Shoebite And Sisterhood

Women around the world should support each other. We must never be divided and ruled over – Priyanka Chopra Jonas

"Excuse me? Hi. Are there any band-aids?" Bella smiled and asked the security guard at the reception.

"Yes, we have band-aids. Are you injured?", inquired the security guard without any concern.

"Well, yes. I mean kind of. But not exactly," Bella replied. She knew that her response did sound stupid.

"Ma'am I hope you know the procedure. I can issue band-aids only if you describe your injury and its severity. It has to go to the 'health and safety' register. You need to tell me the exact nature of your injury and if you got injured within the office premises. Please co-operate," the security guard instructed.

Finally, she spoke softly, almost whispered, "I got a shoe bite." She thought, "why is this so difficult? Why am I embarrassed about a shoe bite? Damn, I am such an idiot."

She looked at the security guard. She expected him to either laugh at her or display a warm gesture. But to her surprise, he did not react at all. He passed the register and said, "Please write down your name, employee code, and sign."

She entered all the required details as instructed and collected the band-aids.

She was about to leave when the security guard called out, "A piece of advice, ma'am. Always apply wax on the new shoes before you start using them."

"Yes, thank you," Bella said while trying to smile. "Thank you for assuming that I haven't done that already. As if you are the only knowledgeable one," she said to herself.

The new pumps were trendy and felt comfortable when Bella bought them. She had delicate feet and she used to get shoe bite with almost all shoes. It was her routine to generously apply wax on the rough edges of new shoes. Before wearing those pretty shoes to the office, she had worn them a few times at informal events. Whenever she had worn them, she got nothing but compliments. She found them really comfortable. Finally, she decided to wear them at work and those lovely pumps decided to break her trust. She had great difficulty while walking. As soon as she reached the office, she took the band-aids to alleviate the pain of her shoe bite.

She was trying to walk in such a manner that the shoes will hurt her the least, yet that seemed like an impossible task. She was hoping that no one she knows sees her in this condition and asks her why she is carrying band aids.

Bella was not so lucky after all. She heard a distant voice, calling out her name. She prepared herself for an uncomfortable conversation.

"Hey duckey what's up?" Said Kareena, her "ivy-league" colleague. Kareena was tall, pretty, fashionista and everyone's favorite. She was loved by the masses and yet she liked others to feel miserable.

"Good morning, Kareena. You're early today." Bella tried to change the subject.

"I have a meeting at 9:30. God I hate these early morning meetings." Complained Kareena. "Well, what's the deal with all these band aids? Are you stocking them for your team?" As expected, Kareena was making fun of Bella.

"Just for my shoe bite." Bella tried her best to sound as polite and calm as possible. She hated Kareena for her bad attitude and behavior. Bella knew that Kareena would definitely pass an upsetting remark.

"Well, Cinderella let me tell you a secret. It takes real talent to wear pumps. It is not everyone's cup of tea. Maybe you should switch back to your comfortable ballerinas or sneakers." Boasted Kareena.

"Talent? Seriously?" She just wanted to scream, yet she controlled her thoughts. "You said you have a meeting, right? You must be getting late."

"Oh shoot. I should really go. Catch you later," Kareena said while running in her stylish pumps.

"Please don’t arrogant diva," Bella whispered to herself.

Kareena was smart, intelligent and charismatic. She could have been a good leader and voice of her fellow female employees. Yet she chose to be nothing but a gossipmonger. She wasted talents in cursing and humiliating people. Kareena was a classic example of "women against women" theory. She would never support a fellow female colleague. She would never praise a girl. In fact, sisterhood was not Kareena’s cup of tea.

Bella was lost in her thoughts and was still walking in pain. She was finding a place to sit and apply the band-aids as quickly as possible.

Again, she heard another distant voice. This time it was a kind and friendly voice. Bella smiled at herself as it was her longtime friend Lara.

"Hey Bella. How are you?" Said Lara. "Nice pumps you have. I loved them."

"Another compliment." Bella thought. "Hi, Lara. I am good. Thanks," she managed to speak, "Well not actually. These pumps are killing me." She spoke her mind. Lara was her good friend. They had worked together for a couple of years and had good rapport. Now they were working with different projects and did not meet often, yet they remained really close friends.

"Oh my god. Not again. You get really bad shoe bites. Do you have band aids, or should I get some for you?" Lara asked out of concern.

"Don't worry. I just got some from the reception. I was thinking of going to my desk and apply them. But today I feel like my desk from the reception is light-years away. I shouldn’t have bought these shoes. It was a bad and impulsive decision," Bella complained.

"Hey, calm down. I feel your pain. Why don't you sit here for a while and apply the band aids," Lara insisted.

"Good idea. Let me find a chair." Bella sat, removed her shoes and said, “now that’s what I call relief”.

"Whoa. That doesn't look good. Please visit the doctor today. These wounds need proper dressing. Ensure that you keep the wounds dry. They will heal faster." Lara ordered in a motherly tone. She was still worried.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry. These will heal as always." She was really happy despite her pain. Lara was truly concerned.

“I hope so too. Anyway, I must leave now. I have to attend a training session. How about me meet around 4 today, for coffee? It has been a while since we last spoke.” Lara was waiting for Bella’s answer.

“Why not? Let’s meet.” Bella was happy to accept that invitation. “What could be better that having a cup of coffee and gossip?”

“Great. I will see you at the cafeteria at 4. Bye”, said Lara and left.

It was 9:15 in the morning. Bella too was about to go back to her desk. She could not stop thinking about these two brief interactions. Both interactions had the exact opposite effect on her.

A cold and uncomfortable conversation with a pretentious princess made her feel miserable. Then a warm conversation with a long-time caring friend cheered her up.

That’s when Bella realized that friends like Lara are gems. They understand, care and support their friends and colleagues. They are the ones to keep the sisterhood alive and thriving.

Bella knew that she will always remember this day. Not for the pain of shoe bite, but how the shoe bite restored her faith in sisterhood.