The Shoe scandal that starts a bedroom war

The shoe scandal is something that made our late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa famous in a disproportionate asset case in 1997. During a raid by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in 1997, the team was dumbfounded by the discovery of 10,000 sarees and 750 pairs of footwear. The late CM defended it in court. She said that those were a part of the costumes of her acting years spread across 120 films. The shoes and sarees were kept as mementos as they were never used again after the shooting.

750 pairs of footwear are something that many of us will find amusing but there is no need to be surprised. If the same DVAC conducts a raid at your place I am sure they will seize at least 40-50 pairs.

The shoe scandal that takes place at home

Shoe scandal takes place in every home across the planet. It’s one of the reasons that trigger a bedroom war. Imagine a scenario where the electricity goes off and you enter your bedroom in total darkness. Suddenly you step onto something and lose balance. Your spouse rushes in the bedroom with a candle. It is then you realize that you have stepped on your madam’s 4-inch high stilettoes. The madam is upset as you broke the backbone of the stilettoes that she had recently purchased. You are upset that she didn’t bother to check even once if you are ok. This despite the fact that she saw you limping. A heated argument follows triggered by a shoe scandal.

When your wife complains that she doesn’t have a proper footwear

You are supposed to attend your cousin’s son’s marriage but your spouse is a bit reluctant. On investigating why she is not keen on attending the marriage the reason shocks you. Your spouse tells you that she doesn’t have a footwear matching the pink silk saree and that she will go to the marriage only if she gets a new one. You are surprised! Overcrowded with shoes, stilettoes, and sandals the two bottom shelves in the wardrobe are gasping for breath.

In the semiconductor industry, there is a law called Moore’s law. It states that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years. This is the reason why the computing power of your Android or an iPhone keeps increasing with every new model launched. Similarly, the number of footwear in your wife’s shoe rack doubles every couple of years.

Finally, there comes a time when the shelves are full and the shoes start overflowing on the floor. As a result, the carpet area of the bedroom gets squeezed. Every vacant corner of the room becomes a resting place for the orphaned shoes that couldn’t find a space on the shoe shelves.

When supply exceeds demand leading to a shoe scandal

One of the reasons why the shoe shelves in your wife’s wardrobe are in an overflow state is that the rate of supply of new footwear is faster than the rate at which it is discarded. There was a time when every piece of footwear had a high repeat value. Wearing it on several occasions was ok.

However, in a world where change is the only constant the fashion world also keeps changing. New shoe designs are launched now and then luring the fairer sex. Add to it the new e-commerce shopping apps that make ladies go on a shopping spree. It’s like the technology world where an iPhone 6 launched a couple of years earlier looks obsolete in front of the iPhone 13.

The 1:4 ratio

So, with changing times your spouse’s requirement has also changed. Earlier she needed a new attire to wear for every special occasion whether it was a wedding in the family or a party at a friend’s place. Now with every new attire, she also needs a new footwear. And please don’t risk your life by telling her that she has enough pairs and not to waste money on buying a new one. You will get a standard reply that people who live in a glass house don’t throw stones at others. Your confidence is shaken and you open your shoe shelf to count the number of footwear. There are a total of 8 pairs including two sneakers. You do all the math and conclude that for every one footwear of yours your spouse owns 4.

The shoe size scandal in India

Have you ever noticed that whenever you buy a shoe or a sandal, the sizes mentioned are the UK or US size? India follows the UK size so the salesman at the shop will ask you for your UK foot size number to show a matching pair. For the first time, the central government has initiated the first-ever development of the Indian footwear sizing system. The idea is to standardize the footwear size requirement of the local population of the country. The Central Leather Research Institute Chennai has been assigned the task.

Whenever my wife comes back after buying a new footwear, there is a huge chance that she will visit the store again to get it changed. And the only reason for that is because of a non-standardized footwear size. The one she gets as per her foot size is either too small or bigger than her foot. Most of the time I tell her that she can never get a perfect size in this universe as God has to date not made a proper one that fits her size.

Another aspect that Indian footwear lack is comfort. Despite getting the best of the brand and a size that matches your foot size, the shoe will be uncomfortable to wear. The front portion will be narrow making your toe swell, especially the tiny finger. Some shoes will not have enough cushioning making you feel as if you walking on a track without one.

Fashion and comfort never go side by side

Have you ever noticed that whenever you and your spouse return from a party or a wedding the first thing your wife does is to take out her 4-inch heels and throw them in one corner? I always tell my wife before leaving that since we are going for an occasion where we will spend a lot of time standing wear something comfortable. However, your advice falls on deaf ears.

It is said that the Indian saree and stilettoes or heels are made for each other. The fall of a saree on a 4-inch heel makes it look classy. But seldom have I seen a perfect synchronization between both of them. Most of the time when my spouse dresses in a saree for a special occasion she stands in front of the mirror to get a 360-degree view. My job is to assist her in several ways like giving compliments, answering in the affirmative on the question if she has draped the saree properly. There are times when I feel that I am playing the role of a coach boosting the confidence of my wife before she enters the match arena (read party). And last but not least I also have to stretch the saree heightwise so that it covers the heels perfectly.

An accident that broke the spine

I still remember attending a wedding reception with my spouse. The venue was an open lawn that was covered by carpet. My wife accidentally stepped onto a stone that was not visible because of the carpet cover. And what a shoe scandal it was. The silk saree came under the 4-inch heels that ruptured the saree’s tendons. The stilettoes broke its spine as it’s heel got separated. I am thankful to God that I was standing next to my spouse and could hold her before she lost her balance. The saree went to a doctor for treatment (dry cleaner). Alas, the stilettoes sacrificed his life on the war front losing his toe.

You can enjoy reading more such stories on my blog. Click on the following link:

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