Jaith the Warrior

 

We all want to ensure that the people we love are ever so happy we want them to have the best of everything.  One evening my mother received a text from one of my brothers classmates, a long winded elaborate text explaining how my brother was bullying this kid and that to please tell him to stay away and to treat people properly.  With each word that was been read my heart raced my blood boiling and the urge to kick this boy out of site was growing stronger.  I was, needless to say pissed! Amongst the both of us we may fight and bully each other but with company my brother is not one to hurt another or call them names,  he had a far bigger conscience than that and I knew for a fact that what this boy was professing my brother was doing was utter cock and my brother is also not one to stand in the face of injustice and turn his back and walk away he will say what he has to say so I knew based on what my brother told me earlier of this boy that HE was actually the one bullying others and calling them names. 

    So while my mother read this text to me and my dad, I began to go on a rant, “Tell the boy to keep quiet”! non sense! And my father goes: tell him that his complain has been duly noted and to tell if another situation as such unfolds, now I really couldn’t handle it. Why were we apologizing?! This kid is the one who should apologize. I couldn’t get it.  We then  called my brother told him to read the message and my brother simply goes “what on earth”? And I'm like that’s it? Aren’t you going to go up in arms ? aren’t you going to cry and get mad? Are you even human??? At this point  Jaith seemed like an alien.   We all spoke about this together, inquired if this was the truth if my brother was bullying the kid, to which my brother said “No I didn’t he is the one bullying others I just tell him to stop”. 

    Throughout the entire conversation my 10 year old brother did not flinch and didn’t shed a single tear.  I on the other hand marched off to my room crying.  I went to sleep utterly baffled and I woke up feeling baffled too.  How was he not upset? Why was he not angry? Had it been me I would have cried my self to sleep while listening to all the sad songs.  When my endless spiral of questions continued and when I couldn’t take it any more I went to my brother and asked him. How? And why on earth are you not upset? My brother looked at me plainly. 

Why should I be?

He’s your friend! He hurt you!?

Yeah so?

Doesn’t that make you feel upset?

 No

 Why?

     Because I know I didn’t do what he said I did and ammi and appachchi believe me that’s enough for me.  And since they believe me and since I know I am not guilty I have no reason to feel bad. But still.. I continued clearly not been able to match up to my brothers level of strength and sophistication "and besides if you appear weak in your enemies eye the enemy only takes advantage of you so why would I give him the pleasure of seeing me be weak? I am not weak. I won’t be weak  and…" to my surprise continued jaith "you shouldn’t be either akki  You shouldn’t get so affected by what others tell you  Your heart and your mind need to be like a fortress.  No one should be able to touch you and that only you can do.  You have to guard your fortress."  For one I loved the metaphors my brother used and I was just simply shell shocked.  Mind you these are all his words his and his alone.  But there still remained another question... "so malli if I were to get hurt like this by somebody wouldn’t you feel bad for me? Wouldn’t you feel angry at that person? "

No

"NO?!yes because there's no point in being angry with that person isn’t it? It’s your battle you have to fight it, and stand up for yourself.  So I wouldn’t be hurt because I know you would fight your battle."

     My brothers love for army and video games really was paying off.  I discovered that my brother as young as he was, was far more resilient and stronger than his 18 year old sister.  And I honestly felt a deep seated sense of shame when I thought of the way I would handle such a situation. The second thing I learnt  is that age is never a barrier for wisdom he maybe 7 and a half years younger than me but he was undoubtedly wiser,  correction, much wiser. And so its always good to ask someone for help for advice for their perspective, because that way you your self begin to see things in a new light and adopt a new perspective.  I can’t begin to explain how profoundly proud I am of my brother and how determined I am now more than ever to be stronger and resilient!!A brother truly is a gift to the heart and a friend to the spirit.