'Kaju Katli & One Tight Hug': Shubhanshu Shukla's Parents Await His Return To India On August 17

News18

5 days ago

'All I need is just one tight hug…" – These heartfelt words from Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, seem enough to describe the emotion building quietly inside a modest home in Lucknow. After spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and nearly 35 days in post-mission rehabilitation in the US, Shubhanshu is expected to return to India on August 17.
'He's still in America… It's been a year since I hugged him," his father told News18, his voice filled with anticipation. Shubhanshu, who was part of the international Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25 and docked with the ISS the next day. His return capsule splashed down safely off the California coast on July 15.
But the return to Earth is not the same as a return to life. He is still re-learning to walk, move, and function as his body adapts back to Earth's gravity.
'He's learning to walk again'
'Walking is still a struggle," said his father. 'Every day, he practices for three to four hours. He has to walk slowly, and he gets dizzy if he overdoes it. Doctors say it will take 8 to 10 more days before he's fully recovered," his father said.
Extended exposure to microgravity can weaken bones and muscles, disrupt balance, and alter cardiovascular function. Shubhanshu has been undergoing daily physiotherapy under medical supervision. In a recent social media post too, he wrote: 'Learning to walk again…"
'Just as your body changes when you go into space, it changes again when you come back. Even walking straight becomes difficult. Balance weakens. These effects cause mental stress too — but they're all temporary. The body slowly finds its rhythm again," he wrote.
A mother waits with food — and emotion
For his mother Asha Shukla, the countdown isn't to a landing capsule, but to the moment her son walks through the front door. 'He always says on video calls, 'I'm fine, don't worry,' but I can see the tiredness in his eyes. A mother knows," she said.
To keep herself busy — and hopeful — she has taken refuge in her kitchen. 'I've already started planning what to cook for him. His favourite dishes — dal baati, kadhai paneer, matar pulao, kaju katli — I'm making everything. When he comes home, he shouldn't have to ask for anything," she said, with her eyes moist.
'Just watching him eat happily… that's the moment I'm living for," she said.
A reunion that felt like home
After landing, Shubhanshu briefly reunited with his wife Kamna and six-year-old son Kiaash in the US. Hugging Kamna and lifting Kiaash into his arms, he posted on Instagram: 'Space is magical. But reuniting with loved ones — that's equally magical. When I hugged my family, it felt like I was truly home again."
He urged others to cherish their own bonds: 'Find someone you love today and tell them. We often get too busy with life and forget how important our people are. Space missions are magical — but it's people who make them magical."
Yoga in space — a metaphor for balance
A few days ago, Shubhanshu shared a video of himself performing yoga aboard the ISS. 'In the beginning, it was hard to stay still in microgravity. I just wanted to be centered, but even the tiniest movement would send me drifting," he wrote.
Drawing parallels with daily life, he said, 'Staying still in space is an art — just like finding peace in a fast-paced world. Sometimes, to run fast, you must first slow down."
Homecoming: Lucknow or Bengaluru?
Shubhanshu will land in India on August 17, though it's not confirmed if he will directly come to Lucknow or stop first in Bengaluru, home to key Indian space institutions.
'If he doesn't come to Lucknow, we'll go to him," said his father. 'But I hope he walks through our front gate. Just one tight hug — that's all I need," he added.
The city waits for its hero
But it's not just the Shukla family counting down the days.
Shubhanshu's entire locality in Lucknow — neighbours, childhood friends, schoolteachers — is buzzing with excitement. Streets where he once cycled to school are now draped in tricolour buntings. Children carry tiny flags, and families discuss plans to welcome 'their astronaut" with flowers, garlands, and dhols.
Many residents in the area still remember the humble, soft-spoken boy who once dreamed of space. 'He's not just their son any more — he's all of ours," said a local shopkeeper, adding, 'We've never had anyone from here go that far, and now he's coming back."
Even the city administration is considering a formal civic welcome, should he arrive in Lucknow.
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From the narrow lanes of his childhood to the vast silence of space, Shubhanshu Shukla's journey has come full circle. And as the countdown to August 17 continues, not just a family — but an entire city — waits to embrace their son, their astronaut, their pride.