United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Pakistani Muhammad Asad has been playing the role of a caregiver to an Indian, namely Tomichan Puthuparambil Thomas, who is visually impaired and partially paralysed.
According to Khaleej Times, Thomas has been in the UAE for the past eight years and the two have been roommates for almost four years now.
After facing heavy losses in his small scale business and getting entangled in a civil case, Thomas, who is from Kerala, suffered two strokes that left him not only partially paralysed but visually impaired too.
“I came to Dubai eight years ago, after working for thirty years in Saudi Arabia where I had some small businesses,” Thomas told the media outlet.
“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 entangled 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,” he added.
In the beginning, Thomas would not share his pain or problems with Asad but the latter started helping him with his bathroom trips besides offering him food.
Asad addresses Thomas as “uncle”.
“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,” Asad said.
“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 works as a crane operator and has night shifts. But he takes care of all the arrangements to make sure that Thomas is comfortable even in his absence.
