Dubai worker carves ‘heart’ on pavement, wins hearts online
dubai — A photo of a Dubai street sweeper crafting a heart out of twigs and dried leaves has gone viral on social media.
Ramesh Gangarajam Gandi became an Internet star after Nesma Farahat posted a photo on Instagram that showed him carving a heart shape on a street.
It was a regular day at work for 30-year-old Gandi when a sudden rush of emotions led him to draw a heart on the pavement — with dried leaves swept off a Downtown Dubai street.
“I was wrapping up work from my home desk when I noticed a worker crafting something on the pavement. I went to the balcony to look more closely, and as I watched, I saw him perfecting the shape of a heart,” Farahat told Khaleej Times.
“It was a sweet sight and by the time I went out to see, he had completed the shape and was smoothening out the edges. He looked at it lovingly for a few seconds, then sweeped the leaves to his cart and went away quietly,” she added.
She shared the picture on her Instagram account and the response was “overwhelming”. The picture was liked by thousands of Instagram users with heartwarming messages for Gandi. “My friends loved the picture so much that they requested if they could share it from their accounts too. I was amazed at the outpour of love and support received from the community,” said Farahat.
Gandi came to the UAE last September to work as a housekeeping staff with facilities management company Emrill. He was completely oblivious of the fact that someone was watching him in those few moments he spent making the shape of a heart.
Ministry sends a gift of love
After seeing his picture on social media, the Ministry of Community Development sent Gandi a gift pack to show their love and support for the young man.