Feet Firmly Fixed!

When it comes to keeping me grounded, my dad plays a huge role. You’ve also seen me sharing a few snippets of what my dad does to me and my ego. 

Well, he’s not the only one though. I also have a great friend who plays a similar role. When my dad isn’t around, or when my wings appear not snipped enough, he rises to the occasion and does the job. Thought I would share some of such experiences that ensure I stay firmly on terra firma!

Talents and Skills

I’d bought a gift for my niece. I wanted to send it to her for her birthday. Someone was travelling to the UK, and I thought I would it send it with them. Gift wrapping was in order. And I was struggling to pack it decently. My friend who was watching me in anction,  asked me to move aside and took over the task. 

In no time the gift was wrapped nicely. It looked like a professional job. He was always meticulous. Even when he would drop in to my office he would set things in order - which usually would be in disarray. He would even go to the extent of cleaning my spectacles - which invariably would be greasy, smudgy, and dirty. 

I laughed as he finished packing, and said, “if I were living in ancient times I would have struggled to survive and perished soon”. 

“Why do you think so?”

“Look at me! I have zero survival skills. I’d not have hunted because I can’t see blood. I’d have killed an entire field of plants trying to grow them. No artistic or carpentry skills. How would I have eked out a living?!”

“Well, if you were in ancient society, you’d have been a shaman or a priest of the tribe”, he smiled. 

My spirits rose. I imagined myself in ancient time, in long robes and a longer staff in hand, like Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings! “Oh yeah, I can totally see it. Trying to cure people of their blind beliefs, or their mental troubles!”, I said excitedly. 

“Or giving them some”, my friend added. Totally deflating me. 

Normal Me

Another time, we two were sitting and sipping coffee. My friend was reading something interesting, and shared it. 

“Do you know the most plastic surgeries involve the nose?” That sure was news to me. Me with my thick lips had imagined that most people might want to fix them. Well, that too was not true, as I had seen a lot of stars going in for lip enhancing surgeries!

“Wow! I remember even Sridevi had got one done. Not that it made her look any better. Wonder why people want to fix their noses though”, I droned on. 

“Because, as per a survey, more people are unhappy with the shape and/or size of their noses than any other part of themselves”. 

“Hmph! I love my nose though. Never had any issues with it”. I lovingly massaged my own nose and felt good. 

“I was talking about normal people. When did you last exhibit any sign of normalcy?”

I’m still smarting. For that repartee. And also for thinking I alone make up the majority. 

There are a lot many stories to narrate that involves this friend. More will find place in a book, whenever I manage to sit and write. 

#truetales

#shorts