One Shot #6

Bir's Rakhi Sister

Anaisha was very happy today, and why won't she be? After all tomorrow was Rakshabandhan, that one day of the year when she was utterly pampered by her brothers and even her other family members give her gifts as in her paternal and maternal, both the families, she was the only girl child as her mom was the only daughter of her parents.

And not just Annie but Aashika too was utterly pampered by all the Gujral boys and both the girls enjoyed it to core!

Since her duties were over, she thought to go and wait in the cafeteria till her brother's duty end. So grabbing her bag and locking her locker, she headed for cafeteria.

As she entered the cafeteria, she saw Rhea sitting alone, looking apparently sad. She wondered what happened to her, and walked to her. Sitting down, she kept a hand on Rhea's shoulder, as she still didn't notice Annie's presence.

"Rhea, what happened girl? Why are you so down? Anything serious?" Anaisha asked concernedly.

Rhea, who didn't notice Annie earlier, looked up and forcing a smile on her face, replied casually, "Oh no Annie nothing. I'm fine!"

But Annie wasn't satisfied with her answer. Even though they friends for just three months, Annie had a great sense of understanding with Rhea and Nikhil, in particular as these two people had almost similar ideologies like her and so they bonded well.

Annie grimaced and asked with seriousness, "Rhea, don't try to fool me 'cause you can't fool me. In these three months, I've come to understand you well. Now c'mon say what's the real matter."

Rhea, knowing well that Annie won't listen anything else than truth, sighed and defiantly said, "It's Rakshabandhan tomorrow! And that's why I'm sad!"

"You're upset because it's Rakshabandhan? Why?" Anaisha asked with shock.

Rhea shook her head and with an dejected tone, explained her situation, "No, Anaisha, it's not like I'm sad. I mean I am sad but I'm not actually sad."

"Baby, please get straight to the point and say it direct. You're confusing me," Anaisha said with puzzlement.

"Okay! See you know, I'm an only child of my parents, right? So tomorrow Rakshabandhan, which is a reminder of me being an only child and one of the two days of the year apart from Bhai Dhooj, when I feel really lonely and desperately wish for a brother. Though I tie a rakhi on my dad's wrist, but still I always miss having a brother or even a sibling. My Rakshabandhan has always been this lonely for me and sadly even my parents are working tomorrow, like us, only we'll get a half day," Rhea finished with a look of dejection and frustration on her face.

Anaisha felt sad for Rhea, even though she couldn't understand her anguish because she had grown up with three brothers and never felt lonely. She could guess easily that Rhea really was upset and tried to think of something to cheer her up.

She suddenly got an idea, and excitedly said, "Hey, why don't you tie Rakhi to my brothers? That'll be cool and I'll love to have you as my sister."

Rhea looked at Annie and tried contemplating her idea but it didn't excite her much. So politely she refused Annie by saying, "That's a very nice idea, Annie, but no. I've never celebrated Rakhi with any of my friend's brother, so it's awkward for me. I really appreciate your effort but please don't make me feel uncomfortable with that idea."

Anaisha grimaced again and thought for something else and suggested, "Then tie rakhi on any of those three monkey's hands. Arre I'm talking about Shivam, Yuvraj and Nikhil. What say?"

Rhea sighed. She genuinely liked Annie, but her ideas were making her feel really uneasy as she wasn't really a vocal person and asking one of her friends to be her brother seemed something that was out of comfort zone and she didn't even want to dare doing that.

So she took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Anaisha, I really really appraise your ideas but darling I don't want to go and ask someone to become my brother just because I want to celebrate a festival. It's okay, I'll be fine. And I guess my mom must've reached here now. See you tomorrow and advanced happy Rakshabandhan!"

She grabbed her handbag and cellphone and quickly left from there as she didn't want to offend Anaisha with her constant denial of her ideas. Annie on the other hand understood Rhea's discomfort and decided not to poke her again with her stupid ideas.

