Ramyag, 71 years old, sat on the creaky wooden bed in the small, dimly lit shanty in Amar Park Zakhira. He gently fed his paralyzed wife, Sheela, a spoonful of mashed lentils and potatoes, their daily routine for the past five decades. The weight of their years together hung heavy in the air, alongside the absence of their sons, who had long since drifted away, leaving Ramyag and Sheela to navigate life’s challenges alone.
Despite their struggles, they found solace in the Love and Lunch program, where Asha, a beacon of hope in their community, provided them with hot nutritious lunch and a ration packet every month to take care of their dinner. It was a lifeline that ensured they had something to eat, sustaining them through their twilight years.
But as age crept upon Ramyag, so did health complications. Dental issues plagued him, robbing him of his ability to enjoy the simplest of pleasures—eating solid food. With each lost tooth, he felt a piece of his dignity slip away, his once sturdy frame now reduced to a mere shadow of its former self.
Then came April, a month that would mark a turning point in Ramyag’s life. The inauguration of Asha’s dental clinic brought a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows. Ramyag, with trembling hands and a heart heavy with anticipation, became one of its first patients.
Dr. Komal Gandhi, Asha’s compassionate dentist, treated Ramyag with utmost care and respect. With steady hands, she removed six teeth, alleviating Ramyag’s pain and discomfort. Then came the fitting of the denture for his lower jaw—a simple yet transformative act that would change Ramyag’s life forever.
Two weeks later, as Ramyag gingerly tested his new denture, tears welled up in his eyes. The sensation of biting into a crisp chappati, once a distant memory, now flooded his senses with overwhelming joy. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and he felt a newfound sense of freedom.
