Many brother-sister duos live under the shadow of scarred childhood memories. With the hurt sometimes getting deeper with time, this beautiful relationship can get strained, sometimes forever.

There could be many reasons for this emotional rift; what matters is how the relationship can be healed.

• Wish your sibling, today!

Make this Raksha Bandhan special by mending the fences. We tell you how.

i. Be focused on resolving issues.

Many times the other person is just waiting for you to speak. So don't shy away from taking the initiative. It is definitely worth the effort.

ii. Take your sibling out for a surprise lunch or dinner to a classy restaurant, replete with ambience, good cuisine and of course, privacy, so you can have a heart-to-heart. 

It's time to air out your differences, talk about what went wrong, forgive and forget. 

Be positive. The ambience and the thought behind the surprise meal will do half the trick anyway. You do the rest.

iii. Discarding misconceptions helps clear the baggage. So be open, not rigid.

If your brother or sister say they didn't mean to hurt you, believe them. They have no reason to lie.

iv. Sometimes, there are no real issues.

A difference in mentality and a lack of chemistry tends to make you drift apart. In such cases, re-bonding may be easier because people mature with age and time.

Just because you clawed each other as kids does not mean you won't get along even now. Start afresh and, for all you know, you may just change the history of your relationship completely.

v. Often, siblings tend to carry the scars of a separated family.

If your parents are separated and you both moved to different houses and created your own distinct world, now is the time to add one more facet to your world.

Remember, circumstances can tear the best of buddies apart but taking charge of the circumstances and being affectionate to the person you have a blood bond with can be a great feeling. Go ahead and savour this experience.

vi. Gestures speak louder than words. Treat him or her to their favourite dessert or coffee.

Give them that special Raksha Bandhan gift and make them feel really desired. 

A gesture can speak much more than words and can wash away the scars and bad memories.

In short, it's really worth sweeping aside your differences; what's left behind is the strongest bond of all. Celebrate it!

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