Me: “…and just as I was about to turn off the lights after tucking your grandkids into bed, they asked me to tell them a story about the funny shenanigans you and I got into when I was 8 years old like them.”
Papa (chuckling): “Well, there’s plenty of those! Which one did you tell them?”
Me: “Actually… I struggled to come up with one. The harder I tried to remember, the more the stories slipped away. It was almost midnight, and I knew I couldn’t call you. I fell asleep trying to recall them.”
Papa (excitedly): “Oh, you could tell them about the time we tried to bake a cake but mixed up salt with powdered sugar! Or when your mother insisted I take you to Dr. Agarwal because she was convinced you were ill. You were fine—maybe just a little under the weather—but she booked an appointment anyway. And when the doctor asked what was wrong, you and I couldn’t stop laughing! We barely got a word out!”
Me: “Arjun and Aanya will love that one! Especially the part where the doctor scolded us for our ‘ridiculous behavior’—his exact words, if I remember correctly.”
Papa (laughing): “I bet Dr. Agarwal still remembers that day! Oh, and what about the time I came to your school for Parent-Teacher Day and ended up having a full conversation with who I thought was your class teacher but was actually your … ”
RINGGG!
The alarm cut him off.
It was time to start the day. Ruchi and Mummy were already up, preparing for the puja and the guests who would arrive later. As I climbed out of bed, I smiled, holding onto the warmth of my dream. It had been so long since I heard Papa tell one of his stories, full of laughter and wisdom.
Today, on his ninth death anniversary, I was ready to tell them myself.
We started as wedding photographers, but personal loss gave our work new meaning. We know the ache of stories left untold, the longing to hold onto someone or who is no longer here. Or to the days that have gone by and will never return.
Kathakaar is more than a photography atelier — it is a place where your most cherished heirlooms take shape, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where love, laughter, and legacy are woven into timeless keepsakes for generations to come.
The master storyteller since childhood (according to his parents, relatives, and friends, as Ruchi discovered before they got married). The Kathakaar team turns to him for everything, and he never disappoints. A passionate reader and movie enthusiast, he enjoys critiquing films with fervor. Discussions with him delve deep, backed by meticulous research. He finds joy in writing, directing, and acting in plays and aspires to make a movie someday.
A connoisseur of fine chocolates and a self-proclaimed “hugger.” He might be indecisive about food, but he’s laser-focused with a camera in hand. Sitting still isn’t his forte (sometimes to the amusement of others), but his photography talent is truly remarkable. As the brilliant mind and soul behind his thriving wedding photography studio, he’s a master craftsman of this trade – and is now looking to bring his expertise to heirloom photography.
Affectionately referred to as our AA batteries, they are the heartbeat of our world, the endless energy that fuels us, and the guiding light behind our Kathakaar journey. Their arrival—filled with wonder, love, and the moments you wish you could hold onto forever—sparked something profound.
A delightful enigma, defined by three certainties: a passion for capturing visual stories (her camera is her true love), an adoring mom to her twins (embracing the Montessori way), and a fearless foodie (as long as the menu is familiar and contains her preferred food options). For her, every moment holds a story that must be captured. A captivating and ever-evolving soul, forever narrating stories through her lens.