How would you describe life? It is brimming with happiness, resolve, faith, assurance, conviction, and optimism all at once. Like a flame in the wind, it vanishes in an instant as unattainable achievements and virtues! For six years, Pratik Joshi has been a resident of London. He worked as a software specialist and had long envisioned himself and his wife and three young children living comfortably overseas. The children remained in India and lived with their mother, a well-known physician in Udaipur.
Pratik and his family were thrilled to finally see their dream come true after years of striving for it. His wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, resigned from her position a few days prior to their move, paperwork in order, luggage packed, and farewells to family and friends. The imagined future was now, of course, within reach. Along with 137 other passengers and crew members, the happy family of five, full of enthusiasm and hope, boarded Air India flight 171 on its way to London in the afternoon of Thursday, June 12, 2025. Ignorant of the doom that awaited them, they joyfully snapped selfies on their seats after boarding the aircraft and emailed them to family members and friends.
A one-way pass to a brighter, more promising future! However, they never arrived at their destination or survived the journey. At Ahmedabad, the jet crashed around 30 seconds after takeoff. Out of the 142 passengers, only one, a guy, was fortunate enough to live. Indeed, a lifetime of dreams came to an abrupt end in a matter of brief moments. Pratik and his family members’ deaths in the collision serve as a harsh reminder that life is enigmatically precarious. Most of the time, it is too complicated to comprehend or even describe.
Everything you worked for, everything you hoped for, everything you loved or cared for, all your joys, all your expectations, and your lovely life are all gone in one twist or turn brought on by vicissitudes. Forever! Never to be seen or accomplished. Thus, be thankful and joyful while you are still alive and able to breathe. Pray, play, forgive, love, and live. Don’t keep working and hoping that happiness would find you by happenstance!
