“How I wish you had been dead just after you were born,” said a disgusted Rick. This is what he always told his kid brother. Nothing irked 15-year-old Rick more than having little Aaron constantly trailing behind him. Anything he did, anywhere he went, 5-year-old Aaron would follow him.

Rick’s parents decided on a second issue so that their first-born wouldn’t feel lonely. It would have been perfect with Rick as well had things happened on time. Rick was no longer young and he had got used to life without his extremely busy parents. His mom was either busy with her dance shows or traveling with her troupe and his father, well; he was always tied up with his conferences. So Rick kept himself busy with computer games and television shows.

So, it was a rude shock Rick got on his 10^th birthday when his parents announced that he would have a sibling soon. “How can you guys do this to me? What will my friends say?” Rick had been in tears. Nothing could be more embarrassing than telling his friends that there was going to be a new member in his family soon. They would just not understand. They would make fun of him.

Rick’s parents were a little apprehensive but his mom Rachel had thought that things would change for the better once the baby came. But no, that was not to happen. Much as they tried, Rick couldn’t bond with Aaron. Not even Aaron’s cute face with deep brown eyes could melt his elder brother’s heart.

Little Aaron knew that his elder brother wasn’t too fond of him, but he still pursued him. Once Aaron started walking, Rachel went back to her dancing. So it was Rick who had to keep an eye on his kid brother whenever he was at home, not attending classes. Not that he really did it. He would keep himself busy with his games, while the little one would look on from behind, wishing his big brother would call him.  He adored his elder brother. Every time, he touched something that belonged to his elder brother, he would be shouted at. So he usually restrained himself.

However, Rick’s latest gizmo – the bright new car from Singapore – was what Aaron couldn’t lay his hands off from. He coveted it and every time Rick was not there, Aaron would take the car out and play with it. And then one day things went awry.

Rick was busy with his computer project when he heard a scraping sound coming from outside. He ran out to the garden and saw Aaron pick a sketch pen and scratch lines on the side of his car. Mad with anger, he took the child’s hand and hit it many times, not realising how much force he was using. Aaron became unconscious and not knowing what to do, Rick called his mother. The child was rushed to the hospital.

At the hospital, the child had multiple fractures on his fingers. When the child saw Rick, with painful eyes he asked, “Rick when will my fingers grow back?” Rick was so hurt and speechless. He went back to his house and kicked the car a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions, he sat down in front of that car and looked at the scratches. And guess what Rick saw – Aaron had written ‘I LOVE YOU BIG BRO’.

Anger and love have no limits, so they should be controlled. Had Rick realised this, things would have been otherwise.