When I was in the bus waiting for Bombay to arrive,I wondered if I was doing the right thing. No,I wasn’t regretting it already but when u fight with ur parents u really start thinking if ‘this’ decision was worth a fight. I was visiting my cousin sister in Bombay.
History knows it we haven’t been much of a sister for the past whatever years. Maybe because of an age gap ,I don’t know. From all the childhood memories I could recall she would always nag me,from health to height to marks I scored in mathematics and science to how fluentlv I spoke English etc etc. She used to sound perfect and made me feel inferior . Thus ,I would always feel mom likes her more and so I hated her more. (Not like I’ll kill u kind of hatred but rather envying.)
Only this time I was hoping for a change because I needed one. As had it been decided on the world’s shortest conversation ever, she came to receive me. The time she saw me, I knew she would begin judging and I HATE BEING JUDGED, SPECIALLY ON LOOKS! I was expecting a “oh my god! After so many days. u haven’t changed a bit.!” (Which in normal straightforward language would mean- u are still as fat as u were some years ago!haaaawwww!!) But she took me by surprise. She didn’t utter a word that was offensive in any ‘polygonal’ way. Instead she was happy like really happy to see me and that I am so independent and that I do whatever I wish to and that ,that I have learnt to fight for what I want! I just gulped. And gulped and gulped some more. It was too much to take in at one go. Was she the same person or am I dreaming, that too a good dream?
We reached home ,laughing like crazy. It was a pretty place where she lived. A sea facing house. I could feel the salty breeze, the sand, the sunset .she was playing with her daughter while I was standing near the balcony. world seemed a better a place from her window. But as human nature I was lingering on one thought. What had happened to her? I mean not a single comment? Not even one? As much as I would have hated her if she did it, some part of me wanted her to do it.
Things were going unusually fine when suddenly my niece fell from swing and broke her arm. It was a terrible thing. She was was badly injured. When she walked in with her injured arm, her father was shocked, I froze and hence the silence was broken when my di screamed. She was shivering more than the poor seven year old kid.
With whatever sense I could grab ,I tried to help them but that one moment when I saw her face red, eyes glistened with tears she looked different. No ,I don’t mean it in a funny or pulling her leg kind of a way that ‘oh hahaha ur face is red ,u are so hilarious!’ but what I mean is she appeared different, like she did when she came to pick me up and appreciated me instead of nagging.
In front of me,was not my sister but my niece’s mother.Someone I had been totally unfamiliar with and someone I started respecting from that moment onwards. It was my niece’s mother that I had liked spending time with for past days . My niece’s mother who was no more of a nuisance to me. My niece’s mother who appeared nice and warm and affectionate. it was her who cried when her child got hurt and it was her who tried to control the sadness and pain to show so that her child doesn't freak out.I had never seen this side of her.. I’m not saying ‘oooh become a mother and u will be a beautiful woman from within and blah blah.’ Who am I to say?! Infact I might just be the last person who would believe it.But its amazing how life grows on u and u change, for good or for bad and u don’t even realise. Somehow Motherhood had embellished the woman in my sister and now she was more than just a pretty face.
Incase u are still wondering ,my niece is now doing just fine and so are her loving parents.
