HYDERABAD: Sitting helplessly in a corner of their one-room house in Noor Nagar area of Banjara Hills, this elderly couple appears shattered, completely. They had absolutely no expectations from life, except that they get two square meals a day. Everyday, both would set out for work to earn their daily bread and were leading a peaceful life. This was so till the morning of May 28.
Early that morning, both started as usual for work on their bicycle. As they were struggling uphill near the Indo-American Centre, a Honda CRV vehicle hit them from behind. The man behind the wheel was filmstar, Chiranjeevi's son, Ram Charan Tej, who was returning home from gym.
The star's son got them admitted to a corporate hospital at Jubilee Hills and, after treatment for bruises, the couple -- Bal Reddy and Yadamma -- were discharged. All this in less than 45 minutes.
"His men then took us to Sri Hospitals at Krishna Nagar. They promised to give us Rs. 90,000 as compensation, but less than half of that was given to us," says a grim-looking Bal Reddy. When the couple pleaded with them that the amount would just be enough for their medical expenses, they allegedly threatened them saying it was adequate and that they should not expect more. "They paid us Rs. 40,000 and promised to pay the remaining amount by June 6. So far, we have not heard anything from them," Reddy says as Yadamma shows her still fresh wounds. "At least we used to earn Rs. 250 to Rs. 300 by working everyday. Since the accident, we have been unable to move out. We are not able even to walk properly. The injuries have led to further complications," she says with tears in her eyes.
`Not after money'
"We are not after money. After all, my parents were leading a peaceful life earlier. But, is this cold response expected from the rich and famous whom we often see on television when they participate in blood donation and charities," asks Anji Reddy, the only son of the couple, who is also a labourer. He happens to be a big fan of Chiranjeevi, but that was so only till May 28.
"Even if they make the full payment, it will only meet their medical expenses, but what after that? As it is they are old and it might take another year for them to recover fully," is their neighbours' argument.
Even the Congress MLA, P. Janardhan Reddy, who paid a visit to them, promised help in getting the compensation amount. But nothing seems to have moved, at least till now.
--The HIndu --
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