The day before yesterday, I asked “Forgive and Forget – Is it possible?” and was overwhelmed by the wisdom I received in the comments. It also made me think and put me on the path to coming to terms with a lot of memory-snippets that bothered me.
As we enjoyed our Sunday morning together today, listening to old songs, my son and I chatted and the conversation turned to family members. Old songs do it for me. Specific songs remind me of my uncles and aunts who were all pretty good singers. One of my aunts had the ability to memorize lyrics after she heard the song just once and the rest of the family relied on her memory. She was very unique and gifted and could successfully do practically anything she tried her hand at.
The funny thing is, while I can be subjective and appreciate all that she was, all my personal memories of her are not pleasant ones. Without going into the details, let me just say that I usually frown when I think of her and my cousins (her children).
But today, as I talked to Vidur about her, I was pleased with myself to tell him all sorts of wonderful things about her. I also realized that the bad things did not matter any more. I remembered that whenever my Mom talked about her childhood, she had such lovely memories of her. Feeling rather liberated, I felt that here was more proof that above all, love endures. One of these days I will write a post about this aunt.
♥
Sibling Love Endures
Arjun knew he did not have much time to live and regretted not keeping in touch with his family, especially his beloved sister, after he ran away from home fifteen years ago to prove that he too could survive when his father insulted him saying he was good for nothing.
He thought today, the day he shared a birthday with his twin sister, was the perfect day to gift her everything he had, and instructing his lawyer to dispatch his Will to her address right away, felt the beginnings of a massive heart attack signaling that his end was near.
In another city, Anita, his twin sister sat at her desk, looking at the notice from the bank, informing her that if she did not come up with the funds, she would lose her home and be out in the street within the week.
As she walked around her childhood home, she fondly recalled happy memories with her twin brother, whom she missed terribly and sadness flooded her eyes as she wondered where he might be.
Sighing, she picked up the beautifully framed photo of herself and her brother, and ran her fingers gently over the words he had scrawled at the bottom, “I will always be there for you” and the tears flowed afresh.
The doorbell intruded into her thoughts and when she answered it to find the postman waiting with a parcel for her, she was overjoyed to find it was from her long-lost brother.
Suddenly her spirits soared and as she sat at her table, eager to open it to see what was inside, the phone rang.
A deep sense of dread filled her when she heard a stranger’s voice informing her about the demise of her brother a few hours ago and her gaze involuntarily sought the parcel on her table and the photo frame beside it…”I’ll always be there for you”.
He had kept his word.
♥
See what I mean? Love endures!
And now, Sunday photos from around my area
We see these flower sellers set up shop wherever they think is convenient on the pavement. Fresh and fragrant, they are eye-candy
We have several jewelers in our locality. Here is the earring display in one shop
And who better than a goddess to model the jeweler’s wares?
These flowers are found everywhere.
And this is one of my favorite photos, by the water. I love how that branch purposefully plunges into the water and then emerges in a different form.
Linking up with Unknown Mami who hosts Sundays In My City, my favorite bloghop. I am grateful to her for arranging my world travel.
How do you do it, Vidya? Write something so heartwrenching, yet filled with so much love and hope? I salute you. I went back and read this one a few times over. Hugs…
Beautiful post Vidya, I too have a couple of relatives I can write books on 🙂 I forgave one such relative after 20 years and was fortunate enough to visit him with a clear heart a few times before he fell sick and finally succumbed to his illness. I am glad I had those meetings with him, life is short.
Loved your story about the siblings, Arjun was there for his sister Anita, always. Beautiful…and the flowers too.
I have to learn a lot from you Vidya in the matters of heart : to forget and to forgive.
A lovely story of siblings but wished that they had kept touch with each other. The bro helped his sis in times of need but was there no longer when she she could embrace him.
And so he did, and he must have been at peace at his own passing as it was itself a gift. A wonderful share.
Love endures, indeed ! A beautiful story. I’ve heard of twins sharing an uncanny telepathy. This was something more about their bond of love. Loved the whole thing, Vidya 🙂
And relatives…. aaha….we could write volumes about them and still leave many things unsaid 😀
Oh how sad but still filled with love and hope 🙂
In nine sentence you have packed admirably well different emotions: frustration of twin brother running away from home,his heart wrenching final hours and longing for his sister,her acute financial crisis and her fond memory of her long lost brother and the culmination of their finding each other though not in person and his generous gift.It left my eyes moist.
Isn’t it amazing how if we’re open to it, love will always win! And talking about amazing, that’s a word for your story and the whole post. And to think you conjured it all up so soon! ♥
Such a haunting story…it’s so sad and yet, somehow, in a way filled with hope. I love the title of the story…some bonds will never break! Beautifully written Vidya!
