In 2013, while waiting in line to collect her disability certificate, Veena Ambarish found a renewed sense of strength and purpose. A tragic bus accident in July 2012, at just 17 years old, had taken her right foot, leaving her hospitalised for six months.

Before the accident, Veena was a Class 12 science student and an aspiring Bharatanatyam dancer, preparing for her debut performance. But on her way to college, a BMTC bus ran a red light, hit her, and crushed her leg. Doctors tried a lot, but her foot could not be saved.

A bedridden Veena spent months battling pain, despair, and depression. Her turning point came in early 2013 at Victoria Hospital, where she met a woman with no feet who was still leading a full life with a baby in tow.

“My troubles felt inconsequential in front of hers. She was happy and even managed to cook. She got her baby from so far away and led a regular life. So I thought why couldn’t I? I too could and would do everything I ever wanted,” Veena recalls.

She decided to complete her board exams, despite struggling to walk. She then moved to Puducherry for a BBA, later earning an MBA. Veena then worked in the banking sector and later transitioned into software testing, but the long desk hours took a toll on her leg.

“The stress on my leg led to infection and hospitalisation for 15 days. That’s when I decided to quit the job.” After quitting, she decided to follow her passion for food.

Missing the kari dosa she grew up eating in Madurai, she realised no one in Bengaluru was selling it. In April 2023, she launched her own food stall, ‘Kari Dosa’, in J P Nagar.

“I wanted to create my own brand and achieve something. I wanted to push my limits and do something new every day. If I could do a desk job for eight hours daily, why can’t I stand for four hours?” she says.

Her stall quickly became popular, with customers lining up every morning to savour different varieties of dosas, including chicken, mutton, and prawn kari dosas. Running a food stall requires long hours of standing, but Veena doesn’t let that stop her.

She starts her day at 4:30 am, preparing the dishes before opening at 7:30 am. Even though her family was sceptical at first, they now fully support her.

She says, “You have to tolerate the pain and find ways to overcome it. We can’t achieve anything without going through a struggle. Life is about overcoming hurdles.”