able to to share his life with a partner.

Underwater Fantasy
This prompt triggered the rest of the class to draw fish and turtles and seashells and whales. Ved could not think of anything but Poseidon.

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