Mumbai: Behind every poised smile of an air hostess lies compassion, patience, and strength, qualities that often go unnoticed. Comedian Aditi Mittal recently shared a deeply emotional story about how one such Air India flight attendant named Preeti helped her through a painful moment back in 2017.
In a heartfelt Instagram video, Aditi recalled that she had to take an emergency flight from London to Mumbai after her father’s sudden demise. The grief was visible on her face, and that’s when a kind-hearted Air India hostess stepped in quietly, offering empathy without asking questions.
“She Just Knew I Needed Comfort”
Aditi revealed that she was sitting alone, crying silently, when the hostess approached and gently offered her warm beverages to help her feel a little better. “I was just sitting there and sobbing and sipping,” Aditi recalled in her post.
After finishing her service round, the hostess came back and softly asked if Aditi wanted to talk. When the comedian shared her loss, the hostess suggested something unexpected yet deeply meaningful. “She said, ‘How about this that every time I pass by, you tell me one funny story about him?’”
That small act of compassion turned Aditi’s painful journey into a healing memory.
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Healing Through Stories and Laughter
Taking the hostess’s advice, Aditi spent the flight reminiscing about her father’s quirks and humorous moments. The simple idea turned into a therapeutic exercise that helped her process her grief. “Now, whenever I feel that familiar sense of loss or grief, I remember those moments, and they crack me up,” she shared.
Over time, those anecdotes became a “depository” of her father’s goofiest memories, helping her hold on to joy rather than sorrow. Aditi added that although she hasn’t been able to locate Preeti, the memory of her kindness has stayed with her for years.
Shoutout to Unsung Heroes in the Sky
Ending her post, Aditi expressed her admiration for the hard work of air hostesses, calling their role “so much more than what the title suggests.”
“‘Air hostess’ is such a non-descript way of describing all the work that these women do up in the sky in the pressurised cabin,” she said. “Just a shoutout to all the air hostesses who are flying over the holidays.”
Her touching post resonated widely across social media. Many users flooded the comments, praising Preeti’s gesture. One wrote, “Let’s find Preeti from Air India,” while another said, “She was a better therapist than most.”
Who Is Aditi Mittal?
Aditi Mittal is one of India’s pioneering stand-up comedians, writers, and actors. Known for her sharp wit and observational humor, she has performed across India and internationally, often using comedy to highlight social issues and everyday absurdities. Aditi has appeared on Netflix and Amazon Prime specials, and she remains a trailblazer for women in the Indian comedy scene.