Read : Brother

Brother

“Bye Papa! Bye Mama! Love you both!”

She switched off her cell phone and looked at the evening sky. Lavender, she thought. Yesterday, it was a pinkish red. Perhaps it may be purple tomorrow.

“Hi!” came a voice.

“You came!”

“Well, its obvious. It’s my sister’s birthday, and…”

“They let you live! I thought they were quite strict about letting boys of your age enter”

“Such boys eventually grow up. Nobody is ever going to remain as the same age as he is today. I have come here to visit you, like any other visitor who comes here to visit. Okay now, what’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing. Okay fine, its about…..”                                             

“It’s about what?” he asked.

“Well, remember our previous birthday? We were home with our parents, happy with a cheerful cake”

“Syrup soaked, splashed with a layer of cream, embedded with dark chocolate, with it we had mama’s warm and delicious payasam and sweets…”

“Okay now, it was far better than today, I’m sure. I don’t mind parties, or cake, but..”

“Parties!” he exclaimed “Who needs parties for being sixteen! We didn’t have a party last year!”

“That’s not my point. It’s our first birthday without our parents and….” She burst into tears.

He held her hand.

“And there you go again! You cry more often than a character in a soap opera! I wouldn’t like my baby sister to cry on our birthday!”

She wiped her cheeks with her palm and looked at her brother. He was tanned, and had the same curly hair and brown eyes as she had.

“Oh, besides, happy birthday!” she exclaimed and gave him a handmade card.

Then his face fell

“Oh, I’m sorry sis. I forgot about the gift”

“Never mind, you came here and that is more than enough for me”

Then they the bell ring, and she gave out a sigh “Oh, it’s time to study!”

“Well then, see you later, and yes happy birthday!” He smiled as he left.

She sat down, and glanced at the numerous and thick books piled on her desk. The day was in its last hours and, like any other day, meant to end in the same monotonous manner. Then her friend approached her

“Hey there, are you done with Botany?”

Then she looked at the card and read the text written with glittering blue ink

“Happy Birthday, dear brother… You had a brother?”