My little sis has grown up :((((

I had just reached home from the airport...My eyes fell on the photo frame kept on our computer table with a pic of me (around 4 years) holding my baby sis in my arms, looking into each other's eyes -one of our favorite childhood pics...It was so hard to believe that the small little bundle that I was holding has grown up & on her way to do her MBA & going to stay in a hostel for two years for the first time in her life....Had just seen her off... Just before entering the airport she had looked back 2-3 times... Couldn't help feeling a lump in my throat, but the stoic family that we are, nobody cried.. Well, almost !! We were talking on the phone from either sides of the airport gate, when I asked her whether we should go inside, she vehemently asked me not to, otherwise she would start crying & she started crying !!! Though she was ashamed the very next moment for creating a scene out there!!! Don’t blame her... when you are leaving your family behind, one is bound to get emotional... My Dad says - "Arrrey, its the beginning of a new life, for a better tomorrow…So why cry??? " Something in the lines of Rajesh Khanna's famous dialogue -"Pushpaaaa, I hate tears"!!! Even though it’s true, but at that moment nobody is game for gyan like that... especially the one who's leaving home and family behind.... The heart has reasons that the mind will never understand...I believe you should follow your heart at times... If your heart tell you to bawl, do so, you are bound to feel better the next moment...

Pami's (sis) going for a MBA was a dream that she had nurtured from when she had joined her first job... It took a huge sacrifice on her part- to quit her job and concentrate fully on her preparations....Wouldn’t have been possible without the support of mom & dad, who have been with her every step of the way, be it providing finance, countless xerox, prints, couriers, follow ups, escorting to the examination centers & of course most importantly -inspiration and motivation...Mom allowed Pami to keep the study room in a mess, never even trying to arranging her papers even though it bugged mom's passion for cleanliness!!! This past year sis had been full time at home... Mom must be missing their constant bakbak/fights/leg pulling....Something I will never be able to compensate even though nowadays I try to come back home early to give her company...At present she keeps on waiting for Pami's calls -informing us what she had for breakfast/lunch/dinner, whole day activities... We all know once she gets busy with her curriculum the phone calls will dwindle... but that’s the way life is.... everybody has to follow their lives, their destinies...

The last few months had been particularly hectic with her shopping and preparations for going to B school… My sis who’s normally clad in jeans and a top has to wear salwar kameezes at Symbiosis (now that’s quite an ordeal for her, seems the rewind version of "Jassi jaisi koi nahi" !!) Otherwise they impose a fine of Rs 200 which I don't think is covered by her student loan !!! That’s why she went on a salwar shopping spree with poor me in tow…(which was taxing for me.. both physically and financially!!)...Then she had to buy different household stuff (for setting up her new sansaar !!), accessories and cosmetics etc that we normally shared… Never knew that we had so many things in common & for the first time had to buy things in duplicate !!! Then she had to complete her assignments, which as per her nature were kept pending for the last moment !!!

Now it feels strange coming home to an empty room... Though lately we had both been busy with our own lives but the physical presence was there…We exchanged notes, teased each other, her constant pleading to buy her stuff, our shopping excursions, watching movies & favorite shows together, ganging up against mom, been partners in crime.....We have also fought a lot, had differences, stopped talking...but being sisters came back together again.... Our differences among others was the fact that staying at home she never used to keep our room clean & which irritated me... But now she has to do everything on her own and the best part of it she is not complaining about it !!! This stint in MBA apart from making her a professional, will make her independent and maybe a bit clean and organized!!! Good for her..

This is the beginning of a new life for her -These two years in Symbiosis and then wherever her job takes her, which I am sure will be out of Kolkata...I have accepted the fact that henceforth our lives will be different...there will be no coming home to each other at the end of the day...Exchange of what’s going on in our lives will be through phone calls, chats, orkut...But being sisters the bond will be the same, am sure...

We have been more of friends rather than sisters- shared our room, stuff, clothes (till the time we could fit into each other’s clothes!!), friends, secrets…We have never been the demonstrative, mushy types, but always been there for each other.. Supported each other’s decisions, stood against mom & dad in support of the other whenever required...

Being sisters we are alike in some aspects and totally different in some... I guess what makes our relationship special is the understanding and acceptance of those differences & loving each other…Though this is something we have never said to each other in person... but I guess its easier to write-

Love u sis..

Miss u lots...