"You and I depended on one another when neither of us had wealth. I have been proud at your best and have loved you at your worst. You mean the world to me like you always have, ever since the two of us have had to share parents."

-Elegiac_Damsel

______

18th June

Anindita's point of view:

I returned home from Dubai in the morning today. Dada is supposed to land here in Mumbai sometime in the evening by a United Airlines flight from Boston. He told me that he would be able to manage coming home from the airport by himself. I had not told Ma anything because I know she will be jubilant beyond words.

It was 8 p.m. when I informed Ma that I would cook the dinner. I prepared the food in excess as I had to ensure some would be kept for Dada. Ma went off to help Baba with his dinner while I took a seat on the sofa, waiting for my brother to arrive home.

At 9 p.m., I looked out of the window to see Dada paying the fare of the Uber which had ferried him from the airport. I went out to check if the elevator was in working condition and as luck would have it, it was out of order. Cursing under my breath, I sprinted down the stairs to help Dada with his luggage. He smiled at me in greeting and I smiled a tight-lipped smile in reply.

"The elevator is not in working condition. You take the backpack and move up to the 4th floor. I'll come up with the suitcase." I told him

"It is heavy. You take the backpack and I'll take the suitcase." he offered

I sighed and told him with finality in my tone, "Dada, I am used to carrying my own luggage every time this stupid elevator gives up on me. I'll be able to manage just fine. Tumi jao, ami aashchi (you go, I'll come)."

He shrugged at my stubbornness and complied. I dragged the suitcase up the 4 floors. By the time I reached the 4th floor, I was out of breath. Dada was panting when I rang the doorbell for Ma to open the door for the two of us. He obviously doesn't have the habit of sprinting up and down so many flights of stairs. I heard Ma turning the door knob and waited with bated breath. She opened the door slightly and saw me, "Why on earth are you roaming about so late at night? And you forgot to cover the dishes properly before..."

She stopped short. Her eyes widened when she realized I wasn't the only one at the door. I saw her raise her hand to touch Dada's shoulder. She was making sure that it wasn't her hallucination or any kind of illusion.

"Anurag? Is that you?" she asked, her voice reduced to a whisper

Dada nodded before taking Ma in his embrace. He caught me looking at the two of them from the corner of his eye.

We both grinned simultaneously.

...

"How are my grandsons doing? And what about my daughter in-law? Has your second son begun school yet?" Ma began with her flurry of questions, all of them directed at Dada

We were seated at the dining table at 10, following an hour of Ma's emotional outburst at seeing her son for the first time in 3 years. Baba had managed a lopsided smile and a slurred greeting. This is something that Ma and I have gotten used to since Baba's right side is paralyzed. Dada couldn't understand his words though and I had to interpret them for him.

"Dada, this is a 2 B.H.K. flat. Ma and Baba stay in their room and you take mine. I will be in the hall and don't worry there are air conditioners in all the rooms." I informed him while clearing the table

"I can easily swap places with you, sis."

I looked up to meet his gaze, "I am aware Dada but I don't think Ma will be too pleased to see her doting son sleeping on a mattress on the floor. And the thing is that I wouldn't like it either. Be my guest and try and get some sleep tonight. I know you are jet lagged."

Although I am not a very argumentative person, I can put my foot down on matters like this. I used to debate in school and college and my tone can be intimidating when I want it to be. Dada nodded in reply and I took the used plates to the kitchen for loading the dishwasher. Although most Indian households are not really equipped with dishwashers, I had to install one at home for Ma's convenience. This is the least I could do for her considering the fact that I am barely around. I usually prefer scrubbing the dishes by hand but I guess I can do with a break.

I had just closed the door to the dishwasher when Ma came looking for me. I waited for her to say something, "Baby, can you help me a bit?"

I wiped my hands with a kitchen rag and followed her to their room. Baba was lying on the bed in a very uncomfortable posture. I helped him up in a sitting position and immediately realized why Ma had sought my help. Being physically challenged, it is very difficult for him to communicate with us. Usually he is able to convey to either Ma or me whenever he needs to use the washroom but this isn't uncommon. He had wet the bed.

I helped him get up from the bed. He was mumbling something which vaguely sounded like an apology. I sighed, "Nothing happened Baba. It is fine. Kichu hoe ni (nothing happened). Ma, help Baba to the washroom. I'll change the bed sheet and get you some clean clothes for him to wear."

Ma tried to protest but I held my hand up, "Not a word Ma. The doctor has instructed you to not put too much strain on your back. I'll get everything cleaned."

I opened the closet in the room and got out clean clothes for Baba. Walking to the washroom door in their room, I knocked twice and Ma opened the door a creak to take the clothes. I got the cleaning essentials from the service balcony and a fresh bed sheet from the laundry cupboard there. Dada walked inside the room just as I was stripping the blanket off the mattress.

"What happened? The lights were on in the hall..." he stopped short looking at my flustered state

"Dada, your bed has already been made. It is better if you go and sleep. You are not used to this, it might be overwhelming." I told him so because I know seeing Baba's condition might just be painful for him

It was perceptible that I needed some time and space in order to get things sorted, so he did not protest. I spent the next 15 minutes soaking the blankets in a tub of water and disinfectant, drying the mattress and changing the covers. Ma returned with Baba from the washroom and I helped him lie down on the bed. Ma took her seat on the other side of the bed. I proceeded to mop the floor once just in order to give myself some satisfaction that the room was thoroughly clean.

