Flashback to sometime in 1983 - 84. Of course, Prema has no memory of experiencing it, but remembers the incident coz Suma had narrated it when she was a big girl. Prema was still an infant then. Suma was exhilarated at the thought of having a baby sister. She so badly wanted to take her in her arms. She asked her mother,"Amma, can I take Prema out for sometime, please?"
"No, I cant give her to you yet, she's such a small baby. What if you lose balance and she falls? No, you cannot take her out Suma."
"Amma I promise I'll be careful. Please please pleeeeaaasseeee...... just one time!!"
"Well, ok... only for ten minutes. And be careful ok."
Suma was overjoyed. She carried baby Prema on her arms and trotted downstairs, and onto the road. She was totally enjoying herself, and so was baby Prema. She took a stroll around her apartment complex, and was returning home when Suma toppled over an uneven manhole and fell. Baby Prema fell off her arms and fell flat on her face. Suma was horror-struck!! She immediately got up and lifted baby Prema, only to see her laughing like nothing happened. Suma checked for any injury to the baby, and once she was convinced that the baby was fine, Suma heaved a sigh of relief. She then walked towards home, and was climbing the stairs when she noticed that her left sleeve was completely red with blood. Prema was bleeding at the chin, and it was a big cut!! She hurried home and told her mom all about it. Skipping the part where Suma got a piece of her mother's mind, baby Prema was rushed to the hospital, where she was treated for her bruise. The cut healed soon, but it left a scar on her chin. A scar that stayed with her forever.
...................As Prema watched her sister enter holy matrimony, she imagined what her Akka would have gone through during that incident. She was sure that Akka was horrified, and must have cried a lot.... But she was proud of her sister, as she must have been really very brave at that time to confess her mistake. She couldnt help but admire her sister's presence of mind too... She loved her Akka so much and how!!! :). And the scar? Well, that's still there on Prema's chin, but that is something which she's proud of. She in fact likes that scar, coz its a constant reminder of the fact that her Akka loves her so much. As she touched the scar, tears welled in her eyes, and she remembered something else...Sometime in 1992-93, August. Prema was probably in her 6th grade then. Prema and her mom had been to Bangalore. Suma and Daddy couldn't go because of Suma's exams. Prema and Mommy were to return back to Mumbai on the 26th. It was Prema's birthday on 26th, and Suma had bought her a nice gift. She was planning to surprise Prema when they arrived Mumbai, at the railway station.
Prema and Mom boarded the train from Bangalore on 25th morning. After around six to seven hours since the train left Bangalore, there start a commotion in their compartment. After minutes of chaos and questioning, they came to know that the train had to take up an alternate route because of a derailment of another train on the same track. Few bogies were attached to one train, few others were attached to another. The bogie in which Prema and her mom were travelling was attached to the very end of a "Madras - Dadar Express". All these changes were not updated back in Mumbai.
Dad and Suma were waiting at VT station on 26th morning, Suma with the gift in tow. The train was supposed to have arrived at 8 am. They waited, waited, and waited. It was past 1 pm. No sign, no news of the train. They both went home, hoping that Mom would call up and let them know her wherabouts. Suma and her dad were very worried. The whole day went past, and no sign of the other two. The next day, again they went to the railway station, only to find out that the train wont arrive today. Its new scheduled time of arrival was 28th morning 9am. Suma and her dad were so scared. Suma silently muttered a prayer, "Dear God, please take care of my mom and my dear Prema" She really hoped to see them the next day.
The train did arrive the next day, but not at VT station. It arrived at Dadar station. Suma and her Dad searched the whole train for Prema and Mom. They couldnt find them anywhere. Daddy had almost lost hope of seeing them, when they finally saw them alighting from the last bogie!! Suma ran into her mother's arms and cried uncontrollably. Daddy hugged Prema and thanked God for his kindness. It was a happy family reunion. :) Suma kissed her sister, and gave her the birthday gift. The tired and weary Prema turned into a bright and happy one the very minute!! She unwrapped her present, and saw a very cute pencil box cum purse... something that she had wanted since a very long time... It was a sky blue colored purse with cute little cartoon characters on it. That was probably the best gift she could have ever received from anybody ever....
...................Prema was smiling now....she had so many such beautiful memories with her sister... and she was feeling so lucky to have someone like her Akka in her life... She couldnt help but remember the countless hours they used to spend talking.... sometimes they would talk throughout the night, share the same bed, sing "Hanuman Chalisa" together before going to sleep, share each other's secrets, their never ending fights, Suma's crushes, those days when Prema used to dictate Suma her engineering notes, everything.... she remembered everything. Suma was her Best Friend, and the most important person in her life.... someone who always made Prema happy... And today it was Suma's turn to be happy.... and she was. Prema was happy for her too.... today was Suma's special day... :)
Flash forward to 2007. Nine years later. Suma was settled in California, USA, and Prema was working in an MNC in Bangalore. Prema had blossomed into a very beautiful, and independent person. It had been three years since she moved out of her house in Mumbai. She had everything she ever dreamed of, she was very self-sufficient, yet there was something missing in her life. She missed the closeness that she shared with her sister. It had been nine years since she lost touch with her. But things were going to change, very soon. She so badly wanted to touch base with Suma again. Prema was about to get married, and move to Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Suma was so excited for Prema. She was amazed to see her little baby sister turning into a woman... She did come down to India for Prema's wedding, and that is where a new innings started. The first innings was over nine years back. The second innings started with Prema's wedding. Prema got married in Nov 2007, and moved to USA with her husband. Prema and Suma had lost nine years of sisterhood to the physical distance between them. The both wanted to make up for those nine years. And so it started, the everyday phone calls. It has been almost two years since Prema landed in the US, and there hasnt been a single day when she hasnt spoken to her sister. They speak with each other for hours... about almost anything and everything under the sun. Be it cooking, clothing, fashion, jewellery, food, restaurants, movies, kids, husbands, other's husbands ;-), other women (good or bad :D), gifts, technology, USA, they cant get enough of it ever. Sometimes they chat for hours reminiscing their past, or sometimes they tell each other about incidents, big or small, that happened in the last 9 years and they never got to speak about it, and sometimes it is their new changes in life, likes and dislikes that becomes the topic of conversation. Well, of course they fight even now!! But its more of two mature adults arguing now, unlike pulling each other's hair in their childhood.
Prema is so happy to have her sister back in her life. She had missed her so much in those nine years. She had had a hard time coming to terms with a lonely room. And because Suma was in another country, she couldnt even talk much with her. But all of that has now changed. Her Akka is back in her life, and she cannot thank God enough for that. She feels blessed to have such a wonderful sister. They share a very beautiful relationship, and this time, she knows she's gonna hang on to it... forever. :)
Akka,
I love you so much yaar.... tu nahi hoti to main kya karti?? Thus one is just for you. You have made such a big difference in my life Sweetheart. I really dont know how my life would have turned out if it hadnt been for you (and of course Pappa n Amma). Thanks for everything Sweetie Pie.... I Love you lots... :)
"Phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hai, ek hazaaron mein, meri behna hai, saari umar hamein sang rehna hai..."
Posts
1 comment:
Abhi Kitna rulayegi....Sometimes I wish I could just rewind life and go back to those wonedrful memories one more time...Kash.. aisa ho sakta...I would do it in a heartbeat...but it was fun reading it anyway.. Love you too much..always with you.. Akka
Post a Comment