Eighth Leg

"Why do I only have seven legs?" Polly Octopus would often wonder and feel sad.

- Suman Bajpayee

His mother was also worried about the same. When Polly was born, his mother showed him to the Sea Doctor, pointing out at his seven legs.

"The eighth leg will also come. Don't worry, Miss Awlie," the doctor assured them.

"But when?" Polly asked.

"When Polly turns eight years old, then his eighth leg will grow," the Doctor said Polly's siblings and friends teased him and called him a seven-legged Octopus. He was the youngest member of his family.

"It seems like Polly is not part of your family. That's why he has seven legs. Where did your mom bring you from? Must have been brought from another sea," other sea creatures would tease him and refuse to play with him.

"That's right, our mother must have brought him from somewhere else," his older sister Colly said, which made Polly feel miserable.

When other sea creatures played games in the sea, Polly's siblings would not let him join in.

They made fun of him, which he didn't like. Although they made fun of him, they would try to show others that they were trying to help him.

"You can't catch fish with seven legs, so staying away from fishing games is better. Just sit quietly on the seashore and soak up the sun," instructed his brother Sal.

"If possible, find a friend who has nine legs instead of eight, who will then help you," said his sister Colly, pulling his leg.

Polly would wander alone in the depths of the sea. As he could not find any friends, he became lonelier.