He’s was chatting with his friends over tea. Sharman and his possible girlfriend were being discussed.He didn’t like gossiping but he kept sitting without contributing anything. He didn’t have anything better to do. They were just done with their mid-term exams.

He gets a call from his brother. It was unusual. Especially at 10 30 PM. “Hello”… There was no specific reason why he called. Just normal chit chat.

He struggled with small talk. He and his brother, they never talked much. They were not the brothers and sisters that are shown on TV. They were always mean to each other. ( Like proper mean). When he was young, he used to wonder, how destiny played the fool on him by giving him such useless brother. All the other brother’s he knew, seemed nicer. His brother was three years elder and always acted like a drill master. It’s another thing, that he never obeyed him. When they were young, they use to have fist fights. He always thought that he has defeated his big brother. He never knew, he just let him win. Although sometimes he irritated the hell out of him and the scar on his head and a broken front tooth are testaments to that.

After the call, he went to his room to take rest. He began thinking to himself that it’s always his brother who calls. He doesn’t remember calling him for normal chit-chat ever. He thinks how subtle their love is. Like when they see each other after a long time, there is no hugging or any display of affection. They just smile. And it’s so innate, that it doesn’t feel awkward at all.

He wonders how different they are, personality wise. His brother is more grounded and realistic in comparison to his overly excited self. And how his brother couldn’t resist ‘mithais’ and ‘chola-bhaturas’, while he’s okay if he doesn’t have them. Although he has a sweet tooth too. He wonders how his brother is more tensed about his career than he himself ever was. The sense of responsibility that pervaded his brother’s life so early and never touched his.

He begins to realize how stupid he has been all through, hating his brother all these years, while he has been his protective shield. The beatings his brother got to get the material possessions that ultimately got passed on to him without any effort. The scoldings his brother got for setting up a precedent of disobeying the parents so that they got used to being disobeyed when his time came. The family responsibilities his brother grabbed on so early in life, so that he can realize his dreams. He felt so lucky to have him now.

He didn’t know if all siblings have a relationship like that, (T.V. siblings are too good to be true) but he respected his big brother.Even though that show of love and affection is missing, but who needs that if everything else is perfect.

“Shall I drop a text to bhai?”

“Naah.”