I am
used to shopping for all my ready-made garment needs in Bombay. It has been a
habit cultivated from the days of my living abroad. Though occasionally I used to get few blouses
stitched in the city I lived in, during the period of living in Ranipet I have
always waited for my trip to Bombay to get my blouses stitched from the same
tailor of many years. Though the tailoring charge progressively, steeply
increased in Mumbai, I didn’t want to take any chances with a new tailor.
Even
after I came to Coimbatore I have continued with that practise until this month
when I visited Naidu Hall, a well-know, reputed shop specialising in lady’s
garments. I felt I could experiment.
Though the cost of living is higher in Coimbatore in quite a few areas I
found the tailoring charges were 40% lower. I was tempted.
Recently
I bought a few sarees and also received few as gifts, which came with matching
blouses. I took five of those blouse pieces with a sample blouse to the Naidu
Hall. I was impressed with the tailor and handed them all over to him with very
few instructions.
Like any
tailor he did not deliver on the day he mentioned. I had to go couple of more
times. Living so far away from the city it was not easy. Still as I was not in
a hurry, I did not get overly anxious. At last after couple weeks I collected
the blouses. They looked well made.
But the
next day when I tried it on it was too tight, like it was half a size smaller.
Lately I have been finding loose fitting more comfortable. I was frustrated.
The blouse was not even stitched in the style of the sample blouse provided where the sleeves are
attached to the body first and then the side seam is done in one single
straight line which makes it easier to let out a seam if needed when the material shrinks or when I put on a
little weight. I know to alter the blouses
would involve considerable work.
I was
agitated. I was blaming myself for taking this chance with a new tailor and
giving all 5 blouses at the same time instead of trying out with one to start
with. I felt I should have pointed out the style of putting the pieces
together, I should have emphasised the need to make it slightly larger to give
allowance to the shrinkage of the cotton material. But then I trusted the
tailor knows all that.
I will
not be able wear those blouses unless I reduced at least by 5 kgs. I don’t even
know anybody of my size to whom I could give them to. I felt the good materials
have been wasted and on top of it I have paid the tailoring charges. I felt miserable.
I felt
the tailor would defend himself, put the blame on me, or show his displeasure
at having to do quite a bit of rework and even if agreed to do it would do a shoddy
work. I imagined the worst and spend couple of sleepless nights.
Again a
week after I had some work to do in town. I took the blouses and went to see the
tailor. I told him the problem, showed him the way the blouse has been stitched
as compared to the sample blouse. He accepted, understood and agreed to work on
altering the blouses, make it the way I wanted and deliver it at my place in
two days time.
I was
taken aback. There was no accusation, no need to defend oneself, just plain
acceptance of the facts. I can honestly say I have never come across another
person like this or remember to have experienced another situation like this. I
was so pleased.
When I came
back home I shared my joy with my friend Lakshmi Rajappa. She heard me out,
with a look that said 'how naïve can you be?'.
Four
days later Lakshmi asked if the tailor has delivered the blouses. When I said
no, she didn’t say anything further to mean ‘I rest my case’. The tailor didn’t
come the Sunday after as he called and informed or the week after one day, when
he rang up to say he is coming in the evening.
The
strange part of it all is that it didn’t bother me at all. I felt he would have
some genuine reason why he couldn’t come. I didn’t even ask. He has impressed
me so much by his acceptance that not delivering as promised seemed very
insignificant.
Today I asked
Prakash, my cab driver, to pick it up from the shop. The blouses are altered as
per my instructions and fits well. I am so happy.