MY SISTER, MY FRIEND: Ties that bind forever – I

I don’t remember much about we sisters did when we were kids. I have vague memories of our little adventures and many a times when I reminisce about the happy and sad times we have shared, I feel deeply nostalgic and I want to go back to the days gone by and let no sorrow touch my little sister. When my little sister was born I was slightly resentful. It wasn’t like most of the happy stories told when kids await the arrival of their younger siblings like the arrival of a new toy. At first it was happy anticipation. I was eagerly waiting for the little angel of the family. I was waiting to play with the tiny fingers and toes and feel them curled around mine. I was waiting for the twinkling eyes and cute toothless smiles that the baby would flash on me. But when the little angel finally arrived, my happy anticipation was turned to bitter resentment. In fact, it was jealousy. All on a sudden, I found that I was no longer the centre of attraction. All eyes rested on the little baby that never left my mother’s side. And toughest of all was we were not allowed to play with the baby. Everyone thought we might infect the baby. The baby needed sleep and it slept throughout the day. We could only look at her and she looked back at us with her twinkling eyes and occasionally she would flash her cute little toothless smile. Occasionally, when I would find her all alone, I would pinch her and make her cry to soothe my resentment and take revenge from her for taking my place and all the attention I received before her arrival.

But one day while I was trying to hurt her, she looked at me with her beady eyes sparkling like glass and she opened and closed her mouth, like a fish out of water, trying to say something. And as if from nowhere but somewhere special and pure, my heart was filled with love for her. I felt that she wanted to tell me that she needed me in her life and wanted me to be there for her always. I felt important and big. I felt I have to take care of her no matter what happened. I realised that she is my sister, my friend... then... now... forever...

And I know that many a times I have failed her, ignored her, hurt her... but I have done all these in ignorance and only I know how I regret the many times when I could have been a better sister but I was not. And all that I can do now is to make up for the times gone by and love and care for her so much that all my shortcomings would be forgotten.

If you are reading this my dear little sister, all I want to say is that I am sorry for all the times I have hurt you and I love you a lot. You are my sister, my friend... my best friend ever and forever.

P.S.: The image is a painting by William Adolphe Bouguereau, Two Sisters

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