SIBLING REVELRY
Raksha Bandhan brings back a flood of childhood memories for most people blessed with a sibling. Here, television actors open about their bitter- sweet relationship with their brother or sister to Natasha Coutinho
My fondest rakhi memory is my first Raksha Bandhan. It’s a little faded, but I remember that my sister was born a few days before the festival. My parents had placed her on my lap and told me that I am expected to take care of her just as they take care of me. That was the first year I had a rakhi on my wrist and from what my parents recall, I was so excited about it that I went around flaunting it to my friends. I apparently wanted to drag along the baby too, but they wouldn’t let me of course.
Manish Raisinghani
AW hen were little, my brother used to start collecting money a month before Raksha Bandhan, so he could buy me a nice gift. Being the self- righteous person that he is, he wouldn’t ask our parents for money, but would look under the sofa and other furniture for dropped chillar ( change) instead! I found that very adorable. Aishwarya Sakhuja
ll my Raksha Bandhans during childhood have been very memorable. My brother used to make handmade cards for every year. They used to mean a lot to me then and still do. Unfortunately he isn’t in town this year, so I’ll just have to mail him a rakhi.
Rishina Kandhari y most memorable Raksha Bandhan was about three years ago, when my brother visited me in Mumbai and gifted me a huge Barbie set. It has been something I have craved for since childhood. Since we won’t be meeting this year, I am going to send him a rakhi along with his favourite box of brownies.
Divyanka Tripathi
MIaksha Bandhan has always been a big celebration in my house, but since my brother moved to Canada a few years ago, I haven’t been able to tie him a rakhi. So now we wish each other on Face Time or video chat. He has always surprised me with lovely presents and I insist on it even now! A really memorable Raksha Bandhan for me was this one time when my brother surprised me by taking me to my favourite restaurant for dinner.
Krystle D’souza
Rhave sisters in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, so I used to get a lot of rakhis via courier. My sister would have to tie me all those rakhis. In return, I would give her some sweets, but she would insist on getting sweets for every rakhi that she tied. Ultimately I would give her my share as well. It used to be annoying then, but now when I look back, I miss fighting with her over such silly reasons.
Neil Bhatt