Happy Birthday Anna :)

It's my Brother's Birthday today.. A year ago, when I had just started my blog, I knew that all I could write there on this day was about him. I wrote quite a lot indeed, that my Bhabhi called it a 'Ramayana' about him. Lolz.. It's been ages since I last saw him. Bugger is busy 'well' settling his life out there in the USA. Wonder how we can be siblings now? Coz I'm an Indian citizen and he is an American citizen now!!! Whoo!! Lots happened in life with him being miles apart. I was a tenth standard kid when he left home. When he came back, I was a medical student. And now, I'm a full fledged doctor! I hope I won't be getting married off the next time he comes to see us!! ;)

Well, one more year, and I still love u the same anna. It's really tough to write about two kinds of people - strangers , and loved ones. And you my dear, are a 'very very loved one'. And it's too tough for me to pen down anything about you.

When God created you, I guess he had just finished reading a book about an 'Ideal person' or so.. And hence, you were made so perfect I guess!! :) Else, he couldn't have made such an amazing, sweet, caring, loving, lovable and a stable headed person :) Everybody at home say that you are the best son they could ever get. I and Nidhi say we couldn't get a better brother than you. I'm sure bhabhi says you're the best bargain of her life... Well, you're simply the best :) That's all I can say about you :)

Miss you anna. I'm really glad you were born on this day, years ago. And I thank God that we got to stay together even though it could have happened the other way round!! I always say aunts and uncles and cousins are relatives and not family. But you? Oh come on, I can't spell 'family' without you :) You've been the best brother I could ever get. Thanks for everything you gave me and all of us here at home. I and Nidhi still fight as to who you love the most. She still gets jealous of me when you talk to me more on the phone than her . And I just can't stop bubbling with joy then ...every single time :-) .  I'm greatful to you for lots and lotsa things...

For being there every time I needed you and for not being around when I didn't need you too :-).

For listening to all my gossips and all my stupid thoughts..

For tolerating and appreciating my talkativeness... 

For never being a possessive brother...
For taking interest in the smallest things of my life, though you were miles away...
For being my partner in crime quite a few times in the few 'jasoosis' we did ;-)...
For all that pep talk about life...
For all those suggestions on how to enjoy life...
For all those promises you made to take me out holidaying in your country...
For always believeing in my dreams, when I myself had doubts about them...

For all those discussions on 'my dream guy'..

For never making me feel I'm actually the eldest at home.

For 'countless' more things...

And more than anythin, for assuring me, that come what may, you're just a call away :)

I swear, I'm really glad you were born.. We all cherish you big time.. BIG time.. :-) This day, when I'm at such a stage in life when I gotta decide about my life, career and love, I really wish you were here. Everytime I miss you, just like this very moment, my eyes get wet. You mean too much to me and all of us out here, back in India.

Well, all put together, we all love you loads and tons and gallons. No exaggeration there for sure. :) Hope this day brings you loads and loads of joy, and the year that follows gets to you all luck, joy and success and all the small and large things you ever wish for :) Have a lovely day bro. Party hard :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)

Loads and loads of love,

Me :-)

Chandana C. Shekar

24 hours and 4 gifts

5.00 pm yesterday- Mom and I went saree shopping for somebody else. And mom got me a saree which was pretty much expensive.And the reason- well, JLT... I loved it though. Waiting for any friend of mine to get married soon so that I can wear that saree ;)

9.00 am today - My friend gave me my (belated) birthday gift. Its cute and pretty.

4.30 pm today - I come home and my sister's giggling at me for no reason. I thought it's some kiddish behaviour of hers and she's at it again. Somehow I din't go to my room today as soon as I came home ( I usually do). My sister then tells me that there's something waiting for me on my table. I go and check and its a courier envelope with "To Dr.Chandana C. Shekar" written over it. Then I discover that its from my brother and its got two more envelopes in it. One turns out to be a birthday card and the other, was a congratulations card( for becoming a doctor) with $300 in it!!! I felt so god damn rich ( I already had another gift cheque and this added to it)!!! Whoo.. Its Great yaar!! By the way, few more gifts are due to come for becoming a doctor.. Will let you guys know when i get them :)


