Price of kindness? UAE community in shock after death of Indian expat Dr Dhanalakshmi

Abu Dhabi: The sudden death of Dr Dhanalakshmi, a 54-year-old Indian expat dentist from Kerala, has left the Indian community in Abu Dhabi stunned and grieving.

Widely known for her active involvement in cultural and volunteer events, the general dentist was found dead in her apartment in the Musaffah area on Monday night. She was an employee of Lifecare Hospital in Musaffah, which is managed by Burjeel Holdings.

Friends and colleagues became concerned when Dr Dhanalakshmi failed to report to work on Monday and was unresponsive to calls.

Friends, who went to check on her, found her apartment door locked from the inside. Her breakfast, which she used to get delivered daily, was still hanging on the door. Authorities were alerted, and police entered the premises, where they found her unresponsive. She was declared dead at the scene, her friends said.

Although she lived alone, Dr Dhanalakshmi was a deeply engaged member of the Malayali expat community. Many described her as warm-hearted and extremely generous.

“She was like a family member to many of us,” said Salim Chirakkal, president of the Abu Dhabi Malayali Samajam.

“Since the pandemic, she had become even more active in community service. Her ever-smiling face was present at nearly every event.”

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Dhanalakshmi was an author, vlogger, and active social media user. In the final hours before her passing, she shared several posts that have since gained widespread attention.

Her last post on Sunday, titled “Can’t ask for more,” was a video showing her receiving a community service award from Malayalam actor Jagadish at an event hosted by a Malayali community group on July 13. Dressed in a sari, she accepted the award with a wide smile.

On the same day, she posted a video offering advice to junior doctors, cautioning them not to mislead the public when discussing health topics. There were also photos with friends, captioned with messages like “Unconditional love” and “Good people are always good… under any circumstances.”

However, it was another post—a short story titled “The Price of Kindness”—that has sparked deeper reflection and concern. The fictional-style narrative, tagged to a Facebook friend with the mention ‘feeling drained,’ described emotional betrayal and financial strain following an act of generosity.

In it, the narrator helps a struggling friend, only to be left burdened and ignored. The story ends with a sense of quiet resignation but also resolve. “She walked away — not from the money, but from the illusion,” it read.

While it remains unclear whether the story was autobiographical, its tone and timing, shared just a day before her death, have struck a chord with her followers. Some saw it as a possible glimpse into her emotional state while others have cautioned against reading too much into it, especially as the cause of death has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.

Adding to the sense of unease was another post on the same day—an open apology for missing an event in her hometown, where she was invited to be the chief guest at an arts school anniversary.

In that message, she wrote: “Destiny took a total twist… things aren’t in our hands many at times.”

Close friends said the posts now carry a different weight in hindsight, but they urged the public to remain respectful and wait for official findings.

“I am still in shock and disbelief. It is an irreplaceable loss for me. My family and I are devastated,” said Jafer Raheeb, a content creator in Abu Dhabi who shared a close bond with Dr Dhanalakshmi.

“She used to refer to me as her son and always guided me like a mother or elder sister. The last time I met her was at a soft launch for a restaurant. We were supposed to go to the official launch together on Monday night. But before that, she left this world,” Jafer said.

He added that she had cancelled the trip to Kerala for the arts school’s event, saying she needed to complete an audit report at work. “She was a perfectionist. When I found out she hadn’t gone to work on that important day, I knew something was wrong,” said Jafer who was one of the friends who reached her apartment to check on her.

Dr Shazia Ansar, a general practitioner at a day surgery centre in Abu Dhabi, also shared a close friendship with Dr Dhanalakshmi. “There was a big age gap between us, but she was like a confidante. We spoke nearly every day. She always appeared happy and smiling. She helped people quietly—emotionally and even financially. She was the kind of person everyone loved.”

Dr Shazia said that just days ago, Dr Dhanalakshmi had attended her son’s birthday celebration and seemed in high spirits. “I was going through her messages and voice notes… I couldn’t stop crying. It’s hard to believe she’s gone too soon. We’re still waiting for answers.”