New Delhi, July 25: Satish Veshwal, 28, hurriedly counts his earnings for the day. For half of whatever he earns from a small-time departmental store in Mongolpuri, he gives to Ved Bahadur Thapa, his tenant for two months. Satish Kumar Saraswat, 52, meanwhile, goes door-to-door asking for monetary help from the neighbours so that Thapa’s 13-year-old daughter Beena wins her battle against cancer.

Beena has been diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer) three months back. Thapa asked for advance from his employer but was sacked. He worked at a factory. Thapa’s neighbours in Madrassi colony, Mangolpuri, have now come forward for help. While some give money, others pitch in to ferry the child to the hospital in their car. “The motive is to save the girl’s life. We cannot see her dying just because her family can’t afford the treatment,” Satish said.

“Life came to a standstill for me when I got to know about her problem. The doctors said that I would have to arrange for Rs 3 lakh and it sounded impossible. I thought I lost my daughter. I was completely broken when I was sacked,” Thapa said. Inability to pay rent to their earlier landlord made things worse for the family. This was when the Veshwal family, their old landlords, came forward and rented out a small space to them.

“Beena was born in this house. However, they shifted few years back. It’s a small community, and when we got to know about their problems, we thought of helping them. He was like a brother to us,” said Vandana Veshwal.

Soon, others in Madrassi colony got to know about Beena’s health and people started coming to Thapa’s aid in whichever way they could.

“We have been collecting money from neighbours, and people are coming forward. Even if they contribute Rs 10, we feel happy,” Lagum Tai, another neighbour, said.

Confined in bed for three months now, Beena has several plans for life. “I want to live so that I can pay back my neighbours, who have been doing their best to save my life,” she said. “I hope her wishes come true,” Sonam, Beena’s mother, said.