We'd rush to meet him at ISS: Shukla's mother

"If we had our way, we would rush to meet him there. But that is not possible,” said Asha Shukla, her voice trembling with emotion. Her son, Shubhanshu Shukla, has just become the first Indian to set foot aboard the International Space Station, and the entire country is swelling with pride.

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While the world saw a historic leap in India’s space journey, back home in a quiet corner of the country, a mother’s heart beat faster than ever. As dawn broke on this momentous day, Asha Shukla and her family rose early, not just to witness history, but to pray. "Today is a special day for Lord Shiv," she said. "We went to the temple, performed the Abhishek, and prayed that our child comes back safely. No harm should come to him after landing on Earth."