You may wonder what sibling rivalry and touch-me-not have in common. In general, the plant has absolutely nothing to do with sibling rivalry. But, my memories remind me of the touch-me-not, whenever I think of the fights I had with my brother. Let’s rewind to my childhood.
I used to be the most truant student in my school days. I just hated going to school. Everyday, I would try and find an excuse to escape school, but my father used to foil all my attempts to evade the classroom. The main reason for my hatred towards my school was the teachers who used canes. Even today, I despise teachers who inflict corporal punishment on kids.
At home, my brother and I used to quarrel all the time. Most often verbal fights would end in physical assaults and unfortunately, I would be at the receiving end.
When I was in Class 5, one morning as usual we had a quarrel and at the end of it, I had a bleeding wound on my head. In the midst of our conversation, I slapped my brother. In return, he picked up a sickle that was lying nearby and hit me hard.
To be honest, the wound was not a serious one but it was bleeding. And there it was! My reason for not going to school. I cried at the top of my lungs to attract my father’s attention.
My father rushed to the scene and examined the wound. I told him that my brother ‘hacked’ me with a sickle.
After punishing my brother, my father went out to our huge garden and returned with a few leaves of touch-me-not in his hands. He smashed the leaves and made it into a paste. He applied the green mass on the cut and asked me not to take the usual bath but to get ready for school. I couldn’t believe my ears. He told me to avoid a bath, not to avoid school!
I cried louder in a bid to gain sympathy. My father, sensing my attempt, said, “The wound is not serious enough to avoid school. You won’t be allowed to skip school unless it is quite unavoidable.”
The judgement was pronounced. And when my father delivered a verdict, there was no chance of appealing.
Ever since the touch-me-not leaves ‘wonderfully’ cured my wound and spoilt the chance of staying home, I considered the plant my greatest enemy—my brother apart. For quite a long time, whenever I saw the plant I prodded it vigorously with a twig or kicked it or touched it with my fingers to make it sleep. As a revenge.
And that is precisely what sibling rivalry and the touch-me-not plant have in common.
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