Shattered, family struggles to meet ends

While the country celebrated Rakhi on Thursday, it was a sad day for Rakesh Chopra, the brother of Kshama, 30, who died in the BMW hit-and-run crash in May this year.

While the country celebrated Rakhi on Thursday, it was a sad day for Rakesh Chopra, the brother of Kshama, 30, who died in the BMW hit-and-run crash in May this year.

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An NRI based in London, Rakesh, 32, left his job and is in Gurgaon ever since he got news about the accident that left a pregnant Kshama dead, his parents and brother-in-law critically injured.

He performed the last rites of his sister while his family members were battling for life in hospital.

The only brother among three sisters, Rakesh is full of stories about his youngest engineer sibling.

“I am missing Kshama a lot today on Rakhi. We did not celebrate the festival and my day was like any other day. I came to hospital to see my mother Meena Chopra, 65, who has been in coma for three months. Life has become miserable and the administration and police have completely ignored us.”

He further said, “Kshama was with me in London in February and we had great time. I never knew it was the last time we were seeing each other. For a brother, it's a sad moment. I wish I can get justice for her. It is unfortunate that I could not get the accused behind the bars. Such people think they have the licence to kill people on the road and not get punished ever.”

The family has spent around Rs. 70 lakh on hospital and living expenses in the last three months. Kshama’s sisters have left their children with their respective families and are supporting Rakesh.

The financial burden is increasing by the day as the Chopra family is finding it difficult to cope with rising hospital bills.

“Several medical tests are conducted daily. My mother has gone through dialysis and has multiple fractures and wounds all over her body. She is in coma and admitted in ICU. Though she opens her eyes and looks around for a few seconds but sinks again. She doesn’t even know Kshama is no more,” said Rakesh, who is planning to sell his flat in Delhi to meet the expenses.

The family has taken a house on rent in Gurgaon and hired two attendants to look after their father Rajender Chopra who suffered fractures and is bed-ridden after the accident.

Kshama's husband Shailesh Shetye told HT, “It is extremely disappointing that nothing happened in court on August 1. I had thought the journey to get justice for Kshama would finally begin. The whole process has been pushed by three months.”