In the bustling market of Seelampur, Delhi, often known as the Denim and Thrift capital of India, crossed by the loud and packed lanes of it, locates Meena Khatoon’s garment Smile shop. The shop does not only buoy her heart but also demonstrated her willingness to rise above all the atrocities. The market, which is not familiar with comfort and the life of Khatoon, is like two peas in a pod. However, as a snap cuts the inauguration ribbons of her Smile Shop set up by Miles2Smile apart, on 18 September, with the team of Miles2Smile, the happiness engulfs her.
The clothes are still being arranged on the shelves. Some hang loosely from the walls, while others lie folded in small, uneven piles. Meena Khatoon moves around her shop, picking up each pile and carefully putting it in place, remembering how her son Aayan Saifi once envisioned building a life on the sand of happiness for her, but he could not survive the hate of the world.
On May 1, 2026, Saifi was, according to his family, deliberately targeted by a group of young men over a previous altercation in which he had no involvement. The attack took place near a local park in Trilokpuri, a working-class neighborhood in East Delhi that has witnessed tensions in the past.
According to the family, around seven young men arrived at the park, surrounded Saifi, and attacked him with knives. Saifi reportedly tried to defend himself but was outnumbered and overpowered. He suffered serious injuries and was left in critical condition.
Soon after the attack, Saifi was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital for treatment. His family alleges that he remained in the emergency ward for around half an hour without receiving adequate medical attention. They further claim that the delay in treatment worsened his condition.
Saifi was subsequently referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for further treatment. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on the same day, leaving behind a grieving mother whose life had already been marked by uncertainty.
Months after the death of Saifi, her mother, Khatoon, today finds herself with hopes for a better future as she sits around with other shopkeepers. To make her day memorable. Miles2Smile conducted an inauguration ceremony for her shop, followed by the felicitation ceremony.
“My heart is satisfied; it gives immense prayers to everyone who helped me open the shop,” Khatoon said.
“You have seen intense atrocities; now it’s time for better days,” replied Aasif Mujtaba, Founder & Director, Miles2Smile.
“My daughter has been very brave throughout her atrocities; may Allah bless her for her patience,” Khatoon’s mother cried.
As Khatoon enters her shop, her hands move around the pile of clothes, and smiles erupt. With keenness she shows the details of the clothes to the team of Miles2Smile and people around attending the inauguration. Following this, sweets were distributed, and cheerfulness was reclaimed. Elsewhere in the market is her factory, where rolls of fabric are kept, ready to be transformed into beautiful fabric. Miles2Smile visited the factory and listed down the items that needed to be fixed, an act that was purely meant to fulfill what’s needed to give Khatoon a life with financial stability.
“We will stand by you and support you through every difficulty,” Mujtaba said.
“The Smile Shop is only a way to express our help for the family to have a life with financial stability, but we want to know you; we will walk with the family until atrocities are diminished,” he added.
Khatoon had been separated from her husband. Saifi was not just her son; he was the person whose presence made the loneliness of her life bearable. His death tore open wounds she had barely managed to live with but the Smile Shop acts as a way of solace for her.
“Now this shop is the only source of happiness I have. I hope it flourishes,” she said
About Smile Shop: The Smile Shop is an initiative of Miles2Smile to bring the economically weak people who have witnessed communal hatred back to livelihood. In the span of six years, Miles2Smile has travelled the nook and cranny of the county and established Smile Shop. The name “Smile Shop” highlights the organization’s long-term commitment towards bringing smiles in the lives of survivors through long-term relief and rehabilitation works.
About Miles2Smile: Established nearly six years ago, the Miles2Smile Foundation is dedicated to making a positive impact on marginalized communities in India. From the crisis response during the pandemic to ongoing efforts in education and advocacy, the foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
