"Here is that photo", and he showed me the grand family photo of my parents and their son and daughter-in-law, in the middle of the decorated wall of living room. I felt a sudden suffocation in my throat. It was my absence from that photo, I thought at first. And then I suddenly realized I was not even informed of my brother's wedding. My parents had made an excuse that it was a very private affair and we left everything on the wish of couple.
"Didn't you like it?" my brother interrupted my thoughts and I swallowed a lot more like cough, which you try hard to throw out but then suddenly you swallow it inside. I forced a quick smile and muttered, "Oh! I absolutely loved it." And I had really loved the minute details it portrayed : the proud look of dad, the always-overwhelming look of mom, the stubborn look of brother and the not-really-so-submissive look of my sister-in-law. After a penetrated look at the photo, now I was relieved that I was absent from it. My presence in this house also felt like an absence of me. I went to meet my mom, hugged her and said in a worried voice, " I have an urgent meeting back at my place so I need to leave right away." Mom and dad hesitated, showed they are upset, but then mom eagerly packed a box full of sweets and chocolates for my little one. They were relieved and so I. As much as I am used to my absence from this house.
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