Sonu Nigam and wife Madhurima were moved after reading newspaper reports of the incident. file pic

Six days ago, just as Poornima Goswami finished feeding her granddaughter, Aahana, lunch, the phone rang. It was singer Sonu Nigam. "He told me he wanted to bear all her costs. He was soft-spoken and came across as an extremely warm person. I'm overwhelmed that a celebrity like him  would bother about us," said Poornima.

Poornima's daughter Anindita Misra was killed on the evening of October 16, a few metres from the Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, Koparkhairne where she worked as an assistant human resource manager. Her colleague, Jacob Pinto has been arrested and is in custody. Anindita, a single mother, has a daughter, Aahana (5), who is spastic.

After Anindita's death, Poornima (70) has been looking after the girl. Said Poornima, "Sonu called me Ma-ji and asked after my health."

"He wanted to know how Aahana was doing as well. He then told me not to worry and promised to do everything humanly possible to help us. He spoke for 15 minutes and then said his wife would call me. He seemed very shy. I told him aapka bahut bhala hoga…" said Poornima.

Sure enough, a few hours later, Sonu's wife, Madhurima called.

"She said they had considered adopting Aahana, but decided against it in the eventuality they fall short of fulfilling the responsibility. She said she would never be able to live with that guilt and so she and Sonu wanted to help us financially, provide a 24-hour nurse for Aahana and take care of her medical expenses. We will meet soon, and take it from there," added Poornima.

We called Sonu, but the singer brushed it off saying it was too personal a subject to talk about.
"But yes, I do know the family," he admitted.

24-hr attention

traumatised: Poornima with Aahana, who is spastic

Aahana needs 24-hour attention. The girl can turn on her side and move her head, but cannot sit up or walk unaided. Anindita had hired a live-in maid to take care of her. There are visits by a pysiotherapist and her upkeep adds up to Rs 17,000 per month.

Anindita has an elder sister, who stays in Navi Mumbai and a brother, who is from Kolkata. The Reliance executive's father, also in Kolkata, has not been able to come to the Ghansoli home since Anindita's death. Anindita separated from her husband Manish Misra, who has not bothered to ask after his daughter.

In effect, this means Poornima is Aahana's sole caregiver.
 
"It is tough. I worry what will happen after my death, but I've not considered giving her up for adoption. My daughter and my son will take care of her."

After Anindita's death, Reliance ADAG gave Poornima a cheque of Rs 1.95 lakh. She has also received
a cheque of Rs 50,000 from a political party and donations of Rs 70,000 from the public.