Pakistani man tends and cares for blind Indian 'uncle' in UAE

Dubai - 'Uncle reminds me of my father, who passed away a few years back, and my heart ached to see him suffer'

In a heartwarming story of friendship and humanity, a 36-year-old Pakistani man has voluntarily become the caretaker of a 63-year-old ailing Indian, who is partially paralysed due to two heart strokes.

Indian expat, Tomichan Puthuparambil Thomas, who has been in the UAE for the last eight years, has no words to express his gratitude for his Pakistani roommate, Mohammed Asad, 36, who has been playing the role of his care taker for the last 18 months.  The two have been room mates for around four years now.

After facing heavy losses in his small scale business and getting entangled in a civil case, Thomas, who hails from Kerala, suffered two strokes that left him not only partially paralysed but also caused blindness.

“I came to Dubai eight years ago, after working for thirty years in Saudi Arabia where I had some small businesses. Initially I took up a job in a company but since they were not paying salary on time, I started some business which also didn’t do well and since I was unable to pay the rent for my shop, I got entangles in some legal case and even went to jail for six months. This was the most stressful time for me and I suffered two strokes and was completely bed-ridden. I could not even go to the toilet on my own. And this is when Asad came to my rescue as my guardian angel.”

Although the two had a tough time communicating as Thomas would not share his pain or problems with Asad, the latter began helping Thomas, whom he addresses as uncle, with his bathroom trips and also offered him food.

“ While others in the room would be busy chatting on 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. Also, uncle somehow reminds me of my father, who passed away a few years back, and my heart ached to see him suffer. It is basic humanity to help people around you and my parents always taught me to help anyone and everyone,” Asad told Khaleej Times.

Asad, who works as a crane operator and has night shifts, makes all arrangements to see that Thomas is comfortable when he is away at work.