A Silent Tale of Unpair Shoes

Hi all, I'm really excited to share the first story I'm writing on my blog, and it's based on a true event. The story follows a little girl's life on a specific day which centers around an event in Madurai. Let's begin and kindly read till the end. I hope you will travel with the story and find it exciting.

Date: January 23, 2008
Location: Madurai, Tamil Nadu

1. The Excitement and the Setback

Jamuna, a 10-year-old girl studying in the 5th grade, was a little chubby, with a big black bindi on her forehead and her face adorned with traditional turmeric powder. Dressed in her pinafore uniform and blue and white canvas shoes, her hair was styled in two short plaits with ribbons.

On the morning of January 23, 2008, it was a very special day in Madurai Teppakulam: The Raft Festival (In Tamil: Theppa Thiruvila). She was eager to return home from school to get ready for the festivities. As usual, she got ready for school and sat in the front-line space of her father's bicycle. That day, she especially enjoyed the bicycle ride, excitedly anticipating the day ahead.

From the moment her first class began, she looked forward to the end of the school day and the festival. As the last period of class approached, her excitement grew even more. With only 30 to 40 minutes remaining until the school bell rang, she could hardly contain her anticipation.

 

2.  A Moment from Joy to Distress

Suddenly, the school principal came around to inspect the students, checking if they had cut their nails, wore proper uniforms, and had neat shoes. The principal entered Jamuna's class and asked all the students to come forward one by one for inspection. Jamuna had ensured everything was in order, even tying her two plait ribbons properly.

When it was her turn, she stood before the principal, confident that everything was fine. However, the principal noticed a small tear in the white part of her canvas shoe, with a tiny hole. Angrily, the principal asked her to show her hand. She extended her palm, and in an instant, the principal struck it with a wooden scale. Her palm turned red, and her eyes filled with tears.

Jamuna was a quiet and obedient girl, a top student who had never received any complaints about her character or studies. She usually received punishments or complaints for not paying school fees on time or for arrears in fee payment. She feared her principal, who strictly warned her every time her name appeared on the arrears list. But this incident broke her, creating an even deeper fear of the principal. She wanted to cry but held back her tears. The principal sternly said, "Tomorrow, while coming to school, you should wear new shoes. Else, don't come!"

She returned to her seat, sitting silently, avoiding eye contact with her friends. She checked to ensure all her notebooks were inside her bag, both clips of the bag were locked, and her lunch bag was under her seat. When the school bell finally rang, the moment she had eagerly awaited for the Raft Festival was overshadowed by her thoughts about what the principal had said. She left the school, her excitement for the festival now replaced with worry.

 

3. Explicit with Cry 

Jamuna’s father was waiting for her outside the school with his bicycle. As soon as she saw him, she let out all the tears she had been holding back for the last 30 to 40 minutes. Showing her red palm to her father and her siblings, who attended the same school, she recounted what had happened. She then told her father that she didn't want to attend the festival anymore; instead, she wanted to go to the shoe shop to buy new shoes.

They talked all the way home. That morning, she had planned and chosen the dress she wanted to wear for the special evening. But then, she didn't want to wear it. She told everything that had happened to her mother, just as she had expressed to her father and siblings. The fear of the principal and the memory of the punishment had extinguished her excitement about the festival.

Understanding the family’s financial situation, her father explained that he could not buy new shoes that same day but promised to do so in 2 or 3 days. However, as a little girl deeply affected by the principal's treatment, she was hurt and upset. She couldn't bring herself to enjoy the festival as she had eagerly planned that morning.

4. Compromised with Hope

Her father tried to comfort Jamuna by suggesting that they attend the festival together as a family first, promising to take her shoe shopping afterward. Reluctantly, she agreed. Dressed in her favourite skirt and top, with her hair styled in the same two plaited ribbons, Jamuna prepared eagerly for the outing. The family, united in spirit, readied themselves and headed to the festival.

The atmosphere was vibrant at the festival, with the tank brimming with water, adorned with a float and boats, and a bustling crowd immersed in the festive mood. As Jamuna approached the deity to pray, her silent wishes echoed for new shoes, protection from the principal's punishment, financial stability, and more. Her prayer list was long and heartfelt.

Throughout the festivities, her mind couldn't shake thoughts of when they could leave to buy the shoes. Despite the surrounding joy, sadness lingered. To cheer her up, her father handed her a two-rupee coin, encouraging her to buy her favourite local candies (In Tamil: Rose Mittai and Kamarakattu). Jamuna managed a faint smile as she wiped away her tears. However, amidst the crowd, the coin slipped from her grasp and was lost. This added to her sorrow, as two rupees held significant value for her.

On their way back home, her face was marked with tears and worry, her heart weighed down by the day's disappointments.

 

5. Disappointment at the Day

Jamuna couldn't let go of the shoe issue. Her father explained their financial constraints and suggested postponing the purchase until they had enough money. However, seeing her distress, he decided to try to buy the shoes that day, planning to pay later. They visited two to three shoe shops, but each time, the price exceeded their expectations. Disheartened, they returned home without buying shoes.

