Kanpur: Viewing the photos from the Kashmir trip still sent chills down the spine of Aishanya, 27, the wife of the late Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025.Although their time together was short, she described it as wonderful and felt their relationship was doomed. She believed it was all part of God’s plan and prayed that no one else would have to endure such pain.Reflecting on the moment a year after the tragic incident, Aishanya said, “If we had left 15 minutes earlier, Shubham might have been saved, but it was fate and no one can defy God’s will.” She insisted that her husband and the other 25 victims should be recognized as martyrs. Aishanya clarified that she did not want the benefits given to army personnel, but sought recognition from govt as a civilian, and said her demand would persist until her last breath.Aishanya still referred to her husband as if he was present, saying she could not bring herself to speak of him in the past tense. She had not placed a garland on his photograph at home, only doing so at the office out of formality.When asked who decided to visit Kashmir, Aishanya explained it was a family’s collective decision. “And it was our first outing after marriage. The elders in the family decided so that Shubham and I could understand each other better. Everyone was excited to explore and enjoy Kashmir, but fate had other plans,” she said. It pained Aishanya that such a beautiful place, visited by thousands of tourists, lacked adequate security.“When we reached Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, there was no security. Initially, it seemed like the situation had improved, but everything changed in an instant, and fear engulfed us,” she added.She shared that her marriage that took place on Feb 1 2025, was arranged. She remembered Shubham as very humble, recalling during their first meeting how he stood up and opened the door for her at a cafe, reflecting his simplicity. “Our marriage was arranged, and we first met on Oct 1, 2024. It feels like just yesterday. The best part was that our families allowed us to meet first and understand each other. When this was suggested, I agreed, thinking it would be a short meeting. But we ended up spending two and a half hours together, getting to know each other well. I still remember how humble Shubham was. When I arrived at the cafe, he was already there, and as soon as he saw me, he got up and opened the door for me. I can’t describe how simple he was,” she said.She said that two months after their wedding, everything changed. She hadn’t fully gotten to know Shubham’s family or started her life with him when he was cruelly taken from her. However, she said that during those two months, Shubham shared everything about himself with her.Aishanya still remembers when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to their home with tears in his eyes after Shubham’s body was brought back from Kashmir. “He is a very good administrator, and we hope he will help us in getting Shubham recognized as a martyr,” she said and added, “We have sent him an invitation for Shubham’s memorial event tomorrow, and we hope he will attend and bless us all.”
