Indian Man Wins Dh15 Million Using Children's Birth Dates On Winning Ticket

You never know when luck knocks your doors. Sometimes it wakes you up from deep sleep, while on other occasions you see it approaching you. This is what happened with Al Ain resident Rajeev Arikkatt.

Luck came to him in the form of Dh15 million. Rajeev, an Indian expatriate living in Al Ain with his wife and children, clinched the grand prize with ticket number 037130 in a Big Ticket Abu Dhabi raffle draw. The remarkable aspect was that the winning ticket featured the birthdays of his two children.

¡°I have been residing in Al Ain for more than 10 years. I have been purchasing tickets for the past 3 years. This is the first time I have won a lottery. This time, me and my wife selected tickets with numbers 7 and 13, which are the birth dates of our children. Two months back, I missed Dh1 million by a whisker with the same combination but this time I was fortunate,¡± Rajeev told Khaleej Times.

Rajeev Arikkatt

The 40-year-old Keralite had high expectations of winning, especially since he held six tickets in the draw. Interestingly, he clinched the victory with a free ticket, taking advantage of a special offer from Big Ticket that provided four complimentary tickets when he purchased two. Reflecting on the win, he expressed his ongoing hope for a victory and the added anticipation due to the increased number of tickets in the draw.

Recalling the moment when show hosts Richard and Bouchra contacted him, he shared, "I was left speechless. I couldn't find words to describe the overwhelming feelings. I recognized Richard's voice since I've been listening to it for years. I knew he called the winners, but I never imagined it was the first prize. It came as a surprise. This is a life-changing moment, not just for me but for others in our group."

"We have two groups of 10 members each. We collectively paid for two tickets and received another four tickets for free through a special offer. Since we won with a free ticket, the amount will be shared equally. It's a blessing," Rajeev explained.

He mentioned that all members of the group come from modest backgrounds, and everyone is overjoyed.

"Some work as office assistants and in other low-paying jobs with monthly salaries ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh1,500. Some have lost their jobs and were facing an uncertain future. This windfall has come at the right time for everyone."

Despite the significant win, life remains unchanged for Rajeev and his friends, who have returned to work.

"This is not going to change my lifestyle. I am at work today. I haven't planned what to do with the money. But we will continue purchasing tickets," Rajeev emphasised.