The parents of 22-year-old Irfan Sheikh, a cabin crew member who perished in the Air India tragedy, have found an unusual way to cope with their loss. They continue to recharge his mobile phone and send WhatsApp messages daily, hoping that their messages have been delivered to him.
A Daily Ritual of Hope
For Irfan Sheikh's family, the loss has been devastating. The young man was one of the cabin crew members who died in the crash. To deal with the grief, his parents have adopted a daily ritual: they share their routine on WhatsApp, sending messages to Irfan's number with the faint hope that he might see them.
“We recharge his phone every month and send him messages about what we did during the day. It gives us some comfort to think that he might be reading them somewhere,” said his father.
Coping Mechanism
The family's actions highlight the deep emotional struggle faced by those who lost loved ones in the tragedy. While the messages remain undelivered, the act of sending them provides a sense of connection and normalcy.
“We know he is not coming back, but this helps us feel close to him. It’s our way of keeping his memory alive,” his mother added.
The Air India crash claimed several lives, leaving families shattered. Irfan Sheikh’s parents continue to hold onto this small thread of hope as they navigate their grief.
