SURAT: This Rakshabandhan, 25-year-old Nidhi Patel travelled to Asarma village near Hansot in Bharuch district to tie a rakhi on the wrist of Raviraj Mahida (25), the man who received the heart of her late brother, Shaishav Patel, three years ago.For Nidhi, a resident of Hajat village in Ankleshwar, the annual ritual has become a cherished tradition. The two families have grown close since the organ donation, forging a bond that extends beyond the life-saving transplant.“I call Ravi’s parents. They consider me their daughter. It brings me some solace, that my brother is still alive in a way, while tying a rakhi to Ravi,” Nidhi told TOI.Shaishav, a mechanical engineer who worked at a factory in Bharuch while also helping his family with farming, suffered a fatal accident in March 2023. He was initially taken to a hospital in Ankleshwar and later shifted to Surat for advanced treatment, where doctors declared him brain dead.Nidhi, who holds a master’s degree in rural studies, recalled the difficult decision that followed.“We were in shock initially but later, through Donate Life, realized that many people could get a new lease of life through the organs of my brother. That gave me courage and I convinced my parents,” she said.The Patel family later learned through a relative that Shaishav’s heart had been transplanted into Raviraj. Over time, what began as a connection through organ donation evolved into a relationship akin to an extended family.Raviraj said, “Shaishav’s heart is beating inside me. This rakhi tied by Nidhi is not tied only on my wrist, but on the hearts of two families. Shaishav not only gave me a new life, he also gave me a sister in the form of Nidhi.”Nilesh Mandalewala, founder of Donate Life, said, “This is not just Rakshabandhan; it is a celebration of the unbreakable bond of humanity. Shaishav’s heart has bound two unknown families in such a sacred bond of love — deeper even than a blood relationship. Organ donation not only saves lives, it gives relationships a new identity.”
