We were in the midst of the pandemic when I somehow managed to get the clothes stitched. We had just applied for the renewal of our visa when the second lockdown was announced, and the waiting time for visa interviews kept getting longer and longer. We eventually got the visa, but with some modification and painting work being done at our house, we had to postpone our visit. Moreover, our sons and their families were planning to visit India at the end of the year. Finally, it was decided that we would leave for the USA in April 2023.

In the meantime, I tried on the clothes and was shocked—had the clothes outgrown me? No, I had lost weight, and my once prominent midriff was now trying hard to recede. I rushed to the tailor, requesting him to alter them. Happy days again, or so I thought. We still couldn’t leave for the USA despite receiving our visa, owing to the ongoing work at our house and our sons' upcoming visit to India.

Finally, in April 2023, we set off for the USA. But when I tried on the clothes there, I was in for another rude shock—they were loose again. I had lost even more weight. And where could I get them altered in the USA? There was no easy solution, so I carefully stored them in the cupboards, hoping they would fit when we returned to India.

So, what did I wear in the meantime? After racking my brain, I finally came to a decision.

Continued in 98. Sartorial Suffocations - Part 7