For 12 hours a day, Akash Saroj weaves through Delhi’s streets with a delivery bag on his back. At the end of each shift, he does something many people with far more would find hard to do. He sets aside a large part of what he has earned to help those who have less. A resident of the Bhalaswa slum area in the capital, Akash spends more than half his daily earnings on others. It is a choice rooted in a promise he made to his late father.
A dancer’s dream, interrupted
Akash has worked full-time as a food delivery executive for about two and a half years. Before that, he delivered food only part-time, while pursuing his real passion: dance. Trained as a dancer since 2014, he once dreamed of becoming a choreographer.Then came a phone call from Vijayawada. His father was critically ill. Akash borrowed money from friends and rushed to be by his side, but he could not save him.
A father’s last wish
That loss changed the course of his life. Akash recalls that his father’s final words urged him to help others, whether or not he ever became wealthy himself. He decided to honour that wish. He also had little choice about his work, as there was no other earning member in the family and medical expenses had left him with a debt of nearly Rs 3 lakh. So he took up delivery work full-time.
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Rs 300 a day for those in need
After his long shifts, Akash manages to save around Rs 600 a day, and about half of it goes straight to helping others. In winter, he hands out blankets to people sleeping on the streets. On other days, he offers food or small essentials to those struggling around him.
Sharing the story, and the kindness it brought
About a year ago, he began sharing his efforts on social media. Some people questioned why he chose to document his acts of kindness, but many others were moved. Customers have recognised him during deliveries, and some have tipped him specifically to support his work. One customer gave him Rs 500 and asked him to pass it on to someone in need.
Dance remains his first love
Dance, Akash says, is still his first love. For now, he keeps delivering food and quietly keeping his promise, a reminder that compassion depends less on how much a person earns than on how much they choose to give.