When I was about 10-11 yrs old, I had been for a picnic with my aunt and her family. We were about 15 of us. My parents hadn’t accompanied us. I don’t exactly remember d place we had visited.
I had worn mojris (closed shoes for women). I had removed the shoes and we were playing in the garden. The elders then got up and said we have 2 leave now. I used to take a lot of time to wear those mojris. Most of the people started walking ahead leaving me behind. My aunt who was my guardian for the day got upset and started moving too. I remember what she said “Let’s go! She will come herself”. Maybe she wanted me to be fast and she got a bit impatient and hence upset.
Now there I was alone. I was so scared that everyone was moving away from me. I was always extra taken care by my parents and at that point of time the thought that I was alone there and everyone had left me crept into my head. Maybe they were just trying to scare me and wanted me to be fast. But I just couldn’t. Was standing there like a fool with tears in my eyes. I just wanted my mummy at that point of time. Later in a few moments, my cousin brother came up and took me from there.
But believe me, I never wore those mojris after that. Today I am 22 and I have just bought 1 pair of closed formal shoes for myself and that too because I was compelled to do that for my interview. I wore it once and then just left it in the shelf last year!
Whenever anyone asked me to try using those shoes, I gave them all sorts of reasons like “I am uncomfortable or I don’t like them”. They thought I was stupid and never forced me. But I don’t know why I just didn’t feel like. Because one thing I have dreaded in my life is to be alone and I was left alone that time because of those mojris. It was scary.
Lately I have started wearing the formal shoes to office because a few friends asked me to. But I had to actually fight the fear in me. It may sound ridiculous but it’s true.
The only thing I want to state through this post is “Don’t do or say something harsh to people specially kids because it may be stupid for you and you may forget it the next moment but it could have a great impact on the other persons mind like how it did to mine.”
