This is based on a true life incident.. written from a brother's view, a brother who once had a dear sister. Here goes...
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Strange are the ways life treats you and your loved ones. Just when you feel everything is going your way, something happens that turns the tables upside down.. and then you find yourself sifting through the shattered pieces of your life, trying to pick the ones that you can hold on to as you move on. This is my story. A story that lived with me for a good 20 years, when I had my sister by my side to share my glory and pain.
The sun shone brighter on 28th October 1990. This day, a new being made its way onto this world to bring smiles and happiness on the faces of many. Dad and mom received the best gift of their lives and I got a friend, a comrade, a reason for me to keep smiling. A sister that I would love and protect for the rest of my life. We called her Precious.
I watched my little sis as she made her way from being a toddler, to a talented dancer in school, to a respected adolescent that everybody admired in college. I remember her beautiful eyes, her warm smile that never left her face even as responsibilities kept piling up on her, and her soft and beautiful voice that even the singing birds would envy. She would come running to me when I got back from school on some days and show me her Barbie doll on her outstretched arms. On other days, barbies would be replaced by teddy bears and miniature kitchen cutlery and anything that a girl that age would aspire to have in her possession. Well, I envied her, because dad and mom gave me far lesser gifts than they gave to my little sis. I guess, they were bored buying me the same old 2 and 4 wheeled toys and G-I Joes that changed only in their colour and dimensions. But, boy! I still love those toys. Give your young man one of these, and rest assured, he’ll be occupied with it for atleast a few months.
It was not long before I realised that Precious had outgrown her tiny pink skirts and was ready to start a new life at school. We went to the same school and my days ever since, became smaller, trying to fit in my studies and responsibilities of a big brother. Precious became an instant hit with her teachers and fellow students. Her approach to simple matters of Mathematics and Science that a school would teach to first graders would leave her fellow 5 year olds and 30 year olds baffled alike. Well, I guess it’s all in the genes. So it didn’t surprise me that my dad, who is a brilliant accounts manager with a leading business solutions provider, would have a daughter who would one day compete with him equally in the same arena. Well, when it’s in the genes, why would mom’s mischievousness be off of her? I would often get called to the principal’s office as I was the first point of contact for the school authorities to report of my little sis’s mischievous acts. Though I had to maintain a straight face before them – that is expected from a big brother in such situations, I sincerely adored her in my mind. Proud that Precious was my little sister. On such occasions, we would treat ourselves to huge scoops of Vanilla fudge ripple and Cherry and Butter pecan at Corner House, just outside the school gates.
School uniforms gradually gave way to denims and tees. As I got into the competitive corporate world, Precious aced her way into a very reputed college in the city. With college, came bigger responsibilities, of growing up, of dealing with the world, of living a fast life, of a bigger list of friends, and most important of all, of charting out her career on her own. And she handled it all with aplomb. And that is when I met Adarsh, the charming young graduate from the same college, that Precious had decided to spend her life with. Dad mom and I were glad that she had found a smart dude for herself.
Just as I made my way to work one wintery December morning, with Christmas jingles playing on the radio, I received a call from dad on my phone. Precious had lost consciousness at the breakfast table and dad and mom had rushed her to the hospital. I immediately called in sick and took a detour to the hospital. As I reached the emergency room, I found her sitting on the bed, smiling as ever, with dad and mom beside her, mom gently stroking the strands of hair that ran across her graceful face. Dad tried hard to discover a smile in his own face burdened with sorrow. I hugged Precious and took dad to the waiting area and asked him what was wrong. He broke down.
The doctors had diagnosed Precious with malignant tumour in her brain. Unfortunately, since she never showed any symptoms of the tumour before, it had grown to become life threatening and had now become impossible to be treated. Though the doctors had suggested a second opinion from a neighbouring hospital, I trusted them, for they had very efficiently treated dad and mom whenever they visited the place for treatment. I pleaded with them to do all that it would take for them to make a miracle happen to give my little sis a new lease of life. They promised that they would do their best, but also added that they only can hope for another couple of years in her life should the worst happen before they succeed.
