bhaichaara, bhaigiri and behena!

Rakhi is gone already. The lazy bum that I am, i didn't bother sending rakhi to a dozen brothers that I have (all except one are cousins least you have been wondering just how busy my parents have been!;). On the other had you can also wonder, "She must be getting whole lot of gifts!"

Cubby ka Raksha Bandhan - Picture Story! :p

Kabir had his first proper rakhi this year. He REFUSED to get it tied and created quite a scene! But do check out his bright kurta pajama! :p

Oho! Kya pareshaani hai! :p

Ofcos all was well once the ceremonies were done with! And the scene was something like this!

fav anta didi with Vedu Bhaiyaa and Diti didi and Cubby

Mere bachpan ka Raksha bandhan! ;)

Raksha Bandhan meant buying whole lot of rakhis a week before because so many of them had to be posted. I diligently sat and wrote letters to each one (which were never replied to) and then put the rakhi, stick a stamp and go to the post office. Thatday all the guys in the school would be in hiding! Moonh bola bhai was a rage then! :p I used to tie rakhi all the dudes in the building too. Being the regular plain Jane, nobody ran from my rakhi wielding hand

When i offcially became bhena!

I still remember wanting a brother just so that I could have someone to tie rakhi to every year ekdum hak se! And then it happened! My brother was born after almost 7 years of my existence on this planet! I don't really remember much of those days. I really have no angst ridden stories about being ignored or having been a sacrificing elder sibling. I do remember being terribly excited about the lift in the hospital where he was born. Yeah! My priorities were indeed little warped then. I have Ahem! grown up now! ;)

The hospital was just opposite our building so I would go to meet mom and the baby before going to school and on my way back home. I would take all my friends too. I used to call him 'sasulya' an endearing term for rabbit because he was so small, fair and soft.

The aftermath of bhaichaara sapna

After the initial euphoria I really started getting bugged. I mean he was just too small. WE had absolutely nothing in common and it just wasn't fun the way I hoped it will be. After a point I bullied him mercilessly (am really sorry bro! i was just a kid too!). But at the same time, I would be very protective about someone from outside bothering him.

Every time someone harassed him, he would come crying to me saying Diiidddiii! So much so that my whole building still calls me Didi! :D He never went to my parents. My parents were also very cool type of people in general. I am sure all recent mommies will think we were a neglected lot if i tell them, I went for his PTA meetings! Yup Yup! I took half day from school with some lie and attend his meeting in the next building. I would buy his books and note down whatever teachers said and show it to my folks.

I went to pick up his results every year. I still remember when he stood 1st for the first time in 5th standard. He had gone out of town and the class was empty since I went after picking up my results. I saw his name on the board. My excitement knew NO bounds. No cell phones and all and i didn't know where to jump in joy and whom to tell! :)

We shed tears together when he didn't get scholarship in 4th standard when he was among the most consistent performers in the class. My brother is the regular genius while I am "could have done better, if she worked little hard" variety, which basically means i NEVER did well academically or otherwise! I was just lazy. Correction I am!

Over the years the gap reduced and we started getting along famously. We were a team against parents and anybody else who bugged us. We came up with our own weird languages that no one around us understood. WE had our own private jokes and we would break out into peals of uncontrollable laughter without knowing what exactly was so funny!

He got me introduced to cartoons like Dexter's Lab which was so similar to what we were as brother and sister and Dragon ball Z where i followed the adventures with equal fervour. One of us would take Dilbert or Calvin and Hobbes to read and we would keep on passing the book to other saying you have to read this and laugh like crazy.

Just before leaving for airport. Can't believe Cubby was sooo tiny! and ugly!

He said when I get married, it will be a good riddance and he will never cry when the bidaai happens. He wept like a baby. Of cos he blames it on a moment of insanity and all that jazz, but I have photographic evidence and have never stopped teasing him since! ;)

Today he has worked hard, done exceedingly well in his engineering studies and become a superbly confident person. I was amazed and very proud when i saw how much his seniors trusted him and his juniors looked up to him. He was president of god knows how many societies and working hard for every college fest.


Proud Mama after having successfully fed Cubby the first time!

Bhaigiri se mamugiri tak! :p

He is now studying in the US and doing his MS. I am glad he was there when Cubby was born and he was so good with him. Cubby listened carefully only to him. My brother would be talking to him about theory of relativity or giving him snippets of latest Jeffery Archer he was reading and Cubby would be listening with rapt attention and gurgling. He volunteered to feed him and changed him with finesse of an expert.

They got very little time with each other, but I hope they will make up for it someday.

last photograph taken on the airport Oct 2007

The Summary!

We don't share major secrets with each other, but we both know we are there for each other. I call him occasionally and update him on Cubby happenings and whatever else is there to talk about. He was among the first few to call and check on me when the Bangalore blasts happened. He is the reason i KNOW i HAVE to have a second baby to give Cubby the same chance at sharing roots with someone who will always be there.

Miss you brother! Keep rocking and being the nice guy that you are! :) And try and argue a little less, will ya?? When the urge gets too much, just study law! :p

(it's a Rakhi post. I HAVE to say nice things about ya!;)

May be...

