In the tangled lanes of Tigri slum in South Delhi lives Harveer, a 62-year-old man whose life has been a relentless battle against poverty, tragedy, and loss.
Harveer’s story began long before he was born, when his parents migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, clutching onto the fragile hope of a better future. But the city was merciless. His father could only find work as a labourer, and feeding a family of eight, three sons, three daughters, and two parents, became an everyday struggle.
Sacrificing dreams for survival, Harveer and his brothers abandoned school and picked up the tools of labour. From a young age, Harveer knew only one thing: hard work.
Life, however, was far from kind. Harveer lost both his parents and two of his brothers early on. Yet, he carried the weight of responsibilities on his young shoulders without complaint. He married, started his own family, and for a brief time, experienced the fragile peace of everyday life with his wife, two daughters, and two sons.
But fate struck a cruel blow. One afternoon, while fetching water near his workplace, Harveer was hit in the eye by a flying stone. The injury was devastating. Despite visiting countless hospitals, doctors could not save his eye. The loss not only robbed him of his sight but also pushed him into deep despair.
Still, Harveer persevered. His elder son, with Asha’s unwavering support, continued his education and completed Class 12 in 2006, an achievement that changed the family’s destiny. With his education, he secured a good job in a prestigious company and became the backbone of the family.
But the happiness was short-lived.
Harveer’s younger son fell into the grip of alcoholism, abandoning his education and, eventually, his life to the addiction. The grief of losing a child was unbearable. Yet Harveer bore it silently.
Time moved on; his daughters and elder son married, and Harveer found some comfort in family life. But tragedy struck again. His beloved wife, the woman who had stood beside him through every storm, passed away. Alone and fragile, Harveer’s health began to fail.
His breathing became more labored, small tasks like climbing a few steps left him gasping for air, and the simplest activities became a daily struggle. Nights were the hardest. Coughing fits, tightness in the chest, and fear of suffocation became his unwelcome companions.
In desperation, Harveer visited the local clinic, but the medications provided little to no relief. His condition worsened steadily, leaving him feeling defeated and helpless.
It was then that he turned once again to Asha, a place that had already transformed his family’s future once. At the Asha clinic, Harveer was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe and cannot be fully cured.
The diagnosis was heartbreaking for Harveer, but the care he received at Asha became a turning point. Asha’s health team not only provided him with the right medications, including bronchodilators to open his airways and inhalers to reduce inflammation, but also patiently educated him about managing his condition. They taught him breathing exercises, techniques to clear his lungs, and the importance of regular check-ups and medication adherence.
More importantly, they surrounded him with kindness, treating him not just as a patient, but as a human being deserving of dignity and hope.
Today, thanks to Asha’s consistent support, Harveer’s breathing has stabilized. He no longer fears the nights. He visits the Asha clinic weekly for monitoring and guidance and follows a simple, manageable routine that keeps his symptoms under control.
With tears in his eyes, Harveer says,
“God gave me life, but Asha gave me hope, a reason to live with strength, even with all my struggles.”
