Tragic Decline: Father and Daughters Struggle After Mother’s Death | Delhi News – Times of India

Heeralal was once a generous man and all the daughters were good at studies, say kin

NEW DELHI: Heeralal Sharma, once a pillar of support for his family, had become increasingly reclusive after the death of his wife last year. His days were marked by a rigid routine— waking up, preparing meals for his four daughters and leaving for work. His daughters, in turn, spent most of their days in bed, awaiting his return. Upon his arrival, Heeralal would either bring packed food or cook and feed them before retiring for the night.
Gudiya Sharma, the sister-in-law of Heeralal, said that all four daughters had graduated from different fields despite their hardships.Two studied science and commerce, while the other two pursued arts. “They were brilliant in their studies. But after their mother’s death, their studies were affected. Then, they told me that they didn’t want to talk about their future,” she added.
Gudiya further said Heeralal had stopped talking to the family for the past four months. “After the death of his wife, Kanti Devi, he began to feel very sad and fell into depression. His four daughters also became quiet and stopped talking to anyone; they wouldn’t even answer the phone calls,” she said. The family had recently learnt that Heeralal had later stopped going to work too.

Devi passed away on Aug 23, 2023 in the hospital where Heeralal worked. “She had been admitted to the hospital for treatment three or four times before this,” a senior police officer said.
Her illness had cast a long shadow over the family, one that became even darker after her passing. Before his wife died, Heeralal was known for his warmth and generosity. He would regularly visit the family, providing advice and support whenever they faced difficulties.
Gudiya recalled, “The last time he visited with his wife, he was a completely different person—affable and friendly. The couple were very helpful, always ready to lend a hand.”
She claimed that they had made numerous attempts to reach out to Heeralal during his time of need, but to no avail. “My husband visited Heeralal’s home multiple times, but no one opened the door,” she said, adding that the man who once brought joy to their lives was now a stranger, hidden away in his own grief.
About 10 days ago, Gudiya saw Heeralal shopping in Mahipalpur. She called out to him, but he didn’t respond.
As a father, Heeralal was exceptionally caring and attentive. “One of the daughters, who had problems with her eyesight, had asked Heeralal not to leave her alone because she was scared. He left his job probably because of this reason,” Gudiya said.
“I saw how much he loved his daughters. Whatever they asked for, he would bring right away. His commitment to his daughters was evident in his actions, as he tried to fulfil their needs even amid all the adverse circumstances,” she recalled.
When the family received a call from police about the tragic events that unfolded, they were left in shock.
“We never expected something like this to happen,” the sister-in-law added.
According to family members, after Devi’s death, one of the daughters had taken on the responsibility of helping Heeralal with daily chores, trying to bring some normalcy back to their home.
Gudiya further questioned why, if a family had not been seen for two or three days, no one in the building cared enough to check on them.
Neighbours said that since his wife passed, they would only catch a glimpse of him and his daughters when he would be picking them up and taking a cab with him, possibly for medical treatment. One of them said that he tried to speak to Heeralal several times but he did not respond.