Siblings travelling far and near for Rakshabandhan

by - 7/29/2019

I am a single child. Not that it is something that I am sad about; I have always got the sole attention of my parents. I have been pampered to the hilt and have always been the element of envy for my friends. But there used to be a single day in the entire year when I used to feel the poorest. That day used to be Rakshabandhan. Yes this very beautiful day when every girl waited for the gift from their brother and every boy waited to have a wrist full of rakhis! How I wished I had a brother!
After I got married I was deeply touched by the strong bond my husband shared with his elder sister.No matter wherever she is, she manages to send rakhi gifts to India for brother. Since Rakshabandhan is just around the corner, I have decided to narrate an incident from their lives from decades ago when buying online rakhi gifts for brother was tough.

My husband has been brought up in a very close knit family. But as the child of working parents, he got very less time from his father and mother. He is the younger of the two siblings and hence his elder sister has been a mother to him. Though she is just three years older to him, but maybe it's the maternal gene or pure love that she has always treated him like her baby. When he was just three and she six, she used to comb his hair, tie up his shoe laces just like a mother would do while going to school.
So he is more of a sister's boy than a mamma's boy. 
As they grew up they drifted apart physically but got fonder of each other. They were in different medical colleges in two different cities. But there used to be two days in the calender when nothing could keep them apart...her birthday and of course Rakshabandhan. 
About twenty years ago when they were in school, his didi had gone to NCC camp. Rakshabandhan always falls in the rainy season. She was posted in a remote area far from their hometown of Varanasi. No one was allowed to see her during the camp. It could not have been possible that he would not visit her on Rakshabandhan...he had to meet her at any cost. So his parents accompanied him to her camp posting. They travelled the entire day by train and then took an autorickshaw and then walked across the forest to reach her camp. It was raining cats and dogs and was muddy everywhere. 
But nothing could deter him from meeting her. Finally they reached her tent.

Those were not the days of mobile phone. His sister never expected them to turn up but deep inside she was dying to meet them. So she was immensely surprised when she found her family at her door step. Their joy knew no bounds. He took out the rakhi and let her tie it on his wrist. Since they were not allowed to stay there, they immediately had to return, all amidst the rain ....all the way back to Varanasi. That journey remains the most testing of all in all these years. Nothing could stop from meeting his darling mother like sister on Rakshabandhan. 
Now eight years into this loving family,not only my husband, but we all look forward to meeting her on this day every year. She has two sons and we have two daughters (the second addition this year), it's a huge festival for both of our families. I am also involved in this process and I try to buy personalised Rakhi gifts for brother. We travel all the way to Rishikesh and celebrate the pious bond of brother and sister.

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17 comments

  1. Lovely post , great that you have such a nice sis in law , happy that Raksha Bandhan is celebrated so nicely at your place.

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  2. Amazing and beautiful post. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The story highlights the bond between the brother and sister. Happy Raksha Bandhan. Great thoughts.

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  3. Such a beautiful post just loved it one of my favorite festival just love to celebrate ty for sharing ❤😘

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  4. i look forward to Raksha Bandhan every year since i get to see the beautiful bond my kids share. lovely write up

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  5. This is such a beautiful post. You are truly blessed to have a wonderful sister in law. Enjoy the festival of rakhi

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  6. This is actually the purest bond every siblings shares and yes, my sister in law also travels every year and we also used to wait for this day a lot!!

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  7. There is so much emotion and depth in this post. I loved reading it. I am oldest sibling and I am very close to my brother and that's why I loved reading this post.

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  8. Beautifully penned! Could relate to the memories as me n my younger brother too have similar sentiments and incident attachedto our lives

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  9. Such a sweet post. I don't live near my brothers and other cousins and don't get to go out with them much. Rakhi is one of the times this year that we plan outings

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  10. I don't have a real sister yet I have huge regard for this festival. Rishab and Saanvi always feel happy celebrating Rakhi. Thanks for this lovely post.

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  11. I have a similar story. I don't have a brother (have an elder sister though). My husband has three sisters. All of them so loving and caring! Although all of us are physically in different countries, our hearts are together.

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  12. Rakhi is one of the most celebrated festival in India. I don't have a brother but i still love this festival.

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  13. Raksha Bandhan is such a sweet festival of India, and the bond between brother and sister eternal and stands the test of time. So sweet to see them meet on Raksha Bandhan in the midst of the jungle.

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  14. Occassions like Rakshabandhan makes you realize the importance of siblings. And it is important to have someone around to play with, joke around, fight with and share everything.

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  15. Raksha bandhan is the festival on which sisters and brothers get together leaving behind any reasons that come in between.

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  16. This is such a heartwarming post to read about the beautiful bond siblings share. I too send Rakhi’s to my brother every year and miss the days when we stayed together.

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  17. Aww thats such a cute story seriously loved it! And yes, I know this bond is very strong and personal. I am also an elder sister to my brother so I can feel it :)
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