But it didn't matter how many years we spent apart. We could always pick up the thread of any conversation from wherever it was once left off. I could notice his light Marathi accent has for some time now been replaced with a light San Franciscan lilt. He still rolls his 'r's the same way though. And taps the 't's.
Yesterday, he seemed to be in a mildly contemplative mood which was thoroughly uncharacteristic of him. I wondered what was on his mind.
"Do you remember a day when you were wholly entirely completely happy?" he asked suddenly.
"Yeah, I've had many days like that." I couldn't help smiling. It wasn't every day my pragmatic brother asked me questions like this one.
"Recently?" he queried, slightly disbelieving.
"Yes, and inspite of internship." I said confidently.
"Right." he said somewhat dreamily. "I was thinking more of the past. Of the time when we were children."
"What about it?" I tried to guess at what he was thinking of, maybe it was some memory he thought I shared. Or it was just an abstract thought that caught his fancy one day.
"Just that, you know, back then. Time. Somehow, there was more of it."
I chuckled at that. "Of childhood summers when days were short and afternoons endless." I said paraphrasing a half-remembered but much-loved quote.
"There are some things that drift away like our endless, numbered days." He quoted back to me.
"What's that now? Could it be nostalgia?" I had to tease him.
"Yes, exactly." he laughed good-naturedly. "So what have you been doing these days apart from studying?" he asked and I realised the nostalgic dreamer was gone.
I wondered if it was one of those threads he'd pick up in a future conversation. But for now, the old familiar realist was back.
16 comments:
There's something very intriguing about the way you write :)
n i'm weirdly hooked to yo blog :)
Keep writing :)
It's wonderful that you share these lovely conversations with us. Thank you. :)
There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want :)
-Calvin.
Indumathy, thank you! :) Welcome to my blog!
Aayushi, I can't help it. It's not often that people around me say something profound. :D
Astha, I <3 Calvin! :D He's the wisest person I know of! :)
youre right. that sure doesnt sound like him. youre usually the one saying stuff like "i miss school!!" come on who misses school? :-P
T., I miss school vacations actually! :P Remember who used to call me and ask me about Diwali vacation homework and would get it done before everyone else? Umm, let me see. You! :P No matter how much you try to deny it, you're a geek at heart, just like the rest of us. ;)
ya ok ok i miss school too!! :-P
:)
What a lovely conversation!
Thank you, Sakshi! :)
I SHALL miss school! :(
But this was really, really nice. :)
Got here from Aayushi's blog. You write beautifully...going to read the rest of your work now.
Poppy, me too! :) Thank you! :)
Mrigank, welcome to my blog! :) Thanks and I'm heading over to your blog now! :)
Brothers. It's so strange watching them grow up into Actual people! :p
Riddhi, yeah, exactly! :D It's kind of stunning to actually realise they're now, you know, not those goofball dorks you used to know, well they are, but they don't show it so much anymore. :)
I have to agree ( with many a bloggers here ) : there is something so intriguing about the way you write .
You make even the daily conversations sound so profound and meaningful. ( not that they are not ! )
but you are so natural with words.
And its always reassuring have such chats with siblings , make you feel safe and loved . :-)
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