It is common knowledge that women and sewing go hand in hand, especially from the previous generations. Both my grandmothers excelled in the art of sewing. My maternal grandmother, whom we fondly called Arectama, or another mother, sewed the most amazing curtains and fancy pillow cases. While my paternal grandmother, or Thakurma, as we called her mostly sewed pyjamas, frocks, and gowns for her large and growing joint family she was quite adept at making curtains and pillow cases too. Most afternoons of my school vacation that I spent at either grandmother's house, was consumed by the whirring sound of the sewing machine. I can still hear the whirring sound as the wheel went round and round until the bobbin was full. Oh yes, and I think Arectama had an Usha while Thakurma had a Singer. Or was it the other way?

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