From past twelve years since my younger son was born, they have been like conjoined twins. They have always gone to the same schools, they have travelled together in the same school bus, have been taken on outings together, have had the same set of friends outside of school. Within school they both know each others' friends too! Even when they joined some of the hobby classes we would prefer enrolling them into the same activity or even if it was a different activity it would be within the same premises. In short, they have been together almost all the time.
But this summer vacation we decided it was high time they took a break from each other and get to experience this phase of life too. We decided to pack our younger son to my sister's place in another city. My elder son had summer classes to attend to. We thought this would give both of them some breathing space. When we told both of them about this plan, my younger one said that it would be a good thing as he thought that his brother had been troubling him a lot of late. The elder one said he could now enjoy some peaceful times without his younger brother bothering him all the time.
The D-Day arrived and my younger one left. For about an hour my elder one went out swimming with his friends, played and came back home. After sometime we heard him talking over the phone to his brother. That night it self he started telling us that he was feeling bored, he did not know what to do, there was no one to play with. Within three hours of separation we knew that he was already missing his brother!!
Several calls happened to and fro (I am sure this time I will be given a huge telephone bill) between the brothers and is still happening. In fact my sister told me that my younger son was not his usual exuberant self. After spending the first day there, my younger one called me and asked me as to when I would be coming to pick him up and I asked him why he was asking? He said "Mamma - I am missing Anna (elder brother) a lot".
That sentence brought tears into my eyes. Well what more could I ask? I felt siblings might fight, be cross with each other, irritated with each other but above all there is this great connection between them. Despite all those arguments, they share a very strong bond with each other. I felt such would be their love that in their later years of life they both will have each other to fall back on during all times. Who better to understand your problems and to share your special moments and could be your best friend for a life time than your very own brother or sister?