Uma do not worry over silly things. She takes small issues lightly. That’s a good habit !
Thanks to KSEB. They are too smart to cut the power supply, with out any reason (they don’t know they say, but is intentional to reduce the load – undeclared powercuts !). Yesterday, power went off at 7.30 pm; returned after 9 pm.
Though this time is usually non-productive for me, I used to read or watch TV. And mostly with some spirit. Yesterday too I was about to start my lonely session, when KSEB struck.
Uma used to do her computer assignments (if any) during this time. Otherwise, she’s with the sewing machine. The sewing machine is in her bed room. The room is big enough. I removed all extra furniture from this bed room, leaving only her bed, a table and two chairs. Plus ofcourse her sewing machine included. She works for about 2 hours a day on sewing. Yeah, she enjoys that.
Did I tell you that she is a creative garment maker ? Yes, she is. She converts cloth into beautiful and comfortable garments. Ok..Ok … my point is , she is not just an ordinary tailor.
She makes dress for herself, and for her customers (our colony residents, and her students). She earns some money from that. I insist that she must save all that money she earns. That’s why a new bank account was opened recently for her in the local SBI branch.
She gets orders from local ladies and girls, for their dresses. She makes Churidaars, tops, blouse, paavada, night gowns, petticoats, shimmy, other inner ones, and also repair works for almost any garment. She does her tailoring work in the evening from about 7 to 9 pm usually.
She earns around 100 bucks daily.. That’s not bad ! More than the money , she enjoys the activity. Enjoyment comes in different forms to different people. But for Uma, she derives enjoyment from her inner instincts ! Touching and caressing, particularly the inner ones, while taking measurements and trial fitting .. She enjoys that.
Last day, I saw (You know how !) her dealing with a girl. ....
Oh.. I was talking about powercut. Yeah, yesterday, Uma couldnot work on her sewing machine, due to the powercut. She came to me and sat for a chat. The emergency light was our only companion. After abusing KSEB for sometime, she told me “Maamma, let’s go to the balcony.” . “OK “ I said, and followed her to the back side balcony. Though cloudy, it was not dark. We sat there, she kept on talking –about everything she felt like- and I was a listener. I was trying to keep my spirits up, with the glass I had. Uma knows well, how I’d feel in such mood. She don’t normally advice me not to drink. But, I remember, she did fire me, the first time she saw me drinking.
An hour passed and we felt no hope of KSEB blessing us again. But I could see, Uma was very closely watching me ... , and the unrest I was in. Yeah, the spirits worked. She came close to me, and stood beside me. I slowly pulled her in .... Like a little pussy cat, she came in.
We spent , may be , an hour… in the heaven. Suddenly the lights went on. She got out of my lap. Smiling and dressing up, she said “let’s go Maamma”. I followed her to the drawing.