My sister is three years older than me. And she is very proud of this fact.  She leaves no opportunity to remind me that she is my big sister. And I feel very happy when she does that. She is really my big sister.

She has been more like a mother to me. When mom was out for work, she would take care of me. She would make breakfast for me, help me do my homework, let me watch television as much as possible. I have very fond memories of her teaching me how to ride a bicycle. I really was a slow learner. But she never surrendered. She would hold my cycle for hours as I cycled my way on the road.

My sister always had an answer to every question I asked her. She was my moving dictionary, atlas and encyclopedia- all rolled into one. She still is the same. Whenever I meet her, she gives me a huge bear hug as if I am still a kid. But I don’t mind that at all. She is the only one in this entire world for whom I am still a kid. For everyone else, I am a man, a grown up adult. I guess we all need to be a little small at all times of life.

My kids are highly amused when they see their dad being gifted chocolates by their aunt. Well, what should I say? I think they need to grow up a little bit to understand our bond. In the absence of a father, somehow me and my sister adopted different roles in the family. My sister is the aggressive one who takes decisions and faces everything with a smile, and I am the balanced one who take care that there is peace at home.

My sister is always smiling. But I know beneath her smile is a lot of pain. She has been having a rough time lately. Her husband is not well and she is facing problems with finances. But mind you- this is not something she has told me. I got to know about it by chance through a common friend. It made me sad. I wished she had shared it with me. But I guess there are certain things that we can’t do in life. It’s not about ego- it’s about the desire to fight against all odds. The common friend told me that my sister is working overtime to meet the expenses. She would rather die than ask for money from someone else. I truly admire her for this. She has always been like this.

I remember she worked one entire summer to get a set of latest video game for me. I told you- she is my elder sister.

But now I must take your leave. I have to go and visit my sister. Take care. Bye.

Everyday after work the visit was made by common man to his sister’s house. He would entertain and prepare dinner for the kids and her husband while she worked overtime in her office. This made both the sister and the “common man” happy.