Unable to shake the image of her principal's face and the sting of the wooden scale, Jamuna couldn't sleep well that night. She debated with herself whether to take a day off from school the next day, but also worried about the additional work she would have to catch up on if she missed class.

 

6.   With Fear Lingering, the Day Passed.

Next morning, Jamuna woke up with a deep sense of dread about going to school. She pleaded with her father to speak to the principal and request a few days' reprieve to avoid further punishment. Her father went to the school and explained the situation to the office receptionist since the principal wasn't available at that moment.

In class, her teacher, aware of the previous day's events and the beating Jamuna had endured, asked about her new shoes. Jamuna simply mentioned that her father had asked permission for a delay. Quietly, she noticed a few friends wearing new shoes and others in fresh uniforms. She kept her emotions to herself, unwilling to show vulnerability or shed tears when her friends asked why she didn't have new shoes.

Throughout the day, she was consumed with fear that the principal might appear in her class again for inspection. It was a harrowing day, and Jamuna vowed never to forget how awful she felt. Finally, when the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.

 

7. A Heartfelt Compromise 

She came out of school with her siblings, and her father was waiting for them. As soon as she saw him, she began asking if she could get new shoes that day. Her father agreed and explained that he had some work to finish first, but they could go to the shoe shop together by night. She eagerly accepted.

By late evening, after her father returned from work, she got ready, and they both went to a nearby shop in search of canvas shoes. The shop was run by an elderly woman who showed them various options. Jamuna found a pair that fit perfectly, but when it came to the price, it exceeded their budget, and her father had half of the required amount. They decided to postpone the purchase until the next day, leaving Jamuna visibly disappointed.

When they inquired about cheaper options, the grandma explained that within their budget, there were no suitable shoes available. She casually mentioned that she had two shoes of different sizes that had been in the shop for a long time because their pairs were missing. She offered to sell them at a reduced price, saying, "If you're okay with it, I'll sell them to you for the amount you have."

Jamuna suddenly agreed, and the grandma, showing her the shoes, had Jamuna try them on. One shoe was one size bigger than her actual shoe size, and it felt slightly uncomfortable due to the size difference. Despite this mismatch, she liked the shoes because they looked new, and she was determined to buy them that day without postponing.

However, the difference in size was noticeable at the closure. Her father reassured her that if she felt uncomfortable, they could wait and buy a new pair another day. Despite their financial constraints and her eagerness for new shoes, Jamuna accepted them reluctantly, and her father paid the amount. In the end, they purchased what they affectionately called "Unpair of Shoes."

 

8. The Unpair of Shoes 

While Jamuna returned home with her father, her face was filled with smiles. She was excited to share what she had bought, something not typical for her. She asked her father, mother, and siblings if the shoes looked good on her, curious to see if anyone would notice they were unpaired. She understood that people could tell they were unpaired shoes only if she told them or if they noticed closely. Though she felt a little uncomfortable with the bigger shoe while walking, she managed by tying the laces tightly. Wearing the shoes and walking around the balcony for a few minutes, she finally felt relaxed after two stressful days. She went to sleep happily.

 

9. A Silent Tale of Unpair Shoes

The next day, Jamuna got ready for school, happy because she was wearing her new shoes. She reached her class and waited for her friend to arrive. When her friend came, Jamuna excitedly told her about the new shoes. Her friend replied that they looked good. Jamuna asked for confirmation, "Do you find anything weird about the shoes?" Her friend replied, "No, the pair looks fine."

Jamuna felt so happy and thought to herself, "I won’t tell anyone about my unpaired shoes, not even my close friend." She wore those unpaired shoes for the next academic year until they became old. She often remembered and smiled at herself about the unpaired shoes that made her happy and created a memory she could never forget.

 

10. And, finally!

In 2018, when I started my job after college and began earning, I had a few items on my wish list that I had longed to buy. One of them was a pair of shoes. When I went to buy shoes with my father, I coincidentally came across a blue and white shoe that resembled the canvas shoes I wore during my school days. I felt a surge of excitement and ended up buying them. However, this time, they were a 'Pair of Shoes,' which reminded me of my silent tale of unpaired shoes from the past.

"Yes! 'A Silent Tale of Unpair Shoes' is my own story from my fifth grade schooling, where I've taken the name Jamuna. Among the many stories I've written, this incident stood out as the first I wanted to share in a blog. It's a true event from my life that continues to resonate with me deeply. Even now, whenever I visit Teppakulam(A place in Madurai, where the Raft Festival takes place as mentioned in my story), memories flood back in an instant.

I often find myself reflecting on those days. If I could meet that ten-year-old girl from the story today, I would hug her and tell her, 'You're going to be okay. You'll inspire yourself in the future.' She understood the family's challenges, cherished every school day because she believed in the transformative power of education, and valued kindness and character. Finding joy in imperfections, she held onto a strong belief that one day she would look back from a better place than she dreamed of.

As I narrate this story, I've endeavored to convey my thoughts clearly and neatly. I'm eager to share more stories from both my fictional writings and non-fictional experiences. Your feedback on this blog is valuable to me, as every reader's perspective matters.

 

Thank you for spending your time on my lines today! I’m excited to connect with you in the next blog!

Sending Good Vibes! 💝

With kind regards,

Kaarthyka_SM

 

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