The tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 devastated families across the globe. Among the victims were Ashokbhai and Shobhanaben Patel, a devoted couple from Gujarat who had lived in Britain since 1978. Their sudden loss left their family shattered, yet in the middle of their grief, something quietly powerful unfolded—a reminder of a love that endured beyond life.
DNA testing was underway at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to identify the deceased. Ashokbhai’s son, Miten Patel, was contacted by the hospital and flew in from London with his brother, Hemen, to assist in the process. They submitted their DNA samples, hoping for clarity and a way to bring at least one parent home.
On June 15, Father’s Day, the hospital informed them that one of the samples matched their father’s. They began arrangements to take his body back to London, holding onto the pain of not knowing what had happened to their mother. Time and science seemed to have run their course.
But as they were preparing to leave, a call from the control room brought unexpected news: the very next match, the 99th, was Shobhanaben. The brothers returned to the hospital to see their mother's name on the bulletin board—right next to their father's.
Ashokbhai and Shobhanaben were identified one after the other, just as they had lived—side by side. For their sons, the timing felt like a message from the universe. Despite the terrible loss, they found comfort in knowing their parents remained together, even in their final moments.
In the quiet corridors of a hospital filled with sorrow, this moment stood out—not as relief, but as a gentle testament to an unbreakable bond.
