My school day memories and siblings

While I was talking to my first sister a few days back, she was saying how we became close after we grew up. She even teased me saying she wouldn't ever forget those days when she had to sit behind me while I rode my cycle (a maroon Ladybird) and the numerous occasions when I used to pinch her and shout at her as I rode to school or back home.

I was in my 7th std and she in 2nd std. I had a big bag on my back, she used to sit behind it. Now if I think of it, I feel that she must have been a poor tiny thing trying to find some place in the back seat (there was no seat, just a steel carrier). And she too used to have a bag of her own. She must have been in pain and discomfort too. Then our lunch bags went in to the front basket. Our home was very near by; may be 10 min by cycle, but it seemed forever to reach home due to the luggage and hot weather. I really don't remember why I used to pinch her, but I used to have a very bad temper those days. Probably in the mornings, she must have been late or in the evenings she would'nt adjust and give me enough space. Whatever was the reason, I have to ask her forgiveness for those "loss of temper and pinching her" moments. I was too young; but she was younger than me which I never understood that time.

We also had many days when we used to take the bus or walk home. Those days we used to have "Pepsi Ice" or those honey filled sweets "Thean Mittai". The Pepsi ice was 50 or 75 paise and thaen mittai 5 or 10 paise a piece. We didn't get much pocket money but we used to buy some once a while and relish and also fight as to who had the max.
Those days, there was no aqua guard or can water. Metro water used to be boiled in a vessel at home and then cooled, sometimes filtered and used for drinking. So after a hot day, and riding the cycle with my sister behind me, we would come home to find that the water is still hot. That would be the end of my little patience; I used to shout at my mother for not having cold water ready, and I would be in tears out of anger. The other thing for which I would loose temper was when my mother offered me rice and curry after school instead of tiffin which was my favourite.

Prior to the cycle days, when I was in fifth std, my mom used to come by bus, and pick us both and took us home by bus for a few days after which we learnt to go on our own. Those bus days, our dad used to drop us in the mornings. We had free Govt bus passes.

Somehow, mom never could give us lunch in the morning itself. So she used to come in the lunch break and give us food in those typical lunch bag (plastic moulded coloured baskets with a lunch towel and spoon) or dad would leave the bag with the watchman while he went to office. It was my sister's turn to take the lunch and come to my class(u see I was the elder :)). She used to join us with my friends. I used to blast her some days for being late. (Now I realise she was too small and did not deserve such treatment). She says even to this day that she was never once angry with me for not treating her right those days; she just wondered why akka is behaving that way. But she was a younger kid than us and my friends used to be friendly to her, some used to tease her too. We weren't close then, we were typical siblings.

After a few years, my other sister came to our life and there is this year that I would never forget. The year when we 3 were in the same school. I was in 12th, one in 7th and the last in 1st. I used to drive the TVS 50 by now (junior license), kutti sister in front; she used to stand and the other one behind and all our bags. As usual, mom used to bring lunch, feed the kutti one while we ate(most memorable). We four used to sit on the play ground. (It was the only year when I did not have lunch with my friends). And on teacher's day, I went to both their classes as their teacher. It was a good experience. The 12th stds would act as teachers on that particular day and we had to wear saree.

All my friends will remember my first sis and some my second sis, coz for any information regarding their studies, I would be called. I used to pay their fees as they were too young to handle money.

Later they grew up, got their own cycles, or walked home or took the bus. They had their own lives and similar instances between them. In fact they both are now in the "just siblings" stage. Life will give them more experiences and they both too will someday become more closer to each other as I'm to each of them now. Years have passed by since I left school but the above memories are precious and I cherish them. Now my sisters have grown up and are very close to me. We are not just siblings; we share a special relationship and hope we will continue this forever. Cheers to my sisters!!