April 19, 2019
The world we live in is funny. People who are tall want to become short, those who are short want to look tall. People who are all fine still want to look better. Well I also belonged to one such category.
I am of a short stature. It was rather funny that till 10 years in my family, school and neighbourhood I was always the tallest, probably I dint realize that was only so much I would grow.
My height was never a problem till I reached my teens, once I stepped into the sweet sixteen phase, a sea of inferiority engulfed me. I could see all my friends taller than me, slimmer than me all of them for me looked like top models walking the ramp. In between I was the little one unnoticed.
That is exactly when I decided that I would grow tall, by hook or by crook. I started skipping, I started walking, I started jumping yet nothing worked out all my efforts seemed waste. I was dejected, disappointed and felt bad.
One day while watching TV, a local channel was showing about a magical growth sandals. I knew exactly what I had to do. I watched the program every day without fail. I could see so many young girls and boys grow 3 to 4 feet. I was happy and also excited. I knew for sure I would grow tall.
The next big thing I had to do was to convince my parents. I knew it would be a difficult task. I did not give up, I tried day and night to convince them. Finally after few months of coxing my parents agreed and gave me a nod.
I immediately called the person whose name was always flashed on the TV screen during the advertisement. It looked like he was more than happy to receive my call. The very next day he arrived with the magic in his hands. Well it was a green mat which was cut in the shape of the feet, it had to be placed inside the shoes and the person had to walk daily in order to grow tall. The magic man started explaining a lot of things; he started showing pictures to my parents. He bought along with him a lady who in spite of being 27 years had grown 3 inches tall. All of us were happy. My dad held a crisp 500 rupee note in his hand and took the magic from his hand and gave it to me. My happiness knew no bounds.
The magic man told me he had to check my height. He made me stand against the wall and measured my height and blankly told me that my height was 4.9 feet. On leaving he assured me that I would at least grow 3 inches within 6 months. All I had to do was just wear it and walk. Giving all the assurance he walked out waving at us.
I began my walk. I got a pretty pair of shoes and inserted the mat inside it. The mat had a lot of sharp edges which poked me very badly. A few days I just could not walk, I would end up crying but the spirit in me to grow tall was stronger than the pain. I walked and walked it was more than 6 months but nothing seemed to work.
My parents started scolding. My friends who were around me started mocking me. Unable to take the insults, I decided to check my height. One fine day I walked into the clinic and checked my height to my astonishment doctor told me that I was 5 feet tall.
I was happy from 4.9 feet, I had grown to 5 feet. I majestically strode towards my house that is when I started thinking if I had grown 3 inches then my clothes had to grow short. My sandals had to be tight all these had not happened. Then how had I grown 3 inches.
I came home feeling sad I asked my parents, was there any difference in me to which they point blankly replied that there was no difference. Seeing me dejected my dad decided to call the magic man, but unfortunately his number was not reachable.
I gave up my hope of becoming tall. I received a lot of sympathy from all around. I was still in the dilemma as to how I had grown. After almost a year I received my cumulative record from the school. The cumulative record shows ones performance in school as well as their physical attributes. When I went through it I realized that my last height recorded exactly a year before the magic man arrived was 5 feet.
I felt choked. I knew I was cheated. The magic man had played it right. He had measured my height and had written 3 inches less so that in the future if someone questioned him he could easily show the proof and tell I had grown tall by 3 inches.
Even today after 15 years I see ads in the television or other sources claiming that they would reduce belly fat or increase height or reduce it, I immediately remember the magic man and the bitter way I was cheated.
Till date I am just 5 feet, I have neither grown taller nor shorter. The only difference in me is that I have accepted myself as I am. Probably we need to understand that there are certain things each of us inherits and it is something which we can do nothing about. No matter what we do we cannot change our height. We cannot change our eye colour or the shape of our body. The beauty of life is in accepting the way we are and working upon it.
Most of all I think as citizens we need to educate one another about the fraudsters who are freely roaming in the society claiming that they can change your eyes, your hips and nose.
Probably we cannot stop these people but what we can do is be clever to choose what is correct and stop others when there are indulging in such acts, this way we could probably eradicate the fraudsters from our society.
Well I have still preserved my shoes. Every time I have a look at it I remember my stupidity and foolishness. It also teaches me to accept those attributes of mine which can never be changed and never to repeat such mistakes in the future.
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