Sour Rakhi?

 We are two siblings, me and my little sister. During one crisis period, mom insisted that my elder cousin tied Rakhi to me. Despite my obvious reluctance, I gave way to family pressure. I feel that many years later, I haven’t been able to uphold the sanctity of this rakhi. We hardly meet; once for rakhi. She has her own issues and I have mine also; well, tons of them actually (everybody says the same thing, right?).  

Some years back, one of my colleagues tied rakhi to me as well. I refused insistently, but it fell on deaf ears. Every year isn’t the same. There are ups and downs. One year I am able to afford some decent gifts, while others, not that much. This year was something of the latter genre. 

For this year, I purchased a local coveted perfume and a decorative frame for my cousin and colleague-sister. The latter seemed rather disappointed. I am not justifying or anything of the genre, but I am lost. Is rakhi becoming a game of gifts? Who is going to give the extraordinary gifts irrespective of what is going on in your brother’s/sister’s life?

I don’t know what to think anymore. Every happiness in a relationship seems to be transactional these days. 

Jai Shri Hari