Change is the only constant

 I have always abhorred changes of any kind🙄

Somehow things simply take a definite form in my mind

Such that they become difficult to erase or evolve😒

They remain a mystery for me, which I just can't solve 🤔

I have grown up in a family of loving parents, grandparents, and three siblings. When my elder sister was about to get married, I didn't take the occasion quite happily in the beginning.  For your perusal, all the proposals which came for her were always met by strict condemnation from my side, till my opinion was not even considered by anyone. Finally, when she was engaged I kept feeling how could I possibly live without her. Since the time I was born, she has been with me, and now suddenly out of the blue someone else should become important to her was simply unacceptable to me.

She had been a friend, philosopher and guide throughout my life, how could she simply leave her home, and her family to stay in some stranger's place. Thinking of it always made me more n' more agitated. But who was interested in what I thought. 

I tried to pacify myself by spending as much time with her as possible, but she always seemed busy. It was at times shopping or phone conversations for hours at a stretch. I was feeling left out altogether. 

One day I thought of buying her a gift for her impending marriage. I thought she would be happy if I bought her a saree. I had saved quite an amount of my pocket money, and what better way of using it than now.

There was this big saree shop near my school. I went with a friend in tow who I felt had an idea about buying unlike me, being absolutely clueless.  I told the salesperson we were looking for something nice and bright in the range of Rs 2000 to Rs 2500. He started showing us beautiful vivid embroidered ones, nicely textured printed ones. They all looked beautiful 😍. Then my friend suggested we shouldn't buy anything which required high maintenance like regular starching or dry cleaning. The owner had been observing us for some time, got up and picked out a saree, saying it's easy to maintain, home washable and the paint wouldn't bleed. Opening it, he poured it into my hands. It felt light and airy, and the colour was also bright red, just apt for a newly wedded bride. I was delighted 😀. The shopkeeper said it was expensive but he would give it to me for Rs 2000. I was happy 😊 since the remaining money could be used to buy matching sandals 👡. I paid and brought it. Reaching home I kept it in my closet, to be given at the right time. 

The next day I accompanied my sister to a nearby market. While she was taking her required stuff I simply looked around. I was startled to see exactly the same saree hanging in a shop's window. My sister looked up at me and following my gaze saw the saree. I simply asked how did she like it . She said, let's go and check.  In the shop,  she told me it was a pure synthetic saree and she would never wear it. I felt disappointed 😞. Then I instinctively asked the shopkeeper for its price. He said Rs 500. I felt thoroughly betrayed 😱.

On reaching home, I showed the saree to my sister with the bill and she smiled, a smile of love and affection. She hugged me 🫂 tightly, saying although she was getting married she still remained the same person. Wedlock doesn't have to necessarily mean that the previous bonds need to be broken. They remain eternal and intact for the rest of our lives. HOW RIGHT SHE WAS, NOW I KNOW AND FEEL. The bond between us has only grown stronger and more mature with the passage of time. 

LESSON LEARNT #Experience teaches you a lot and surprises are not always a great idea.😐

Coming back to the saree,😇 she got it exchanged for something she liked and which was also worth its price.

REPERCUSSIONS.# The initial few months were difficult to manage without my sister for all of us. Since she lived in a different city altogether (Jaipur ),  her visits (to Kolkata)were only once a year. Somehow we all managed and gradually, change became the new normal. 😇

Disclaimer: I am participating in Blogging from A-Z challenge 2022 and this is my third post for C # CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT 

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/