Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Sibling revelry

Warning: Chech-Both of us are not very ‘vocal’ about our feelings, piss offs and craziest thoughts, but this time I guess it’s the weekend hangover that has led to this verbal diarrhoea.


As the youngest at home, life was fun as my folks didn’t experiment their parenting skills on me coz they were all tried and tested on big sister- Chech or Chechu as I call her. I was entitled to the bigger serving of ice-cream and the last piece of chocolate, not subjected to corporal punishment and always talked back to my folks. On the flipside, my middle name was entailed to rhyme with hers (malayalee parents fear being in breach of Section 3(2)(ii) of Kerala (Nonsensical Names) Act, 1951), received all hand-me-downs, wore similar clothes (I am sure that was mum’s way of saving money) and was constantly compared to the ‘well mannered, hardworking, less talkative’ sister.

From Rivalry…..

For some inexplicable reason, I was born with no hair on my head and 4 year old Chechu (who had jus received a ‘live’ doll) used to call me ‘motta vava’ (bald baby). She even composed a funny but irritating jingle on the bald ‘beauty’ (ahem). As a child, I always thought that I was adopted because Chech’s baptism, ‘1st birthday’, holy communion et al were ‘social’ events which relatives attended and mine were just a formality. And the child prodigy that Chech was, reaffirmed this fear. She convincingly told me that a scary looking man, appearing in an old album back home, had plans to finish off Dad, but then spared him subject to me being given to him when I complete 10 years of age [Dad agreed to give me off coz I was the adopted one]. And the stupid kid that I was, would count on my fingers how many years were left. (and I couldn’t beyond 3!!!)

Not that I was an angel in disguise. Whenever I sensed that Dad was unhappy with Chech’s studies, I would run and get the biggest ‘eerkkili’ (broomstick) for her punishment. We fought tooth and nail for frivolous things like remote control (cartoon network versus MTV), stationery, chocolates till Mum intervened saying – “ooh eeh kochungale kondu thotu!” (I have given up on these kids). She had the neat handwriting, systematic approach to study (waking up at 4.30 to prepare for her Chartered Accountancy exams), a voracious reader blah blah & blah and I was constantly told to ‘learn from her’. In a nut shell, she had made my life a living hell and I would tell people how lucky they were coz they didn’t a have sister like Chech. I wanted nothing to do with her.

….to Revelry

Times have changed now. We both look nearly alike (bad news for me coz she is 4 yrs elder!!!!). She lives with her ‘charming’ husband- (Chettan) just an hour away by flight and that is what keeps me sane here. The loser that I am, moved out of home just 2 months back. From being the carefree butterfly (though I doubt if my weight will permit me to defy gravity), I am forced to do my cooking, cleaning, washing and studying- apart from worrying about work prospects next year. Theories on mergers and acquisitions, pending laundry, bank account, what to prepare for dinner all in one go!!

Chech has, to an extent, now taken Mum’s place (as mum doesn’t talk much on the fone, and I need to ‘talk’ abt life’s happenings and not-so-happenings, not ‘write’ abt them in emails) especially when she says ‘get up get up its 5.15’. Her cooking has improved by leaps and bounds (if I describe her kitchen skills 5 years back she will sue me for defamation). I have special interest in her professional and financial success as it is directly proportional to the gifts I am showered with. (get the hint Chech, I am coming with more food requests next time). She always keeps a check on me & the gossip at my end- her’s and Chettan’s latest worry being my lack of lady like elegance and premature ageing.

Back from a much awaited weekend trip to Amsterdam. My clumsy nature made the process of getting the visa, hopping on the flight and the events thereafter surprising-embarrassing-and-fun in that order (details of which shall be elaborated later). But what I enjoyed the most was being carefree once again.

