‘Money cannot buy back missed memories’: Indian man in Canada flies to India for family’s housewarming; video goes viral

For Indians living overseas, distance can mean missing birthdays, festivals and other important family milestones despite better career opportunities and financial prospects. Pratik Chaudhary, an Indian man based in Canada, captured that dilemma in an Instagram video when he appeared to regret being unable to attend the housewarming ceremony of his family’s new home in India.

At the start of the clip, Chaudhary spoke about the frustration of living far from home and potentially missing the occasion. Text displayed on the video described the situation as “The worst part of living abroad.”

“We bought a new house in India, and there is a puja (housewarming ceremony) at that house. I'm not gonna be there. So what's the point of coming so far from home, staying so far from family, earning so much money, when even after spending money and buying a ticket, you just can't go?” he said.


His comments initially suggested that his work and life overseas would prevent him from being present for the family celebration.

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A post shared by Pratik Chaudhary (@aalsiiindian)

A surprise trip to India

The tone of the video changes when Chaudhary reveals that he had actually decided to make the journey to India rather than miss the ceremony.

“That's why I left! You shouldn't miss important moments; you should surprise your family. That’s the biggest advantage of living far away. You can drop by anytime out of the blue!” he said.

The video then shows him travelling to India and surprising his family, transforming what first appeared to be a reflection on the sacrifices of living abroad into a family reunion.

By choosing to return without telling his relatives in advance, Chaudhary turned the housewarming into an unexpected surprise and highlighted the possibility of making a long-distance journey for significant family occasions.

The emotional cost of living abroad

Chaudhary’s video reflects a situation faced by many people who move overseas for work or financial opportunities while their families remain in India. Being thousands of kilometres away can make it difficult to attend important events, even when someone is willing to spend money on travel.

In his case, the concern over missing the ceremony ultimately led to a decision to return home. His message was that physical distance does not necessarily have to mean being absent from every important family moment.

The clip also contrasts the practical benefits of living abroad with the emotional difficulty of being separated from relatives. Chaudhary’s initial frustration centred on whether earning more money was worth missing a milestone at home, before his surprise return offered a different answer to that dilemma.

Social media users react

The video prompted reactions from users who related to the emotional side of living away from family.

One user wrote, “This is the reality of living abroad.”

Another commented, “Money cannot buy back missed memories.”

“Missing important moments really hurts,” a third user wrote.

Another echoed the same sentiment, saying, “No salary can replace time with family.”

The reactions focused largely on the challenge of balancing professional and financial goals overseas with the desire to remain present for important moments back home.