The Easter Basket

After 40 days of absenteeism he always looked forward to the Easter basket. The symbolic Easter basket would have all sorts of surprises hidden amongst its depth.

A brother who was a Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, tooth fairy all wrapped in one.

  Since the time he had known presents his brother was always the giver, life of pampering, loving and being cherished was all he knew. Growing up has its own casualties, reality bites in all the right places and one realizes the true essence of living and admiring life and its surprises.

It was Easter time …Only this time it will mark the turning point in their life. A point from which they will both return enriched with humility, and enlightened with reality of life. Things they took for granted are no more the same; there is a new hue around their desires and it’s this hue that will take them forward.

 As the younger brother YB sat near the window contemplating the Easter surprise for his elder brother he could not think of much. With no money in his bank and meager salary of his elder brother, what ever little they had was not for celebration but essentials.

Sitting alone and wallowing in self-pity can be very depressing and so he decided to do what he would often do to cheer himself up… he decided to go in the kitchen n cook an Easter dinner for his brother. The warmth of kitchen, the familiar spices, and tall bottles of emptiness filled him with the desire to make the most of what ever was left in their kitchen.

There was a sack of potatoes and a stale packet of bread some left over milk in the pot.

The menu was ready its going to be one the most favorite meal of his brother only this time it was not made because it was favorite but because there was nothing else to cook and for now it was all  they could afford. At the cost of sounding ungrateful he thought it’s the same menu but circumstances have changed its tuff to live a simple life when you are used to privileges; only u never knew they were privileges and mistook them as necessities.

He started boiling the potatoes and chopping onions, green chilies, and some coriander leaves … once the potatoes were boiled and mashed he will make potato cutlets and with  the left over coriander and green chilies some spicy chutney would compliment the cutlets perfectly. The stale packet of bread when toasted along with hot ginger flavored tea will make a hearty meal and the elder one would not even know its because the pots were empty because it will be perfect for him being his favorite and all.  The only thing that was left was the dessert. He knew how much his brother loved sweet so a toast with scraped jam from the bottom of the jar will do for today.

Time passed by and soon he realized its 8 pm and decided to get dressed for the special dinner very soon his brother will be home. He wanted to be his cheerful best, he did not wish to show how troubled he was because of their financial situation and how much he wanted to help him out and how desperate he was to start his job if only some one would give him one.  He knew that last of what ever the savings his brother had, was already with-drawn today morning so that he could go to work. They had mutually decided that going to work was the most important aspect so that the income of one person is assured irrespective of rains, exhaustion, cough n colds taking an off was not an option because that meant lesser amount on the payday.

Aah the calculation, planning and budgeting are such a waste when you barely have enough to feed and stay put in one place yet that is what he would do so that not even a dime is spent on something that could be considered as a waste or a luxury.

In the morning before leaving for work he was asked one last time what would he like as Easter present and he replied very strictly “I don’t want anything you give me my Easter present along with my birthday present”, which was coming up in another 2-3 months thinking by that time he will surely find some kind of work and things will be better. YB made him promise he will not splurge on Easter present they were together that it self was more than he could ask for this Easter and that was to be the end of discussion for both.

On the sound of the bell he ran to open the doors and the first thing he asked “I hope you have not wasted the precious money on buying me an Easter present”.  As his brother passed him in the hallway and came in he didn’t even notice how exceptionally tired he looked.  He sat and asked for a glass of water YB went to get the water and they both sat and started talking about their day and how they spent it. The younger one told excitedly I made your favorite dinner today and smiled … the elder one replied don’t tell me its potato cutlets with toast knowing well that there was nothing else to cook when he left the house in the morning. The gurgling and rumbling of their tummy reminded them they were hungry and now it was time to eat the favorite meal.

As they sat to eat they prayed together and thanked god for the blessing that they were to each other and knew as long as they are together potato cutlets will always be their favorite meal simply because they were together. When the meal got over YB went in the kitchen to get the toast with jam in the place of dessert. On returning he saw there was this beautifully wrapped present sitting in the middle of the table.  He gave the suspicious look to his brother and heard himself saying “I told you not to…You know we can t indulge our selves” the elder one replied I took the bus today and saved on the cab and from that saved money I bought this .. Go ahead open it.

Slowly YB started unwrapping what seemed to be very heavy package….very soon he could make out it was a basket; in-fact it was thee most beautiful Easter baskets he had ever seen … it was of Blue and silver colored wire, meshed into a basket and within it were 3 Easter eggs one made of marzipan one made of chocolate one made of chocolate and filled with candies. With tears in his eyes he hugged his brother because he knew today he has received the biggest Easter basket that ever was made and which will never be empty of good wishes, love, safety, brimming with god’s love and overflowing with that warm feeling of being loved and being together.

He saw his brother smiling as they both wished each other “Happy Easter”.