The drudgeries of life
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
To Sweety, with love... ♥
Dearest Sweetu,
It's been a long while since I've actually written something for you, save for those extra-short SMSes. Actually it has been ages since I've written anything at all, so good luck for reading what follows.
Here goes nothing...
When I was five years old, my wants and demands for toys, games et al were somehow replaced by the subtle craving for a childhood playmate at home... after all, I had seen so many kids of my age or somewhat elder having a fun time with their younger siblings! Peer pressure, it was!
Spending evenings with the colony ka bacchalog was no longer an attractive prospect...
At the age of six-and-a-half years, I knew from the bulge in Mumma's tummy that a little brother was coming! Yes, I always prayed for a little brother... someone whom I could fight with, boy-to-boy; someone who'd be my shadow, my eternal copycat who doted on me; someone with whom I'd indulge in all the games and activities that little boys are so obsessed about; someone who'd be my best buddy; someone to whom I'd always be the big brother...
You can't imagine my utter delight when one month before I turned seven, I got an advance birthday gift - a sibling!!!
When talks of the nature "It's a healthy baby girl" echoed around in Jubesta hospital, the last word didn't matter a bit to me.
All that seemed to matter was that I was a big brother now :))
And boy oh boy! Was my infant baby sister a darling or what :*
Then came the hard part... after seven years of being the cynosure of Mumma and Dada's attention, I realized that the limelight was no longer on me! Agreed that you were the baby of the family, but try explaining that to a jealous seven year old!
It took a while for me to start appreciating sharing the parents' love and affection with you...
In parallel to that, it also took me time to realize that you're going to take ages to grow up.
At the crèche, I'd longing stare out at the cricket field where Bittu and Buntu used to be playing, while I used to stay by my little kiddo's side, who'd otherwise start crying the instant I wasn't in her field of vision! I knew where I belonged straight away, sports be damned!
Over a period of time that seemed like eons, I witnessed you growing up! I can simply close my eyes and revisit certain instances that are so preciously stowed away in my memory:
First, you rolled over on your own (I can so clearly remember being the first witness to this "miracle" on the train to Bangalore, and a tiny little you, merely four months old, flashing a proud smile as if you know what an achievement you had pulled off!)
I vividly remember:
- the little toothless Sweety's passion for dark chocolate
- the chubby cheeked sweetheart who drew everyone's attention, and who'd win their hearts by not refusing to be carried in their arms :)
- the restless crawling baby sometimes crying at getting hurt and demanding that the perpetrator (usually the floor, the door or some inanimate object) be repaid in kind - that was usually accompanied by a loud "BAPPP"!
- the same restless sweetheart who took to walking and talking like a fish to water!
Then there was no looking back!
The toddler matured into a powerpuff girl :D
And my training my new playmate took focus... someone would've thought I was teaching a younger brother the tricks of the trade :p
From cricket (oh ok! So I made you do the bowling most of the time :p) to karate (hehe I so don't know what stunts I taught you, but we did have some nice fights!), I did teach you a lot!!
Another awkward change was when Mumma asked me to take you along when I played with my friends. Ouch.
But it worked out so wonderfully despite my feeling that you'd be left behind and ignored. You actually became one of the gang at such an early age :D
You were, what, five years old when Sonu, you and I walked to that pond near our locality, when a bunch of mad dogs started running in our direction, barking like crazy. Sonu, fearing for his life, turned around and made a run for it.
Holding that tiny little hand of yours in my hand, feeling the tightening grip of those little fingers, knowing that we'd never outrun those canines, I for the first time in my life felt like a protective elder brother... and I feared not for myself, but for you! Talk about discovering something beautiful in the most adverse of circumstances...
Holding that tiny little hand of yours in my hand, feeling the tightening grip of those little fingers, knowing that we'd never outrun those canines, I for the first time in my life felt like a protective elder brother... and I feared not for myself, but for you! Talk about discovering something beautiful in the most adverse of circumstances...
Thank God for those maids who save our lives that day!
That said, I can never ever forget how bad a brother I was at times: being vindictive and asking my little honeybun to imitate my touching the fire hot goodnight mat; yelling at the kinder garden baby for making me wait for 10 minutes when I went to pick her up from school; and many more :'(
Woah! How can I forget our "cat-and-dog" fights over the years?! If only Mumma had had the will power, she'd have definitely sent us to boarding school :p
My memory is somewhat blurred when it comes to those adolescent years of mine... I remember your ups and downs at school, your being a champ at extracurrics, Sweety the awesome dancer, your budding passion for reading, you and your friends et al.
