Sibling Love

We recently celebrated Rakshabandhan (an Indian festival that brothers and sisters celebrate for protecting each other). This sibling bond is so special. I have a younger brother, with whom I have loads of memories and they are still in making. We laugh together, make bad decisions together and fight a lot. We also plan on not talking to each other after a fight, but that never really happens because we always need each other's company. When we both were practically small kids, my brother used to pull out my hair right from its roots. This was hilarious. We literally used to wrestle and fight like enemies. We still do fight, but now it's more verbal than physical.

To start with, I never wanted a younger brother. I always wanted a little sister. When my brother was born I was 5 years old and I cried like hell and asked my mother if there was an exchange offer and if we could trade him for a baby girl. Everyone in the room laughed a lot at my innocence. Later on I also talked to a friend of mine who had a small sister. My friend always wanted a younger brother, so we both decided to swap our siblings. But as days went by, I grew fond of my brother and loved him a lot and did not want to swap him or leave him at all.

My brother always used to copy everything that I did and follow me around everywhere. He used to wait outside the house when I came home from school. He used to be excited to meet me. Even now he shows as if he doesn’t care much, but if I’m away from him for more than 2 days, he misses me and calls me. Initially my brother did not share much or talk about how he feels, but now he has started opening up to me and that's a big achievement for me.

I love music and I sing as well. So my brother always whistles to the tunes that I sing. It has become a habit now. It's just like a reflex action. I start singing and he immediately starts whistling to every tune.

We both have completely different tastes. He is quite old school while I’m not. He hates jeans but I love them. He is studious and practically a genius. He is sincere and very obedient. I am all that too but a little less. He would prefer Indian food over anything, while I like every cuisine. He used to be scared of water (beach, river, well, lake). He always cried when taken near a water body and clinged to our mother (that’s not the case now though). And I always loved water and still do.

The most important point is sharing stuff. I remember, whenever we had juice, he used to keep the glasses side by side and measure them properly. Getting the exact amount was important. It was the same with cake, chocolate and all other food items. Rather he still does this.

But over all this we always have each other's company. We crack jokes and gossip about other family members and friends as well. We play indoor as well as outdoor games and have tough competitions. We enjoy with each other and this is just how siblings are.

Bye. See you soon.

- Mrunmayi Kanitkar