Who's Stronger Now? - 1

I am Aditya, a teenage boy living in Lucknow. I am a student and I study at a good school in Lucknow. Here, I have no wants in my mind, and if any arises, it would always be available to me as soon as possible because I never thought of a thing bigger than my father's extent. I have a family where I live with my parents and sister, and my grandparents live just next door. For some reason, they decided not to demolish their paternal house, and then we bought another piece of ground just beside my grandparents' house and built upon it. All that happened with my parents when I did not even come into this world.

So, at 16 years of age, I am a pretty average boy, with a height of around 5 feet and 6 inches and weighing a nice 48 kg. I am not too weak for anyone to defeat me or overpower me easily, good at some punching and kicking, arm wrestling, and some of the nice Kung Fu shots and hits. Something hilarious happened to me a few months before, and that made me taken aback and suspect my own strength, but slowly, I overcame the reality and accepted it. That is what I am going to tell you today, and why not? I am here to write stories. But before that, I am going to tell you about my sister and the incidents that happened between me and her some years before.

See, I am currently in class 11th and a nice student. I have an elder sister, named Shivangi. She is four years older than me and at 20 years old, she is currently in college. So these incidents started when I was 10 years old, in class 5th obviously. I studied in another school. That school was near to our house. My mother used to pick me up after school, and then we came home by an auto. My father worked at a corporate in Bangalore and has a decent salary, so my mother needed not to work, and she took the decision to work for our home and become a housewife. So, at that time when my school ends, she would mostly be free to fetch me at school. When I was in class 5th, Shivangi was 14 years old and was in class 9th.

It was the month of January when I went to her school in the annual function and saw that her school is so big and so good compared to my school, which was only till class 5th. I saw the performances, cultural programs, and all were outstanding. The evening snacks there, the biscuits, samosas, Laddus, and were good and tasted nice, as well as the classrooms, labs, ground, and the library, all perfect, but only one drawback. Her school was about 5 km away from our home. The distance was walkable and she walked that distance in the morning as well as when returning home. Those were pre-metro days, and as you may know, the cost of auto fare is sky-rocketing in Lucknow.

However, when we needed to get home, we took an auto to the home and reached there, paying 150 rupees just for one way with three of us. The thing that came to my mind was how I will walk that distance from home to school and then school to home. Nevertheless, I discarded that thought and in the night, expressed my desire to take admission into her school. She said that I have to give an entrance test in order to get into her school. Comparatively, her school fee was higher than my primary school, like drastically high. Mine was 600 rupees a month and hers was 3200 rupees a month, and if I would crack the entrance and make it in there, mine would be 12000 admission fee and 2400 a month. That was not a very high amount when compared to my father's salary, and he agreed.

I started preparing my class 5th concepts and with that, got 96% in the annual examination too for my old school and exited that school being a topper in class 5th, gave the entrance exam, and when the results came, my name was at the topmost there, making my parents and my sister proud of me. The new uniform was purchased, books were bought, fees paid, and boom! I was in my 6th standard.

The first day of my school went so well. In the classes, I got admired by my teacher for the first rank in the entrance test and performing well in the interview, and in the interval, my sister took me to her class, which was 10th now, and admired me a lot that how I got 1st rank in the entrance exam. The first day of my school went too well. I met other classmates, teachers, got into everyone's sight as a bright student, and got recognized. The real problem came in when my sister fetched me from my class, school ended, and we had to go home.

In the morning, I went to the school by the auto with my sister, giving a fare of 100 rupees one way! Thankfully, Shivangi had another note of 100 rupees with her. So she took an auto in front of our school and we reached home. The following week went the same way, spending 200 rupees every day only for auto fare. The next morning after that week, Shivangi woke up early and also told me to get ready fast. We had to go walking to the school. I began from the school and walked 5 km to home even when returning. My legs started paining badly. The next day, the same cycle was repeated.

But as two more days passed, my leg pain worsened. I started rubbing Iodex on it in the evening. The following day, I started limping while going to school. My school day was not good. I was also limping when returning home from the school. Shivangi had noticed that I have been limping since morning. She was looking concerned.

