Though she is not a baby anymore...and she's almost old enough to live by herself, she will always remain the doll i first saw my aunt holding back in 1994 when i landed in Zia International Airport in Dhaka. I'm the only child, but it sure didn't feel that way whenever i visited my lovely cousins in Bangladesh. Especially this little one, everybody's darling sweetypie, our Mila.
She's extra special to me. There are many reasons behind it, but most can't be explained. It's just a strong connection we have despite living seas away from eachother.
When my parents took me to Bangladesh for the first time after moving to the U.S., I was around 9. When i was barely 3, i obviously didn't remember a single thing about Bangladesh. So here I was, 9-year-old Munni, setting foot in Dhaka's airport, seeing and feeling the atmosphere of my home country for the first time. I still remember how humid it was on November, and how i saw my Nani's (grandma's) and Khalamunis' (aunts') red teary faces of joy struggling to reach us among the crowd of other bangali families in the airport. It was the first time in probably 6 or 7 years that they had seen me and my parents. It was my first time seeing the people that cared about me the most. Seeing them is one of the happiest memories of my life. I would do anything to relive that moment again and again. ANYTHING. I saw my mom's parents and sisters with their new families, new kids....one of my aunt was expecting, and my youngest aunt hadn't even married. So long ago, yet it seems like yesterday. I saw Mila for the first time. She was this little angel in her mother's arms. Seriously, the most beautiful baby I had ever seen MashAllah.
She was the first baby in the family after a very long time, so we all spoiled her a great deal. It was all about her. That baby loved the attention! Except when we all squeezed her soft chubby cheeks and made the poor girl's face all red! People made her happy, and she would get all fascinated whenever her father and mother took her out for long peaceful drives in the evening. She loved the dhaka lights..her eyes wouldn't stop twinkling until she slowly fell asleep just like an angel. The best part would be her laugh. It was the most contagious laugh! Even when I had to leave Bangladesh, which was so heartbreaking, I would see pictures of her laughing and end up laughing in tears myself. She had the classic laugh that could even make it's way out from a still picture. I really really missed her!
Then came 1997, our next Bangladesh trip. She got a little older. Now we would listen to her talk. Going on and on and on and never stopping. It was the age when kids wanted to know about the whole world and make you go nuts with their endless list of questions. This girl talked proper bangla. More proper than a bangali lawyer and she sounded like the cutest thing ever. We were all soooo jealous of her for that! I remember one time during the vacation, I was doing my summer-reading project for my upcoming 6th grade english class over the summer, and this little girl somehow found my project and started cuttingit to pieces with a pair of scissors she found from god knows where. She thought she made the prettiest thing, but boy was I angry when i found out it was my project she was shredding! It was one of the first time i made her cry from yelling at her so loud. I hardly threw fits at people in bangladesh, because i knew i would regret it later when i would leave them. And I felt like a bitch after hurting her feelings.
But after that day, Mila never ever messed with any of my things again. She never dared to make me upset, or annoy me. Mila would give hugs and kisses all day long, as if she never needed a thing in this world at all. A giver. She had that "I would heal the world for you" attitude. Can't say had. She still has that quality in her. In fact, she is the most mature young lady I have ever met. One of the youngest in the family who understands just about everything. So modest, so beautiful, so amazing.
The more i visited her, the more i would end up missing her. I hated leaving her, and i hated seeing those tears coming out of her eyes whenever i said goodbye. I hated the time when she was hardly a teenager and the doctor found a tumor in her stomach. I thank Allah every day till this day that she got treated and she is healthy Allhumdullilah!
Sometimes i wonder how can an only daughter of the family have no sign of selfishness. How can she have such a big heart.
Every time I went to Bangladesh, I would get chronically ill, and this baby sis of mine would take care of me like a mother would to her daughter.
I feel like the bad girl when i see what a saint she is. I want you to stay this way Mila. This isn't just coming from your Munni Apu, but from your entire family. From all the people that love you. Your family and friends. Never ever change. You are becoming older and smarter. You have the intelligence, the beauty, the purity, simplicity, all the significant things a person struggles to have.
You are the definition of beauty. I pray that you always stay this beautiful forever. We are so proud of you Mila.
This day is only yours!
Happy Birthday my baby sis!
