Tragedy struck just weeks into what Sharanjit Kaur describes as the happiest weeks of her nephew’s life. Anakhpal Singh went to sleep and never woke up, weeks after the Adelaide-based student’s India wedding.
It was a shock to the entire family. As Ms Kaur described, he was otherwise in perfect health despite passing away from heart failure.
“He was the eldest son and was working really hard to provide for his family. He loved them dearly. His dream was always to settle in Australia, and then down the track, help his 18-year-old brother move here too,” she said.
Mr Singh grew up in a farming family in Harayana, a state just north of New Delhi, India. As Ms Kaur said, their beginnings were humble, but full of laughter and joy.
“When my siblings and I were young, maybe about nine or ten, we used to take turns holding Anakh as a baby – he was the sweetest child and as cute as a button. My memories of home are very much connected to my nephew and his family,” she added.
Mr Singh moved to Adelaide in 2022 at the age of 20. Ms Kaur says that while this age was the time for him to be having fun, Mr Singh saw the move to Australia as not just a chance for adventure, but one to take care of his parents and brother. By this age, he was already the main breadwinner of his family.
“Anakh loved his family. He was the type of person that made sure to personally visit the homes of all his relatives, no matter young or old. That’s what he was doing in the days leading up to his passing. His family meant the world to him.”
Mr Singh passed away two days before he was meant to fly back to Adelaide, Australia. Tragically, suitcases were packed and ready to go.
Ms Kaur said that the responsibility of taking care of the family has now fallen on Mr Singh’s 18-year-old brother, who is still in school and trying to cope with the grief of losing his beloved sibling.
