Tid

This once proud word that once made us stand out from the crowd is no more. What indeed did happen to the word ‘Tid’ (belly)? I mentioned it to a friend of mine the other day and he had no idea what I was saying. Yes, of course we became a little more ‘upper class’ in our language but why did this word become extinct?

It has much to do with when this word was used. In the roaring eighties anyone who was little overweight was told in no uncertain terms that he had a ‘tid’.

This was followed by several months of soul-searching and the poor fellow was forced to admit to everyone that he may well have a ‘tid’.

His ‘tid’ became the centre of attention at any family gatherings and even when he tried to hide it by wearing the Shalwar Kameez..he realised his ‘tid’ was more famous than he was.

Soon enough he was classed as a ‘mota’ (fatty) and his life was as good as over.

When that happens you might as well switch the lights off brother because it doesn’t matter what you do - you will forever have the word ‘mota’ or ‘Jhariah’ used before your name.

You could be prime minister but you are always going to be ‘mota’ Abdul.

The thing was, we force fed the kid so he had ‘jaan’ (I don’t know the translation to that?) and then as he got older when his ‘tid’ became a problem we classed him a mota?

The kid was fighting a losing battle from day one.

God forbid if the woman ever got a ‘tid. For women the ‘tid’ became a major problem before getting married or soon after giving birth.

The rest of the time she was trying to hide the ‘tid’ from prying eyes. It became almost impossible when the relatives came over.

When she lost weight they said she was ill and when she put it on she had a ‘tid’. The world is a cruel place my friends -maybe it was better we killed the word ‘tid’ after all?