On July 15, Nesma Farahat was wrapping up her workday at her home office in Downtown Dubai when something outside the window caught her eye.
A cleaner tending to the street had drawn a heart on the pavement, using fallen petals from the trees. After a while, he swept it away. The moment was so sweet, she captured a snap.
“It was so heartwarming to watch him doing it but also bittersweet because you don’t know the emotion behind it. You want it to be happiness,” says Farahat.
The National has located the man, Ramesh Gangarajam Gandi, who works as a housekeeping attendant with facilities management provider Emrill.
Gandi hails from Telangana, India, and came to Dubai 10 months ago to take up his position with Emrill. On the day the picture was taken, he was just finishing his duties when he thought about his wife, leading him to draw the heart.
Gandi got married just a month before relocating to the UAE, and his wife has stayed in India.
“I have been enjoying my work and it has really helped keep my mind busy, but on that day, I was missing my wife and wishing I could spend time with her. I know a lot of people are missing those they love and feel the same way I do,” he says.
Like many around the world, Gandi’s life has been affected by the pandemic in numerous ways.
“I have been thinking about my parents and wife back home in India, and my brothers in Oman, and hoping they are all OK," he says.
“Unfortunately, my father has been taken ill recently, so I will be returning to India on leave to spend some time with him and will come back to my job in a month or so."
'I didn’t even know anyone was watching me'
Since the image was posted on Instagram on Sunday, July 19, it has gone viral. Numerous people have approached Farahat, trying to locate Gandi.
“The Good News Movement account, which has 1.5 million followers, posted it as an Instastory,” she says.
“Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi also shared it as an Instagram Story."
Dubai arts and crafts company The Happy Box reposted the image, describing it as the "best thing we’ve seen all year".
"A bittersweet moment. Think this resonates with us all, we are all longing to be with our loved ones," read the caption.
Meanwhile, numerous people have approached Farahat asking if there is any way they can reach out to Gandi, or thank him for making their day brighter.
“It’s been amazing to see how many people have taken an interest in what I thought was an innocent picture,” she says.
Gandi is also surprised by the attention the photograph has received.
"Someone saw the photograph and got a gift for me, which she passed on to my colleague to give to me," he says.
“I was so touched. I didn’t think something as simple as creating a heart out of petals would be interesting for other people – I didn’t even know anyone was watching.”
Now read: how a Dubai Facebook group ended up helping 10,000 people in need
The kindness exchange Stop and Help has helped many families across the country since its inception in March. Click here to read the story.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
Read more about the coronavirus
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
Results
4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.
5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass
5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley; Musabah Al Muhairi
6.55pm: Handicap; Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar.
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Company%20profile
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Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
