One of the most emotionally devastating images ever taken.
For six long years, Pratik Joshi lived in London — a devoted software professional carving a path not just for himself, but for the family he loved deeply back in India. Each workday, each sacrifice, was driven by a singular dream: to reunite his wife and their three young children under one roof, in a foreign land that held the promise of opportunity, safety, and a better future.
His wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, was a respected physician in Udaipur. Known for her dedication and compassion, she had devoted years to her profession. But two days ago, she handed in her resignation — a symbolic act that marked the beginning of a long-awaited chapter. The children were excited. The bags were packed. Friends and family were called. Tears were shed at the thought of leaving, and smiles were shared at the thought of beginning anew. The dream that had once seemed distant was now unfolding — finally, they were going to be together.
This morning, that long-cherished dream took flight — quite literally — as the Joshi family boarded Air India flight 171 to London. They snapped a joyful selfie on the plane, radiant with anticipation. They sent it to loved ones — a final memory etched in time. It was meant to be a one-way journey to a new life.
But fate had other plans. The plane crashed.
In an instant, five lives were lost. A family was erased. And with them, a thousand dreams, a future carefully built on hope, on love, on years of quiet endurance.
It is a tragedy too heavy for words. A brutal reminder of how fragile life truly is. We make plans, we dream, we strive — and yet, in a single moment, everything can vanish. What remains is not just grief, but the haunting realization that tomorrow is never guaranteed.
So if there’s anything to take from this unfathomable loss, it is this: don’t wait. Don’t wait to love more fully, to forgive more freely, to live more bravely. Call the people you miss. Hug your children tighter. Chase the life you want.
Because sometimes, tomorrow doesn’t come.
Rest in peace, Pratik, Komi, and the beautiful children whose journey was cut tragically short. May your dreams find peace where this world did not give you time to see them bloom.
