My mother brought me to this
world after struggling for nearly 8 and half months. But the first person who
held me was my Maasi, (my mother’s younger sister). The word Maasi (Maa jaisi) in
Hindi quite literally means, “One who is like your mother.” I obviously don’t remember my first day on
this earth, but I have been told so much about it by my Aunts… Yes you got that
right, plural, Aunts because they are twins.
So coming back to day 1, they say I had long black hair; I was looking
at everything and everyone around, with my eyes wide open and wasn’t crying at
all like a new born usually does.
My Aunts Manju Aunty and Premi
Aunty, that’s what I call them fondly, are the best ever people I have met in
my life. They have been the friends that have played with as a kid, loved
unconditionally, pampered and spoilt rotten. There are a lot of memories that
are associated with them. A lot of stories to tell. I cannot fathom my life
without the two of them. Stories…. I wonder where do I even begin from, well I will
start with Manju Aunty. I was four years old I guess, one fine summer
afternoon, and sun shining bright outside. So me and my cousin Pinky, who was
two then were supposed to be inside the house. But me being me wanted to go out
and play (yes that’s right! Play in the scorching sun). So I was being stubborn
and started throwing tantrums. She obviously had to be strict with me; I got
punished for not obeying. My punishment was to stand against the wall and stare
endlessly. I stood right there for hours as Manju Aunty forget to tell me let
go. I must have stood there the whole day without complaining. Manju Aunty then
realized she had forgotten that I was punished. I remember vaguely but she came
upto me and hugged me tight. I have never been punished by her since then,
infact I know I am still her favorite (Sorry Vicky, that’s the truth….). Aunts
have a unique way of showing love, so she made a cabinet and painted it all by
herself and put up stickers of all my favorite cartoon characters. My love
towards her is such, that I still have the cabinet. 28 years and it is still
going strong.
Nine year old, leader of the
destructive gang. There were 7 of us playing in the playground, when we found
some fire crackers. Well the leader of the gang ordered the others to bring the
crackers to her (I am talking about me). We had to light it up, but how? So I told
one of the boys to get match sticks from his place. In no time, we had a pack
of match sticks, so now the only thing remained to do was to light up the fire
cracker. Ofcourse I had never done that and little did I know what was in store
for me. I lit it up and before I could know, it burst in my hand. I was severely
injured. My right hand was burnt, so were my eyebrows and eyelashes. My Cousin
sister Pinky, who was my partner in crime, practically saved me, pulling me by
my hair. We ran in the house, was a Saturday afternoon, so Premi Aunty was
home. She saw me and then my sister and before I could understand anything, she
put my hand in the cold water. She actually saved my hand, the burns were
pretty severe. I knew my Father was going to be really upset, so was he. But I was
glad that my hand was still usable. Since Premi Aunty was in close proximity with
me she could smell the gun powder for days on her. But I am sure she didn’t bother
about any of it.
These are just the two stories I have
shared here today, but the love I have been showered on with by the two of them
cannot be compared to anything valuable in this world. The stories are never
ending and so is my love for the two of you. Whatever little or enormous you
both have done for me, I will never be able to repay, for I don’t know how to
repay love. Today is your birthday and wish you guys grow younger by the day,
because me, Pinky and Vicky need you for the longest time. Our lives wouldn’t have
been so amazing if it wasn’t for the two of you. I am not rich enough to afford
a flight tickets for the two of you, but I am wealthy enough to share my love
and happiness with you. Happy Birthday gangsters!! I love you both to moon and
back.