Next day, Rhea tied rakhi on her father's wrist and wished him, "Happy Rakshabandhan, dad!"

Rhea's father, Ruhan Kashyap, smiled and wished his daughter back, "Happy Rakshabandhan, doll. So what's your plan today?"

Rhea looked down and tried to speak in a casual tone, "Ah nothing, Dad. I have half day today but I'll ask Dr. Rai to extend my duty after my shift because I really don't want to stay at home alone since you and mom won't be home too."

Rhea's mother, Vandana, sighed as she understood her daughter's pain of not having a sibling and said lovingly, "It's okay, angel but if you want you come home early as I'll try to be back by three."

"Oh okay. My shift will be over by 1 but I'll get it extended for two more hours and will call you up to know if you reached home or not," Rhea said with a small smile as she knew her mom was trying to soothe her grief. Like her friends, her parents too had tried to make her celebrate this festival of sibling bond with their friends' kids and relatives but she always declined as she believed this bond of a sister and brother should be from heart and not just a customary tradition which should be followed for only the sake of the festival.

Rhea's mother agreed and soon Rhea left for her work as her shift was starting at half past eight. Her parents also left for their works after some time, both of them feeling guilty and upset for not being able to help their only daughter who wouldn't share her deepest pain of not having a sibling.

All the interns except Rhea were excited as the hospital was giving half day to them and some senior doctors who didn't have any important work today also took off day.

Once the duties were over, all the interns wished each other and left from there. Only Rhea stayed back, who was insisted by Neha, Nikhil and Yuvraj to celebrate Rakshabandhan with them but she declined them all and put up a happy face, which Anaisha understood as fake but didn't say anything.

While leaving, she told Rhea, "If you change your mind then just call me. My brothers would love to have one more sister to pamper."

But Rhea knew she won't change her mind and headed for Dr. Samarth Rai's office as she wanted to ask him to extend her duty for a couple of hours. Just as she reached inside Dr. Rai's cabin, she saw Dr. Kabir Thapar sitting out on the couch, deeply engrossed in his file.

Dr. Rai wasn't actually there as he had to attend a patient who had a seizure and had told her to wait in his cabin.

She went and greeted Dr. Thapar, "Hello, Dr. Thapar!"

Kabir, who was analysing a crucial case of his patient, looked up and with surprise, replied, "Oh hello, Dr. Rhea. What are you doing here? Your shift is over right?"

Rhea bit her lower lip as she realized she again had to explain her situation. She looked down and saw Kabir's wrist, which for her surprise, was empty without any rakhi. She looked up and forgetting Kabir's question, sat down next to him on the couch and asked, "Dr. Kabir, you don't celebrate Rakshabandhan? Why there's no rakhi on your wrist?"

Kabir looked at her with a small smile as he didn't know how to explain his reason for not celebrating Rakshabandhan. He had his own very valid reason for not celebrating Rakshabandhan and didn't like sharing it with anyone.

Though his friends Leher and Shaina did try to persuade him to let them tie Rakhi to him but he politely refused them as he didn't want to involve that 'bhai-behen' mush mush with his two friends and also because he just didn't want another sister, because he deeply feared losing her again.

Even Aarav and GM had tried to convince him to celebrate Rakshabandhan in morning and that too with Anaisha, who was his really good friend. He had tried to argue with GM, who had asked him irritably, "But what's wrong in celebrating Rakshabandhan with Anaisha? She's your best friend's sister, so she's your sister too! Why don't you just let her become your sister officially?"

Kabir had rolled his eyes at his grandmother as her argument was pointless. As just because Anaisha was Aarav's sister that didn't mean for Kabir, she'll mean the same thing. And then she was a really good friend and the thought of having her as a sister was bizarre to him and seemed to make him feel really uncomfortable and highly uneasy.

He shrugged his shoulders lightly and nonchalantly replied to Rhea, "No, actually I don't have a sister. I mean I'm an only child of my parents and really don't want to turn my female friends into sisters. So yeah, I don't celebrate Rakshabandhan. And hold on you didn't answer my question yet, what are you doing here after your duty?"

