My son, Rohan and I battled the crowds for three hours for his photo-shoot for his senior pictures. The operation at Leonard’s was overbooked, inefficient, and devoid of any semblance of service. That’s the problem with a captive audience, and a captive market — customers get stuck and then, a meaningless “sorry” follows. Bad script. Bad business practice. The process was an interesting study in human behavior. Teenagers galore, changing in and out of outfits, posing for the camera. They did not seem to mind the wait, each one of them channeling their inner movie star. It was the parents that were wringing their hands in frustration. Seeing my son sitting with a make-shift tux for his yearbook picture was surprisingly emotional. I blinked away my tears as the thought of him leaving home in a year was a reality I am not willing to face. I want to keep him home, with me, forever. He is ready to run out the door right now! The competent photographers walked him through the paces — staring out a window, leaning up against a tree and having him look into the distance, as if he were peeking into his future, and all its splendid opportunities. Our children make us vulnerable and weak. I don’t want him to leave home, but the inevitable is around the corner, and my wishful thinking is nothing but a mirage. For the next 365 days, I plan to cherish each moment with him. Time to live in the now. Tomorrow will have to wait…
About Hemant Rustogi