Lucknow: Getting your order delivered from a delivery person on a tricycle is not a normal sight. Vinod Verma delivers food for a living despite suffering from a physical disability. Here is an inspirational story that would make you feel grateful for the little things in life. 

Who is Vinod Verma?

Vinod Verma is a resident of Ghazipur village in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He was seven months old when he got paralyzed from the legs. Several visits were made to the doctors, and the treatments lasted for years. Despite that Vinod’s condition could not be improved. He is 32 years old today. Doing a regular job is rather a difficult task for him but he refuses to give up. 

Earlier, he juggled with odds jobs where he sold pirated CDs and did some makeup styling work. The pandemic took away his livelihood and he was left with no other option than to search for better opportunities. His wife and kids are entirely dependent on him. Vinod’s wife also has a disability which prevents her from working outside home. During his difficult time, he took up a job as a food delivery person. 

The daily routine

Vinod completes ten to twelve food orders and covers approximately 60 kilometres in a day. His tricycle is electric and needs a recharge every eight hours. The power shortage in his area sometimes even prevents him from delivering any orders in a day. 

In his job, he interacts with people from diverse backgrounds. Most food orders are made by people from high-rise buildings and due to his disability, he cannot climb the stairs. He usually asks the customers to come down to receive their orders. Most people appreciate his courage while there are some people who curse at him for not delivering their orders at their doorsteps. Vinod has learned to accept the optimistic thoughts while avoiding being the subject of negativity. 

A terrifying incident 

Vinod’s eyes brim with tears while sharing an incident. In 2022, a customer restrained him by tying him to a pole. He explained that he had gone to deliver an order for a customer who did not come out of their apartment after Vinod’s requests. Despite multiple attempts to reach the customer by phone, no response was received. 

Vinod informed his company, and they also tried contacting the customer. Later, the order was cancelled and as Vinod was making his way back to his work, the customer suddenly appeared, accosted him and forcefully tied him to a pillar at their house. Somehow, Vinod managed to deliver a new order elsewhere during the time the customer was busy receiving another order. Vinod returned to the scene after receiving a call from the police. The customer had made allegations against him. It became an ordeal for Vinod to explain the entire events to the police. 

Taking risks

Vinod further shares that covering the distance through highways becomes a difficult task. He often has to endure the exhaust fumes from buses and trucks while being cautious of fast-moving vehicles. His tricycle is much smaller than the wheels of these large vehicles and at times he takes risks when travelling at high speeds. Despite all the challenges, he finds satisfaction from the positive outcomes from his work.