Spare Time -Eumind Group 2

Interview Report
By Kayden Moraes

Alva D’cunha, 78

She lived in a bustling household with her mother, father, and two sisters –
an older sibling and a younger one, making a total of five children. They resided
in a house in Mumbai, along with their cousins, bringing the total number of
residents to seven. The year 1965 was an intense one, marked by the surprise
outbreak of the second Indo-Pak war.

Every day after school, she would hurry back home to spend time with her
cousins and friends at a nearby ground. Despite her busy schedule, she made
sure to set aside time for herself and her studies, as well as helping out around
the house. During her spare time, she and her sisters would gather around and
learn the art of sewing and needlework. The weekends were a short break,
offering her more free time to pursue her hobby. She cherished those moments,
spent alone with her needle and thread,
meticulously piecing together fabric. Her
sisters often joined her, and the three of
them would work on it together while
chatting.

Their periodic trips to Goa also had a

profound impact on her leisure time,
offering her a change of scenery and the
chance to expand her horizons. In Goa, she had more time to explore, play, and
of course, sew to her heart's content. She made use of whatever resources were
available, using pieces of fabric that were left over, she never received any
pocket money, but that did not affect her enthusiasm.