In life we are influenced by a lot of people, but some are those who give you no choice but to accept their influence. One such person happens to be a sister. Speaking as a brother, sisters are the most amusing, yet amazing, persons you may come across in your whole life, but they can get pretty unfriendly if not handled with care.

People think being an elder brother of a sister is a blessing and an elder sister is a menace, but I think it’s not true. If you are an elder brother and are deeply involved in something and your sister comes close to your ear and shrieks, you are likely to freak out and shout back at her.

She will ultimately cry out so loud that your mother will hear it and scold you. A sarcastic chuckle shows her intentions, but what can you do? At the end of the day, she is your sister.

And at times, when you desperately desire something to eat and there comes your sister with a plate in her hand, she sits beside you, removes the lid revealing a tasty, melting chocolate brownie, grabs it with her greedy hands, takes a bite, gradually swallows it while your lips are hydrated. And when you ask her for a very small bite, she refuses!

Your lose hope while she continues to relish the mouth watering taste of that melted chocolate brownie and it’s a matter of a few minutes before the brownie ceases to exist.

You try to calm your heart and nerves by eating those leftover brownie crumbs when her cruel hand snatches that plate from you and she runs away making faces by swaying her tongue left and right. What can you do, she is your sister!

But when it comes to love, sisters never hesitate to express their feelings, no matter where they are. Having an elder sister means you always have one friend, who cares for you, thinks for you and lives for you. There could be times in a younger sibling’s life, when you are sitting in a corner, sobbing loudly so that everyone hears you, while you are tasting your salty tears trickling down from your eyes, just then you feel a warm presence. A consoling hand taps on your shoulder, a loving hug gives you relief. It’s a sister with you in deep grief.

Don’t forget the times when you are engrossed in your studies, may be solving a maths problem when suddenly you feel a lot of tiny mice playing inside your tummy — just then your elder sister appears with a smile on her lips and a bowl full of freshly cooked cookies in her hand. She knows what you want without you having to say anything.

And of course it is your sister who is the first one to scold you if you do something bad. Treat them as they treat you and your life will be showered with droplets of happiness.

Published in Dawn, Young World March 18th, 2017