What should have been a joyful beginning for Lt Vinay Narwal, 26, and his new wife Himanshi turned into a nightmare as terrorism’s deadly grip shattered their dreams. Just six days after their idyllic wedding in Mussoorie on April 16, the young couple’s honeymoon in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, ended in tragedy.

The couple had set off for the picturesque hill station, their hearts full of joy, but by April 22, a haunting image emerged: Himanshi, dazed and helpless, slumped next to her husband’s lifeless body on a meadow. Vinay Narwal, a naval officer, was among the 26 innocent tourists killed by terrorists. His death — a stark symbol of the brutality of terrorism — was felt far beyond Pahalgam, reverberating through the streets of Karnal, his hometown.

A Wedding Cut Short by Violence

The Narwal family, still riding the high of celebration from the wedding just days earlier, was blindsided by the news of Vinay’s death. Neighbors in Karnal had been sharing sweets, planning further family events, unaware of the heartbreak that would soon engulf them. “We were planning a ‘Mata ka Jagran’ next month,” Naresh Bansal, a neighbor, told TOI, his voice breaking. The joy turned to crushing sorrow when the tragic news arrived.

Vinay, an engineering graduate with a deep passion for the armed forces, had recently completed his training with the Navy and had been posted in Kochi. He had left for his wedding leave on March 28 and was eagerly looking forward to a post-wedding European honeymoon. However, visa issues led the couple to switch their plans and visit Kashmir instead, hoping for a peaceful retreat.

Himanshi, visibly shaken, later recounted her chilling encounter with terror as the attack unfolded. “I was eating bhel puri with my husband when a man suddenly approached and said he’s not Muslim… then shot him,” she said in a video from the attack site, which has gone viral.

A Loss Felt by the Entire Nation

The image of Vinay’s body, draped in the Tricolour, being transported from Srinagar to Karnal sent waves of grief through the community. On Wednesday evening, it was placed in the family home, and Himanshi could only cry, struggling to find words as she clung to the coffin before it was taken for the final rites. The crowd outside chanted, “Hindustan zindabad, Pakistan murdabad,” echoing their pain and defiance.

Narwal’s funeral was a solemn occasion, with local officials and residents offering their condolences. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who expressed his deep sorrow, called the attack cowardly and assured the family that justice would be served. A Navy post on social media conveyed their shock and grief, with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi paying tribute to the fallen officer.

A Family’s Call for Justice

The Narwals, including Vinay’s grandparents and uncles, are demanding justice for his death. His grandfather, Hawa Singh, a retired Haryana Police officer, expressed his anger at the attack and said, “Had the attackers not been carrying guns, my grandson would have taken on at least 3-4 of them.”

Vinay’s uncle, Surjeet Narwal, voiced his frustration with the government, urging Prime Minister Modi to take stronger action against the terrorists responsible. “Find them, kill them just like they killed our people,” he said, tears in his eyes.

A Promising Future Cut Short

Vinay’s colleagues remember him as a dedicated and cheerful officer who always went the extra mile in his duties. “He was deeply committed to his responsibilities,” said one Navy officer. But for his family, the loss is irreplaceable. “We celebrated his wedding merely a week ago, and now we are forced to make arrangements for his funeral,” his uncle lamented.

What began as a dream honeymoon for a newlywed couple turned into a devastating reminder of the threat of terrorism, leaving behind a young widow and a grieving family. The Narwals now face the unbearable loss of a son, a brother, and a hero — a loss that no amount of sorrowful chants or political promises can bring back.