Happy Valentine's day lovies !!

I am sure both my sisters will have their own woes to tell from their perspective.

We had an excess of everything, an excess of love, hate, drama, joy, fun, the fights. I pity my mum when I look back now. How she managed to handle a full time job, a house and the three of us, no one will ever know.

Let me give you and insight of how we were as kids. Priya was outgoing, smart, good in studies and fun to be around (she still is). Soumaya talked nineteen to a dozen. She had to narrate the day’s events to mum every evening, and not just narrate it, she would be dramatic about it too. She loved dancing. I was a complete introvert, content in my dream world. I became better once I discovered books, they added fuel to my overactive imagination I guess.

Now you can imagine what a house full of such characters would have been like. Usually two of us would gang up on the third one (the poor kid). I reckon the treatment toughened us up. We would bicker about the T.V remote, where we wanted to sleep, what we wanted to do. Priya and I used to have wrestling bouts. At times Priya would sit on us. (She still does, but those were the good days, she was slim then ). We did have more than our share of fights, but in fun times we had thrice the amount. We never needed friends outside of us. We would dance, play around, act, pull each other’s leg, dance some more. The best part was that we got to share each other’s clothes and shoes, not always with mutual consent or knowledge ;)

“If a sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and won’t catch your eye, she’s wearing your best sweater.” When I read this quote, I burst out laughing. This was surely written for us.

Since I was the quiet one in the family I would, more often than not, end up being “the ear” to both my sisters. Oh! How many secrets I still have stored up (rubbing my hands in glee). These secrets come in handy when I need something. Hahahaaa hahahaha (diabolical laughter)

I remember Priya and I were given a separate room when we had our crucial high school exams. How tired we would get playing cards at night. One of us would always say, “One last game, just one last one”, and last it did for an hour more. Mum and Dad will read this and think, “This explains Sneha’s marks.” Well, no harm done in the long run.

Through the years there were times when we drifted apart and then there were these other times when we felt, no one knew us better. When Priya moved to another city for graduate studies, the house felt empty. I would always feel my heart sink when I waved her off at the railway station, wondering what I would do without her. One time I returned from school and walked into the bedroom to see Priya sitting there with mum. I stood at the door for a minute, shock written on my face, my mouth agape, wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me. She had decided to come home early. That’s what Priya was like.

Soumaya filled up the silence in my life. With her around, there was never a dull moment. Now she is gone too. I enjoy having a room to myself, but I’d much rather have my pestiferous younger sister than my room.

We’ve all grown up now (have we really ???). Priya’s there in the U.S., Soumaya’s in Delhi and I am here, working as a full time teacher.

I spent a wonderful summer with Priya last year. Soumaya keeps coming home, or I visit her in Delhi. I wish the three of us could take a holiday together. We haven’t been together in two years now. Hope the time comes soon.

So this was my take on what love means to me – my sisters and I.