“Ma’am you have lost so much weight. I wasn’t sure it was you at first.”

That was my physiotherapist, who had last seen me when I weighed sixteen kilograms more than I do now.

“It’s commendable, what you have done. It certainly is good for your overall health, and easier on your knees and back too!” she added.

I smiled, feeling awesome at my achievement of having gone back, almost, to my original state of being. Take that you, Thyroid, and you too Menopause! Tchah to you! 

“But..” she began, and I wondered what was coming.

Was she going to tell me I needed to shed a couple of kilos more? Or that I should cut down on ….umm what? I have given up my favourite potato wafers for years now. would she say I should eat more of ghas phoos as friends refer to raw vegetables which I already devour? Did I need to exercise more? 

I waited patiently for her to continue and enlighten me.

“You looked sooo cute earlier. Chubby cheeks and all. Fairer too.”

What the heck! Not what I expected at all.

Oh well…

Now I am in a quandary, people. Do I want to add kilos to myself and look cute, chubby and fair, or lose weight and be thin, healthy and darker?

Just kidding. I am in no such quandary. Okay?

It was said with such innocence and with no guile whatsoever that I had to suppress the laughter that bubbled inside me and wait patiently for the session to get over to share this nugget with the L&M and have a good laugh. 😆

©️ Shail Mohan 2025