10. Narrating Narratives

Conversations of research about stitching the ends

Narrating Narratives is a series of interactions of a researcher with common people of every day — dosa-selling Akka, pilgrims of Kumbh Mela, a Kudumbashree from Kerala, with a lady who puts kolam, a vegetable seller. This conversation is with a Roadside Tailor. This conversation was in Tamil and translated into English for ease of reading.

New to town

Anna: Are you married?
Me:….um Yes,
Anna: So was that your mother who was giving you instructions on reaching home or your mother-in-law?
Me: That was my mother-in-law. I live with them.
Anna: New to the city? Recently married?
Me: Yes, close to a year now.
Anna: oh, new to town? So you do like Chennai?
Me: No.
Anna: What? you answered quite quickly.
Give me the falls for this saree, I will start stitching that.
Me: Here you go. Ya, I don’t like this place, too many people.
How do you which is the top & which is the bottom of the saree to attach the falls?
Anna. See here, the bird is on this side, isn’t this the lower end?
Me: oh okay
Anna: I am asking you, not telling you.
Me: Ya, it is.
Anna. Don’t you wear a saree?
Me: Not that often.
Anna: and what’s wrong if there are people? it’s not bad. And where are you from?
Me: Ah…I am from Hyderabad

Travel

Anna: And how far is that? How long does it take for you to travel home?
Me: Hyderabad is like…300 something km….
Anna: How long does it take?
Me: like if I board at 4 pm I'll reach the next day morning at 6 am.
Anna: In train? so long? one whole day & night? Take a flight, you will go in a few hours
Me: Who will pay? Flights are expensive, right?
Anna: What one thousand he'll take?
Me: No, if I book like 2 months before maybe I’ll get for 2–3 thousand.
Anna: What it is so expensive a? I never thought so.
Me: Ya and closer to the travel date it gets more expensive.
Anna: oh it is not like a train?
Me: no, and now say if I book to Delhi or north or different country they cost will be more.
Anna: So the price increases with distance, but it will all make you reach in a few hours or a day?
Me: No, so if you go to the USA, you will have to stop in-between in some other country and then take another flight by the time you reach the USA it would have crossed 24hrs plus the time zone difference
Anna: Something you are saying, okay it will take longer.
Me: Yes. …..where are you from?
Anna: Tiruvanamalai, close by only
Me: Do you like Chennai?
Anna: Ah? What question is that, Of course, I like Chennai, This is where I live, and make money.
Me: So you live here only?
Anna: Ya, around the block.

Making ends meet

Me: You are married?
Anna: Looks up to me — Yes I have kids also.
Me: What do your kids do?
Anna: (smiles at me) one is like 10….one is in 1st class & other in 3rd class.
Me: Make them study well
Anna: I will do my best, that is why I am stitching like this
If I had studied even 10th or 12th I could have earned well, my dad told me, where did I Listen
Me: No no, make them study college
Anna: I told you about myself not my kids, they will study college.
Me: Why did you stop studying?
Anna: I wasn’t interested then & then just started working…Now I am here… I used to work in a shop but then I didn’t have the freedom of working when I want and all in a shop, see how I can stop when I want or else work all day all night, who will give work like that?
Me: oh okay.
Anna: Do you live in your own house?
Me: not mine, my inlaws.
Anna: Own only na?
Me: Yes
Anna: I can’t dream of my own house stitching on road like this.
Me: Does your wife also work?
Anna: ah,…ya ya she does household work ..and takes care of her own earnings and spending.
Me: Own spending means?
Anna: She’ll buy clothes n jewels for herself and the kids.
Give me the other saree, wait I will fold this & give you, You will drop it down.
Me: Ah... I know to fold….wait…your wife…She’ll get you also, right?
Anna: (looks at me?) Why will she get me? She will not...I pay for house rent, food, and all…if I ask her she will again come to fight, why start a war at home. She is on her own it is good.
Me: I give my salary at home, not fully but I share.
Anna: Each person is different, it is okay, I am used to her now.
Me: So Dussehra did you go home for a festival?
Hey, see the stitches are not coming, bobin is over?
Anna: oh yes, not bad you know something at least.
Me: Dussehra, what happened did you go home?
Anna: I can go only after the festive seasons, If I go during I will lose business.
Me: So you didn't go home?
Anna. My wife & kids went, I will go after Diwali, make some money, and go.

Finishing the ends

Me: How did you learn to stitch?
Anna: Have been stitching for years now….Do you work?
Me. Yes, I work
Anna: Where?
Me. In an IT company
Anna: Good for you.
Me: Ya…I guess…
Anna: So you know how to go home? Where do you live?
Me: around the corner that big building, opposite MK hotel.
Anna: Don’t go straight, take the last left and go, it is less crowded.
Me: Ya…amma also told that only.
Anna:…So in your Hyderabad also you go to tailor?
Me: Yes, but there like this on roads you can not stitch, you need to have a shop only then you can.
Anna: What? Really?
Me: Ya…I have never seen anyone like this.
Anna: How much do they charge?
Me: They start from 100 for what you are stitching now
Anna: Both falls & edge?
Me: Yes minimum 100 and all this small small torn no one will stitch
Anna: oh okay.
Me: And even falls will be smaller, not so big.
Anna: What use then?
Me: You are asking the wrong person.
Anna: here you go over, this saree also
Me: So now total, 2 sarees, 4 small dress stitches
Anna: so this….100 & then four na, 140 rupees.
Me: han, here you go
Anna: You will go home safe?
Me: Yes, Yes, now I have to learn this city, can't keep hating
Anna: Will you take me to Hyderabad once? I want to see it, I have never crossed Tamil Nadu
Me: ..ah…..okay, next time when I go, Shall I inform you?
Anna: Do that. Go home now, it is late.

He never asked my name nor did I ask him his name. I spoke about what I fear the most the city of Chennai, He spoke about his life and how he needs to meet ends with needles & threads. He uttered his aspirations and shortcomings to a total stranger, while he effortlessly peddled his sewing machine.

Wondering what is it like to go on a flight, own a house, provide good education for his kids, and his interest in going to see a new place. Sound so simple, something that most of us have or enjoy the benefits of but do not relish the value of them.

Stitching two saree ends, he makes us realize the value of things in life. To cherish the benefits of big things that we take for granted.

All images are from the web, I couldn’t make up the courage to ask him for a picture.