Now I tell people how lucky I am to have a sister like her. Further due to her, I now have a big brother(in-law) who provides all the fun element and sensible advice. (How much hv I flattered u today) Years back we were the good Roman Catholic girls who went to church and Sunday class every week. Thanx to Chettan’s sangria, last Sunday night we were two lightly drunk women (our first time ever) standing at a tram stop remembering those crazy childhood days, singing the ‘motta vava’ jingle and giggling. Chech just imagine what if Dad had seen us there??!??!

14 comments:

Macadamia The Nut said...

Lol! That was an entertaining read. You have a way with words.

I have a Chech too :D only, the tale is reversed in my case. I gave her hell when we were growing up *sigh!nostalgia*. I had her at my beck and call for a few glorious months, AFTER I'd convinced her that she was adopted.
*is my halo looking tarnished?lol*

Teal™ said...

:O
Oh my god .... I have an elder sister too .. and my stories are way to eerily similar to yours! What's with elder sisters telling the young fragile minds that they are switched kids! Or adopted ones, like in this case.
Good read, really enjoyed it :)

Rainman said...

Chechi umm Annie mole umm vazhakku okka nirithi onnu cherno?? Vazhakku iddann orru rasam alle?? ;-)

eljo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
eljo said...

hmmm... bribery and sweet talk can get u everywhere... motta vava

mathew said...

hahaha..like old family tales..In my case I had to deal with a younder bro..and as he got older he learned the tricks of the trade and it wasnt easy gettin things done playing the big bro around.. ;-P

I have heard amsterdam is a great esp in may..its quite cloudy and gloomy now ..aint it..


"Not that I was an angel in disguise. Whenever I sensed that Dad was unhappy with Chech’s studies, I would run and get the biggest ‘eerkkili’ (broomstick) for her punishment."

;-P ..u should be give capital punishment for this..

quite a fun read..i like such family tales..:-)

Zennmaster said...

=) what can i say which has not already been said...

Hemant said...

ditto zenmaster :)

well let me try.....Jossse unclllllleee...luk wat ur Betis are up to :)

Bullshee said...

Well, I've always supported the cause that elder siblings should be revered and worshipped by lowly lesser younger siblings....guess which one I am?!

Me n my bro get along perfectly now though and have learnt to be in the same room without throwing cricket bats at each other!

Zee said...

oooooooo i so know what u mean!!!! having an elder sister is a joy...and ur memories of them as a kid is always of them bullying u!

Aiswarya said...

Yes, make sure daddy doesn’t find out about the presence of a blog called Ann Series, eh? It sounds so sweet, this post. I am an only daughter for my parents and I had always wondered how it would be to have a sibling. Doesn’t sound like such a bad idea apart from the threats of that scary man!

anN-series said...

@ macadamia
ooh god i should have learnt from u :~P U should be leading the 'evil younger sisters league' that i planning to start soon...wot say?

@teal
i think elder siblings r just jealous wen folks suddenly start showering attention to the younger one...

@brat
firstly- dude u know malayalam???
secondlly- jus put us together for more than 2 days and we can find a reason to fight...

@eljo
Chech i am jus trying to keep u happy so that i hv some place during xmas....oppurtunitic alliance..

@mathew
Amsterdam in winter well the women at RLD tend to be comparatively 'more' covered....the thing with family tales is that we find that nearly everyone has the same story to tell..(strangely)

@zenmaster
occassionally pls do drop in.. u r the main reason y i kept blogging, else wud have left it months ago....

@hemant
heymoo ssshhhhhh!!!.......

@bullshe
i am guessing u belong to the 'elder' category..unless u have a good angelic elder sibling...sis and i can still survive in a room, but our weapon is tongue and acerbic words...

@zee
having an elder sis is defnly bliss wen she starts working and takes u out shopping!! :~)

@aishwarya
thanx..well the good thing is that u will always have someone to play with...and if u r bored playing, then u can start picking up fights....

Rainman said...

@Ann: Being a Mallu myself, I happen to know Malayalam :-)

Happy Kitten said...

Great narration....

imagine living among 5 and being in the middle.. that was me!