Episode 4
Ridhi
I was very stubborn as a kid. I didn’t like sharing my food with anyone. Every day, a boy would come over to play with me—right at the time I usually had my snacks. My father would always give him some of my cookies and other treats, telling me to share with everyone. One day, when the boy came, I hid under the bed with the packet of cookies. He asked my father where I was, but my dad couldn’t find me and started to worry. After I finished eating, I came out and played with him like nothing had happened.
Ridhi
I was in Standard 1 when my mother was pregnant with my baby brother. One day, my father told me,
Mr. Chaturvedi (Dad)
You’re going to be a big sister!
Ridhi
I looked at him and asked “How?”
Mrs. Chaturvedi (Mom)
Smiled and said "Because there’s a baby in my tummy.”
Ridhi
I immediately burst into tears and said, “Mom, you ate my baby brother?”
Ridhi
Both my parents couldn’t stop laughing.
Ridhi
Soon, the delivery time arrived, and my mom was in a lot of pain. My dad quickly drove her to the nearest hospital. It was midnight—12 a.m. My grandmother and aunt came to stay with me for the night. Mom gave birth to a baby boy, and everyone was overjoyed, including me. Since both mom and the baby were safe and healthy, my dad took a photo of my baby brother and sent it to my aunt’s phone. I was so excited to see him and couldn’t wait to say, “Hey little one, I’m your big sister!”
Ridhi
Both my grandmother and aunt got me ready for school. They dropped me off and then returned home. I was in class when suddenly the peon came in and told the teacher that I had to leave because my father was waiting for me in the principal's office. The teacher nodded and let me go. I grabbed my bag and followed the peon.
When I reached the principal's office, I saw my dad sitting on a chair. I ran to him and asked, “Are we going somewhere?” He smiled and said, “Yes, to see your baby brother.” I was so happy that I immediately started imagining him calling me "sissy."
Soon, we arrived at the hospital and took the elevator up. I saw my mom lying on the hospital bed. The first thing she asked me was whether I was eating properly without being picky—because yes, I was very picky about food back then. I smiled and nodded.
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