Rhea fidgeted with her hands and in a low voice said, "I'm also an only child and just like you don't want to make my male friends as my brother just for the sake of the festival."

"Oh" was all that Kabir managed to say. He never told this to anyone but Rhea reminded him of his deceased sister Samyra, about whom he never really talked with anyone as she was part of his life's most dreaded phase.

But sometimes Rhea did make him wonder if his sister was alive then maybe she would've been just like Rhea because Rhea was really like this soft spoken girl who cared for people close to her deeply and was quite reserved, just like how his Samyra was. And Kabir had learnt from Aarav that apparently Rhea had many similar traits as his, which made Kabir adore her secretly in a brotherly manner.

He felt kinda sympathetic knowing she too hadn't celebrated this sweet festival but didn't know what to do to cheer her up.

Just as he was thinking, Rhea, with much uncertainty and unsureness in her voice, asked, "Would you mind, Dr. Kabir if I tie you a rakhi?"

Rhea, from what all she had heard about Kabir, greatly respected him and always thought of him as an elder brother. While she still didn't have her duties with him yet, she was looking forward to it as she had heard he was just flawless in his work and she did want to learn some valuable knowledge from him.

Like Kabir, she too felt sympathetic knowing he didn't have a sister but suddenly she felt this urge in her heart to ask him to become her brother. She didn't know why or how, but she wanted him to become her brother as she didn't want him go around without a rakhi on this auspicious day. So collecting a great deal of courage, she asked him that question.

Kabir stared at her blankly as he didn't know what to respond. He tried to comprehend his and Rhea's situations and think of a way to refuse her as he didn't know if he really want a sister now at this phase of his life where he was used to being without a sibling.

But a part of him wanted to celebrate this festival and have Rhea as a sister as he hadn't celebrated this festival in ages. The last time he celebrated Rakshabandhan was when he was 12, and for last 16 years he never celebrated this festival.

He saw this look of happiness in her eyes, which he really didn't feel like crushing. But then he didn't know if he should say yes as he was now used to the idea of not having a sister.

He thought of something polite and tried to decline Rhea's request but she stubbornly convinced him and at last he said defiantly, "Okay, okay! I accept your request, happy? Get your rakhi and tie it."

"No no, not like this, Dr. Kabir. This is first time I'm celebrating Rakshabandhan with someone and I want it to be memorable. You please come over to my house na as I want it to very traditional," Rhea said gleefully. She took a small piece of paper from the table and wrote down her address. Passing it to Kabir, she said cheerfully, "Reach there by 6 please and your dinner is with me and my parents. Okay, I should go now and please inform Dr. Rai that I went home. Okay, bye!"

And then she dashed out of Dr. Rai's office, leaving Kabir amused as he shook his head seeing her so cheerful and crazy.

Kabir resumed back his work and managed to get finished with it by five as he had to reach Rhea's house at six. On his way to her house, he bought a box of chocolates and a pretty wrist watch as he didn't know what else she would like and apart from watches he wasn't much good at buying any other thing. Even his GM, whom he had already informed about this whole incident, wasn't of any help as her suggestions for gift weren't suitable. So he went ahead with his initial choice of a watch.

Just exactly at six, he reached her house and rang the doorbell. It was answered by Rhea's mother Vandana, who warmly welcomed him inside. She asked him to make himself comfortable on the sofa and went to call Rhea. As he waited for Rhea, he looked around the house and found it quite intimate and well maintained.

After five minutes, Rhea came out in the living area, wearing a pretty white and yellow salwar suit with her hairs tied in a fishtail braid. She had a beautifully decorated puja thal in her hands and Kabir realized how much this festival meant to her.

"You like great, Rhea. I didn't actually expect it to be this traditional," Kabir said as he looked at all the puja thal while Rhea lit the diya.