It’s good to retain pleasant memories and to forget (or, if forgetting is not possible, to relegate to a distant corner of one’s brain!) unpleasant memories. Fortunately for me, I usually manage this with almost all the persons who’ve been a part of my life.
However, I have come across a few people who are totally self-centred and have absolutely no consideration for others. In almost all cases, I recognised the person’s true colours before he/she could harm me and managed to take myself out of that person’s life. I’m human, so it’s almost impossible for me to have any good memories of such persons.
it is very true.sibling love and attachment is best thing we can have.lovely post.dxbnidblog
Great writing! It could be the beginnings of a book!
Love really does endure. Imagine a brother sitting in a far off country gifting his sister something she desperately needs just when she needs it badly. Lovely yet heart wrenching.
What a wonderful story. Love really endures.
My heartstrings have definitively been pulled today. What a lovely story! And the pictures! They take me away from the drab raininess we have today. Thank you!
Your photos always bring a smile to my lips, and your writing and thoughts are music to the soul. Cheers! Kaarina
Hugs, Kaarina! Always happy to see you. Just wait till you see tomorrow’s post 😀 Love you!
gorgeous take on the prompt.. gut wrenching and poignant simultaneously..
Wise words on forgiveness and celebrating what good our family members bring to our lives and letting go of what pain they brought.
Love the happy, colorful pics!
🙂
Traci
I can imagine, it must be so liberating esp for somebody like u to realise that you no longer have bitter memories of a close relative! BTW when am in your area, you should take me earring shopping….
It is magical how when you say positive things about a person who might not be your absolute favorite, you give, take and spread love!
The story was sad yet at least hopeful for the sister. Loved it!
The last image of the tree is stunning!
I love the way you club so much in one post! Love and Hugs 🙂
That was a beautiful piece of writing. There are a few relationships from my childhood that I feel conflicted about. I want to let go of the frowns that come when I think about them.
Lovely post Vidya. Enjoyed that bit of fiction. Sad yet hopeful. You’re right about the forgiving .. it does liberate you.
I so loved this Vidya, from the picture with the tree:-) I can see why it is among your favorites, and the story of your aunt! The sibling story was so moving though – kind of hoped they would have gotten together sooner – siblings often have such a strong bond, but I see what you mean: love endures. So true, and so beautifully told:-)
how sad!! I really wish he was alive and well enough and helped her still..
Loved the first 2 pics !! So many earrings!! 😀
And those mango leaves and flowers look so fresh and beautiful! 🙂
you.
are.
a. beautiful. prayer.
Vidya.
XXXXXXXXXXOOOOO
Love endures – absolutely!
I *love* your Sundays in my City posts – it is wonderful to see your world through your lens of love. My heart is smiling!
I’ve heard many people say that as long as we remember, we haven’t ever really forgiven, but I highly disagree. When I forgive, the thing I remember is not the way a certain person wronged me (nor that fact alone), but I remember that the person, like each and every one of us is human, so mistakes are only the most natural way to learn better. This was really wonderfully written, thank you for sharing and have a wonderful day!
Poignant story, Vidya. What matters is we keep the ones we love inside our heart alive. It’s only the body that departs but never the soul. This one has touched the heart.
What a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. Loved the photos too. The jewellery looks fabulous. You are right about songs that fill us up.with memories. Happens to me when I listen to 90´s songs.
Only you can combine so many things into a post so wonderfully. Such a touching story about the siblings. It is a sad and a happy ending. 🙁
love endures….so true! And your story depicted it perfectly!
BTW I love your pictures too 🙂
Beautiful story about sibling love! And enjoyed reading the reflective preface about your conversation with your son. Such a wonderful connection between the two.
That’s such a poignant story, Vidya! True love can endure any circumstance and reach across any distance!!
Loved all your pics especially the last one, such an amazing capture! 🙂
Pathos-filled story.Love is enduring.
I will look forward to that post on aunt, you do inspire in a lot of ways I wish I could tell you all about it. You write that post and then I will follow one too, breaking free from bad memories, step one 🙂
And as for the story, it is such a beautiful read. Because some relationships run so deep, their lives fit in,
I think you did a great thing to not pass on your feelings of ill-will about your aunt to your son. It is not his burden. No one is perfect. When we reflect back, if we can, we should strive to hold on to that which is good and kind.
Lovely pics. You always find interesting things to share. Nice story – sometimes something good comes from tragedy and love truly endures.
[…] also means that we’re open to giving and receiving love, and we’re open to allowing ourselves to embrace our life. We open to the possibility that the […]