Friday, May 31, 2013

Imagine the worst

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.