For Pratik Joshi, London was a land of promise. A skilled software engineer, he had spent the last six years working in the UK, saving, planning, and laying the foundation for a new life. His wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, a dedicated medical practitioner, and their three young children remained in India, waiting for the day they could all be together.
That day was finally within reach.
After years of sacrifice, paperwork, and long-distance love, it was happening. Just two days ago, Dr. Vyas resigned from her job. The children’s bags were packed. Family members had been hugged. Goodbyes were said through teary smiles. The next chapter was about to begin.
Early this morning, filled with joy, nerves, and hope, the entire family boarded Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London. They snapped a selfie smiling, full of life and shared it with relatives. It was the start of a long-awaited dream. A one-way journey toward a better future.
They never made it.
Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 787 crashed in a residential neighborhood. There were no survivors.
In mere seconds, the years they spent planning, the sacrifices made, and the dreams they nurtured were reduced to rubble and flame. Five lives, one family, gone in an instant. What was meant to be a celebration became an unspeakable tragedy.
It’s a painful reminder: life is fragile beyond measure. You can build everything with love and intention, and still lose it all in the blink of an eye. Everything your family, your future, your forever can hang by a thread.
So don’t wait. Don’t postpone joy. Tell the people you love that you love them. Make the memories. Hug tighter. Laugh louder. Be present. Because no one knows when today will be the last chance to live the life you’ve been planning for.
