“Oh Allah, my Aamir, my Aamir, oh Allah…” the house shrieked with pain as we entered it. Throngs of people could be seen sitting, thumbing prayer beads, some silently, others hauling their hearts out. The rooms, courtyards, and plots, full of cots, chairs, and people, lament the loss as the happiness of the house, Aamir, has gone.
Aamir, 28, a truck driver from Palla village in Haryana, spent most of his days behind the wheel, working long hours to keep his household running. On the night of March 2, he was driving his pickup truck when his vehicle was intercepted near the Bhiwadi area of Rajasthan. As per the reports, a group of self-styled cow vigilantes rammed their vehicle into his truck, forcing it to stop.
What followed happened in moments. Before Aamir could even grasp what was unfolding, he was attacked and shot in the head. The violence was sudden and merciless, claiming his life within mere hours.
Shattered Home, Unfinished Happiness
Aamir is survived by a four-month-pregnant wife and one daughter, who is too young to understand the death of her father. His wife never thought she would be left alone to take care of the family. Their yet-to-be-born child will never receive the warmth of a father and will never get a shoulder to lean upon.
“What has happened? What thunder has come, ya Allah,” she howls, but that cannot bring her husband back. No amount of hauling can. Aamir was shot dead on mere suspicion of cow smuggling, the family told Miles2Smile.
Miles2Smile also visited the petrol pump where Aamir had filled fuel in his vehicle shortly before the incident. The video footage clearly showed that the vehicle was empty. There was no cow inside it.
Aamir’s parents are yet to come to terms with his death. Their old age and fragile bodies never fathomed that they would have to witness the death of their son in a way that would not only shake them but the entire nation.
“Our son is gone, we never that he would bid farewell like this, he was innocent,” his father said.
“Who is there to listen to us? Tell me, who is there who will listen to our side?” his uncle said.
Aamir’s younger sister’s wedding is scheduled next month. A house that was supposed to be decorated with illuminations is now shrouded in grief. Each brick, each wall, each corner now speaks of unbearable pain and unimaginable grief.
Relief and Hope
We mustered courage, moved forward, and tried to talk to the family, console them, and send our prayers. But words were too little to aid their pain. The family was too devastated to understand the condolence. Their faces spoke only about anguish, torment, and misery. The suffering dominated their lives, but it needed stitching.
We sat there for hours, observing their circumstances as the sole breadwinner of the family was gone. The family was writhing in pain. Aamir’s pregnant wife needed medical treatment, a secure future, and a safe environment. She has lost her husband in the most crucial phase of her life. The family needed funds to meet their daily expenses. His sisters needed financial security.
To meet these needs, we raised funds and within hours were able to have enough to help them. The contribution did not only help them financially but also reduced the worrisome thought of running the house.
