A Late Blessing

Little AbRam comes home to SRK and his family, and I am reminded of the time my baby brother  Paras was born. He is sixteen years younger than me, and I was absolutely delighted. Many years later, my school friends mentioned they were embarrassed for me – to have a baby brother when I was all grown up – but truly the thought never crossed my mind. Maybe because I was away at the hostel all those months !

I was fascinated – however. And totally in love with the little bundle that made strange noises and faces. And who brought much happiness and some irritation in my life too. He was the stepney who accompanied me everywhere – to the GK market , to the doctor, even to a date . He would not let me study, till I scared him with ghost stories and let him whimper on the side. He would lie down till I tickled him pink and he would come every morning, tuck his cold feet between mine and go off to sleep. And he loved listening to my stories. When I was looking at innumerable boys for marriage, he had only one yardstick- ‘can you do lip-to-lip kiss with him?’ And when Rano and I got married, he opened his heart unconditionally for his jijus and shares a fabulous rapport with them.

A late born child is a huge blessing. Paras came at the right time for my parents – when the empty nest was fast becoming a reality. He eased my parents’ pain of Rano and me leaving home to study, to work and to get married. While my parents missed us a lot, there were constantly busy with his school and college schedule. He kept my parents on their toes and kept them young.  I don’t think my parents ever got a breather to think about life and do things that people their age do. My parents are up-to-date on everything the younger generation favours – from music to movies , from cars to technology, from friendships and new definitions of relationships.

Paras makes my parents look at life through new eyes. At 60, my Mom wore her sneakers and took Paras on a two week tour of Europe - and had the time of her life by letting Paras take the lead. She loved Barcelona in the way Paras experienced it and enjoyed sitting at roadside cafes watching the world go by. My Dad dreamt of me becoming an IAS officer  and  settled for an MBA when he realized I did not have the drive or brains for that. But now, he exhorts Paras to explore life differently – and do things that he is truly passionate about.

Paras is the bridge between us and our children. His one niece and three nephews dote on him and he is their go-to guy everytime they want us to understand something juvenile. When Nishna is confused about a dress she has to wear, she asks Paras. And trusts his judgement, because I am too old and unclassy! And ofcourse, life has come a full circle – now Paras is constantly on his toes, because his tech savvy nephews manage to find things he does not want us to know!

Late born or not, Paras is the best brother ever…and the age difference does not stop us three from sharing our innermost thoughts and concerns with each other – in a manner that only siblings can.

I can only imagine how much happier SRK’s house just got!