‘Do you even eat?’ was the question I got asked on the first day of my new job. This was when I had starved till 4 PM, finishing off my work, and then rushed to the canteen ravenous. Well yes, random stranger I DO eat and the same way that I can’t ask you ‘Do you ever NOT eat?’ it is also not acceptable for you to ask me the reverse question.
I honestly don’t think that there is anything wrong with my tall, skinny frame. If you really want an answer to ‘How can you be so thin?’ I just want to say, I am blessed! I can eat what I want without worrying about piling on the calories – thanks to great metabolism – and I can wear what I like – thanks to my tall frame. And as far as the question of ‘You are so thin, how will you have babies?’ is concerned, don’t worry auntyji I’ll manage!!!
The surprising thing is that I hear this complaint from my other friends too. Be it thin, fat, tall, short… people have an issue with everything. And I am glad that I realised this early on in my life. All those ‘You are so thin. Who will marry you?’ and ‘Start eating before you disappear’ taunts stopped affecting me long long ago. I am still the butt of all those thin jokes. Every third day at work I hear a ‘Wow! Glad to see you eat’ comment in the canteen, but I have made sarcasm my best friend now! So if you want to comment on my skinny frame, get ready to hear some really snappy retorts.
The only thing that really annoys me about these comments is the fact that people just assume that if you are thin, you are a poor eater. I eat, tons of food. Trust me on that. For me, dinner is almost always a five-course meal and I simply love food. Just because I am lucky enough to not show the calories, doesn’t mean that I shun food. I also love to take my health seriously, and you’ll often find me swapping the burger for masala oats. However, it seems that only fat people have the copyright on eating right. ‘OMG! Why are you having such healthy food? You do not need this!’ being the most innovative of complaints I have heard till now. Why can’t I eat healthy and be thin, at the same time?
All said and done, at the end of the day, I love the way I am. I love my height and my thin frame and the only thing I work towards is being ‘fit’. And you, skinny joke-maker, I sincerely hope that the next time you see a skinny girl you refrain from those ‘You are so thin you’ll disappear’ jokes. Ignore the body image and get to know the real me rather than my weight!
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