Tongues Will Keep Wagging

A story of projections by people

I was a shy kid, always tied to the apron string of my mother. Tagging along with her, wherever she went.

Village folks can be rude. They would criticize almost every visible part of my body — brownish hair color, big forehead, small nose, deep eyes, cheek dimple, thin/plump etc.

One person had told that I should have been taller. He is long gone coughing his way to emphysema.

Some of them told that I am extra child, since my parents already had daughters and a son!

Skin color was a saving grace. It was fairer than a lot of them.

I used to be affected. Socializing was not fun, if you have to hear the barbs unnecessarily. In kid age, we are impressionable.

I am not sure many telling that I draw/ paint well, have read so many books, got great general knowledge, have beautiful imagination etc.

Years passed. I left for hostels. I added achievements after achievements in my academic toolbox.

PhD takes long, yet I got mine at 27, pretty early for a doctorate degree! It was little above the average marriage age for females in my socioeconomic strata.

Some of them told, when suitable groom is not available, girls continue their studies!!!

That lady had got her daughter married, less-educated than me, offering dowry by selling inherited land. As if to punish her for her brazen and reckless words, she lost her son to Covid.

Mind your words, folks. Karma is watching.

Anyway, soon after, I married an eligible guy, and ever since living in California.

I wanted to rebuild my career in foreign land, so didn’t consider having kids for years after the marriage.

Tongues wagged again. Has she got problem?

Yes, apart from my academics, I had a hormonal problem, which I fixed by awareness and chemical-free disciplined lifestyle.

Well, they saw my two cherubs in a recent India vacation.

The thing is, when I was shadowing my mother, I was a sensitive kid, afraid of stray words of people. I thought, maybe I deserve that, maybe they are right.

I was wrong to think so. Their views were mere projections of how they felt about themselves.

Now I am a mother, herding my two kids. Fear of their safety and security is my only fear.

Comments of people, which does not even come in my civilized suburban neighborhood, are mere dusts to shake off.

I roam my neighborhood with disheveled hair, and mismatched socks.

I don’t care who thinks what!

I have adorned my mind with knowledge. Among others, a health dose of understanding on inflammation and psychopathy. These two make me very confident.

I wish I had known about these critical-for-survival topics when I was a kid. If only somebody had discussed it with me. I would have spared myself a lot of agony.

Anyway, better late than never.

So, my readers, mouths will keep wagging. Not to be perturbed by it.

Equip yourself with skills. Enhance your value. That will help you get meaningful relations and earning ability. Keep your health a topmost priority.