It was our first day in our respective new sessions in School, and our Mommy was buzy with her list of instructions for the new year. We both were damn too excited to hear all of that and can't wait to reach the school, meet our classmates, new class teacher and show off our new stationery assets, all this while still being jealous about each other's new possessions. That's sibling love !! The 3 year age gap was not enough to stop us from not being each other's friend as well as an enemy. His summer holidays were full of cycling, football and breaking neighbour's windows with cricket ball while I was buzy painting, reading Archies, Tinkle, Billu and Pinky.
We usually only used to sit peacefully together during meal times - over steaming chhole bhaturas, chicken curry, idlis, dosa and more - Once over hearing my mother marvel about how he had just scarfed down his 8th idli, I challenged him over a idle eat-off. This antagonism was just a way of bonding with him. He agreed, like any other over excited younger sibling, mostly he could watch me suffer. (For the record I ate 18 and he gave up at 10, but I was dieing after that without showing off :D)
I believe that brothers are God's chosen partners-in-crime for you. A sibling is the one person in the world who will confirm for you that, yes your family is a little nuts and yes, that's probably why you both are too. No one else can you that solace because noone else has that wonderful, unique, ridiculous set of experiences that is your family.
Having a brother meant that there was someone to share the blame with did we did something stupid. My mother held us equally responsible for every horrible thing that happened. I lost my penbox at school?
"You all are so careless."
He brings home a puppy to keep as pet?
"You all are so stupid."
I forgot my aunt's birthday?
"You all are so thoughtless."
Somehow I know that no matter how stupid, thoughtless and careless I am, he's right next to me - taking equal responsibility for it all infront of mom/dad. Younger siblings I do believe are the victims. Older siblings are indeed the criminal masterminds that you are made out to be.
Because of one simple reason - you have more minions at your disposal. Would Crime Master Gogo be as hilariously frightening if there were no mothers putting their children to sleep at night with, "So jao, nahin to Gogo aa Jayega."?
Whether it's convincing them that climbing into the water tank was a good way to take a quick bath
or making them conduct heists from the kitchen for more wafers, nuts or biscuits ("but don't let Mum see, okay?" - the mastermind has it covered, as the younger ones innocently follow. Many younger siblings are told they are adopted because they were found in gutter, left on the doorstep and my cousin's favourite - you were sent by courier.
Every sibling relationship falls somewhere in the spectrum between a Cadbury's chocolate Raksha Bandhan advertisement and a violent scene from Bollywood movie. If we are not standing up for each other, then we're buzy having violent fights that end in nail scratch marks (his) and clumps of ripped-off hair (mine). But siblings are the only ones who make you understand what it feels like to have your heart in the body of another person - like having a best friend that you are born with. I could spend the rest of my life fighting with him, but if you mess with him, you'll have to mess with me first.
(Written for the love of my younger brother, who has grown up somebit now )
