A grieving family in Sharjah is struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of Dr. Afina Basheer, who collapsed at her home this past Monday. The young dentist, originally from Kerala, India, had been residing in the UAE for four years with her husband, Yasser, and their two young daughters, aged 3.5 and 1.5. According to family relatives, Afina’s death comes as a devastating second blow, as her only brother—also a doctor—had tragically lost his life in an accident in India just two years ago.

The family is currently navigating the heartbreaking task of explaining the loss to the two toddlers, who are still searching for their mother. While Yasser noted that Afina appeared to be in perfect health with no prior medical concerns, the family is now focused on the complex administrative process of repatriating her remains. They are working to secure the necessary forensic reports and death certificates, with the hope of transporting her body back to India for burial by the coming weekend.