Father's relief as missing Sharjah teen returns home

Ameya, 15, had been sleeping at bus shelter in Bur Dubai

Ameya Santhosh's father has spoken of his delight at his son's return.

The father of a teenager who went missing from Sharjah for two days said he felt “the greatest relief in the world” when his son phoned him on Sunday afternoon.

Ameya Santhosh, 15, had been missing since Friday morning when he skipped a lesson with a private tutor in his home emirate.

His father Santhosh Rajan told The National his son had hopped on a bus to Dubai where he spent the next two days.

Mr Rajan said his family had been worried sick about what could have happened to their son and spent days driving up and down Sharjah and Dubai searching for him.

“He phoned me from a McDonald’s branch in Jumeirah, I told him not to move from there and we would be there soon,” he said.

“He had met another student who told him people were worried about him.

“He called me from the student’s phone.”

Finding Ameya brought an end to days of turmoil for his family who issued nationwide appeals for information about his whereabouts.

Mr Rajan believed his son had ran away due to suffering stress about his exams. He was quick to forgive his son for running away though.

“I told my son not to worry and whatever happened is in the past,” he said.

“It happens with young people but I asked him not to do it again.

“He had an adventure and wasn’t harmed. But it was an adventure that had his whole family sick with worry.”

Ameya’s father went to explain how his son, who received counselling from Sharjah Police upon his return, had survived on a few dirhams.

“He didn’t eat any food and survived only on water,” he said.

“He slept at the bus stop in Bur Dubai near where he got off the bus on Friday.

“He went down to Dubai Internet City on Saturday but returned to the bus shelter in Bur Dubai because he ran out of money.”