The month that last one has been! May! With a tentative name itself, obviously nothing was planned and done and things happened. Mostly good! Touchwood!

So warning - SUPER long post!

17th May was my Kaka - Kaku's anniv. (Uncle and Aunt would be the apt translation.) Of course that;s what the family tree makes them, but they are lot more than that. Both of them have always been around in good and bad times in the family. Kaku fawns over Kabir as much as my Mom if not more. You should have seen the way she geared up to prepare for the baby as soon as she knew. From gorgeous chaddars to little clothes to tiny woolens for Cubby. She really pulled all plugs and pushed herself hard. No words can ever thank her for such genuine affection and love she gives without any expectations! Kaka too makes it point to be around for all important occasions even if it means travelling six hours for a 3 hour get together. They were the first people to come and stay with us in Bangalore with the intention to just meet us and be with us! Thank you both of you for being such a solid and loving support! Hope to see you here for Cubby's first birthday! :)

22nd May - My parent's anniversary! What do i say about these wonderful people? Words fall short when i try to describe how well they brought us up. I also don't know what to say because they made it seem so effortless. I hardly remember them ever being preachy and yet they taught us so much! From my mother I learnt how to support your family, be strong in times of crisis, how to be adjusting without compromising on what you believe in! I am still grappling to manage time as awesomely as she does (she multi-tasked waayyy before the term became so hep!) and to cook three fresh meals a day like her! Hats off to you Mom! It's from seeing you that I was confident I could be a working mom and do a good job of it! I love your free spirit, your will to stand for what you believe in, not just for yourself, but others too!

My dad is mostly what I am even today. He taught me to be positive. He told me life is not always fair and yet managed to imbibe that there are more good people in this world than bad, and that's why the world still continues to exist. My faith in humanity is thanks to seeing him in action with people at every level. I have learnt that at times I might get cheated, but a good deed is always returned! If not from person you expect, then from someone else. So keep doing good work and life will be good to you. Dad I admire your never say die attitude, the way you always have listening ear and sensible advice. I get my habit of shedding tears at drop of the hat (esp at happy things) from you! :D I guess I get whatever bit of my writing skills also from you. It's absolutely no surprise that you are loved and respected in whole of our family!

And together both of you showed me what a good marriage is all about! I am glad I married a little later in life and got my basics right! Thank you for respecting my decision, supporting it and being there always sharing the joys of my married life!

Love you MOST!

25th May - M's birthday! :D What do I say about the joy of my life? After a almost non-existent courtship (the courtship was zero!) period of six and a half years, I managed to blackmail this guy enough to marry him. To his credit, he did not run away from the mandap! :p Married life started with some rocky patches and setting our expectations right. Once we got settled into the groove that's when our courtship period actually started. From after work 'dates' at Cafe Coffee Day to watching every new movie that released in the first week! From learning to cook together and having dinner only by 11pm to depending on Maggi to sail us through the lazy weekend. Everyday was filled with love and laughter. And it has never stopped being like that. Of course we fight (which couple doesn't), we slam doors, say hurtful words we wish we could take back, but through it all, we know we are imperative to each others happiness! We kiss and make up and the days are beautiful again! M is patience personified and I manage to test that as well. Yet, he forgives me graciously, until I manage to upset him again. When we found out I am pregnant, M was even more caring. We went to all our favourite haunts in Mumbai. I just had to ask for something and it would be there. He even got me the last Harry Potter the day it released, pleading not to read in the hospital! :D Our innumerable scrabble games and DVD shopping jaunts to Majestic to actually agreeing to NOT having cable at home, we have been equal partners in every decision we make. M treats my family as his own and he is adored by everyone. He is magic with kids and equally popular with the oldies. He can have you laughing in minutes with his brilliant sense of humour!

M you are indeed in every sense of the term my better half. I am glad you took a chance to find happiness with me and I hope you will never regret this decision. Thank you for being the perfect husband, the best father and an awesome son! Life just wouldn't have been the same without you! And i mean it only in a good way! :)

And last but not the least! My darling l'il brother who is a whole six and half years younger than me was going through a tough phase! He is studying in the US and was trying hard to get a summer internship. Apart from a chance to earn good money, it also means a chance to land up on a good job later. With US economy slowing down, no good news came for over a month. Being the cynic that he is, he worried and worried, ruining his health on the way too. I so wished I could just go and spend some time with him. Few days ago, phone rings midnight with his name flashing! I obviously get worried till I heard "Yohoo! Sis! I got through Yahoo!" I was sooo kicked and happy. He said he didn't wanna disturb Mom-Dad and HAD to share the news with someone! I felt SO proud and touched. Now he has offer from another good company as well and things are looking up! You rock brother! I just KNOW you gonna be SUPER successful! Am so proud to have the brain of the family as MY brother! :p Though Cubby could do with spending some time with you (you were so good with him), am sure you will make up for it. I also look forward to some EXPENSIVE Raksha Bandhan gifts! ;)

All in all a month where some of the most special people celebrated some special occasions. I am really lucky to have all of you in my life!

Always, be there, will ya?