Today was the first time I came home since the semester began. I stayed back in the hostel all these while citing some reason or the other. It is the last semester of college and I wanted to spend more time with my friends. Finally this weekend was the apt time to come home I thought. For I was broke in the first place and can't come home for the next four weeks (already many plans!).
The bus got delayed and the door was locked by the time I reached home. Dad to office, Mom and Ranju some outing. Damn! Nice reception! I thought. Got the key from the neighbor and on opening, I found a letter lying in the table. The letter was colourful(violet crayons with shades of orange and pink sketch pens in between) and the handwriting made its writer more apparent.
FROM
Your sweet sister
TO,
ANNA
WELCOME HOME
ANNA
WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGIAN AGAIN
Keep smiling
Ranjini :-)
Now wait, this was written in the front cover of the envelope. Ranju always has this habit of writing letters to people. But it’s generally on some festive occasion say new year, diwali or to me on raksha bandhan. So this was a bit surprising. There must be some reason! I thought. There was nothing. A sudden joy and love for her filled my heart. All these days I didn’t even speak to her over the phone and here she was writing a senti letter to me. I wanted to hug her but she was not there. She has missed me dearly! I felt guilty for not coming home often. After some 3-4 months I probably wont have time to come home as and when I wish. I never cared for her enough I thought. All I did every time I came home was to ask for her marks and then scold her severely for not getting enough in Hindi. It was one of the reasons why she never wanted me home I had presumed. I was never a good brother! With all these thoughts, a sentimental Rivat Hanss opened the envelope that was sealed with pins. Suddenly a pen popped out. That’s a nice gift! Then a piece of paper, nicely folded and cut in the borders to make a good design, came out. It had A, R, S and ‘anna’ written in the four sides inside it. I was seriously getting impressed. This was an amazing and pleasant reception after all. And finally, I took out the letter from the envelope. Only when I read it fully did I realize that I was only dreaming of things. Everything remained the same. The letter…
Anna Sorry.
I thought that I will can not get good marks in Hindi alone because other subjects are easier than it. One day our Hindi teacher (school) said us to learn the poem. I said to my friend that I donot the poem. She is a Marati girl and a Hindi girl too. She said your are not putting effect in Hindi. So only you are not get good marks in Hindi. I came home and thought for some time. I understood the meaning of what she said. I quickly dressed up and went to tution and gave effect while for reading and writing. I got all answers. My tution mis said good.
---------X---------
thank you Thank you for your excuse. anna.
No one can get a anna like you
Best of luck for you interview.
If you excuse me Please sign __________________ RANJINI :-)
If you donot excuse me Please sign______________ A.RS
Now I realized why she had kept a pen inside! She wanted to escape from all the scoldings I might have given on knowing her marks. I always believed that I never understood Ranju fully. And I was proved right yet again. But I did hug this girl, whose head reaches my shoulder in height, when she came home in the afternoon. And I signed in the 'excused' column. I knew that she was smart and that she can manage any situation in her life herself. I was happy for her, my sister……
P.S: The letter has many mistakes in it, yes. You can’t expect more from a 4th standard girl!
