“I used to work in an ice cream factory in Saudi Arabia. I had a regular income and good friends. I was quite happy there for more than a decade. But a few years back, the company suffered heavy losses and began to lay off its employees. Overnight, I was out of my job. I was devastated and didn’t know what to do. My family was dependent on me and I couldn’t just sit at home. So, I took the immediate job I found.

For the last 5 years, I have been working as an auto driver. This is not what I had imagined myself doing and there are days when I feel like I am stuck but I know that the road to success is not too long gone and if I give in to self-pity, I will never get back on track. So, every morning, I come to work with a motive to explore and learn from everyone and do my duty with a smile.

Talking about the holy Ramadan month, I had always spent it with my family members by offering prayers and also keeping Roza. I think the most important thing about Roza is the remainder of the spiritual values of life.

While I am fasting, I am also more aware of my actions because saying something negative about another person could break the value of the fast. Ultimately it makes me appreciate what matters – mostly my relationship with God and people who I love and love me back.

Last year, I couldn’t go out during Ramadan because of the lockdown but this time I am back on the roads to do my duty as I have five people to look after at home. Not only that, but I have also decided to serve people by offering free rides to people in emergencies. Inshallah, I hope the world could be soon free from this deadly coronavirus pandemic.”