
Teen came to city for Rakshabandhan, wanted to help in his sister's wedding
Pradeep
. Nearby, under a tree, his sister Jyoti sat dazed, her eyes vacant. The teen had come to Delhi two months ago for
Rakshabandhan
.
It was supposed to be a short reunion with his sisters. But with one sister's wedding round the corner, Pradeep decided he couldn't just sit by. He began picking up small jobs, hoping to contribute whatever he could.
On Friday, while allegedly removing the scaffolding inside a septic tank at a construction site in southwest Delhi, Pradeep lost his life. "Woh sirf Rakhi ke liye aaya tha," Jyoti murmured, still in disbelief.
"He was so close to my children. They adored him. He was himself only a kid."
Jyoti, married and living in Delhi, recalled how their parents, small-time farmers in Bihar, struggled to make ends meet. "We are three siblings. My sister, who is 22 years old, is getting married this year. Pradeep was the youngest. Our parents sell vegetable they grow on a tiny patch. That's what we survived on. None of us got to finish school. There wasn't any money for that."
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Pradeep hoped to stay in a Delhi for a short while, be with his sisters on Rakshabandhan and lend a hand with the wedding preparations. "My sister was also going to visit soon. Pradeep said he wanted to take up some job here to help with the wedding expenses," Jyoti mumbled.
Her husband, Chander Shekhar, works at the construction site in Goyla Dairy. Watching him leave for work every morning, Pradeep offered to tag along.
"He was so eager to help, to contribute even a little. He said, 'Jitna ho sake, shaadi ke liye de paunga."
Subhash, the contractor who died after entering the septic tank to check on Pradeep, was himself the only earner in the family. A native of Bihar's Banka district, Subhash had been living and working in Delhi for nearly a decade, far from his wife, children and ageing parents.
"He lived alone in the city, away from everyone he loved," said a relative.
"His wife Pushpa and their three children, all of whom are under the age of 14, are still in the village. They're inconsolable. Everyone depended on him."
Subhash took up whatever job came his way and worked long hours for low pay but he never missed sending money home. His parents are elderly and suffer from frequent health problems, which made his support all the more necessary. "He couldn't afford to bring his family to Delhi. But he never failed to provide for them. Their school fees, food, medicine, he gave everything. How will they survive now?" the relative wondered.

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