She's extra special to me. There are many reasons behind it, but most can't be explained. It's just a strong connection we have despite living seas away from eachother.
When my parents took me to Bangladesh for the first time after moving to the U.S., I was around 9. When i was barely 3, i obviously didn't remember a single thing about Bangladesh. So here I was, 9-year-old Munni, setting foot in Dhaka's airport, seeing and feeling the atmosphere of my home country for the first time. I still remember how humid it was on November, and how i saw my Nani's (grandma's) and Khalamunis' (aunts') red teary faces of joy struggling to reach us among the crowd of other bangali families in the airport. It was the first time in probably 6 or 7 years that they had seen me and my parents. It was my first time seeing the people that cared about me the most. Seeing them is one of the happiest memories of my life. I would do anything to relive that moment again and again. ANYTHING. I saw my mom's parents and sisters with their new families, new kids....one of my aunt was expecting, and my youngest aunt hadn't even married. So long ago, yet it seems like yesterday. I saw Mila for the first time. She was this little angel in her mother's arms. Seriously, the most beautiful baby I had ever seen MashAllah.
She was the first baby in the family after a very long time, so we all spoiled her a great deal. It was all about her. That baby loved the attention! Except when we all squeezed her soft chubby cheeks and made the poor girl's face all red! People made her happy, and she would get all fascinated whenever her father and mother took her out for long peaceful drives in the evening. She loved the dhaka lights..her eyes wouldn't stop twinkling until she slowly fell asleep just like an angel. The best part would be her laugh. It was the most contagious laugh! Even when I had to leave Bangladesh, which was so heartbreaking, I would see pictures of her laughing and end up laughing in tears myself. She had the classic laugh that could even make it's way out from a still picture. I really really missed her!
Then came 1997, our next Bangladesh trip. She got a little older. Now we would listen to her talk. Going on and on and on and never stopping. It was the age when kids wanted to know about the whole world and make you go nuts with their endless list of questions. This girl talked proper bangla. More proper than a bangali lawyer and she sounded like the cutest thing ever. We were all soooo jealous of her for that! I remember one time during the vacation, I was doing my summer-reading project for my upcoming 6th grade english class over the summer, and this little girl somehow found my project and started cuttingit to pieces with a pair of scissors she found from god knows where. She thought she made the prettiest thing, but boy was I angry when i found out it was my project she was shredding! It was one of the first time i made her cry from yelling at her so loud. I hardly threw fits at people in bangladesh, because i knew i would regret it later when i would leave them. And I felt like a bitch after hurting her feelings.
But after that day, Mila never ever messed with any of my things again. She never dared to make me upset, or annoy me. Mila would give hugs and kisses all day long, as if she never needed a thing in this world at all. A giver. She had that "I would heal the world for you" attitude. Can't say had. She still has that quality in her. In fact, she is the most mature young lady I have ever met. One of the youngest in the family who understands just about everything. So modest, so beautiful, so amazing.
The more i visited her, the more i would end up missing her. I hated leaving her, and i hated seeing those tears coming out of her eyes whenever i said goodbye. I hated the time when she was hardly a teenager and the doctor found a tumor in her stomach. I thank Allah every day till this day that she got treated and she is healthy Allhumdullilah!
Sometimes i wonder how can an only daughter of the family have no sign of selfishness. How can she have such a big heart.
Every time I went to Bangladesh, I would get chronically ill, and this baby sis of mine would take care of me like a mother would to her daughter.
I feel like the bad girl when i see what a saint she is. I want you to stay this way Mila. This isn't just coming from your Munni Apu, but from your entire family. From all the people that love you. Your family and friends. Never ever change. You are becoming older and smarter. You have the intelligence, the beauty, the purity, simplicity, all the significant things a person struggles to have.
You are the definition of beauty. I pray that you always stay this beautiful forever. We are so proud of you Mila.
This day is only yours!
Happy Birthday my baby sis!
My eyes were filled with tears while going through your Post!
ReplyDeleteMunni Apu,this is a Wonderful piece of writing full of LOVE and EMOTIONS....! :')
Happy Birthday to our dearest Sis Mila.
We LOVE U :-)
_Hridi.
Everytime i think about you guys I get teary.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for giving me the love..you guys are more wonderful..and i feel like writing a post isnt enough. She deserves much more than that.
Love you sis!