Chandana C. Shekar

Happy Birthday 'Anna' :-)

Hey it's 26/3 again :) And it's my brother's birthday :) Happy birthday Anna :)

I can't write on anything else today, because I can't prioritise anything over his birthday. And now that he's not in Mysore, I'm missing him a bit more :(. This guy is somebody whose been more of a parent-figure than a brother. I still remember all those days that we spent together. It just exists in front of my eyes as though it all happened seconds ago. I remember Myself running behind him whenever he was around. He was like an idol. From days before I went to kindergarten even, to this very present day, he's been there for me whenever I needed him. Though he was a cousin, we stayed together and he was here, and never ever ever did I feel that he was a cousin.

My first day of school, he and mom dropped me to school and when it was time to pick me up, I remember him coming to pick me up in his bicycle(He had this habit of meddling with things and so he had unscrewed his bicycle and then set it up again and as a result, it had cello-tapes all over :) ). He was always soft spoken and never used to get angry how much ever i run behind him. I used to love watching cricket with him and his friends even though i wouldn't understand a bit.The reason was that I used to get to be with him and I wouldn't get tired of it ever. And yeah, I was a kid then and all his friends used to pamper me a lot. Used to get chocolates and stuff :) When I understood a bit of cricket, we used to play cricket in the backyard of my house ( If u see my house ka backyard, you won't think that somebody can play cricket here!!) and my brother never used to get irritated to play with us kids. Whenever I used to bat or bowl, the ball would always go to the terrace or the neighbour's house. And when i turn to my brother, all he would do was give a smile. And I loved him for that.

It's not that he's never been harsh at me.I've got nicely from him when I used to escape from studying too, but then, all's fair when its him.

He got his first salary in his job here and then started all the 'branded goods ka fair'. He kind of stopped using anything thats not 'branded'!!! We all used to wait eagerly for Friday because he used to come home from Bangalore then. And then was our chatting sessions.We used to talk till really late at night. Talk about everything under the sky( We chat so much till date and my family wonders how we manage to chat 'so much' :) ). Our weekend pani puri and film sessions was something I used to wait for. I used to get a lot of gifts from him without any occasion- CDs, branded clothes, and lots more. But still, the best, was the time spent with him. He was one guy who was real fun :)

He got married and there was one more new member in the family. My Bhabhi :) And she turned out to be as much fun as him :) I still remember when he first got his VISA to USA, we went straight away to the 'pani puri gaadi' for his treat :) .

He came here 5 years after he went to USA (Thanks to the formalities of his green card thing!!!), and trust me, we all were so so excited that I bunked college completely for all the 3 weeks he was here. And we had loads and loads of fun.And I ended up crying when he left :(

I was a 10th standard girl when he left India and now, Im a Doctor. One important phase of my life, and he was not here. But Thanks to him, he never ever made me feel that he's far away. I always and always knew he was just a phone call away and it's still the same. He's somebody who always stood by me. I never have to think whether what I'm talking is right or wrong. I know I can talk whatever I want when I am talking to him. He never puts any unnecessary restrictions on me. He never loses temper and he does tons of things for me. He is somebody who can stand by me for everything I want in life and even fight with my parents for that.If I need to convince my parents for something they are not agreeing to, he's my only channel!! He's literally been my friend, philosopher and guide :) He's more than just a brother. He's everything. Not just me, he's the darling of everybody's eyes in my family and we all love him tons. He knows how to do good to 'EVERYBODY' and he's the best. All i can say about him , is "HE'S THE BEST ". And i feel so god-damn-lucky to have a brother like him.

Well, I've written so long, but trust me on one thing, this is just a glimpse of what kind of a person he is. He is far more better than what I've said here. :) I'm sure every single person who knows him will agree to this :).

Love you loads and loads and loads more anna :) May this birthday give u all the luck and joy and success today and all through the year :) Muaahh.. :) Keep smiling. Cheers :)

p.s: For all those who don't know my brother, he is Mr.Suchin or suchi as we call him. And for all those who don't know kannada, 'anna' in kannada means elder brother.:)

Chandana C. Shekar