An Angel in my Life

My angel as a toddler

After dinner I again sat with my camcorder and started recording, "Well my baby sister grew with each passing day. She was a pink toy who could move, blabber, drool and eat.
She grew chubby and cute day by day.
And soon she turned 6 months. And it was the day of her annaprashan (an auspicious day when the baby is fed for the first time with rice and grains).
The entire household was a hustle bustle of people . One could here chants of the priest, and a soft music playing in the sitting area. Kids playing. People chattering. It was a happy atmosphere. Every one present there was blessing my little tomato. Everyone had gifts for her. I too had something for her. Well, it was not that important. But it was my most prized possession before my baby tomato came into my life. After the rituals were done by the elders my mum called me, 'Sammy, come here, feed your sister a little of something, and let her have her elder brother's blessings.' I went up to her and looked at mum and asked, 'Can I hold her?' My mum nodded in agreement and handed my tomato, my angel all dressed in a pink frilly frock and pink shoes and pink hair clip. She looked like an angel who came down from heaven, directly into my arms. As I fed her with the silver spoon, she smiled at me, and that smile gave me a different kind of pleasure. Something that I had never experienced before. I handed over a rickety purple teddy to her.. She held it and immediately started chewing it's ear. My mum took it away and said, 'You are not supposed to chew chew everthing baby..' Then she took my tomato from me, as she considered me too young to carry her arround.
The day ended with a great family get together which had dancing, singing and loads of fun.

Soon in a few weeks times my little tomato started to crawl and started trying to stand . I used to play with her nearly all the time. She would at times grab my hand and start chewing on it.. It felt funny as she had no teeth at all. My mum told me, 'She is teething, so she has a kind of ticklish sensation in her gums, so she tries to chew on everything.' And this continued on for days. Then one day we could see white lil pearl in her gums. She got her first tooth.
She'd at times crawl up to me and when I lifted her up and made her sit on my lap, she'd drool over me and she'd try to reach for everything that shines or has bright colours.. And when I tickled her tummy she'd start laughing closing her tiny eyes..
I was now able to carry her arround as her neck didn't wobble any more and she wasn't that delicate. At times she'd wound me with her sharp nails. I always knew she never meant harm, but just wanted to have fun with me. But she didn't know how to be careful. She was a baby after all...

Month after month passed by and my lil tomato had now started to walk, she'd wobble at times but I'd always be there to hold her. I'd never let her fall.. And if she ever did she'd start laughing and I'd be the one having tears in my eyes..

Then one day when she was about 10 months old. My tomato spoke her first word.. It was a cold february morning and I was sitting in the sun, holding my tomato in my arms. She was trying to talk to me.. She was blabbering something or the other. And I kept talking to her, asking her questions. And tgen all of a sudden amidst her doo-doo-daa-daa-blublu she spoke her first word 'mum mum mum' Mum came out rushing and lifted her up and said, 'Say that again.. What did you say baby.. Come on..' And she said again, 'Mum mum Mum' And mum hugged her tight and then handed her to me saying, 'Hold her Sam, I'll go call granny and dad and the family and tell everyone about Samara's first word. You take care of your sister and keep talking to her.' I nodded in agreement..
I looked at Samara and said, 'My lil tomato, your very first word.. I can't believe you'll start talking to me.. Like really talking to me in no time time.' I lifted her up a little and rubbed my nose on her tummy... And she started to laugh...
My baby sister could now not only walk but also she's starting to talk.. It feels like just yesterday that she was juat a pink blob of meat that held my finger for the very first time.

Soon it was time for her first birthday. And mum and dad and our maternal uncle's had started planing for her birthday bash. A grand celebration... I too had started preparing for a present for my lil tomato.
I gave her a pair of anklets as a birthday gift, days before her birthday. So that whenever she walks I could hear the rhythm of her anklets with each step she takes.
On the night of her birthday after her lavish birthday party, she walked upto me and tried to climb my bed.. So I picked her up and made her sit on my bed and gave her all her toys around her on my bed. And I looked at her as she played. All of a sudden ahe murmured, 'dada'. I picked her up and placed her on my lap and asked, 'What did you say kid?' She looked at me and gave me a big smile and strated bouncing on my lap and saying, 'dada dada dada'. My heart was filled with joy and my eyes filled with tears of happiness. I hugged my lil tomato. And said, 'Finally, finally you said dada (which means elder brother)'
My baby sister grew every day since then. From walking to running around the house. From blabbering to talking incomplete sentences. She got naughtier by the day.. She would play, throw tantrums, make my laugh and cry. Only thing that made her cry was food. She did not like eating. She never ate anything. Mum had to fight a battle to feed her.
She grows more each day and more she grows a little more witty she becomes. Well, here we are today, my tomato is 6 now.. Unbelievable isn't it.."
Samara woke up and rubbed her eyes and said, "Why no sleep.?? Dada sleep with me.. Here... Now now now... Noooowwwwww!"
I replied, "Okay, okay.. I'm coming bug... Don't shout.."
I went to bed and hugged Samara and kissed her forehead and tried to sleep.

There were a thousand of memories revolving my mind that night. I remember each moment spent with my lil sister very clearly.
I remember her first day of school and how she grabbed my finger, just like she did when she was born , and she started crying saying, 'No go in.. I no like.. Go home.. Play play..' Mum and I had to make her understand that eveyone has to go to school and our Mum promised her that she'll be standing right there, so if she needs mum.. Mum would be there. I remember taking my little tomato to birthday parties and play dates.
I was in awe that now she had turned 6. It felt like time has grown wings and is flying..
Now as Samara was growing, I felt I needed to protect my sister more.
I thought to myself looking at her, "I'll always maintain that smile on your face and never ever let anyone hurt you.. Ever.... I'll protect you keep you safe. And I'll always have you sleep in peace.. Just like you're sleeping now kiddo." And finally I feel asleep with a peaceful smile on my face...

*******End of Second Chapter*******