Thicker than water

‘Mama — she scratched me’, cried the little one and ran into her mother’s arms seeking comfort. Aahana showed her mother the faint red line that ran along her arm.

‘It’s okay beta, I’ll go talk to her’, Mama consoled Aahana.
Aahana’s tears instantly stopped. She smiled — dimples appearing in both of her chubby cheeks and her eyes dancing with joy. Mama would tell Shaina off for beating her.

Shaina was Aahana’s older sister. Shaina was already in school and she couldn’t put up with her little sister’s crazy antics. Aahana, on the other hand — always enjoyed being around Shaina. She looked up to her. If Shaina played with toys — she wanted the same. If she wore pants — she wanted the same.
Their parents had grown so tired of the fighting that now they bought everything in pairs.

Mama went looking for Shaina.

Shaina was busy drawing a picture of the sunrise. Two brown mountains, one yellow sun, one blue stream, and a green tree. She was just filling in the green of the tree — her tongue sticking out.

Shaina had finished colouring her picture and got up to go show it to her mother. Mama would be so proud of her. She ran into the hall looking for her mother.

When she found her mother she couldn’t wait to show her the picture. But Mama’s first words to her were — ‘ Why did you beat Aahana? Look, she now has a scar on her arm.’

Shaina’s eyes filled with tears, ’She tore my drawing first. It’s her fault.’
‘No — she wouldn’t let me draw in it. It’s her fault’, said Aahana.

Mama told Shaina, “She’s a small girl. You should understand that beta. Give in a little more.”

Shaina could not believe that her mum could be so unfair. But of course- no one would question or even dream of questioning Aahana. She had the entire family wrapped around her little finger. Their little darling daughter. She couldn’t stop the tears that rolled out from her eyes — ‘You love Aahana more than me. You always have. That’s why you always support her.’ She turned her back on her mother and started to walk away.

*
‘You love her more than me’ screamed Reshma and stormed off
‘Reshma, listen to me. That is not true.’, Amma told Reshma trying to placate her.
‘She’s a small girl. She has a lot left to learn.’
‘That is the worlds lamest argument Amma and you know it. She always gets her way — that’s because she’s your favourite child — your angel.’

With that she went into her room and hugged her knees crying bitterly at her mother’s open preference to her sister.
She loved her sister too, but sometimes she hated her enough to kill her.

Her chubby, happy go lucky, pretty little sister. As soon as she thought of her — the tears slowed down. Maybe she was being unreasonable.

Amma came into her room and said, ‘Reshma — you are both my children. I can never love one more than the other. I love you both just the same. It’s not something I can make you understand now. But someday you will.’
*

Reshma placed her hands on Shaina’s shoulders and held her in place. Reshma turned from Shaina to Aahana, ‘ Why did you tear her drawing Aahana?’
Shaina could not believe her ears — her mother was questioning Aahana; their darling Aahana! She was so happy she could have danced.

Aahana said,’But .. but she didn’t let me draw in it.’
Before Shaina could argue, Reshma said, ‘You should have asked her again. Now Aahana say sorry to her for tearing her drawing. Shaina apologise for scratching her.’

They both said sorry to each other and started playing together almost instantly.

Reshma asked Shaina , ‘Now do you realise I love both of you just the same?’
Shaina smiled at her mother shyly and nodded.

Reshma smiled — more in relief than anything else. The someday her mother had talked about had come. However, she felt she’d handled it better. She would never let that doubt grow. She had killed it as soon as she knew it existed.

Reshma gave herself a mental pat on the back as she watched her two children playing happily. No one would have ever guessed that one of her daughters was adopted.