Hi, This is Romi Arora.

I started stammering when I was 5 years old. Though, at that time I did not bother to give it much attention but as years were passing by i started stammering a lot. After reaching the secondary grade, there were many oral test conducted, reading was there and every time my roll number was called, I don't know but somehow a great fear use to arise and I had no idea how to overcome it.

My classmates use to find it funny when I use to stammer; they use to laugh at me and they use to wait for me when I will start reading. I still remember everyday, I use to sit on the last bench since on the first bench I was sure that my teacher would ask me to read.
Even my close friends at times, used to make fun of me. I use to score first class in school. I still remember once there was an elocution contest held in school and my classmates took my name first to participate. Outside my building there is a chaat corner and my favorite item is 'Ragda patis' I often use to avoid having it as whenever I use to say ragda I use to stammer. Even ordering things from the restaurant on the phone I use to stammer; that is why I use to tell my brother to order food for me. Somehow, I got done with school and was about to go to the college.
My first day in college was very bad. I was very excited to go; With nice ironed clothes, with cell phone, I was all excited to go; and since in college, you interact with different people I was very excited all the more. My first lecture was very bad as we needed to introduce ourself. When my turn came I don't know why I was scared but yes, I knew that I won't be able to say my name 'Romi' so in order to hide my stammering I introduced myself as 'Raj'!
As everyone knows that in college you interact with girls, I was excited but whenever I use to talk to any girl I use to get so scared that I use to stammer a lot. To hide my stammering I didn't use to talk to girls; I would rather chat on the computer instead. When girls use to call me I use to practice what words I will speak so that I was fluent on those words; and so that they won't come to know about my stammering.

When I was in my first relationship in f.y.j.c, I rarely met my date since I was scared that if she comes to know that I stammer she might leave me :-(( I use to hide from people and I use to bunk lectures since I was scared that if I was questioned, I won't be able to answer and will answer. My stammering is more of imaginary fear, I realize now. I think a lot and in that process I stammer. Whenever any guest use to come at my place I use to avoid talking to them since I did not want to stammer in front of them.
I feel I have a good tongue and my English is also good but because of stammering I often don't succeed. Once I told my mom to ask our family doctor that can she cure my stammering and why does this happen? The doctor said it is because of fear and no medicine cures it. It goes away as you age. I was happy that time.
After completing my 12th grade my dad wanted me to do Hotel Management training. I was ready for it but in hotel management your voice plays a very important role as in hotel management your guest is your 'God'. Communication plays a very important role in Hotel management industry. I still went for this industry for my dad' sake. My first day in college was bad. It was the introduction day and again I was not able to say my name and the name of my junior college. So, I use to say names which I thought I will be able to speak in stead. There was a subject 'call front office' and in that we use to practice talking on the phone taking room reservation etc. Whenever my turn came I used to get scared. I used to panic.
During my 2nd year, we students use to go for internship in hotel management training. I use to fail in group discussion and no five star property would accept me; so I had to train in a Club. Somehow I completed my hotel management training ad entered the 3rd yr and in that year, many five star property came to interview us for jobs on their property. I did not give any interview as I was sure that no property will select me because of my stammering. The end result was, I was jobless in spite of doing quite well in exams!
After completing my hotel management I started visiting my dad's office. He deals into electronics; Whenever any customer came, I use to hide thinking that I would stammer in trying to explain him about the products. My life for me was just a waste. I wanna do many things in life but I dont know what I should do to achieve them.
Then, One fine day I heard in Farah Khan's show that Hritik Roshan was also suffering from stammering and now he has overcome it. There was a hope in me on hearing this. I started searching the internet and in Mumbai I got the number of XYZ therapy center. From there I got the number of Dr ABC and I called him and the consulting fee was Rs.500. I met him and he gave me this hope that within 10 sessions I will be normal. Each session was worth rs.1000. I started his session and the first day, I was hypnotized for about 10 min. As sessions were passing by, I felt a bit better but my stammering was the same. I understood that the doctor was just charging for his session and he was not curing me. Within 5 sessions I realized the futility and now I have avoided visiting him.

I just dont understand why do people play with someone's feelings just for money. My hopes were dead. I use to pray to God to cure me but nothing worked for me. At home I use to 'act' that I am feeling better as I had wasted 5000 rupees of my dad on that doctor but the end result is I am still the same, no sign of any improvement, the same feelings, fear is still the same. But still I would not lose hope and will work hard and I am sure someday I will overcome my stammering as I wanna do many things in life...

(Ed: The purpose of sharing these stories is to help young people learn from each other and develop a network of support and friendship. Romi can be contacted at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )