Friday, August 31, 2007

There aint a bro like him

When I first found out Rehan was accepted to UofT 3 years ago, I had a million questions in my head. I wanted things to be perfect when he arrives in Toronto. All my friends were excited, and the MSA team rather pleased they'd be getting a new volunteer. Little did he know...
I realised that I didn't know a thing about Rehan. It seemed that through out my life we were all so busy with school that we rarely played with each other. Time had flown so fast, and there I was, wondering who is this kid who's going to change my lifestyle of 3 years, and everything else too.
My brother and I lived together for 2 years, and Alhamdulillah, they will always be among the best years of my life.
Right now, there's a lot of excitement at home since his days here are very few, and he'll be back in Toronto to finish his last year inshallah, with much shopping to be done (for example, I've to send wedding gifts for my friends who got married this summer, and dates from our farm here and what not!)
Even though I moved out in November last year, it didn't hit me that I've separated from him, mostly because we were both working on the conference together, and then I was in Toronto for part of the summer with him. But now, I'm sad :(
Both my brothers, though still young, are role models for other brothers, even though they can be awfully annoying most of the times. For all you brothers out there who have sisters, here are some tips to pick up ;)

My brothers are very protective and always getting us (me and my sister) treats- ice creams, chocolates, burgers, and all of this stuff over again. When Rizwan wakes up, no matter what time of the day, he walks into my room first to see what I'm upto. I rarely have to drive to anywhere, since both of them are always at my service, even if they were up all night and fell asleep just 2 minutes ago.
Rizwan has some amazing skills. He makes the best fruit juices, some times with very wierd combinations, and he can make salad enough for a herd of elephants, all elegantly decorated. All that chopping and cutting wont tire him. At home, I rarely cut fruits, it's either my parents, or Rizwan who do it for me.
They're a bunch of clowns with non-stop entertainment. Sometimes they can be scary, but let's not talk about that.

For the 2 years in Toronto with Rehan, and my friends know I can't stop talking about this, I never cleaned the washroom, except once, when he was out of town during his frosh week [and I remember calling up Sana, to ask her how to clean the washroom, since I didn't have to do it when I was in residence for 3 years, and she gives the phone to her brother Faraz. "Humairah, this isn't an easy job, I need to explain it to Rehan"]. It was Rehan who did that, along with brushing, vacuuming and mopping. Often, he'd help me with the dishes too. Sometimes he'd call and tell me, "Baji, don't do the dishes, I'm going to come home and do them". When I would be busy with exams, he'd cook... and Alhamdulillah, he's developed that skill well.
Many days of the week I'd come home late from work, after attending a meeting in some part of town, and he'd wait for me to eat with him. This is something Rehan has always believed in- Eating together.
I know I was always very busy, non-stop, and he was just amazing, mashallah.
Rehan did the laundry every other week, dragging the hamper across a few blocks to the laundromat, and picking it up when it was all done. During Ramadan, we'd walk to the Masjid together and back. Often, he'd have to go home earlier than me because of assignments or tests, but he'd always insist on coming back to walk with me. Those days, I'd always tell him not to waste time, and that I'd rather bike than walk to the Masjid, which I did often.

Sana, Faraz, Rehan and I were quite close. Sana and I would call each other up and complain about our brothers all the time. They both wanted to start a club called "Younger brothers against their bajis" or something...

Initially for him, my lifestyle seemed too dangerous. He'd try to set curfews for me, which of course, I'd always break, but I tried to stick to them so as not to worry him too much. If I was @ a friend's place and it got even slightly late, he'd call and say, "Call me when you're ready to come home, I'll come pick you up".

He's very dear to my close friends as well, always there to fix their computers, help them move, or run some other errands. In exchange for that, he'd have constant supply of chocolate cake and lasagna from them.

He's a 6'2 beardo... but very funny and full of life. I know I became upset at him a million times, and scolded him a numerous times, but he'd always take it quietly, and patiently. My brothers are truly one of the biggest blessings in my life.

5 comments:

Asmaa said...

What a sweet post! :) You're very lucky to have a close relationship with your younger brother.

Anonymous said...

May Allah bless you and your Family with more happiness and love!

Hafsa said...

agreed... arr hu's swweett..

and ameen to sheepoo's dua

Din said...

awwwwwwwwwwww.

Humairah Irfan said...

Jazakallah khair guys!
Alhamdulillah a million times!
Now, I really should write about Rehan's other side! ;)