Brother or Sister

We were going to Thiruvannamalai. Me and Sabu in his car, just after Karthigai Deepam  to be in Ramanasramam and if possible have darshan of Annamalaiswar and Amman .My aim was to sit somewhere in the Asramam and look at the thiruvannamalai hill as Maharshi does and get absorbed in the divine grace of the hill –which is believed to be lord  Siva himself.

On the way we saw a father and his kids (boys & girls) riding in a two wheeler. There were three or four of them-squeezed themselves in the front and back of the TVS 50, laughing, playing and licking candy, a marvellous scene .Their happiness was overwhelming- which took me to my childhood days. Suddenly Sabu asked “Manoj did you read that story- The twist in the tail by Jefry Archer-the story of a rich man who wanted to test his family’s love of him”.” I don’t remember Sabu” -I said.

John a very rich man towards the fag end of his life got cynical. He thought that the world doesn't really love successful and rich men. They, including his family were only attracted to his money. So he decided to test the loyalty of his family. He declared bankruptcy and asked his manager to put his assets for auction to pay his imaginary dept. Among the assets there was a Chess board and coins of antique quality and its real price is imaginary and only John knows it. John was very much attached to the chess board-which he used to play with his brother’s son – an young man John was very fond of and all his family members were well aware of his attachment to that board. John had a sister and a brother. His sister approached him and consoled him and offered help. Her feelings were genuine and she really felt sorry for him.  John thanked her and assured her that he would accept her help if required. John’s brother’s son also expressed his concern, but the young man was not in a position to offer help. After few days John approached his sister and sought some assistance. She said “oh John I am so sorry. John, you know my husband Michael, he is not considerate and I can’t blame him also because with much difficulty only he was managing our affairs. Sorry John I can’t help you this time”. John came back disappointed.

John inquired about the auction with his manager and wanted to know whether the chess board was auctioned .The manager assured him he will come back to him once it was done. After few days the manager called John and informed him that the chess board was auctioned for a few dollars. John wanted to know who the purchaser was. Your brother purchased it ,the manager told him and the delivery address given was John’s. John exclaimed “fool, he doesn't know the real value of that property”. “No actually he knew.” retaliated the Manager.

Sabu finished the story. I got engrossed in the story, thoughts over flowing. The scene of the happy siblings makes you think that it is going to be like that forever. We do generalize things often and used to jump to conclusions. But it may not be. Tomorrow the same may fight over or even may kill for a piece of land or property. The scene on the way to the temple town holds good only for that space & time. The closeness or attachments that we think everlasting may bust in a moment or two on some comments we inadvertently made or believed/conveyed to be made by us. As great people say” live in this moment". So love this moment. Enjoy this moment. Forget everything else.

I was very much attached to my sisters. Being the youngest and only brother my sisters were also very much fond of me. But later I found that their love is emotionally charged and not heart felt. They are incapable of understanding the finer feelings .At times you require a brother to understand you. You can love your sister but don’t expect anything .A brother may be capable of retuning your love in trying times but not a sister.