In a tale woven with threads of love, duty, and resilience, we encounter the remarkable journey of Swati Vishnoi. She met Major Mayank Vishnoi, and they fell in love. He was dedicated to his duty, and Swati admired that about him. Despite challenges, they stayed committed to each other. Sadly, Major Vishnoi passed away while serving his country. Swati Vishnoi spoke to SheThePeople about her journey and how she found comfort in keeping his memory alive by doing things he loved and fulfilling his wishes. Here's her story.
"I met my husband, Major Mayank Vishnoi, S.M., through his cousin. I was a lawyer and was simultaneously preparing for SSB at the time. She shared his number, and we started talking. A few days later, we decided to meet. He met me in uniform, and the first thing he said to me was, I know you’ll be my Mrs. Vishnoi.’ I thought he was flirting, so I avoided him, but he was persistent. After a lot of persuasion, we got into a relationship on January 22, 2016.
Two years later, Vishnoi proposed to me at my birthday party. We were dancing when he went down on his knees with a ring and said, 'Aab toh haan bolde Swaa.' We got married on April 18, 2018. Before we took our vows, Vishnoi told me, 'You know my country comes first to me, right? But I will always come back to you, be it with a smiling face or wrapped up in a tiranga. Take it as pride. Promise me you’ll be the way you are right now, with me or without me.’ I held him and said, 'Aisa kuch nahi hoga, I promise.’
After the wedding, we stayed together for a year, and those were the most beautiful times. We could never spend much time together, but he would always be there to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday.
On August 27, 2021, Vishnoi’s coursemate called me and said, 'Vishnoi has been seriously injured in an operation.' I went numb; we had spoken just two days ago. He was shot and in a coma. I couldn’t bear looking at him, but I didn’t break down. I would sit there with two cups of coffee and talk to him; at times I would hold his hand, his fingers moved, and a teardrop would roll down his eyes. I prayed day and night for him to bounce back.
On September 10, 2021, his heart rate fell, and I saw him pass away; he was just 30. I was shattered, but while performing his last rites, I remembered his last wish—our trip to Srinagar. So I went there and visited all those places he had made bookings for, stayed in the rooms he had taken, and lived every moment with him in my heart. I still use his things and do everything that he likes; I am fulfilling his bucket list and living life to the fullest. There’s a lot of pride in being Fauji’s wife, just that the pride is too expensive.”
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