Twenty-six-year-old Laxmi, an acid attack survivor, and her partner Alok Dixit recently made public that they became proud parents to a beautiful daughter. Their baby girl, who they have named Pihu, was born in March.
Laxmi and Alok, who have been in a live-in-relationship for around two-and-a-half years now, needed some time before they introduced their daughter to the world.
"For the initial 6 to 7 months we needed time for the baby and also for us. We wanted to relax. Also, because of our busy schedule we were not able to bring 'Pihu' in front of the world. But we finally thought of introducing her to others," the couple told PTI.
Image source: Acid Attack Fighter Laxmi/Facebook
Both Laxmi and Alok work with the Stop Acid Attack (SAA) campaign and Pihu spends most of her time in Chaanv, the office of SAA.
"During her pregnancy, Laxmi was worried that our baby would be scared on seeing her mother," Alok told Dainik Bhaskar in an interview. But her apprehensions were put to rest after the birth of Pihu who is only happy to see her mother.
Image source: Sheroes/Facebook
Laxmi was sixteen years old when she was attacked with acid by a man, who was twice her age, because she had rejected his advances and turned down his proposal for marriage.
She later met Alok, a former journalist turned social activist, while working on a campaign against acid attacks and love blossomed between the two.
Image source: Acid Attack Fighter Laxmi/Facebook
However, marriage is not on the cards for the couple.
"We do not intend to get married because I do not believe in the institution of marriage. I believe that two people do not need a certificate to remain together in the society. So in the beginning itself we had decided that we are not getting married and would stay together in a live-in relationship," Alok told PTI.
Image source: Stop Acid Attacks
Because of their unmarried status, the couple had to face some issues while getting a birth certificate for Pihu, but they were later sorted out.