I am the only son

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” - William Shakespeare

I had touched nature twice on 26th January 2001. Once in actuality, and the other was otherwise. I wish I had never dreamt. It took me far from reality. It hurt me. Not physically. I can bear pain in my limbs. 

It was the morning of an extremely cold January. We were getting ready for the Republic day celebration. My mother had bought a new white kurta for me. It was paired with green pajamas and an orange jacket. Both my younger sisters were wearing the same dress that they had worn on Independence day. They were looking at me with half admiration and half envy. Nothing wrong with it. Believe me, I deserved the best. My parents believed it. My sisters believed it. And I believed it too.

I had the biggest piece of sweet. They shared the rest. I had a new bag and bottle for school. They used my used ones. I had the best pen, best shoes, best books. They had whatever else my parents could afford. You have an advantage of a few years if you are the firstborns. I could use it throughout my life because I am the only son. That is what my mother would say every day. “He would take care of us when we grow old. We should give him the best now.” My sisters did not protest. They thought it was fair. Now I realize that they were more intelligent than me. I never realized the responsibility attached to the advantages. My sisters did. 

I had a dream that night. In the dream, we went for a picnic near a dam. We were walking on the bridge overlooking the gates of the dam. Suddenly, three doors opened. The water looked scary. Like a devil with a huge open mouth, coming towards me, trying to engulf me. My dad was a good swimmer. I knew he would save us, even in my dream. I did not see when he saved mummy in the dream. I saw her standing beside daddy on the top of the bridge, while we were hanging below it, my sisters and I. I was saved first.

I looked into the mirror again and smiled at the perfect tricolor clothes I was wearing. I smiled. My reflection in the mirror wavered. In another second, the mirror fell to the ground and crashed into pieces. The ground below me shook. This time devil had chosen earth to touch me, not water. My whole family was in debris. I knew dad would save us and he did. When and how I do not remember, but we were all alive when I regained consciousness. 

My whole kin changed with the actual touch of nature. I lost a leg in the earthquake. The biggest piece of sweet, best bag, best pen, best shoes, best books weren’t mine anymore. I was not the one who would take care of my parents in their old age. They loved me still. They cared for me more. But.