Rhea smiled and replied, "As I've said earlier, this is the first time, Dr. Kabir I'm celebrating Rakshabandhan with anyone apart from my parents and I really want it to be special. So, c'mon let me start with this vermillion."

Kabir nodded and let Rhea put a small amount of the sacred vermillion on Kabir's forehead, then some raw rice. She asked him to forward his wrist and smilingly tied a rakhi on his wrist, which made Kabir smile as well, as after so many years he was actually celebrating Rakshabandhan and he felt really delighted.

After tying the rakhi, she fed him sweets and Kabir gave her the gift that he got for her. Rhea tried to return it and said politely, "No, Dr. Kabir, I don't want this. I just wanted a brother that I got today, that's more than enough for me. I can't take this gift."

Kabir took her hand in his and softly said, "I understand that, Rhea, but since I've taken you as my sister, I want you to accept this gift because I'd really love to pamper you as I've never got much chance earlier. And this is my right as well. So please accept it."

Rhea thought for a minute and then accepted the gift, after which they proceeded with the dinner. Rhea's parents simply adored Kabir for his humble and polite demeanour and enjoyed his company. They were thankful to him because for the first time, Rhea was absolutely happy on Rakshabandhan.

The dinner went well and it was time for Kabir to go home. Kabir bid bye to Rhea's parents and went out. Rhea accompanied him out and as he unlocked hi car, she said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Dr. Kabir. Thank you for coming over to my house and becoming my brother. This really means a lot me. Thank you!" Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence and two tears rolled down her cheeks.

Kabir turned to her and wiped the two drops of tears from her cheeks. He gave a her side hug and consoled her, "Please, don't thank me, Rhea. It's not just you who got a brother. Even I got a sister today and I'm very happy about it. This was really a great day for me and I'm thankful to you. And haan, if you want you can call me just Kabir or even add that 'Bhai' prefix, I won't mind it. But keep it formal in hospital."

Rhea came out of the hug and said with a small smile, "Sure, I'd love to! And don't worry I'll keep it real formal in hospital."

Kabir smiled and got inside his car. He waved bye with his hand to Rhea and drove to his house. Rhea looked at his car till it was out of sight and went inside her house, smiling to herself as she was glad to get an elder brother like Kabir. She didn't know what got in her today when she asked him to become her brother but she didn't care as he was now her brother and she'd always cherish this sacred bond with him.

Kabir reached his house and after parking his car, went inside to find GM waiting for him the living room. She smiled seeing him beam with so much happiness. He settled beside her and narrated her the happening of the evening, which she listened with keen interest.

When he was done, she said playfully, "It's great you got a sister now. Waise you could've gotten one more sister if you've allowed Anaisha to tie you a rakhi. She's such a sweet girl."

Kabir shook his head irritatedly as his GM was again annoying him with this 'Anaisha-as-a-sister-thing'. He sipped his coffee and said plainly, "Look GM, Anaisha's a very nice girl but I don't want her a sister because she's a great friend of mine and I want my relationship with her to be like that of friends only. So please stop bothering me!"

GM suppressed her chuckle and smirkingly said, "Acha, she's a great friend? Is she just a friend or more Kabir? Haan? I see something else here!"

Kabir grimaced at her and got up, not wanting to answer his GM as there was nothing like that between him and Anaisha. They were just friends with each other and he enjoyed her company, that's it. But his GM, she just loved annoying him with all this stupid stuff. 

He headed for his room, leaving his GM smile to herself. Once inside his room, he sat down on his bed and stared at the rakhi tied on his wrist. He caressed it with his fingers and smiled to himself. This was really special to him.

He picked up Samyra's photograph from his bed's side table and smiled at her picture. For the first time in sixteen years, he wasn't sad on this day as finally there was someone to fill in the void in his life. But that didn't mean Samyra would lose her place in his life or heart because she was and she will always be his baby sister!

Hey! So here's the one shot on Kabir and Rhea's relationship. Hope you all liked it! Do vote and comment! :) ❤