"Stop, Aditya!" she said.

"What happened?" I said.

"You are limping," she said.

Saying this, she bent down to her knees on the road and then said to me, "Climb on me, sit on my shoulders and get a shoulder ride from me to our home. You will get relieved and don't have to walk." I was in two senses, and then a conversation went between us.

"But how can I sit on your shoulders and take a shoulder ride from you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I am a boy and you are a girl."

"Don't see the gender difference, Aditya. I am a full 4 years older than you, with being around 10 kg heavier and stronger than you."

"But you will get exerted too in this long journey, walking with me on your shoulders."

"Don't you think that you have been only 2 days walking in this long journey, and I had been for 5 whole years, making me used to it?"

"Yeah it will, but I am OK."

"I clearly know that you are not OK. You are having a problem walking and if your pain will increase, it may lead to severe muscle pain or muscle damage. Besides that, I am older than you by 4 years. It means that I am your older sister, Aditya. It is my responsibility that if I am with you, you should not get into any trouble or pain, and I must have to be your shield in situations like this. So please don't waste time, come climb on my shoulders and get the ride."

After this conversation, I went near her, had my both legs on her shoulders, she straightened up, and I was above her height. While being 15 years old, she might have been about 5 feet and 2 inches at that time, and seeing the world from that much height was a new experience for me, being myself only 4 feet 5 inches. I got amazed and happy by the ride.

The following morning, going to school, we walked only 500 meters on our foot and she then bent down and gave me the shoulder ride. When returning from school, she went another 500 meters and then the rest of the way with me on her shoulders. Thus, a few days passed. Days turned into a week. I rode on her shoulders for two weeks, home to school, and school to home, and got amazed by the all-new experience of observing the world from a different height. But after two weeks, when I began walking to school in the morning, I was waiting for her to ask me to get on her shoulders, which she didn't. I walked talking to her and not asking her for the ride. She spent the whole day talking. Her way of speaking was not normal, nor she laughed and smiled at the usual things she did earlier. I thought that she might ask while returning. When returning, she was also not the normal. I started talking to her while walking on my own legs. Time passed, and when 1 km passed, I said to her, "I don't have the need anyway, Didi, and nor my legs are paining, but I wonder why you didn't ask me to sit on your shoulders today. Also, you are not behaving properly. You are somewhat sad, and somewhat happy, and your mood is looking incomplete. Is there anything wrong?"

"I have some problem which you will not understand. I know you are wondering why is this happening to me, but it's only for 5 to 6 days, and I will be back to normal, behaving properly, happy and smiling like always and having nice and happy talk to you again, while giving you a shoulder ride. But please for only 5 to 6 days, please manage to walk. I will ask you myself for the ride when I will be okay."

I agreed to her and respected her for her problem but was curious about that. I never had anything like that where mood changes. In the evening, I searched about it on the internet and got to know about the "Menstrual cycle." Most 11-year-old kids may not take it seriously because they don't understand what teenage is and what physical and mental changes take place when you are a teenager. (This statement was for boys, as most of the girls, the thoughts began to change at an age as early as 10 years and menstrual cycle, or the periods, also start) Besides taking this as a normal thing, I began thinking it as a serious matter. I didn't tell Shivangi, but began respecting her dignity and behavior more than I used to do earlier.

I walked five more days and then reached then the next morning, Shivangi herself asked me to get on her shoulders. I again enjoyed the ride for a whole 3 weeks, and then in those days, I walked. This became our daily fun time, me seated on her shoulders and she chatting to me on the way. In the vacations, both me and her would feel incomplete because of the most funny two hours of our days which we called "The Chat and Ride Hour."

The days went with that, and then weeks, and then months. With time, the Half Yearly Examination passed, and Annual came. Both of us scored good in Half Yearly exams. She had her C

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lass 10th Boards and Pre-boards in January and February. She worked hard and hard and got 94% marks in the boards and I got 95% in my Annual Exams of class 6th.

