A Brother From Another Mother

Some relationships are by birth and some by chance. I am blessed to have been able to forge one such beautiful bond with a person with a heart of gold. He comes from the land of the divine and true to his roots he has a pure heart. We met as colleagues when he started working with us. He was a dedicated boy and soon enough Mumbai sharpened his skills. His endearing nature and ability to adapt to situations made him an integral part of our organisation. Not only was he brilliant at work, he made office an extension of his home. Soon enough he became my window to the world.

A visit to his house in Varanasi made me realise that relationships are organic. They had a beautiful home and a farm. My 1.5 year old son had an amazing time running in the field eating fresh milk playing with the cows and enjoying the hospitality. We were treated with lipsmacking foods more than our stomach could digest in a day. But it was the trust and homeliness they shared with me a complete stranger very different from them which struck a cord. His mother invited me to her room sat me with her on the bed requesting me to take care of her son like a sister. I was allowed to assist them in making the local delicacy. Not once did I feel an outsider. It felt like home.

Back in office, our bond blossomed. I had resumed work after my son was born so my timings were erratic and my life restricted to home and office. He seemed to understand me like my parents. My office became my parent’s house where someone would always look over my back. He was my husband's loyal friend and my brother who often seemed to know my thoughts even before I voiced them. We shared common interests and principles like listening to Sanskrit shlokas, respecting parents beyond God and speaking our mind on any and every issue around us. We believed in improving our shortcomings by challenging each other. He was instrumental in making my first step towards helping educate others by arranging for government school books for the coconut vendor, an idea he did not really believe in but did it nonetheless out of respect for my wishes.

My motherly instincts had taken over and I would try in every way to make him eat healthy stay fit and enjoy his office stay since I believed it was my responsibility to take care of him here. I tied him a Rakhi not knowing it was his first and only celebration of this beautiful relationship where both try to bring out the best in the other.

I learn from him each day and nicknamed him my Bina dadhiwale Baba who has brilliant knowledge of the human mind and a heart of gold. We joke we are long lost twins of last birth who met as brother from another mother this time and next life shall be bonded by birth.