Squeal, Sob, Sniff, Shriek

A, my little bro, left for Pune today. Because his flight was at five-thirty in the morning, I was only half awake when he left. Dad and Ma went to the airport to see him off and I only made it as far as the gate. Standing there, watching them getting into the car and leave, seeing him sketch a half-wave at me from inside the car, I realized that I didn't want him to leave. I suddenly noticed that my eyes were moist.

I hadn't even realized, throughout these past days, that I'd gotten used to having him around, settling back into that old, comfortable rhythm again, being a proper family of four. We are five, sorry six now! BP and Goofy are additions to the family.

My brother is the person with the most vitality in my family. He's gregarious and probably has more friends at any given time than I've ever had in my life. And he's had a pretty interesting life, too. After all, how many people can claim to have broken a classmate's nose and gotten away with it? Recently, when he got his head shaved - just for the heck of it, he said - I counted no less than six scars on his scalp alone, relics of old adventuring. I believe the number of stitches he has had to get on his head alone is about thirty.

As for my parents, you can imagine what they must have gone through every time he came to them with blood flowing freely from his scalp. My mother tells me that the first time she took him to the hospital to get stitches, she almost fainted when the doctors started stitching. After a couple of hospital visits, though, it became routine.

In fact, one afternoon, we had a guest in the house. My brother had gone cycling, and he came back with - yup, you guessed it - a bleeding head. He came in, coolly said hello to the visitor and told my dad, "Could you take me to the hospital? I think I need stitches again." It was then that the guest saw the wound. He gasped and said, "Blood!" in such a horrified tone that everyone burst out laughing. That is a measure of how used we had become to my brother's war wounds.

Having him around brings balance to my life. I'm too serious a person, and I think I need my brother around in order to become more laid back. But then I guess, he is ok to have around only in small doses. I remember when he came to stay with me last year, he drove me up the wall with his whims and fancies. I cannot forgive him or forget the day when he was unwell and AB was in town, he kicked up such a fuss for me to return home that I was in tears. Sometimes, I pity the girl (N in his case) who will marry him.

But that aside, My brother is the best ever. He got my mom and me a big bunch of flowers, special liquor chocolates, and 2 large Valentine cards. I told him it will help him score brownie points with girls if he tells them he gets his mom and sister V-Day gifts. Wouldn't he, girls? He was really excited when he heard that. He is so cute and he totally made Ma's day. She was quiet unwell after the raditation yesterday and Anu's VDay presents cheered her up.

BP had flowers and a big bunch of red balloons delivered to me. The message read, "I love you even more this year than last year on this day. Be my Valentine.. forever". How sweeeeeeeeet!! Long distance ((((huuugs)))))

There was an Earthquake in the North-East region of India (close to Indo-China border) yesterday. AB is somewhere in that area. I fretted the whole night about him. I hope he is ok!

AS has requested his company to transfer him back to Bangalore. I pray it happens soon. I hate to admit it but I miss you Bro! Goofy, who doesn't otherwise give A much importance, also seemed to be missing him and was looking for him all over the house.