Chapter Four

https://mouthshut.com/diary/afahummlr/The%20Evening%20Star%20-%203

Time flies, the broad white wings flaps once and everything changes. For Snigdha, things changed at a faster pace, faster than she expected. Snigdha got a precious gift from her mother on her fourth birthday. Her younger brother.

When she saw him for the first time, her expressions were unexplainable. Excitement, curiosity, puzzled, scared - how she managed so many expressions on such a small round face. She wanted to touch him, but as she extended her hand to touch him, nurse held her hand; she puzzlingly looked at her “Careful girl! with your small brother, don’t hurt him” and snubbed Snigdha pulled her hand back, with a very irritated expression. Meghna took the baby in her lap and called Snigdha, held her tiny hand and made the fingers roll on the face of baby. She touched him for the first time. What a feeling, that was.

“But Mom, this is my place, I sleep here, between you and dad, why Raghav is sleeping here” Snigdha retorted.

“Babu, you are a big girl now, you have a younger brother. You are elder sister, who else will take care of her younger brother. Hai na!” Meghna was looking in those angry eyes, “See I got you a new bed, and all your friends can sleep with you now, your Barbie, snake, and above all, it is so low that Jackie will sleep next to you and you can touch him” Meghna was convincing her for the new low rise bed they got for her. But it was really hard.

“Snigdha, what are you doing? You cannot touch the knife, you are very young!”

“Mom what is this, at one moment you say, I am a big girl, now you are saying I am very young”. Meghna took knife from her hand and said “Snigdha, No, and you will not touch the knife”. Snigdha left the apple there and ran away.

Snigdha got down from the school bus. Now she sees her mom no longer, a maid replaced her. But her Jackie came, and as always, she hugged him and they both walked, with maid behind them carrying all their belongings.

“Mom why didn’t you come to pick me up” she complained as she entered home.

“Babu, Raghav was sleeping na. How could I leave him alone here” Meghna took her in her lap.

“But she can stay with him” Snigdha pointed at her maid.

“Arre your Jackie was there, to pick you up. Whether it is me or her, we both are there just to carry your bag and bottle” Meghna was diplomatic. “Ok, go and change, my good girl”

“Mom you know what happened today……….” Snigdha chirped as she entered the room after her lunch.

“Shhhhh...” Meghna signaled. “He just slept, I will listen this later”

“But Ma...” and Meghna nodded with a firm look and Snigdha left the room.

She lied on her bed. Jackie was her pillow as always. “Jackie you know, now Ma doesn’t love me. She has no time for me. She is so busy”

Jackie moved and licked her hand. She hugged him. “Jackie you know what happened today, teacher gave me a star” She sounded low. She extended her hand and showed him. “She said, I am the most intelligent girl of the class” and smiled but there was a pain in her voice. Jackie rolled on her, she giggled.

https://mouthshut.com/diary/bcgfnnmlr/The-Evening-Star5