Just before the pandemic, my weight was showing signs of misbehavior as I kept finding new excuses to reduce my walking and exercise. If you get laziness for free, you have to pay with a concentrated bulge in the mid-region.

As the pandemic struck and we returned from the U.S., without any effort, intention, interest, or even realization, the weight increased. It mostly lodged in the belly area, which is a wonderful receptacle for such weight gain.

I could not fathom the reasons. During this period, there were no visits or outings, and we were cocooned in the house, longing to hear any human voice. The effects of the misshapen body were not felt. And in 2023, after a feeling of near-absolute safety in traveling was restored, we sorely missed the two-year cycle of travel to meet our grandkids, so we took off again.

This is when the effects of the battle of the bulge were felt. I tried on whatever little collection of pants and shirts I had. Even if, with the greatest difficulty, I managed to put them on and pull them up to my waist, there was a clear 3-inch gap between the two sides of the pants. The shirts were tighter than armor, and if at all I managed to squeeze myself in, the lower portion was ready to burst. Knowing well that no readymade clothes manufacturer would make clothes for this oddly shaped and sized body, I ran to a reputed tailor. He did offer me some solace. "No worries, Sir. Many people are coming with similar issues." In a liberal mood, I chose some fine fabric for around half a dozen sets of pants and shirts. On trial, they were so comfortable. I could breathe with them on. Though the tailor had tried his best to hide the pot in the middle, it still showed up. But unfortunately, I had these stitched up in 2022 itself, anticipating the travel. We left after one year.

And after reaching the U.S., when I tried them on, oh no! They were pretty loose. If I had to wear them, no belt could keep them secure. I had to hold on to them and walk. How did I lose weight? Many theories floated. "You are walking much more." "You are more active." "You have stopped eating potato chips." Whatever the reason, I brought them back to India in their pristine, pure, new, fresh condition. With great hesitation, I went to the tailor for alteration. Shockingly, he said they couldn't be altered since the side pockets would get misplaced. Maybe the shirts I will try. The shirts have been altered, but they look so odd when I wear them. Shirts are like our bodies. When repaired, they never get back to the original position.

I have neatly folded the pants and put them in a safe chest. My wife’s advice: weight gain was due to lack of exercise. Weight loss may have been due to the cancer. Now the doctors say the hormones may try their best to take your body back to the glory days of obesity. So why not wait? "If you do put on weight again, you can try these pants." Nice idea, I thought.

This is one of the side effects of weight gain and weight loss: a sudden shortage of clothes. Have you ever thought of that?

Continued in 273 - Re Cycle Car - Part 1