Extraordinary Indians

Seven amazing tales of real-life heroes— and how they became the defenders of the powerless

MOTHER COURAGEAyisha Falaq, 33

Ayisha Falaq was at a relative’s place when her husband Falaq Sher Alam got the call, roughly around dinner time. Md. Akram, her husband’s “muh bola bhai” had phoned to say his brother Md. Asif had been abducted. The kidnappers called from Asif’s mobile, demanding a ransom of ₹25,000 and threatening to kill him if the police were informed. Getting another desperate call around 11 p.m. they decided to go over to Akram’s house. There Ayisha and Falaq, along with other family members, heard the kidnappers’ demands on Akram’s speakerphone. Falaq and Akram were to deliver the money and free Asif. The petite and slender Ayisha, mother of two little girls, decided she would accompany them.

Asif, 22, was an undergraduate student and drove the family sedan as a cab, part-time. On the evening of 25 May last year, he had accepted a booking. He picked up two men, Akshay* and Md. Rafiq*, from near a bank. As they approached their destination in Anand Vihar, the men instructed Asif to keep driving towards the Delhi–UP border, to Bhopura village. They had picked up alcohol en route and started drinking in the car. In an unknown area, off the main road, late in the evening, Asif was getting nervous.

Suddenly, the men grabbed him from behind and made him pull over. Beating him up, they took away his car keys, watch, wallet (which had ₹150) and two mobile phones. They were debating whether to tie him up and kick him out, or put a bullet in his head and drive off, when Asif begged them to take his savings but let him go. Greed got the better of them. And they made the call to his family.