APNE TO APNE HOTE HAIN

Reunions are great. Especially the family reunions. There is so much to talk, so much to complain, so much to laugh about and so much to brood over. This is no different. Almost every one is here,

Buaa bahut burhaa gayi hain.

Diabetes has taken its toll. Face gives away the fatigue. She connects more to our generation than the one she belongs to, that of our parents. She is the youngest daughter of DadaJi and the age difference in her and the eldest sibling was some 18 years or so. She is also one of the two still breathing from her generation, the other being Papa Ji. And since Papa Ji was not able to come, Bua or 'Khalaa Jaan' as I lovingly call her, has suddenly found her self to be the eldest and in a great dilemma because of the greatness thrust upon her. Trying to strike balance between the newly acquired senior citizenship status and the child in her, Khala has failed miserably to every one's great relief. Some people are simply not meant to grow old. Our Khalaa is one of them. Be it age or illness, you are our generation Khalaa, and you dare not cross over.

Babbu, Dabbu bhi hain. Bare ho gaye hain , mote bhi.

They retain their tremendous sense of humor. Specially Dabbu. He is a Zonal Manager of some Drug Company and quite senior in hierarchy but here he is what he has always been. A chubby creature cracking jokes and pulling the leg of every one in sight. His wife and Baby, our sister are two of his targets today. And every one is in splits.

Baby apni bitiyaa 'Fairy' ke saath aayi hai

Baby ; one of the only two sisters between us, seven brothers, has had a tough life. Although she looks exquisite, and carries her self with great style but her pain is evident. She has had a failed marriage. I pity the guy who had and lost her. After separation she has looked after both her children all by her self and has done so well. The daughter reflects the upbringing she has received. Baby is very dear to me. My love for a girlchild has its roots in my love for her. I was five years old staying with DadaJi while PapaJi was in NEFA ( Arunanchal Pradesh) and was the youngest in the house than. We didn't have a sister. And than one day when I came back from school; MaaJi ( our Dadi) introduced me to the newest member of the family born to Vidya Chachi. I just couldn't wait for her to grow up and play with me. She took ages to grow up but when she did, she filled a void in my life. She has been special to me. It pains to see her alone, fighting the battle of life, and it fills me with pride to see the strength she displays. She was named 'Seema' initially and one day I changed her name, to 'DeepShikha', just like that. Actually it was lot of hard work. I had to rewrite all the Labels on books and notebooks. Her daughter has shaped up as a fine young women, every bit her mothers daughter.

Anoop BhaiSahib hameshaa ki tarah ' Lost Case' ki tarah ghoom rahe hain.

We have all gathered for the marriage of Anil Bhai Sahib's son, 'Bittu'. Anil BhaiSahib, TauJi's son and Anoop Bhai Saahib's elder brother, is no more. He decided not to wake up on the very day our other sister 'Guddi' was to get married. Strange coincidence it was. Ashok Bhai Saahib, the eldest of our brothers had departed a year ago in a factory accident. And than Anil Bhai Saahib went and that completely broke TauJi and TaaiJi. They lost the will to live. Loosing two of the three sons within one year, both at the young age of about thirty five was too much to take. It was only a matter of time before they would pass away. Anoop Bhai Saahib too has done some thing to his 'heart' and refuses to get operated. He retains his carefree boyish charm and face, but he is now the eldest in our generation, and tries to behave accordingly. He too fails, like Khaala. He has two chubby daughters who some how come across as more mature and worldly wise than him. But he is a darling. He is the one who has made sure every one comes for the marriage.

Pankaj BhaiSahib NeeraJiji Paramjit bhai bhi pahunche hain

I have issues with them, the pain of being let down by some one who one placed lot of faith on, is very sharp, very piercing.

Waqt nikal jaata hai, baatein reh jaati hain

But they are here and we are all trying to pretend there are no issues. This pretence is getting to all of us. But we don't let the wounds bleed. Pain is on both sides. I know. May be there were reasons I am not aware of , may be. But today it is a happy occasion after ages in the family. We have all made deliberate efforts to come together. We are not letting any thing spoil the mood. Apne phir apne hote hain.

Ye kahaani to abhi shuru hui hai.

Ye kahaani lambi chalegi.

Ye kahaani phir sahi.

life in a joint family, offers little bit of every thing.
some happy moments, some painful ones, some laughters, some scars, some betrayals some sacrifices.

KABHI KISI KO MUQAMMAL JAHAAN NAHIN MILTAA.