When my Annual Exams ended in January, she had her boards coming, so she didn't got time for me. In the meantime of two months, I got into a sports school 4 km far from our home. I warmed-up, exercised, and played there. My routine was changed. The Aditya that would wake up at 10 o'clock in the morning in the vacations started to wake up at 4 o'clock, known as the "Brahma-Muhurta" in the Hindu scriptures. I then exercised till 6.30 a.m. in the ground, running around the pathway, doing push-ups, pull-ups, sprinting, up and down, arm-walk and many more exercises to make me able to play cricket. This made my body gain strength and weight throughout these two months. Also, in the mid of February, I got hit by a growth spurt.

Exercising regularly and eating a proper diet made me able to comply with the change in height that happened in my body during the two months. When in the first week of March, Shivangi's boards ended, and she got chill, she began to be lazy and slept till 10 am in the morning, not doing exercise and eating fast food. While me, maintaining my health and taking cricket seriously, playing the Under-13 series and matches and getting recognition in my street, at least. This rigorous routine of me made me gain height and weight too. When my Annual Exams ended, I measured my weight and height in my home. I was shocked. Just two months of physical discipline and exercise made me rise from 4 feet and 5 inches to a whole 5 feet, and from 36 kg to a whole 40 kg.

Time passed, and came April. I got into class 7th, being 12 years old. I was the same from outside, but if someone would ever open my shirt, she would see some muscles and more strength than that, with increased height. Everyone behaved nicely to me for being a sportsman, kind of, and contributing to my strength made me bigger myself. I was one of the tallest in my class. Shivangi also got well in the boards and got into the 11th class, being 16 years old now.

Now coming to the point. Like last year, me and Shivangi got one week of relief, with the auto fare and then told that we don't have to waste money. After the first week, I went to school on my own legs. When returning from school, 500 meters passed our conversation started.

"Aditya, looks like you are getting exhausted."

"No didi, I am not."

"However, will you want to sit on my shoulders. Actually na, I was missing that two hours from the whole two months my boards ended."

"I think... yeah. I will sit on your shoulders, because you are my caring elder sister, Shivangi."

She bent down, and I sat on her shoulders. I thought that it would be easy for her to carry me, but she was having some problems carrying me. The next morning, she didn't ask me if she could give me that ride. I neither asked her. I noticed that she was having pain in her shoulders in the evening the previous day and she was hunching her shoulders from time to time. I thought that this might be because of my increased weight. She was also having pain when I went to meet her in the interval. She said that it's nothing, just due to over studies. But I know what was the reason behind her shoulder pain.

When we were returning from our school that day, she was neither talking to me and was just looking sad due to her pain, and now she was limping too. I think that's because she had been too lazy the whole one month and did not walk much long distances. Sensing her pain, I started our conversation.

"Hey didi, looks like you are in pain and limping too."

"Yes, this shoulder pain and this leg pain are very bad."

"Don't worry, I got you."

Saying this, I bent down to my knees and then said, "Come on, sit on my shoulders. You will get relieved and could enjoy a good view too." Maybe she was in two senses like I was earlier.

"How can I sit on your shoulders, Aditya?"

"It's too easy, put your first leg on my first shoulder, and let me hold it and you properly, and then your second leg on my other shoulder and let me hold it too. Then let me hold onto your thighs or hands for extra support and let me get straightened up, and enjoy the ride."

"Don't be funny, Aditya. I am your elder sister, I am full 4 years older than you, being in 11th class, and a senior now. Also being 4 inches taller than you and still 8 kg heavier than you. You are younger than me."

"Oh, actually, now I have to tell you that when your boards were over, and the month you were chilling, I was making up my body, playing cricket, in the Under-13, exercising and making those muscles. I am now much taller and heavier than before. Besides that, you are in trouble. When I was small, it was your responsibility to make me comfort in any trouble situations. Now, since you are in trouble, and in pain too, it is my utmost responsibility to let you comfort the most quickest way I can."

