The heartwarming story of Vaisakh Surendran and his enduring friendship with his friends Arshad Abdul Azeez, Ahmed Farris, and an anonymous third person from Abu Dhabi shows the power of support in tough times. Surendran, who faced financial difficulties and legal battles after being cheated by a relative, found solace in his friends who provided him with shelter and food for eight years. Despite settling all court cases with their help, Surendran still faces an overstay fine since 2019 and pending dues of Dh40,000, making it impossible for him to return home to Kerala where his son and family await.
Surendran’s journey in Abu Dhabi began as a helper earning Dh1,300, eventually moving on to becoming a salesman with a salary of Dh2,300 and starting his own trading company that unfortunately failed due to losses in the business. Adding to his troubles, a relative’s fraud scheme led to his imprisonment and the inability to renew his company license due to ongoing court cases. Despite these challenges, Surendran’s friends stood by him, providing emotional and financial support through the toughest times.
Arshad Abdul Azeez, a childhood friend of Surendran, along with Ahmed Farris, and others, supported Surendran by paying his rent, providing food, and helping settle his court cases over the years. Together, they managed to raise Dh23,000 to settle a final court case, hoping it would pave the way for Surendran to return home. However, their plans were halted when they discovered his overstay fines and pending dues amounting to over Dh40,000. Despite their efforts, the sum was too significant for them to cover, leaving Surendran stranded and unable to reunite with his family.
While Surendran’s wife holds a part-time job back home to sustain their family, the emotional toll of being away from his son and aging parents weighs heavily on him. With his son in Grade 5, Surendran longs to be present for parent-teacher meetings and important milestones in his child’s life. Despite the challenges he has faced, Surendran remains hopeful for a chance to return home one day and rebuild his life with the ongoing support of his friends and community members.
