Photographs are souvenirs that accompany us throughout our lives, serving as significant legacies passed down from generation to generation. Taking a family picture is a big event, but the most important aspect is gathering all the family members together under one roof.
For the past year, I have been trying to organise a family photo with the entire clan, but circumstances never seem to work in my favour. When one family member is available, another is not. If one agrees to participate, another declines for various reasons. Our plan keeps getting postponed for one reason or another.
Finally, I had the opportunity to gather everyone together. My daughter was visiting from Australia, and my brother-in-law's family came from the United States. I decided this was the perfect time for our family picture.
I made all the arrangements, booked a photographer, and coordinated matching outfits and colours for all family members. I was extremely excited about this photo session. WE all got ready for the perfect shot, but at the last moment, my daughter and niece suffered from dehydration and had to be rushed to the hospital. Due to severe conditions, they were admitted for two days.
Tears welled in my eyes; I felt disappointed that all my efforts had gone to waste, but I accepted my fate. Consequently, my vision of the perfect family photo remained only in my memory.
A year later, I had another chance to take our family picture; it was my mother-in-law's eightieth birthday. We decided to celebrate her birthday with great enthusiasm. Everyone came together to celebrate, and this time we were all dressed in our best attire, so no extra effort was needed for a family photo. However, once again, it wasn't meant to be; due to an emergency at the Dubai office, my husband had to fly there urgently, and our family picture was sidelined.
It felt like fate conspiring against me, and the universe turned a deaf ear to my wish. This family picture seemed jinxed. Every time I tried to get closer to capturing one, new problems arose out of nowhere.
He returned on the last day of everyone's stay. With everyone busy with last-minute packing, I didn't want to waste another moment capturing our family photo. Now we were all in our favourite pyjamas and T-shirts, without any makeup, but that was how this picture was destined to happen. At last, we gathered together, the camera was ready, and we shouted, "cheese!"
The resulting photo turned out to be picture-perfect and now adorns my lounge wall. It became the most challenging and unique picture in our family history.
My heart, my people, blessed to call them mine. This is what matters most. The memories we make with our family are everything.