It is in times like these that you begin to curse the Lord above. You begin to introspect your own life to check if there had been anything you did wrong, the reprisal of which is being vent upon the one you truly love. You begin to lose faith and hope seems hard to live with. But, I never gave up. I read more about the disease. I came closer to Precious in a very subtle manner. I advised dad and mom to be strong and never let her know of the unfortunate discovery. We always maintained before her that what she had was a common condition called Migraine and that it was a result of the stress she has been taking lately in college. All she had to do was to go with me to the hospital regularly for routine checkups.
I lived my entire life over the next 2 years. I prayed to God more often, regularly visited the doctors and always encouraged them to do what they did best. I shifted my work timings to be by my sis when she got home from college. She went on to live life with frolic, joy and lots of love. We visited places that she had in her list to be visited before she completed college. Basically, we maintained a very normal atmosphere at home and outside, taking utmost care not to let her ease herself of her smile. And I was pleased, I had succeeded. Or, had I?
It was one of those days when Precious came home telling me about how she mischievously pulled a prank on a lecturer in her class, and got out of it with just a warning. Only, this time, I was not summoned, because, what happens within college walls, more often than not, remains within those walls. So, there we were, sitting in our favourite place, devouring a large serving of Butter pecan ice cream. Over the years, the Corner House folks grew friendlier to us and occasionally exchanged pleasantries with us. Then, just as we got up to get back home, Precious turned pale. I held her tight as she was about to drop onto the floor. I knew that the time had finally arrived despite all our efforts. With some help from the friendly folks there, I got her to the hospital where the doctors gave me the news I already knew. Precious had embarked on another journey...a journey beyond life.
As I sat down with my diary to capture the beautiful memories I had with my little sis, I stumbled upon her diary. The last entry was made during Christmas 2 years ago. It read:
I watched my little sis as she made her way from being a toddler, to a talented dancer in school, to a respected adolescent that everybody admired in college. I remember her beautiful eyes, her warm smile that never left her face even as responsibilities kept piling up on her, and her soft and beautiful voice that even the singing birds would envy. She would come running to me when I got back from school on some days and show me her Barbie doll on her outstretched arms. On other days, barbies would be replaced by teddy bears and miniature kitchen cutlery and anything that a girl that age would aspire to have in her possession. Well, I envied her, because dad and mom gave me far lesser gifts than they gave to my little sis. I guess, they were bored buying me the same old 2 and 4 wheeled toys and G-I Joes that changed only in their colour and dimensions. But, boy! I still love those toys. Give your young man one of these, and rest assured, he’ll be occupied with it for atleast a few months.
It was not long before I realised that Precious had outgrown her tiny pink skirts and was ready to start a new life at school. We went to the same school and my days ever since, became smaller, trying to fit in my studies and responsibilities of a big brother. Precious became an instant hit with her teachers and fellow students. Her approach to simple matters of Mathematics and Science that a school would teach to first graders would leave her fellow 5 year olds and 30 year olds baffled alike. Well, I guess it’s all in the genes. So it didn’t surprise me that my dad, who is a brilliant accounts manager with a leading business solutions provider, would have a daughter who would one day compete with him equally in the same arena. Well, when it’s in the genes, why would mom’s mischievousness be off of her? I would often get called to the principal’s office as I was the first point of contact for the school authorities to report of my little sis’s mischievous acts. Though I had to maintain a straight face before them – that is expected from a big brother in such situations, I sincerely adored her in my mind. Proud that Precious was my little sister. On such occasions, we would treat ourselves to huge scoops of Vanilla fudge ripple and Cherry and Butter pecan at Corner House, just outside the school gates.
School uniforms gradually gave way to denims and tees. As I got into the competitive corporate world, Precious aced her way into a very reputed college in the city. With college, came bigger responsibilities, of growing up, of dealing with the world, of living a fast life, of a bigger list of friends, and most important of all, of charting out her career on her own. And she handled it all with aplomb. And that is when I met Adarsh, the charming young graduate from the same college, that Precious had decided to spend her life with. Dad mom and I were glad that she had found a smart dude for herself.
