A chance or a bond that lives beyond life

FOR 47 years, Ashokbhai and Shobhanaben Patel spent life together in London. They died together, seated next to each other, in the ill-fated Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad. And a quirk of fate makes their coffins leave together to London for the final rites.

- DILIP SINGH KSHATRIYA @ Ahmedabad

Although devastated by the loss of their parents, their sons are happy that the bond between the senior Patels literally lasted beyond their lifetime.

The sons, Miten from London and Heman, were unsure how long it would take, if at all, to identify the two bodies. They submitted their DNA samples at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. They were informed that the results would be available within 72 hours. Miten received the news that his DNA had matched with the remains of his father. Ironically, that day happened to be Father's Day.