“She is with me and my two sons as our life, shadow and pride…” these are the words of Sajeesh, the husband of nurse Lini who died of Nipah virus infection, which she had contracted from some patients she was tending to at Perambra government Taluk hospital in Kozhikode. Today it is one year to her memories...

Sajeesh now brings up his two kids Kunju (5) and Siddhu (3) more or less single-handedly. Though their grandma Radha also stays with them, the kids will sleep only their papa lies in between them on bed. The elder child wants his father only to dress him up and see him off to school every day with a kiss on his cheek, a habit that was started by his mother.

Via her letter from deathbed, Lini had virtually handed over the kids to their father before leaving this world. “My death is almost certain…Take care of our children…” she had written.

Sajeesh had left his job in Qatar to take care of the children. The government job of a clerk in Koothali PHC he was awarded had been a great relief to this dotting father.

Even today people come with gifts to see the children and their father at their Chembanodu Kurathipara house..

Meanwhile, Sajeesh is gratified that he was able to fulfill one more wish of Lini. Kunju (Rithul) had always wanted to visit his father’s working place abroad. Lini had asked him in the letter to take Kunju once to Qatar.

Recently Kunju and father got a chance to visit Qatar as part of the team of invitees to attend the inauguration of the trailer of the film Virus. The film based on the life story of Lini was made by Ashiq Abu.