Ailing Indian finds ‘angel’ in Pakistani man
dubai — In a story of friendship that knows no borders, a Pakistani expat has voluntarily become the caregiver of his 63-yearold Indian roommate, who has been partially paralysed after suffering two strokes.
Indian expat Tomichan Puthuparambil Thomas has no words to express his gratitude for his Pakistani roommate, Mohammed Asad, 36, who has been taking care of him for the last 18 months. The two have been roommates for around four years now.
After facing heavy losses in his small business, Thomas — who hails from the Indian state of Kerala — suffered two strokes that not only left him partially paralysed but also caused blindness.
“I came to Dubai eight years ago. Initially, I took up a job in a company but since they were not paying my salary on time, I started a business, which didn’t do well. Since I was unable to pay the rent for my shop, I got entangled in some legal trouble and even went to jail for six months,” Thomas said. “This was the most stressful time for me. I was completely bed-ridden. I could not
We must not look at nationality or any other differences when helping people. For me, it was not an Indian or Pakistani who needed help but a human like me. I will continue to help him until I put him on that plane back home.” Mohammed Asad, Pakistani expat
even go to the toilet on my own. And this is when Asad came to my rescue as my guardian angel.”
Taking care of ‘uncle’
Although Thomas would not share his problems with Asad, the latter began helping him, addressing him as ‘uncle’.
“While others in the room would be busy chatting on the phone or cracking jokes, I would notice uncle sitting silently on his bunk bed and crying at times. I tried asking him his issues but he wouldn’t open up so I started helping him with his daily chores,” Asad said. “Uncle somehow reminds me of my father, who passed away a few years back. My heart ached to see him suffer.”
Asad, who works as a crane operator on night shifts, makes sure Thomas has everything he needs before he leaves for his job.
“I leave at 5pm for work. Before that, I take him to the bathroom and help him get fresh. Then I make arrangements for our meal. I keep some fruits and anything he requires next to his bed and leave for work. I get back at around 5am and the first thing I do is to take him to the washroom as he is diabetic and often needs to use the loo.”
Asad is hoping his ‘uncle’ could go home to his family. Thomas, who has a rental case against him, cannot fly to India because of a travel ban. Volunteers Rayees Poyilunkhal, Saman Abdulkhadar, along with advocate Fareeth and VP Sasikumar, are in talks to try and settle Thomas’ case so he can return home.