The 'Big' Joy!

Namskar!

 A few days ago, while I was studying here for my final exams my parents and my elder brother were in Delhi for the performance of their play 'Suring' at one of the most prestigious theater festivals. I am not complaining but saying this with utter pride and respect for the family in which I was lucky enough to grow in. Definitely I am proud of my father's theatrical contribution but more than that I am proud of the joint family that allowed all of us to be what we are today. I cant imagine if it was not for my uncle, my aunt and my cousins who took my care after my parents went away for such activities what would have been my plight? Right now I am an adult and take care of myself but as a child I dont think if it was not for my uncle and aunt my parents would have been able to participate actively in all those activities that they did.

Living in a joint family has been a great experience till now. Not just because of these advantages where you have more people to be with. But in the evening when you return home tired and what if you find no one to ask you how was the day? Fortunately, if my mother and father are somewhere out its my aunt and uncle who do this task. Their smiling faces and their affection is the thing that brings me back home. And it some how takes away all the exhaustion of the day.

In today's world where everyone wants to set up their own little families and return to the 'big' families only during occasions I feel like an alien. Because rarely I find people who live together with their 'big' families. It is true that there are practical and logical reasons behind this. But personally, I do not know if I will be able to survive in a family of just three or two people. Some how, for me the term 'family' does not restrict to mother father and a sibling. But my unconscious has included my elder aunt and uncle into it.

These people are almost like not second, but first parents. People get confused when I mention 'baba' and 'pappa' both the terms used for father in my conversations. I myself get surprised at the fact that I used to sleep with these first parents as a child. Same way, I have seen my parents treat their daughters as my real sisters. With both my female cousins around I never felt the scarcity of a sister in my life.

Sometimes, names for the relations are for the sake of it. Sometimes the bonds are much more than what they are named. And sometimes its other way round too. Relations in today's world are losing their purity and are becoming for the sake of it. But proudly I can say that my relations are not just for the sake of it. But they are my world. I rarely express this. But I suppose this had to come this way. No preaching this time. Just a joy that I felt like sharing. Would love the feedback.

Signing out

Tanulisa