"Anindita, this had happened last week too and even yesterday." Ma informed me

"Why did you not tell me before? Do you think I should get some..." I hesitated but Ma nodded in the affirmative. She cupped my face and spoke gently, "I think you should sweetheart. I know why you are hesitating. We may be your parents but you cannot deny the fact that we are growing old. You are our guardian now."

I nodded gulping the lump that had appeared in my throat. "I am coming from the pharmacy. I'll get a few more strips of your medicines as well."

She nodded and I could see her eyelids drooping. "Go to sleep Ma. I'll take my keys with me."

...

Third person's p.o.v.:

Anindita was disturbed. She had grabbed her wallet and house-keys and walked out of the house to go to the pharmacy which was half a kilometre away. There were other pharmacies nearby but none of them were open 24/7. Normally, she would have taken the car but she decided that the car needed some rest and that she needed some fresh air.

Since it was past 11, the roads were fairly deserted and there were very few people around. It gave Anindita the privacy and solace she had been craving. Walking up to the 'Wellness Forever' near the Nerul Palm Beach Road exit, she approached the pharmacist on duty.

"I need a strip of B- complex, Erythropoieten, Uprise D3 and Omeprazole. Two strips of Ibuprofen and a pack of Adult Diapers." her voice almost broke at the last item. It felt different and heartbreaking. He was her father, and to see him in this physically dependent state was genuinely overwhelming. She wasted no time in paying for the medicines and taking the packed bag from the man on duty. She walked back home ignoring the stares from the random pedestrians and unruly loafers.

Her brother had not gone to bed. He was jet lagged and restless because Anindita had walked out of the house without informing anyone. His watch was still adjusted to Eastern Standard Time. Sighing in annoyance, he resorted to checking the time on the wall clock.

11.25 p.m.!

No matter how many miles away the two siblings had been all these years, he was still her older brother. The relationship had not died and the sense of protectiveness and responsibility took over him.

Hearing a clicking sound, he walked out to see Anindita entering the house with the medicines in her hand.

"It is so late at night, Anindita. How can you venture out without informing anyone? Your mobile phone was on the dining table. Moreover you could have taken me along or sent me instead of going yourself." he started

Anindita rolled her eyes in response, "I don't need a babysitter Dada. I am a grown up woman and I have managed just fine all these years. I had gone for some work as you can see."

There was a coolness lined with malice in her voice that didn't miss him. Anurag did not know what to say in reply.

"I am absolutely safe and well as you can see. You don't have to worry about me. I have spent days even on the streets and have been through way more than what you think. I don't need anyone to worry about me. The last person being you!" she continued fiercely

Anurag was baffled. He had known that his sister had been furious with him for several reasons but he had never met such an agitated version of Anindita. Their mother heard the commotion and she came outside only to come across Anindita screaming at her son.

She intervened, "Anindita! This is highly unexpected from you. You must not speak in such a disrespectful manner to your older brother, especially not and never when you are under the same roof as your parents. Both of you stop this nonsense and Anindita, I expect you to apologize to him if you have any respect for me."

"I am sorry Dada. Good night. Good night Ma." she choked out and walked away. It took everything that she had in herself to control the temper that had been steadily rising. She had real good reasons to have this kind of pent up anger towards her brother. Her mother didn't know half of it!

Anurag escorted his mother back to her room. Instead of going straight to bed, he went in search of Anindita.

"Bonu, I am not here to fight with you. I simply want to talk normally. Can we please?" he asked her, once he found her in the kitchen, cutting vegetables

Anindita nodded carelessly. She was basically doing housework at such an odd hour only because she was trying to calm herself down. The knife in her hand worked up and down while hitting the chopping board rhythmically slicing the vegetables. 

"I am sorry. I know you have several reasons to be angry with me. I don't know all my mistakes, Anindita but I can say for myself that I have not been a good son." he told quietly

His sister paused her work and looked up at him, "I shouldn't have behaved that way. I understand that it was your concern speaking. I totally accept the fact that I have several reasons to be angry with you. And talking about your self-realization, you can judge yourself Dada. Just don't do it very harshly."

"Since when has this been happening? Anindita, how have you been able to manage with Ma and Baba in this condition? I feel so guilty and ashamed." he spoke referring to his father's condition

"How did they manage the two of us even when there was terrific financial strain? They helped us when we were defenseless, Dada. The same way you accept their blessings, love and care; you have to accept what comes along. This is normal at the age they both are in. You need to accept two sides of a coin if you value the money." she replied

"Do you hate me?" he asked, apprehensive about his sister's reply

Anindita's hands stopped working. She stilled. Lifting her gaze, she looked into her brother's eyes directly, "No. I don't have it in myself to hate you. The only emotion I have harbored for you, ever since I was born is love. I am grateful to you for giving me beautiful years as your sister. I am indebted to you for paying for my treatment and surgeries. You paid for it. I have not been able to repay it and I never can. I don't hate you, Dada. I never can. I have innumerable reasons to, but I can't. You don't know all your 'mistakes'? They are not mistakes, they are crimes. Yet, I don't hate you for that, I simply find it difficult to forgive and forget."

Anurag was dumbfounded. One thing was clear; his sister had matured and had become as hard as a stone.

...

To be continued... 

PUBLISHED ON: May 6, 2020