Then came my IIT preparation days... talk about being busy! But those late nights were extra-special when I came home, tired and drained, only to find you awake just to kiss me good night, to talk to me from the darkness while I studied by my lamp, or to find a note from you that read:
"Love you Appu. Good night. -Sweety"
"Love you Appu. Good night. -Sweety"
On my last night at home before leaving for college that fateful July, I cried like crazy! I was more Sweety-sick than homesick!
But things do work out wonderfully... as much as I had feared that the distance will play spoilsport, we as siblings grew so much closer. And younger too!
True that our bickering commenced where it was left off whenever I came home, but it was much cuter now, and so very precious too!
Plus it was fascinating to watch a fairy tales loving baby, who had grown up and had started reading Nancy Drews, Enid Blyton et al, now becoming a matured girl who devoured books of Nicholas Sparks, Sidney Sheldon, Colleen McCollough, etc.
Then the fascination for school books, and the passion to study and make it big! I truly saw a reflection of myself in you, a much better and clearer one at that B)
Same goes for the things that you missed out on... those times were tough, but witnessing how wonderfully you adapted and started living life to the fullest is exemplary!
Talking to you almost everyday, even if most of the times about the same old things, listening to your excited chitter-chatter, cheering you up when you're down, pulling you leg now and then, are some of the things that make my day perfect!
And as if I don't already have a gazillion reasons for loving you and for being proud of you, you just keep giving me more and more with each passing day!
Five days ago, when you asked me in a hushed tone:
"Appu, I want to talk to you about something.",
I wondered what it might be about.
"Appu, I want to talk to you about something.",
I wondered what it might be about.
And when you replied:
"It's about my career... I want to know what to do in life... what should I do after my engineering.",
I was dumbfounded.
"It's about my career... I want to know what to do in life... what should I do after my engineering.",
I was dumbfounded.
My little baby sister is now all set to be a career-focused woman! Woah!
She's about to turn 19!! Nineteen for God's sake!!!
Wasn't she the world's cutest, prettiest toddler just yeaterday?!
Today, she's this beautiful young woman who has a heart of gold, who's very sensitive, thoughtful, extremely compassionate, diligent, and what not!
Time does fly...
Wasn't she the world's cutest, prettiest toddler just yeaterday?!
Today, she's this beautiful young woman who has a heart of gold, who's very sensitive, thoughtful, extremely compassionate, diligent, and what not!
Time does fly...
When I texted you 3 days ago saying,
"Meri baby kitni badii ho gayii hai yaar :') " (My baby has grown up sooo much!),
I loved your reply which read,
"Khush reh, paagal... atleast tere liye to hamesha ek baby baby hi rahungi na :*" (Be happy, stupid... at least to you I'll always remain a baby!)
That sums it all up!
Sweetu - you'll always always and always remain my darling little baby sister, the apple of my eye, my best buddy; someone who I love (and will continue loving) more than anything in the whole wide galaxy, and for whom I'd give my anything and everything!
Wish you a extremely happy happy 19th birthday, plumpudding!
God bless you truckloads!
Love you, and miss you heaps!
Millions of hugs and kisses,
Appu
P.S.: I'm sorry I won't be able to surprise you this time round... I so wish I could have... Have a fantabulous time nonetheless ;)
Labels: Baby, Birthday, Family, Happiness, Nostalgia, Sister, Sweety
5 Comments:
Hey lovely post!! Brought tears to my eyes. I have an elder bro too. And we share the same beautiful relationship :)
Could relate to each and every word. God bless your sister with all the best things in life!!
Hey Saraswathi! Thanks so much... this one was straight from the heart, extracted from the most treasured of memories! Not to mention, for someone who means the world to me :))
Nice to know that you and your elder brother share the same awesome relationship! Nothing like it, no? :)
@Steve:
Ya nothing like that relationship. I spent 1.5 years with him in the US while doing my Masters. Ah! Those late night conversations, cooking food for him, going out with him, watching movies. Miss those days. He got married last year. So my bhabhi has now become a part of my life just like bro. Life just gets better :)
Beautiful post dost. No words. Bless u, bless u both :)
Reconsider the suggestion of turning into a full time author/lekhak. I wish I could write even half as good. :D
@Saraswathi
Oh wow! That's super nice... it's fascinating how we grow closer to loved ones as we become older (contrary to what many might believe)! And nothing like a bhabhi or jijaji with whom you get along well!
Given the age difference between me and my sister, I'm also looking forward to her coming and staying with me when she does her masters, if at all :)
@Chirag
Thanks sirji! Thanks a lot!!
Don't worry, mate... penning down a couple of books in this lifetime is on my to-do list, no matter how pathetic they turn out to be and how harshly the critics will react ;)
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