Reclaiming My Belongingness : The Place I Built For Myself by Dr Nina Apra | A Short Story

I have spent my life in a turbulence of responsibilities, achievements, and silent battles. I have conquered academic challenges, mastered the art of healing, and worn a thousand masks to fit into the many roles life demanded of me—doctor, teacher, orator, and author. And yet, somewhere deep inside, the question has always lingered: Where do I truly belong?

Growing up, I was the odd one out—the girl with scars on her skin and dreams too big for the small minds around me. Classmates whispered, laughed, and pointed fingers, and I learned to shield myself with silence. Later, in medical school, the taunts transformed into cold glances, subtle exclusions, and an unspoken barrier that made me feel like I was always standing on the periphery of acceptance.

When I returned to postgraduate studies after a 12-year break, I hoped experience and resilience would earn me a place among my peers. Instead, I faced resistance—colleagues who saw me as an outsider, mentors who questioned my return, and an environment that sought to break rather than embrace me. I walked through those hospital corridors every day, carrying my stethoscope-like armor, my research papers like shields, and my laughter like a weapon. But the invisible walls remained.

Yet, life has a way of revealing belonging in unexpected places.

One evening, as I stood outside the medical college, watching the sunset, a young intern approached me hesitantly. "Ma'am, your lecture today... It inspired me. I was thinking of quitting, but you made me believe I can do this."

The barriers I had spent years trying to break did not matter as much as the hands reaching out to me. My belonging was not in the approval of the unkind but in the hearts of those I touched, the bodies I healed.

Then came my books—the words I poured onto pages, the raw truth I shared, the stories that resonated with strangers across the world. Letters, messages, and emails poured in. "Your story gave me strength." "I found myself in your words." "I no longer feel alone." Every word I wrote, every soul I reached, brought me closer to the feeling of belongingness I had always wanted.

It was in my laughter, in the way I made patients smile before anesthesia claimed them. It was in the voice I lent to those who had been silenced. It was on the stage where I stood fearless, speaking, singing, and making the world listen. As I shared my true stories through the TED X stage, I won hearts, and applauses and when young and old rushed to me wanting to connect, I felt the true belongingness once again.

I had spent a lifetime searching for a place to fit in, only to realize I was never meant to fit in.

I was meant to stand out.

And in doing so, I had built my place. A place where I belong, not because the world allowed me in, but because I had created it myself.

Now, I no longer seek validation. I walk into rooms with my head held high, knowing that my presence is my declaration of belonging. I find home in the pages of my books, in the echo of my voice on stage, in the gratitude of a patient waking up after surgery, and in the eyes of those who see me for who I truly am.

Belonging, I have learned, is not given—it is claimed. And I have claimed mine, not by bending to the world, but by shaping the world around me. I am the rhythm in my unfinished symphony, and I play it unapologetically, knowing that every note, every word, every moment is mine to own.

“I'm trying to make a case for those people who don't have a sense of belonging that they should have, that there is something worthwhile in having a sense of belonging, and recasting and looking at our modern history.”

Billy Bragg

Dr. Nina Apra is a trailblazer of resilience, creativity, and empowerment. A bestselling author, award-winning anesthesiologist, and powerful orator, she has transformed life’s challenges into triumphs that inspire countless others. Her books, including Echoes of Life: Unscripted True Stories of Resilience and Triumphs, Sacred Silences: War, Love, Loss, Horror Mangta Kya, and Stories of Courage Volume 2, showcase her ability to connect deeply through her compelling storytelling. Beneath: Mind Matters, and her 6th bookl Scarscript are masterpieces too. Dr. Apra is a multi-dimensional artist—a poetess, singer, dancer, and stand-up comedian—who radiates warmth and humor in all her endeavors. Her talent to captivate audiences has made her a beloved personality on stage and beyond. Recognized with prestigious honors like the Indian Author Award, Voice Award, and COVID Warrior Award, her contributions during the pandemic and advocacy for social causes have solidified her as a transformative force. As a certified CPR and COLS trainer and a passionate advocate for mental health and women’s empowerment, Dr. Apra is deeply committed to creating lasting change. She graced TEDx PCTE Ludhiana on March 7, 2025, where she shared her inspiring journey and innovative ideas. Stay connected for updates, books, and more.