Two Weeks Old. Then She Was Gone
Raj Dhesi is a wedding photographer and filmmaker. He's also a single dad who found out what that meant faster than most men ever have to. In this conversation with Naroop, Raj walks through the collapse of his relationship during lockdown, the strange grief of losing daily access to a newborn, and the years of small, deliberate choices that rebuilt his life around his daughter.
He talks about parental guilt that doesn't switch off. About choosing pride over pity outside the gurdwara. And about the work he now does with the Asian Single Parents Network, built from a phone call he made when he had nowhere else to take his daughter.
Quotes
"It broke me completely, utterly completely, in every which way. And then when you're at that lowest level in every way, you know, emotionally, financially, some people choose to stay at the bottom."
This Episode Is About
Raj Dhesi's daughter was two weeks old when his relationship ended, and lockdown meant weeks without seeing her at all.
This episode follows what that did to him, how he coped through work and routine, the guilt that still shows up years later, and how he turned that pain into the Asian Single Parents Network, a support system for men and women going through the same thing.
Who This Episode Is For
- Men navigating early separation or divorce
- Single dads carrying guilt about time apart
- Anyone judged for their family situation
- Fathers of colour seeking relatable role models
- Co-parents building a working relationship
What You'll Takeaway
- Losing daily access to a child can feel like grief
- Staying busy can be a real coping tool
- Guilt rarely disappears, you just manage it
- Pride changes how people treat you
- Showing up consistently proves you're fit to parent
