This pandemic has forced people to take on social media groups with requests about oxygen, medicines, plasma, and whatnot. It has also brought out solidarity in humankind by trusting strangers to help save the life of your loved one. I am in one such group of ‘CovidWin’ and even though I am hardly active on this group (because of how stressful it is) I often observe the activity of one person who is available 24×7 and jumps to action at every request. Yesterday night when I saw him active at 2.30 AM, I did something I hardly ever do; texted a random stranger.
I simply said to him, you should get some sleep now, and his reply shocked me. As if waiting for just someone to hear his story, Sameer poured out his heart and told me everything about his life. He hasn’t had a good night’s sleep for 9 months as this young man lost his wife, 25; due to typhoid and an incompetent public healthcare system. He says, ‘there are many whom I can share with, but the truth is nobody can feel my pain.’ He works incessantly to help others in distress as he found himself all alone abandoned by friends and family in his darkest hour.
For once, I wanted to free my mind from its overworked network of Do’s and Don’ts and simply surpass all socio-economic differences and connect with someone on a human level. We stayed up all night texting and he shared everything clogged in his heart.
Sameer has no formal education, taking inspiration from movies he ran away from his home in Moradabad (the brass city), Uttar Pradesh and came to Delhi as a 13-year-old, with one aim – Earn Money. Taking up odd jobs and surviving through the day he somehow taught himself English and Graphic Designing among other things. He now supports his parents, and 6 siblings and their children. He has travelled to 200 cities in the last 8 years and enjoys singing; his late wife was a dancer. He proudly showed me a photo of him participating in SaReGaMaPa, a talent show. He has a 4-year-old son, his only reason to carry on. Like any proud parent he flooded me with photos and videos of his son; dancing, singing and just being adorable. Later I found out that his joyous son was a victim of fate as well, he has a hole in his heart.
Just like millions, the economic downturn has not spared Sameer’s family either. He is out of a job for 9 months now (around the same time he lost his wife) and has since dipped into his savings which are ever dwindling. He anxiously awaits his future and hopes he does not lose his son to the same fate.
Chasing Sunsets 