The Selfless Helper

On a hot, sunny Summer day in Mumbai, one that would tempt you to consume a carton of ice- cream, Asif received an urgent call from Aparna, his boss at 'Medi Assist', the local hospital, where he worked as an ambulance driver. In a trembling voice, she said 'Hello Asif', gulped nervously, and then continued, 'there has been a terrible incident.' A troubled Asif was worried and asked her what had happened. 'The first death due to COVID-19 has just occurred at the hospital and I want you to take the body to the cremation grounds, since the deceased has no relatives.', Aparna told him.

'What a tragedy!', cried Asif and hurried to tell his wife Alina. Looking at his pale face, she asked, 'What is the matter? You look as if you have seen a ghost.' He told her about the tragic event that had just occurred at Medi Assist. Alina advised him not to go, as he was the breadwinner of the family. If any misfortune was to befall upon him, the family would be in a grave situation. He protested against it and said that it was his duty. Quickly, he got out the ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Over the course of the next few weeks, the number of people contracting the virus increased. The number of deaths increased rapidly too. The death of a renowned doctor at Medi Assist came as a shock to many. Asif fulfilled his duty by taking the bodies of the deceased to the burial and cremation grounds. 

One day while returning to the hospital, Asif saw an old man crying bitterly outside. There was a body lying next to him. Asif being a concerned man, asked him, 'Dear sir, what is the matter?' The man looked at him with bloodshot eyes and replied, 'My name is Ram. This is my son,' he said pointing to the deceased, 'he was the breadwinner of the family and I have no more money left to complete his last rites.' Asif was struck with sadness. He said, 'Sir, let my shift is over, let me take your son to the burial grounds in the ambulance.' With hopeful eyes, the man said, 'Thank you my son.' This incident made a deep impact on Asif. 

So he took a bold decision to start arranging for funerals for such people with his own savings. His family advised him against it, but his sole, solemn answer was, 'It is my duty.' So he started off on his mission to help the needy. Soon, many people started coming to him for help. Asif helped them gladly. Even some of his friends helped him on his mission. He appeared in the newspaper, as, 'The Self- less Helper'. During the course of his mission, his neighbours avoided him, in fear of contracting the virus. Throughout his work, he remembered what his mother had taught him, 'To put humanity first'. 

One day, Asif found out that he had contracted the virus. It came as a shock for everyone, especially for his boss, Aparna, who had helped him throughout with whatever little she had. Knowing he had no money to fund his treatment, she started an online fundraiser for him, where people donated generously. Very soon, he recovered and got back to his mission, which soon became a city- wide operation. Even the chief- minister praised him for his good work. 

Throughout his journey, he never forgot that friends in need are friends indeed.