Story of an Indian Girl

Chapter 1

Priya's P.O.V

"Bhai! You're back!! I can't belive after all this time you're finally back." Isha di yelled in excitement. Hearing this I jumped up from my study table and peaked my head out of the room door. Just enough to get a glimpse of the scene taking place. 

There was my bother Karan who is just 5 years older than me standing there with his jaw clenched and hands folded across his chest. Next to him 4 large black suitcases.
My sister Isha, who more than a sister was like my mom, dad and my best friend. She is 10 years older than me. On whose either side were 2 adorable boy grasping onto her fingers. 
My sister Alisha who who couldn't stop smiling looking at her beloved brother. She was soo excited and happy to see him. She is 13 years older than me.
My jijaji (sister's husband) (also called jiju for short) Ishaan stood beside her with his arm around her waist looking slightly worried but happy looking at his wife's happiness. 
My brother Rahul and his wife Niharika standing close enough to each other but not touching. 

"Priya!! Come down see who has come!" my Isha di yelled. I reluctantly dragged my feet out the room and down the stairs. 

On the way I couldn't help but think of the million things that could happen which would stop me from meeting that arrogant, selffish, self centred bastard of a brother.

Rahul my eldest brother. He is 15 years older than me. A lot right? Yeah! I think that too. He moved out while I was just a toddler. I couldn't believe he was back after 15 years and not alone that too with his kids and wife. 

I had no issues with Bhabhi, cause she would always keep in touch with us. She would send gifts or atleast chocolates on all our birthdays no matter what. She even flew down for Alisha di's wedding and Isha di's graduation. While our blood related brother was "too busy to come"

We were a family of 7. Unfortunately we lost our parents in an terrible flight accident in the United States when I was just 5 years old. Since then it was just the 5 of us. Bhai had already left us for college by then. He didn't even come back home for the crimation and last rights of our parents. Since that day in my mind it was a happy family of 4. My 2 sisters and brother before jiju also joined our small happy family. 

Since then Isha di has been my my mother, my companion and the one shoulder I could rely on no matter. 
Alisha di was also there but she was much older and her own issues to deal with from attaining her masters to her engagement with jiju. And Karan bhai...where do I start with him... To say he is 5 years older than me but his behaviour was like he was 5 years younger than me till this date. So no major impact he had on my life other than being my partner in crime.

I reached down to the main hall where all of them were standing and touched bhabhi's feet to seek her blessings. ( a Hindu tradition to touch the elders feet) before I could bend fully down and touch her feet bhabhi held me by my shoulders and straightened me and gave me a hug saying, "don't make me feel soo old" everyone burst out into laughter including Karan bhai who was standing silently in a corner all this while.

I took a few steps back and went to stand next to Karan bhai when Alisha di stopped me and said, "touch bhai's feet too" I didn't want to create a scene so did as I was told. Rahul being Rahul just pretended to give me his blessing no jokes no concern what so ever. I just proceeded to go and stand silently next to Karan bhai. "So much for not respecting him!" he teased. "did you touch his feet?" I asked softly whispering to him. "Unfortunately I had to as di warned me to respect him and behave myself before she forced me to go down and receive them." he whisper-yelled through gritted teeth. One look from isha di got both of to shut up and look down in fear. 

We respected Isha di and Alisha di as we would our parents. They were the ones who cared for us, paid for us and brought us up. Karan bhai was small as I was. So he has no major impact on my life. But he's like male best friend who is super over protective, but the one person who is always in for fun and things and was definitely the devil sitting on my shoulder. Jiju was like the fun loving non strict person in the family. Both the sisters tried to impose rules and jiju would help Karan bhai and I break them. And then all 3 of us would get a scolding.

*GLOSSARY
DI=DIDI=SISTER
JIJU=JIJAJI=BROTHER IN LAW =SISTERS HUSBAND
BAHI=BHAIYA =BROTHER
BHABHI=SISTER IN LAW =BROTHERS WIFE
TOUCHING FEET= HINDU TRADITION.