After we're gone ?

June 23

Every year when the kids used to go back to their boarding (Rishi Valley School), they had to select 10 photos for their term. Their term was for 6 months and we went to visit them once in the term. They will select these photos carefully or in a jiffy depending on when they remembered. In the first year when we visited then they were lined up in the inside of the almirah. Some other time it will be in between various books or on a shelf. At times we also found it in the form of a garland which had the photos clipped on it. 

We did not pay much attention to it. They were another tick box to a ‘going back to boarding’ list. After they went to college I started using their table (the picture of the softboard is on top). There are quotes - pictures & beautiful birthday cards with poetry as an ode to me or Reema. As I look at them I realise how important these were to them when they were at the boarding. There was no social media or sharing over mail so these photos were their lifeline to their family and moments of fun and laughter we all shared together in not a very distant past. 

Everytime, I sit there it’s a kind of nostalgic trip back when I see a pic taken during a trip or a very old photo when they were very small and posing for their best shot. As they came out of college, printouts became rare, photos remained digital and shared in the social media - where they are liked by many friends and commented on. 

A new world enveloped them but I am happy with the old world of printouts. 

Maybe, when we are gone they will come back to these printouts.