Aurangabad: Yousuf Khan has been trying Sakshi Singh Rawat's cellphone number since Saturday when he learnt about her engagement in Dehradun to Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Khan runs a restaurant near Aurangabad's Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), where Sakshi studied till April, reports Times of India.
‘Mamu' to Sakshi and her friends, Khan said Sakshi had promised to invite him for her wedding. ‘‘But you see how hectic life has become these days. I know everything must have been decided at a fast pace. Even today, I tried to call her up, but the phone just kept ringing.''
Khan said Dhoni discreetly visited the city around two years back. “Sakshi, a regular at my restaurant, introduced Dhoni to me. I was happy to meet the man she was going to marry but didn't know who he was as I don't follow cricket. My son and other family members, however, immediately identified him and we invited Dhoni and Sakshi to our house,'' he said.
He said Dhoni sported a cap to avoid attention. ‘‘He spent hours at the restaurant, chatting with Sakshi and her friends,'' said Khan.
Sakshi kept in touch with Khan even after leaving Aurangabad. ‘‘She is a lovely person with a tender heart.''
Khan said Sakshi and her friends were fond of a stray dog and would spend Rs 100 each day on feeding the animal.
‘‘While leaving the city, Sakshi had asked me to take care of the dog.'' Khan fondly remembers her witty banter.
‘‘Sometimes, she would occupy my seat at the restaurant's counter and threaten to tell my wife that I was bothering her,'' he said. Autorickshaw driver Saleh Chaush alias David also remembers the Indian cricket captain's visit to the city two years back.
‘‘Dhoni and Sakshi hired my rickshaw for several hours. After they had visited a few places, I took them to a five-star hotel on Jalna road. It was only when he was paying the fare at the end of the journey that I recognized him. He smiled at me,'' the autorickshaw driver said.
