The meaning of family is that it is a group of people that share the same blood and are always there for you and no matter how often you fight, the bond is almost non-breakable. South Asian family system consists of big families where it's not just you and your spouse and your children, but it is your parents and their siblings and their children. Being a Pakistani, our family gatherings are not at all small and there might be around 20 people in one room, but it is refreshing and calming when you sit at a chair on the dinner table and enjoy the near 10 exquisite dishes, laughing on random dad jokes and discussing the vaguest topics. These are the things that make me proud of our culture because no matter how lonely you feel at heart your family and great food is always there for you.
This weekend was very busy. I spent so much time in the market helping my aunt shop. She moved to a whole another country to her husband who she had been long distance with for the last 6 years, even her daughter was born after he left the country. the ticket and shopping and packing all happened in a faze under 5 days. My whole family had arranged a final dinner party with her.
As I ate the delicious food, the sinking feeling took me in when I finally realized that she is actually leaving and this might be the last I get to see her in a hell a lot of years and my cousins who are a 7 year old and a 5-year-old will both be all grownup or maybe in their teen ages and this might also be her last gathering with my grandmother who is suffering with cancer that has now completely spread in her body. Goodbyes are never easy, but they always start new beginnings and new stories. I stayed quiet on the whole ride to the airport and hugged her tight as tears welled up in my eyes, but I wished her good luck for her new life far away from us.
Then I stood outside the airport and stared at the lights wondering how the next time we meet will be like.
