#SariSistas

Amrita shares this picture of hers, with the painting of three sisters at the back, from Lagos, Nigeria...

"Love thy Sister as thyself

The sky was overcast with ominous dark clouds. Once in a while torn asunder by a blinding streak of light, followed by  deafening thunder. Bela had to reach Mumbai , some three hundred kms away. It was her first job and she was excited to join. Now this terrible impending storm. Was it alright to set out? With all these thoughts rushing through her mind,  she looked at older sister, Sreya, wondering what would she advise. Sreya doted on her li'l sis. She looked tenderly at her and knew that despite the storm, this journey had to be made.  

Sending a quick prayer to heaven, both sisters set out. Sreya took the wheels of the car, leaving Bela engrossed with her ponderings about her new job. They had gone only for a little while, when the skies opened up and it poured like never before. The visibility dropped to near zero. It was nearly impossible to drive on. So Sreya pulled the car on what she thought was the shoulder off the road. Hoping to resume whence the storm abated. 

She was stoical, conscious that her sis should not be frightened by the storm , her spirits not dampened before the new dawn that awaited her young life. She decided to bide her time in the car by humming songs. So it was , " humko mann ka shakti dena, mann vijay karo.." And with merry abruptness, it was also, " hum tum ek kamre mein band ho, aur chaabi kho jaye...". Though the mood was more like, " hum tum ek car mein trapped ho jaye..aur afat ho jaye......".

Suddenly there was a deafening sound. ...

Bela woke up in a hospital room. A nurse was peering over her with concerned eyes. She enquired about her health. Bela said she felt only a little limp but wasn't feeling so bad, despite a fractured arm. Then she begged to know how Sreya was. The nurse held her gently & said, " the other girl had hugged you in a tight embrace when the truck crashed into your car and  her body had taken the entire impact. "

So, how's she now"? screamed Bela crumbling into a heap. She sobbed that she didn't want her life if anything had happened to Sreya. The nurse again held her gently, " your sister had a dying wish which she whispered only to me". "She wants you to be very successful and happy in your new job".  Bela was about to scream a vehement "No", when she heard the  nurse's calm & commanding voice once more,  " Do it for your sister, if not for yourself". Your greatest tribute to her sisterly love""

I requested Amrita to write me something small, for my segment starting this February. #SariSistas an ode to every sister out there. She came up with this beautiful piece. 

#iluvsaris