Got a mail from one of my bros today. Well, actually, it wasn't a mail as in 'mail'. I mean, mails have to have stuff written in them right? Well, this one just had pictures of him. Now it's been a long while since I saw either of those two erstwhile bullies who I call my brothers. Bullies 'coz I used to get the un-royal treatment from them everytime I tried to stand up to them.
Being the youngest in the family has a lot of demerits. You get a lot of hand-me-downs, you have to wait in line before you get to use the motorbike, and yes, you just can't say what you want and then expect to get away with it. You get away ofcourse, but not before carrying some really physically painful reminders. But I suppose, the demerits are nothing to the one supreme merit. Of having two elder bros to fall back on (IF you are on good enough terms with them that is).
Earliest memories of us doin something akin to boys stuff was tryin to imitate some African tribal fire dance that we saw at school. Our choice of venue was not very suitable. We chose our apartment. Our choice of time was not very suitable either..we chose the time both our folks were out working! Mom came in from work to find the carpets burnt and a smoke filled apartment. The three of us were oblivious to it all. We were calmly sittin in the balcony.
On my graduation into teenage, my role became more of that of a sentry. When Big B (read eldest bro) took to smoking, it was the middle one's and my role to look out for any sight of the enemy-our folks. Later on, when Big B was away from home, and my second bro took to smoking, I had to do the watch all alone. And, when I took to smoking a few stolen puffs at home, I had to do both the smoking and the watching out myself! I am all of 25 years old, but I can still hear amplified heartbeats everytime I try to sneak a smoke at home. Not my brothers though..they are made of sterner stuff.
They pulled a lot of pranks on me too..esp when I was too small to know the difference. Big B tells me that they used to wake me up in the middle of the night to get dressed for school! And the lil' twerp that I was, I used to do it too! My middle of the night sojourns continued into college. Shawn bro and I had gone to visit Big B at Mangalore where the latter was studying. We had a drink together. And I was initiated into my first bottle of beer. I fell flat asleep. But you know what beer does to your poor lil' bladder. My bladder woke me up in the middle of the night. I mechanically woke up, walked to the corner of the room I was sleepin in, and almost answered Nature's call there and then, if it was not for my vigilant brothers who detoured me to the john.
As we grew older, we became more democratic (lucky me). They grudgingly let me smoke in front of them, after me repeatedly assuring them that I hardly smoked..and we had our share of beer together too. And at the end of virtually every drink that we guys had together, there would be a lot of hugging and tear jerking..My darling Big B would apologize for all the whacks my other bro and I got as a kid. And we would end every party with a resolve to stay together no matter what. Of course, the minute we became sober, we had our regular round of fights and quarrels over who needed to do the chores (Big B was a lazy bum..I too am) and most of the time it was mid bro who used to do things and make us feel guilty..
Years have gone by since we have been together..the last time we met was not on a very joyous occasion. They were accompanying my uncle's dead body from Dubai. We were together for only something like 3 days. Big B is now married and has a kid. He lives in Dubai. The second guy is now away in Kuwait. And here I am living the life of a wanderer (not a jobless one though)..shuttling between cities in the southern part of India. The good Lord above alone knows when and where we 3 would meet again. Till then we keep watching each other grow through this very medium that has provided me with all my new friends..We chat every now and then..but it is just not the same thing people..I need to see them..in flesh and blood..I need to fight with them, I need to drive with them, get drunk with them..
Two guys can make a lot of difference..ask any youngest bro.*sigh*..
Till I meet them though, I am pretty much king of my castle!! The bike is all mine!!!LOL!!
*YES! I did notice that the title was grammatically wrong. You didn't, did you? Darn!
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