Tragedies continue to haunt Jammu and Kashmir but the one we heard about from Ramban district on Tuesday, October 14, where Shabir Ahmed Ganie suffered a fatal heart attack after his son Sahil Ahmed collapsed in his lap is a painful reminder of human frailty and the great depths of the unspoken bond between a father and son. This heartrending event, which took place in Tethar area of Banihal shows the depth of love, duty and emotional interdependence that defines the father-son relationship. The unimaginable pain of losing a child which brought overwhelming grief and claimed Shabir’s life underscores the strength and vulnerability embedded in this sacred connection. The bond between a father and son is often forged in quiet moments. We share laughter, learn important lessons and become burdens for our fathers at times. For Shabir, a 45-year-old father, the act of rushing his ailing 14-year-old son Sahil to the hospital was more than a parental duty. It was a reflection of unwavering love. In that desperate journey, Shabir likely carried not only his son’s frail body but also hope, fear and an instinctive need to protect. When Sahil collapsed in his lap, the world must have stopped for him. The shock of witnessing his son’s life slip away must have been so profound that it shattered his own heart, showing how deeply a father’s identity is intertwined with his child’s well-being. This tragedy also brings spotlight on the unique emotional language of fatherhood. Fathers are often seen as stoic pillars of strength in a family, yet their love is often less intense than a mother’s. Shabir’s heart attack was not merely a medical event but a manifestation of a father’s soul breaking under the unbearable loss of his son. This incident also highlights the fragility of life and the unpredictability of fate in our material world where we keep chasing dreams only to end up finally in dust or ashes. It is quite possible that in a remote area like Banihal, access to timely healthcare could have saved both the lives. We don’t fully know the circumstances but this tragedy speaks to the way love can both anchor and undo us. The father-son bond is built on trust, sacrifice and mutual reliance. It is a powerful force that shapes generations. The Banihal tragedy reminds us to cherish the bonds with our parents and our children, to hold our loved ones close to our heart and to recognize the quiet heroism of parents who carry their children’s hopes, even in the face of unimaginable loss. This great tragedy will be etched in Banihal’s and J&K’s memory for a long time to come