Just as I made my way to work one wintery December morning, with Christmas jingles playing on the radio, I received a call from dad on my phone. Precious had lost consciousness at the breakfast table and dad and mom had rushed her to the hospital. I immediately called in sick and took a detour to the hospital. As I reached the emergency room, I found her sitting on the bed, smiling as ever, with dad and mom beside her, mom gently stroking the strands of hair that ran across her graceful face. Dad tried hard to discover a smile in his own face burdened with sorrow. I hugged Precious and took dad to the waiting area and asked him what was wrong. He broke down.
The doctors had diagnosed Precious with malignant tumour in her brain. Unfortunately, since she never showed any symptoms of the tumour before, it had grown to become life threatening and had now become impossible to be treated. Though the doctors had suggested a second opinion from a neighbouring hospital, I trusted them, for they had very efficiently treated dad and mom whenever they visited the place for treatment. I pleaded with them to do all that it would take for them to make a miracle happen to give my little sis a new lease of life. They promised that they would do their best, but also added that they only can hope for another couple of years in her life should the worst happen before they succeed.
It is in times like these that you begin to curse the Lord above. You begin to introspect your own life to check if there had been anything you did wrong, the reprisal of which is being vent upon the one you truly love. You begin to lose faith and hope seems hard to live with. But, I never gave up. I read more about the disease. I came closer to Precious in a very subtle manner. I advised dad and mom to be strong and never let her know of the unfortunate discovery. We always maintained before her that what she had was a common condition called Migraine and that it was a result of the stress she has been taking lately in college. All she had to do was to go with me to the hospital regularly for routine checkups.
I lived my entire life over the next 2 years. I prayed to God more often, regularly visited the doctors and always encouraged them to do what they did best. I shifted my work timings to be by my sis when she got home from college. She went on to live life with frolic, joy and lots of love. We visited places that she had in her list to be visited before she completed college. Basically, we maintained a very normal atmosphere at home and outside, taking utmost care not to let her ease herself of her smile. And I was pleased, I had succeeded. Or, had I?
It was one of those days when Precious came home telling me about how she mischievously pulled a prank on a lecturer in her class, and got out of it with just a warning. Only, this time, I was not summoned, because, what happens within college walls, more often than not, remains within those walls. So, there we were, sitting in our favourite place, devouring a large serving of Butter pecan ice cream. Over the years, the Corner House folks grew friendlier to us and occasionally exchanged pleasantries with us. Then, just as we got up to get back home, Precious turned pale. I held her tight as she was about to drop onto the floor. I knew that the time had finally arrived despite all our efforts. With some help from the friendly folks there, I got her to the hospital where the doctors gave me the news I already knew. Precious had embarked on another journey...a journey beyond life.
As I sat down with my diary to capture the beautiful memories I had with my little sis, I stumbled upon her diary. The last entry was made during Christmas 2 years ago. It read:
“25th Dec 2008
Dear Diary,
I fainted today while having breakfast. I don’t really know what happened next. I only cherish the moment when Ryan came upto my bed in the hospital and hugged me warmly. I learnt from the doctor later during the day about my condition and made him promise that he would not reveal my knowledge about it to Ryan and my parents.
I want to live the best possible moments of my life with Ryan and dad and mom from now on. I’ve told Adarsh that we shall remain as good friends till the end of my time. And I would want to give them all my best. So, dear diary, I am afraid, this will be the last story of my life that I would be sharing with you. I would expect you to stand by me as I live every moment of my life beautifully with Ryan from now on. I’m sure you will..
Good Bye, dear Diary... forever...”Dear Diary,
I fainted today while having breakfast. I don’t really know what happened next. I only cherish the moment when Ryan came upto my bed in the hospital and hugged me warmly. I learnt from the doctor later during the day about my condition and made him promise that he would not reveal my knowledge about it to Ryan and my parents.
I want to live the best possible moments of my life with Ryan and dad and mom from now on. I’ve told Adarsh that we shall remain as good friends till the end of my time. And I would want to give them all my best. So, dear diary, I am afraid, this will be the last story of my life that I would be sharing with you. I would expect you to stand by me as I live every moment of my life beautifully with Ryan from now on. I’m sure you will..
