I, Seetha was born  72 years ago, in an orthodox Brahmin family.  A very Very strict upbringing My father was working as a Security Superindent in Mettur Chemicals (Salem District, Tamil Nadu in Mettur. My parents had eight children (four boys and four girls), and I was the seventh. I have a younger brother. Typical of the mindset of parents of those days, my mother wanted me to get married before my father's retirement. I was just 17 then. After quite a long search for the bridegroom, they found a suitable match for me. My prospective husband the late T.R. Ramanathan was working in Associated Cement Companies Ltd. (ACC), Shahabad (Karnataka State). As per my parent's wish, I became Mrs. Seetha Ramanathan. After the marriage, I stayed in my in-law's place for a fortnight and left for Shahabad with my husband. When I was with my parents, going to the movies was seldom allowed. That too I, my sisters were not allowed to go to films with my brothers. My parents generally don't like going to the movies. After pleading for 2-3 days if the aunty, who was a neighbor, was going then we were allowed to go with their family. That too only if the movie was exceptionally good. But my husband took me to a movie soon after the wedding. I was in seventh heaven. I felt that I got the much-wanted freedom for which I was longing for. Those days B. Saroja Devi (a famous cine actress of South India) was the dream girl to millions of men in the South. Though she was a Kannadiga by birth the Tamil film industry welcomed her with folded hands. Soon she became one of the top heroines of Tamil movies. Quite natural for people of that age, I was a great fan of Saroja Devi. More than her acting skills, l liked her dressing sense. Especially, the designs of her blouse which she wore in movies like 'Anbe Va' (remake of 'Come September') and 'Pudhiya Paravai' etc. Blouses were named--boat neck and back button. When my marriage was confirmed, I wanted to stitch at least one blouse in that model. But my mother used her veto power to go against my wish. The desire to stitch a boat neck and back button blouse was lying dormant in my heart. One fine Sunday morning I expressed my desire to my husband. He immediately said a 'yes'. He also told me to be ready to go to Shahabad town around 5 pm. After going to the tailor shop, we could have dinner in a restaurant, he told me. When I heard that I jumped with joy. We were residing in ACC Colony,  Shahabad, a town about 3 km from our Colony. Those days, our mode of transport was a bicycle. I would go doubles with my husband, much like the Dev Anand-Mumtaj reel pair of yore. I had some blouse pieces with me, which I got along with sarees as gifts during my wedding. Overexcited, I packed all the blouse pieces & a blouse for measurement in a bag (don't forget that I was not even 18 then). Before leaving, my husband told me to take 1 extra bag to buy vegetables. Before going to the tailor shop, he stopped the cycle and asked me to get down. He said while returning it would be dark, and hence would be wise to buy vegetables. The bag with the blouse pieces was hanging on the handlebar. Readers could easily make a guess as to what would have happened. Yes, your guess is right! The bag that had those blouse pieces was gone when we returned to the parking place. My husband chided me, and immediately tears rolled down from my eyes like a kid. He asked: "Why should you carry all the blouse pieces?." I was 10 years younger than him. I replied, "why didn't you see the bag that was hanging in the handlebar?" His ego was hurt and both of us returned home without talking a word. After reaching home both of us had a glass of water. That was our dinner. The next day (Monday) morning before leaving for office. he told me kindly. "Today evening be ready by 5.30 pm. I will buy one blouse piece and you can give it for stitching. If the tailor stitches well, then in the future you can stitch more." As promised he bought a blouse piece in green color & took me to the tailor shop. To my great surprise, I saw a calendar hanging in the shop in which B. Saroja Devi was giving a smiling pose wearing the same boat and back button blouse, which I wanted to stitch. Readers, please remember, B. Saroja Devi was from Bangalore, Karnataka & Shahabad is also in Karnataka. Explaining to the tailor about the model of the blouse was easy for me. I gave the measurement blouse & the green blouse piece and told the tailor to stitch the blouse in the same model, which Saroja Devi was wearing. After a week the blouse was ready. The next day, I wore that blouse and went to a photo studio with my husband. I took three-four photos in different poses to send them to my mother. I sent her the photos, just to irritate her! The next week, I got a postcard from her in which it was written: "Eppadiyo Poi Tholai" which translated means "Go to Hell!".