A former Indian school teacher in Dubai has won a staggering $1 million jackpot in Dubai after she relocated back to her hometown in India after 5 years.
55-year-old Shanthi Achuthan received the winning the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion draw on Tuesday.
Shanthi Achuthan from her home in Thrissur, Kerala said to Gulfnews: I am really wonderstruck. It has slowly started sinking in.”
She purchased the ticket while travelling from Dubai to Kerala last month.
“My husband and I still have resident visas over there and we keep visiting Dubai three or four times every year,” said Shanthi.
Shanthi’s husband O.P. Achuthan Kutty, who is the chairman of a nursing college owns a chain of car repairing workshops in Dubai and a clinic in Sharjah.
Their daughter Sowmy lives in Dubai, working as a digital media manager. While their second daughter is a house surgeon in Kochi.
“We have a strong bond with Dubai and the UAE. Dubai is my favourite place on earth. I had a very good time over there. Whatever we have now, we have got from Dubai. We started with a humble beginning over there and we are always thankful to the country and its rulers,” said Shanthi. Her husband, 63, had landed in Dubai when he was 21. “I joined him in 1984. I had worked with New Indian Model School in Dubai as a primary school teacher for a few years.”
“Usually, my husband takes these lottery tickets. I never felt I am worthy of it after I didn’t get lucky once. But this time my husband insisted that we both should take a ticket each and that turned out to be lucky for me.”
She said the entire family and their relatives have been thrilled to hear the news of her win.
“My daughters have already started making plans to spend the money. Usually they do their own touring. Now they are planning the whole family’s world tour,” she said, laughing.
“We have been to Europe and the UK twice. I just wish to go to the US now.”
Santhi said that she would also spare a portion to charities.
“Charity has been of prime importance in my life. I have already promised to help some poor children with cancer in Chennai.”
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