Raksha Bandhan - Reinforcing The Sibling Bond

10-08-14

It was Raksha Bandhan.
An important day in the Indian calendar to celebrate the beautiful sibling bond of brother-sister.

The sister ties the 'Rakhi' (the scared thread) on her brother's wrist, praying for his welfare.
And the brother vows to protect her. All the feelings and sentiments of this relationship come to the fore only after the age of 20.
In the childhood years, the bond is usually that of un-chivalry and rivalry, as between James Bond and his enemies. Through the eyes of the child, the older sibling is always the bossy one, and the younger one is forever the annoying one.

It was Raksha bandhan time at our house too.

My older son - 15 years old, and my younger daughter of 10 years.
Retorts and arguments flow galore. Some are fun, some are void of fun.

New phrases, unfitting titles and incongruous statements to outwit or negatively praise each other are a good source of entertainment through the day. 

This was precisely the reason why I disconnected the cable TV. 

Because the television ate up the life and energy of my growing kids (and also because in the last 10 years I never got a chance to hold the TV remote). 

TV made my kids deaf, dumb and immobile, while I was forced to hear high volume of cartoon network even if I was in the attic, or hear News network in the kitchen with Ornab yellling loud and louder "Mr. Subramanium, answer my question". He can intimidate even the viewers. 

Life sans the cable TV has been more first hand and entertaining. 

Firstly,  the deafening volume with the background score and the ever so repetitive advertisements is NO MORE! It is relatively peaceful at home with occasional outbursts of sibling or inter spousal mis-communication.

  

Secondly, I am able to interact with the live actors in my house (my children) on a first hand basis.
Nothing gives me more joy than being with my kids and going through their laughs, yells, and screams. Far more fun than TV. It can get a little serious at times when there is an emotional break down from one of the contestants of this reality show and I am forced to be the judge! Being the judge in such situations is highly stressful and can be termed as 'judge-mental' because brickbats from the contestants are guaranteed. 

The rest of my family may never agree that life is better without TV, but so I say and so it shall be as long as I can stretch it to life without TV. (But the fear of being over ruled hangs large over me every day). 

Coming back to Raksha Bandhan, there was a flow of expletives in the morning between the siblings, just before the ceremonial tying of the rakhi (the sacred thread). It led to an awkwardness between the two during the ceremony, but they were forced to hug, kiss, and make up. 

Barely 10 minutes after the rakhi was tied on his arm, my son came to me...

"Mom, this rakhi is too pokey. It's irritating me, just like her", (he mischievously pointed to his sister who was busy doing a backward arch in the living room.) 

"Mom, how long have you been married ?"  he asked.

"22 years" I said. 

"TWENTY-TWO YEARS!" he said in surprise, "are you sure?"

"Yes" 

He was truly surprised to hear 22 years. 

"That is a very long time", it must be really difficult." he remarked seriously.

I was surprised, surprised by the sudden maturity of this 15 year old who was still more of a child. 

Only occasionally he behaved like he was my daughter's father....reprimanding her, for which she would either fight right back or burst into tears. 

He continued to voice his shock, "How did you manage for so many years?" He raised his eyebrows in awe and disbelief. 

Now my curiosity was aroused, "Why do you say so" ? I asked.

"You and dad have been together for TWENTY-TWO YEARS!", he shook his head in amazement,  

And here (he said pointing to himself) in TEN YEARS I am fed up of her already", he said pointing to his sister.

                                

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