Darjeeling Railway Station, December 21, 1999, 5am:
The first rays of sunlight spread slowly across the platform. Darjeeling was freezing at 13 degrees. Young Aditya was cheering up his sister Roshini. Roshini was the talk of the town. She had cleared the Medical entrance exam of the Moscow University. She will be the first girl from Darjeeling to fly to Moscow to pursue her M.B.B.S!
Roshini was the school topper in her 12th standard board exams; her not so good performance in the entrance exam couldn’t fetch her seat at the Delhi Indira Gandhi Medical College. She had to be satisfied with a B.Sc from the Angels College at Darjeeling. She saw the entrance call for the Moscow University in the newspaper which she used to browse across just to find a small job to keep her at her feet. She was reluctant and lacked spirit when she applied for the exams. She was about to tear off the Hall ticket when she read that the exam center was at Lucknow. It was Aditya who persuaded her to go for it and did the big role of making their father say YES! Luck, fate or talent, Roshini dint know what to blame. She got admission to the Moscow medical university on merit. Her entire education fee and hostel charges were waived off. January 1st the course will start at Moscow and the students were expected to be there not later than December 28th.
Aditya and Roshini. ..Roshini will do anything for Aditya. Aditya felt gifted for having Roshini as her elder sister. Though Roshini is just one year elder to Aditya, never in these 20 yrs had Aditya fought against or had rough words for Roshini. He respected Roshini more than anyone else on this earth. Love commands Respect. Roshini was the sweetest girl in town. The way she call Aditya ‘Mere Bhai’ (My Brother). Nothing is more sweet than those loving words. Aditya flew in pride with the news of her sister’s feat. But their father was stern in not going ahead with this admission. Roshini too wasn’t much interested. 6 yrs at Moscow with no vacations. That was pretty too much. More than miles in between Darjeeling and Moscow, it was the number of years which stopped everyone from taking a serious note of this chance. Forget Moscow and Roshini will remain Roshini forever. Never in her lifetime she will be Dr.Roshini M.B.B.S.
Aditya wanted to see her sister shine before this world as a successful Doctor. One week of fighting, persuasion, debates, arguments and finally Aditya won the battle. Today Roshini is at Darjeeling station to catch her train to Delhi from where she will fly to Moscow with the other students selected from across the country. Roshini’s mom, dad and other relatives had shed tears and were all gone dry. Roshini too had prepared her mind for the big break. Only five minutes was left for the train to start. Roshini traditionally with all respect touched her parent’s feet to get their blessings. Aditya was in a triumphant mood. He was cracking jokes to keep her sister smiling. It was time for the big good bye as the train moved.
Mom, Dad and Aditya slowly walked towards the station exit, watching the train leave the platform. The train had disappeared from their sight. Aditya suddenly stopped. Glanced at the platform they were standing so long. The last few moments with Roshini flashed in his mind. He knelt down, and. . . . Aditya burst out crying. Tears were unstoppable. He was crying loud and cried more loud. Aditya, the nice little chap who usually acted like crying to get what he wanted so long in his life, today cried so deeply that the entire station froze in sadness. The tear drops from his eyes spoke his love for his sister and the pain of separation. Love is pain.
Today, Singapore, July 19th 2011, 7am:
Aditya just called up Roshini to wish Little Aishu a very Happy Birthday. It was Aishu’s 3rd Birthday. Aishu is Roshini’s first daughter. She is not as sweet as Roshini, spoilt brat. Aditya’s most lovable kid. Aditya’s favorite ;-)
The first rays of sunlight spread slowly across the platform. Darjeeling was freezing at 13 degrees. Young Aditya was cheering up his sister Roshini. Roshini was the talk of the town. She had cleared the Medical entrance exam of the Moscow University. She will be the first girl from Darjeeling to fly to Moscow to pursue her M.B.B.S!
Roshini was the school topper in her 12th standard board exams; her not so good performance in the entrance exam couldn’t fetch her seat at the Delhi Indira Gandhi Medical College. She had to be satisfied with a B.Sc from the Angels College at Darjeeling. She saw the entrance call for the Moscow University in the newspaper which she used to browse across just to find a small job to keep her at her feet. She was reluctant and lacked spirit when she applied for the exams. She was about to tear off the Hall ticket when she read that the exam center was at Lucknow. It was Aditya who persuaded her to go for it and did the big role of making their father say YES! Luck, fate or talent, Roshini dint know what to blame. She got admission to the Moscow medical university on merit. Her entire education fee and hostel charges were waived off. January 1st the course will start at Moscow and the students were expected to be there not later than December 28th.
Aditya and Roshini. ..Roshini will do anything for Aditya. Aditya felt gifted for having Roshini as her elder sister. Though Roshini is just one year elder to Aditya, never in these 20 yrs had Aditya fought against or had rough words for Roshini. He respected Roshini more than anyone else on this earth. Love commands Respect. Roshini was the sweetest girl in town. The way she call Aditya ‘Mere Bhai’ (My Brother). Nothing is more sweet than those loving words. Aditya flew in pride with the news of her sister’s feat. But their father was stern in not going ahead with this admission. Roshini too wasn’t much interested. 6 yrs at Moscow with no vacations. That was pretty too much. More than miles in between Darjeeling and Moscow, it was the number of years which stopped everyone from taking a serious note of this chance. Forget Moscow and Roshini will remain Roshini forever. Never in her lifetime she will be Dr.Roshini M.B.B.S.
Aditya wanted to see her sister shine before this world as a successful Doctor. One week of fighting, persuasion, debates, arguments and finally Aditya won the battle. Today Roshini is at Darjeeling station to catch her train to Delhi from where she will fly to Moscow with the other students selected from across the country. Roshini’s mom, dad and other relatives had shed tears and were all gone dry. Roshini too had prepared her mind for the big break. Only five minutes was left for the train to start. Roshini traditionally with all respect touched her parent’s feet to get their blessings. Aditya was in a triumphant mood. He was cracking jokes to keep her sister smiling. It was time for the big good bye as the train moved.
Mom, Dad and Aditya slowly walked towards the station exit, watching the train leave the platform. The train had disappeared from their sight. Aditya suddenly stopped. Glanced at the platform they were standing so long. The last few moments with Roshini flashed in his mind. He knelt down, and. . . . Aditya burst out crying. Tears were unstoppable. He was crying loud and cried more loud. Aditya, the nice little chap who usually acted like crying to get what he wanted so long in his life, today cried so deeply that the entire station froze in sadness. The tear drops from his eyes spoke his love for his sister and the pain of separation. Love is pain.
Today, Singapore, July 19th 2011, 7am:
Aditya just called up Roshini to wish Little Aishu a very Happy Birthday. It was Aishu’s 3rd Birthday. Aishu is Roshini’s first daughter. She is not as sweet as Roshini, spoilt brat. Aditya’s most lovable kid. Aditya’s favorite ;-)
