Growing up in a gal-less neighborhood had its advantages and its disadvantages.
Until the age of 10, I was absolutely carefree because I did not have to deal with the petty bickers over doll houses, kitchen sets, pink dresses and pink nail paints, matching sandals and jewelery. Playing cricket, jumping walls, stealing lemons from the neighboring farms, setting the pets free on the road, hiding stray pups in the garage, bruising knees while playing games like 'satolia', 'zanjeer' and 'kushti' occupied most of my evenings after school. Sure, I went to an all-girls school, but that effort on my parents part did not succeed in making a fine lady out of me. I was a brash tom-boy in my colony who could not find a single girl to play with. Fortunately or unfortunately, everyone who moved in the government quarters near ours, had little boys in their family. All these little boys eventually ended up befriending my brother and by virtue of that, became my followers. I used to lead most of the operations (read mischief's) during those times.
But as I progressed towards my teens, something changed. Something suddenly seemed different. I did not feel like whiling away my evenings blocking the drain pipes with pebbles. Ringing a neighbor's door bell and hiding on the terrace till sun went down did not interest me anymore. Having all these little boys around me all the time asking for the next prank was not challenging. Something was changing. I just had to decide if I was happy with that change or not. I wanted to dress up like other girls in my school did, I wanted to have matching shoes and jewelery like other girls wore, I wanted to murmur in hushed tones and then giggle like other girls did. But I did not find company to do so. I often asked my mum - 'Why did you not give me an older sister'. She used to laugh and tell me - 'God wants you to take care a little angel - your brother, hence you are entrusted with this responsibility'.
~Angel~ I used to exclaim! - yeah right...**smirk** my brother was a demon. He was no different than any other irritating younger sibling. He wanted to do everything I did. He wanted to go with me wherever I went. He wanted to know who I was talking to over the phone. He wanted to eat what I ate. He used to pull my hair. He used to scratch my face. He used to get into fist fights with me. He was a pain! After every fight with him, I complained of not having a sister. Years went by fighting with each other. Distances due to education and work put a stop to our fist fights at least. Since we were supposed to be growing up, we started handling our disagreements in a so called mature way - we resorted to discussions! We discussed things until we murdered the very reason because of which we started it in the first place.
In last couple of years, ever since I have moved to the US, he has amazed me with the way he talks & handles things at home and work. He sometimes makes me wonder if he is the same irritating dumbo that I used to fight with. I have realized that he has matured with his age. But yesterday, he did something which made me wonder if he has outgrown me? He did something so touching that put me out of my wits...On his way back from work, he bought 2 packets of sweets to celebrate his sister's wedding announcement - one to distribute amongst his colleagues at office and one for masi and mausaji. I was touched. No matter how cheesy this may sound, but today, I can definitely and most confidently say, I will not hesitate in agreeing with my mom's description of him - Angel :P Rofl..
