Parisheel and Pranita - The Winning Entry
I have an elder sister, Pranita. Ever since childhood we were never quite on talking terms,always fighting, quarrelling rather. Most people(including my parents) thought it was just a simple and harmless sibling rivalry but as time flew by it gradually dawned on them all that it was just more than sibling rivalry, they began to fear that it might eventually turn into hatred.
But it wasn't going to happen. I've always admired my sisters stubbornness and straightforwardness but as it happens, those were the very traits that made me despise her for a little while. It was something like this, if my dad bought me a bike, she had to get one too, if I was watching cricket, she had to watch some tear jerking soap on tv at the exact same time(typical), and so on. But being the elder one she got most of the attention, not that I am complaining. And as we grew older there was never the time to talk to each other. I was almost always with my friends, and she was with hers. I never had a problem with her until she had one with me. Every year she did tie a Rakhi but I never quite felt the affection, it was as though she was just going through the motions just for the sake of it. I graduated from some random engineering college in Hyderabad and made my plans to go abroad to pursue a masters degree(oh why did I ever). It was around this time that she began talking normally and the frequency of the quarrels reduced. I remember the day she had tears in her eyes when I boarded the flight.
And now here in this place when I look at my friends talking over the phone to their siblings in India I feel bad. Bad because I have a sister with whom I've never quite spoken to, never quite shared a secret with, never quite brought any gifts for, never quite have to defend against the shuntings of my parents. Maybe I was too stubborn and not she. She was the older one yes, I agree, but I could have broken the ice long back. It is something that I regret. And when I look back now I only see the silly arguments, the pulling of hair and the cold wars instead of the love and affection that should have been. I could never bring myself to talk about all this with her, I am way too shy for all this.She never fails to send Rakhi's for me and my roomies till date. And I feel proud when I wear them and I am waiting to feel proud this year. If there was something I could do to change things I would.
But now she is married and I doubt if any of this would matter to her anymore. I've always wanted a younger sister, a cute little one with whom I could play, buy chocolates for and boss around, but an elder one would do just fine. I miss my sister.--
Parisheel Anand, Winner for 'Raksha Bandhan Story' Contest
But it wasn't going to happen. I've always admired my sisters stubbornness and straightforwardness but as it happens, those were the very traits that made me despise her for a little while. It was something like this, if my dad bought me a bike, she had to get one too, if I was watching cricket, she had to watch some tear jerking soap on tv at the exact same time(typical), and so on. But being the elder one she got most of the attention, not that I am complaining. And as we grew older there was never the time to talk to each other. I was almost always with my friends, and she was with hers. I never had a problem with her until she had one with me. Every year she did tie a Rakhi but I never quite felt the affection, it was as though she was just going through the motions just for the sake of it. I graduated from some random engineering college in Hyderabad and made my plans to go abroad to pursue a masters degree(oh why did I ever). It was around this time that she began talking normally and the frequency of the quarrels reduced. I remember the day she had tears in her eyes when I boarded the flight.
And now here in this place when I look at my friends talking over the phone to their siblings in India I feel bad. Bad because I have a sister with whom I've never quite spoken to, never quite shared a secret with, never quite brought any gifts for, never quite have to defend against the shuntings of my parents. Maybe I was too stubborn and not she. She was the older one yes, I agree, but I could have broken the ice long back. It is something that I regret. And when I look back now I only see the silly arguments, the pulling of hair and the cold wars instead of the love and affection that should have been. I could never bring myself to talk about all this with her, I am way too shy for all this.She never fails to send Rakhi's for me and my roomies till date. And I feel proud when I wear them and I am waiting to feel proud this year. If there was something I could do to change things I would.
But now she is married and I doubt if any of this would matter to her anymore. I've always wanted a younger sister, a cute little one with whom I could play, buy chocolates for and boss around, but an elder one would do just fine. I miss my sister.--
Parisheel Anand, Winner for 'Raksha Bandhan Story' Contest
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