Dear Shonu,
Meli behnaa,
As kilometres separate us, we stand divided and we stand apart. I know, however, that when we say ''distance'', it does not always mean kilometres. We can be close while we are far and we can be far while sitting right next to each other, isn't it? I want to tell you this, little sister, that we are not that parted then, as much as Google Maps would love to tell you. It's not a matter of closeness by the inches as much as it is the matter of closeness by the heart. And I wish to tell you that I hold you so close to my heart that you have gotten inside. (Hahahah! What was that?! :P Never mind!) When I lie in my bed in my room sometimes, and feel the stillness around, and find that the silence is so full that it needs to be broken, and realize that your presence best breaks that silence, I find myself going back into the past. I can feel the days when your laughter rang like wind-chimes in the breeze. I can feel the moments when we walked together- gazing at the dazzling stars in the inky sky, with the breeze kissing our faces and the curls of your untied jet hair lifting with the air, seemed like so many gentle inky waves in the margins of the night-time oceans. Your presence is like a stone plummeting into a pond (yea, we have done that!)- it breaks all the creepy, sad, silent stillness into a million ripples of laughter, disaster, contentment and silly fun and more joyful after-currents follow for a long long time. And all the way while we walked in the night air, licking inexpensive ice-creams, gazing starry fireflies in the fields, laughing merrily at random jokes as we would walk towards home, I would think- this is life, and the place where I was heading is home! It is not the four walls on our name that made it my home. It is you, and mother, and myself, and what we share between us. It is all that we make of it, together. Now I'm away. But as long as you think of me sometimes and smile, and I, of you, and a little tear might creep into my eye, until then, meri choti, nothing will lie changed, absolutely nothing- The same love, the same nights, the same feelings, the same ripples even and especially, the same HOME.
I love you, and I got your Rakhi. I'll bring you a treat when I come. I miss seeing you. And don't worry, I'll come back for you. Till then, look after yourself, look after mother and look after Payal (teach her to catch mice, if you can).
Study well for the exams and keep going!
All the best!
Your mighty brother,
The greatest ever,
Monu
Meli behnaa,
As kilometres separate us, we stand divided and we stand apart. I know, however, that when we say ''distance'', it does not always mean kilometres. We can be close while we are far and we can be far while sitting right next to each other, isn't it? I want to tell you this, little sister, that we are not that parted then, as much as Google Maps would love to tell you. It's not a matter of closeness by the inches as much as it is the matter of closeness by the heart. And I wish to tell you that I hold you so close to my heart that you have gotten inside. (Hahahah! What was that?! :P Never mind!) When I lie in my bed in my room sometimes, and feel the stillness around, and find that the silence is so full that it needs to be broken, and realize that your presence best breaks that silence, I find myself going back into the past. I can feel the days when your laughter rang like wind-chimes in the breeze. I can feel the moments when we walked together- gazing at the dazzling stars in the inky sky, with the breeze kissing our faces and the curls of your untied jet hair lifting with the air, seemed like so many gentle inky waves in the margins of the night-time oceans. Your presence is like a stone plummeting into a pond (yea, we have done that!)- it breaks all the creepy, sad, silent stillness into a million ripples of laughter, disaster, contentment and silly fun and more joyful after-currents follow for a long long time. And all the way while we walked in the night air, licking inexpensive ice-creams, gazing starry fireflies in the fields, laughing merrily at random jokes as we would walk towards home, I would think- this is life, and the place where I was heading is home! It is not the four walls on our name that made it my home. It is you, and mother, and myself, and what we share between us. It is all that we make of it, together. Now I'm away. But as long as you think of me sometimes and smile, and I, of you, and a little tear might creep into my eye, until then, meri choti, nothing will lie changed, absolutely nothing- The same love, the same nights, the same feelings, the same ripples even and especially, the same HOME.
I love you, and I got your Rakhi. I'll bring you a treat when I come. I miss seeing you. And don't worry, I'll come back for you. Till then, look after yourself, look after mother and look after Payal (teach her to catch mice, if you can).
Study well for the exams and keep going!
All the best!
Your mighty brother,
The greatest ever,
Monu