"Okay, throwing my words on me. I am ready to sit on your shoulders. But can you truly handle my weight?"

"Yeah! It's only a 4 kg difference."

I bent down. She had her first leg on my left shoulder and her right leg on my right shoulder. I got hold of her hands first, and when I stood up and started walking, I got hold of her thighs so that she can swing her hands in the air and take the enjoyment of being carried in my cargo.

"Well, Aditya!"

"What?"

"You know its a very good feeling of sitting and riding on someone's shoulders. Its very nice to have a ride when at such a height, smooth air blows into your ears. It is feeling so good and comfortable. It is more comfortable when I know that the person whose shoulders I am sitting on is my brother, and even being younger, shorter, and lighter than me, he will take my care and will not drop me. It is like I am afraid of nothing when I am on your shoulders, Aditya. It feels like I am an angel flying in the air, fearless of all tensions and everything. Now I know, Aditya, why you were so fond of sitting on my shoulders the last year. Then you were small, and now assume me as your cute little sister, sitting and enjoying on the shoulders of her older brother."

"Same for me, Shivangi. You are the most caring person I have seen. The whole time, even if your legs were paining, you carried me all the time last year. Now it's my turn, Shivangi. You know what, having your sister seated on your shoulders and enjoying, is way better than having your girl best friend seated and enjoying on your shoulders, because you know, that the girl you are currently having on your shoulders, will always give you her shoulder, or her hand, for help, to take rest and cry on, and to get comforted. I don't want this to end. Don't want for any moment to come in which you will get down from my shoulders and never let you away from me."

"Me too, Aditya!"

"I haven't said to you before, but as your brother and you being my sister, I love you, Shivangi, to the core of my heart. I love you!"

"I love you too, Aditya! You are the most caring and loving person to me, I know."

This was the exact conversation that happened on the first day when Shivangi was sitting and riding on my shoulders. I know it felt like two lovebirds talking with each other, but this was all I had in my heart. We both poured our heart in the conversation. And for those who are wondering, people were seeing us when she was seated on my shoulders. Last year when she carried me, people gave no attention to it. But now, she was sitting on my shoulders, and seeing from a distance, our appearance was sufficient to tell that she is older than me. Most of the people got it without asking about us, but two people asked me about the girl sitting on my shoulders. I told proudly that she is my sister, and she did told too.

When we reached home and ate our food, we went to the roof of our house to play badminton. There was a kind of another room type thing, which was too small to be called a room, but was high just like a room. Basically, some small storeroom type thing. While playing badminton, our shuttlecock got up there. Before tomorrow, we would just get a chair from the ground floor of our house, and getting on that chair could help me or her get to the top or ceiling of the small storeroom and we could get our shuttlecock, but today, I made Shivangi sit on my shoulders and she retrieved the shuttlecock from up there. While we were playing, she used to get afraid when a monkey comes there, and used to run towards me. I was her new savior. While we were playing, suddenly, a group of monkeys ran towards us. I got down quickly through the stairs, but she was left up there. I thought that she must be harmed so much, but all of the monkeys passed beside her, except one.

That one monkey started slowly walking towards her and she, slowly getting backward, without seeing what's behind her. My mother, who was cutting veggies when this happened, saw me running, heard the sound of the monkeys, and stood up. The plate full of veggies on her lap fell, and she stood up panicking and shrieking. I was also in a desperate moment of panic. I thought, "Will all this, the moments I spent while returning from the school, where she was seated on my shoulders and we were pouring our heart, chatting and laughing, me feeling like her caring elder brother and she like my cute elder sister, end up?" She was backing slowly, and when she was almost at the edge of the ceiling, the monkey quickened his actions and ran towards her. In a desperate move, she backed quickly, got hit by the railing on her waist, and rolled down, but at the right time, caught the railing with her one hand. The monkey ran away, leaving her one inch away from her fall. I was in two senses, very desperate, in panic, anxiety levels at their peak, my mother was shrieking and crying. There was no time to do anything. Slowly, her grip was getting off. Her hands slipped, and then...

To be continued...