Heartbreaking end to college love story
Riyas was due to get married to his college sweetheart
It was not just the wedding dreams of a youth that were snuffed out when Muhammed Riyas V.P, who was flying home for his marriage planned a year ago, died in Friday’s Air India Express crash in Kozhikode, Kerala.
It was also a heartbreaking end to a college love story.
Riyas, 24, had fallen in love with Hanya, his junior in college, while he was doing his bachelor’s degree in Commerce at Ideal College in Cherpulassery, his uncle, Ashraf Ali, told Gulf News over the phone from Kerala on Sunday.
“He was popular in college. He was the college students’ union chairman,” said Ali.
However, he said the families came to know about his relationship with Hanya only after Riyas came to the UAE on a visit and went back for a change to his visa status when he managed to get a job as a warehouse assistant with a pharmaceutical company in Dubai.
‘First annual leave’
“When he came back, we all got to know [about their relationship] and the families agreed to their wedding one year ago. We decided to hold the function when he would come on his first annual leave this year.”
Since then, the families of Riyas and Hanya have been very close. They would call and visit each other very often while the couple continued with their long-distance relationship.
The wedding was supposed to take place some months ago. Due to the travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic it got postponed, said Ali.
“On the 14th of last month (July), we decided to hold the wedding this month depending on the arrival of Riyas. It was supposed to be held once he would finish his quarantine period upon reaching home.”
Brother survives
When he applied for his trip to India with the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Riyas cited “going for marriage function, which I planned before one year”, as the reason.
However, fate had a different plan. The youth, who boarded the ill-fated flight from Dubai to Kozhikode, along with his elder brother Nizamudheen V.P, 28, who works in Al Ain, was one of those killed when the plane skidded off the runway in Kozhikode and nosedived into a valley before breaking into two on Friday.
While Riyas could not make it, Nizamudheen had a miraculous escape with injuries and was under treatment at a hospital, said Ali.
Still in the dark
“He is in Kozhikode Medical College. He has not been told about Riyas. We were told he is out of danger and can be discharged in a couple of days.”
The siblings have another younger brother who studies back home.
On Saturday, both the families of Riyas and Hanya attended the funeral of Riyas at a local mosque.
Ali said Hanya has been inconsolable ever since hearing the tragic news.
“We have no words to console her.”
When he came back, we all got to know [about their relationship] and the families agreed to their wedding one year ago. We decided to hold the function when he would come on his first annual leave this year.”
Ashraf Ali | Uncle of Mohammed Riyas