Chapter 20: Chapter 20

That evening at Sindhu- Sandhya's home,

Sandhya's POV

"Anyways, I will be marrying the one I love and will live happily ever after!" I say to Sindhu. I am ironing the purple Lehanga I will be wearing tomorrow "You were the one so confident about Sanjay being the perfect one for me. Why would you have that doubtful face now?". I will be visiting the Venkateshwara Swamy temple with Sanjay. Also, this is probably the last chance for me to wear a half saree. Sanjay has never seen me in this outfit. I am sure, he will be mesmerized!

Sindhu on the other hand is neatly folding the duppatha "Yes Akka! He is sincere to you. He really loves you." I reply, "So, do I, Sindhu!"

Sindhu: Akka, we have declared a lot of times that all guys are the same and that all guys are stupid's and idiots. So, do let go of his small and little mistakes.

Me: He isn't a cruel and selfish person. He won't dare hurt me. So, I will for sure find his mistakes cute and silly! Remember the day we met at the mall. Oh! He was so funny! But Sindhu, why are you suddenly acting like mom? Giving me marriage lectures!

Sindhu: I am mad at him for some reasons.

I am done ironing the blouse too. Having them neatly folded, I turn towards Sindhu, hand over the clothes to her, and ask a keen question "Why?"

Sindhu: You will get to know. Anyways, that temple is a beautiful one. You will have to first climb a lot of steps. If you are tired, ask him to carry you.

Me: Joke?

Sindhu giggles and continues "And then, take Swamy's Darshana. They give Pongal Prasadham, it's very tasty. Eat it up. Watch the greenery around from the hilltop, it will be a beautiful visual. You can expect Monkeys around too. They could be wild. Sanjay should be able to protect you." I smile.

Sindhu: You have the whole day. Visit the lake and the greenery nearby. Spend a lot of time together. In that silence and nature's beauty, you guys should go romantic.

Naughtily, I pull her ear saying "This little kid, not even 18 years old is advising me to go romantic!"

Sindhu- Saviour of my life! That's her definition. I was a lonely introverted kid till I was eight years old. One fine evening, I overheard my parents speak and realized I will either have a little brother or sister! And I ended up having them both. Our joy knew no limits! Twins joined our family, a girl, and a boy. We named them Sindhu and Siddharth(Siddhu).

Being a kid I didn't understand Siddhu's disorder, but he didn't even last a month with us. All of us gave Sindhu her part of love, along with Siddhu's part of love.- she received double love. We saw our Siddhu too in her. She is no less than a rebelling boy! At times watching Sindhu in a variety of emotions and situations, I keep remembering Siddhu. I keep wondering if he would react the same, or would he have a different response. I keep wondering if Siddhu would get a fever on the same day as Sindhu. I keep asking myself, how long would Sindhu and Siddhu fight over a bar of chocolate. I never fight with Sindhu. Anything she asks me, without a single thought about myself, I give it to her. But now, she hardly asks me anything. She is all grown up and matured.

I wonder how my family would have turned out to be with a boy child in it. Mom would have pampered Siddhu a lot! Dad would have been a bit easier and probably less dominating. Would Siddhu like Sanjay the way Sindhu likes him? If Siddhu was with us, would our love story be different? Since Siddhu is a boy, would I have felt some comfort discussing all my doubts and insecurities with him? For some reason, I never wanted to say these feelings to Sindhu even if we are very close. She probably would have immediately declared I am the one to misunderstand him since Sindhu and Sanjay are very close. Siddhu would have seen it from the men's perspective and probably would have had it properly investigated. He probably would have questioned Sanjay if he was with us. Sanjay being a single child would have been much more delighted to have Siddhu like his little brother to him, like how I have Sindhu. Whatever, we lost Siddhu, and it's the fact.

Sindhu wipes the tears rolling down my cheeks. Deliberately she asks, "Why would you cry Akka!" Covering her hand with both of my hands, I kiss on her knuckles. Sindhu does not know she had a twin brother Siddharth. As tears drop down more, I hug her and cry out loud. Is this possible? How did I suddenly get this emotional about Siddhu? Did our bond get this strong within a month, or is it the power of genes, family bonding, and love?

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