Good
samaritan Indian hits jackpot in Dubai
Indo-Asian
News Service
Dubai,
June 8 (IANS) Ever thought of buying a lottery ticket with
the sole dream of helping somebody else? An Indian in Dubai
did just that and managed to win a 1 million-dirham (Rs.11.6
million) jackpot.
Mustafa Beeroli, 53, hailing from Kerala, wanted to help
35-year-old Naushad, a fellow Keralite, who was struggling
at work due to poor health.
Even
as Beeroli sought ways to fund Naushad's treatment, he came
across a billboard advertising a Postcard Millionaire raffle.
He
then immediately bought a postcard pack and the next thing
he knew he had won a million dirhams.
"I was sad at his (Naushad's) plight and promised to
help him out with the help of some friends,” Beeroli told
the Gulf News.
“A
couple of days later on my way to work I came across a large
billboard that featured an advertisement on Postcard Millionaire.
I decided to get a pack and hoped that I would win. This was
the fastest manner in which I could help out Naushad.”
Three
days after getting the pack May 28, he got a call and came
to know that he had won a million dirhams.
“I
did not waste a single moment and telephoned Naushad asking
him not to worry and that I have enough money to pay off his
entire debt of Indian rupees 63,000 (5,433 dirhams),” he said.
Beeroli had come to know of Naushad's plight from one of
his colleagues. He then met Naushad through his colleague,
Nissar.
"There
was a considerable swelling on his (Naushad's) left thigh,”
Beeroli told the newspaper.
“During
the course of our conversation, I learnt that Naushad is from
my hometown Kunjipalli in the south Indian state of Kerala
and he penned religious songs. I learnt that his father, who
was a fisherman, had died of cancer without getting treatment
as they were unable to afford it.”
Naushad,
who walked around with a limp on his left leg, eked out a
living as a part-time labourer and painter.
“He
came to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with the help of his
brother and worked in a hotel as a waiter but after a few
months he developed a vein problem on his thigh,” Beeroli
said.
“The
treatment here turned out to be costly and so his elder brother
decided to send him back to Kerala and get Naushad some medical
attention.”
Naushad
did go back to Kerala for his treatment but had to take a
bank loan to pay his hospital bills.
To repay the loan, he again decided to come back to Dubai
and resumed his job at the hotel. But he continued to suffer
because of the long working hours and affected thigh.
That
was when Beeroli entered his life.
Now,
Naushad has requested Beeroli to buy him a new pen so he could
continue writing religious songs.
Beeroli, who is attached to two Kerala-based social organizations
- the Kunjipalli Islamic Cultural Centre and the Azhiyoor
Welfare Association - wants to spend the rest of his winnings
on charitable causes.
"I
shall utilize the remaining money to sort (out) some personal
needs. But I have planned majority of it for various charitable
causes,” he said.
Indo-Asian
News Service
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