How long?

The other day, when I bumped into a popular Bollywood song picturized on a reel couple, I just couldn't help than notice the team effort made to make the leading lady look shorter than her hero. The hero (a coveted superstar) was made to wear shoes that would add height and even made to stand on a stair while his lady was happily dancing behind. All this and much more to add length to the stature of the leading man.
I couldn't help but wonder about the stereotypes we are tuned to live with. What difference does it make if the man in a relationship is of a shorter height than the lady he is with? Why is it always so essential to look out for a woman who stands short, if you are a man or vice versa? The west has come out of this cliché, pretty well. Celebrities and commoners have broken this trend by walking confidently, shoulder-to-shoulder, with their taller/shorter partners. The men don’t wear heels to give them a high neither do the women walk with a hunch to camouflage their height.
Whereas, we in India, still struggling to break free. Even if such a couple is absolutely comfortable with each other, they become a public joke. They shouldn't be together because they ain't what you are used to looking at? Common, we all can find sensible excuses better than that!
I remember, a classmate of mine had parents who weren't as per set height-standard and hence the other parents wouldn’t stop from cracking a joke at them. Then, I was too young to decipher the social norms and now, when I’m old enough I wonder, “what’s the big deal, folks”.
The age difference between couples could be scientifically justified (to some extent). Women mature faster in their minds are what the wise claimed but what is the logic behind the height factor? Is it a practical position if the woman is shorter when in bed, does it get convenient for the man to please a woman shorter than him? Or is it just for the cosmetic purpose, looks good or symmetrical that way? Whatever be it, I strongly see no point to the height gap. Should love hit you with the stringency of terms and conditions apply? Just like numerous sale offers that run in multiples to boost their market share and if you look closer there is a section in fine print saying “terms & conditions apply”.
Our love certainly isn’t a commodity on sale and hence shouldn't have any conditions attached to it. Relationships are too personal and entirely the prerogative of two people involved. We applaud their success and some good souls cry at their failures too. But certainly we don’t have the right to laugh at people who chose to held their hands together and walk side by side despite the height difference. As long as they are happy, so be it and why should we stare to announce our disapprovals over their choice?
The same time, I wish, we refrain from portraying the much-taller-macho-man who goes through series of personal atrocities to keep looking taller in front of the already tall woman. As to the entire theatrics of the spicy Hindi numbers, who would mind? Would you?