Disclaimer: I do not encourage or condone many of the behaviors depicted in this story. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
I had my first menstruation when few years ago but in our culture the initiation into adulthood is celebrated after the first menstruation once turned eighteen.
I was finally eighteen years old a week ago and had my first menstruation since while I was at college. I told my mom later than evening regarding that. My mom said that as per the traditions of our family we need to go to our ancestral house to celebrate my elevation into adulthood the next day. Though it may appear a bit weird and insane in most parts of the world, it's a big thing indeed in where I was brought up. There was a warm celebration planned with all our relatives and known acquaintances present. The ritual started with a puja at around nine in the morning followed by which they asked me to be ready to take a bath. I said okay and tried heading towards the bathroom. They all laughed and said I need to take my bath right there in the open backyard of the house. I was confused and didn't have any idea what that was all about and agreed rather hesitantly.
It was my aunt as per the customs of our native, my dad's eldest sister, who made me sit on a wooden stool and poured the turmeric water on me first. Then everyone else came and poured the yellow colored water on me. My skirt and blouse had become all wet. When everyone was done pouring water, my aunt came to me and told me to take off my clothes. I was taken aback for a while due to the overwhelming presence of around fifty women and girls around. She came up from behind and started to unhook my blouse and then from the front she pulled it off my shoulders amidst my reluctance. She proceeded to nonchalantly unhook my brasserie and made me stand half naked in front of the gathering with both my hands across my breasts.
She glanced at me for a second, taking a good look at my stature and proceeded further, getting me out of my long skirt and finally my panties as well, making me threadbare and embarrassed in one go. I didn't have much of a choice but to give in. I tried my best covering my pubes with one hand but in vain when my aunt came up to me and removed my hands to the sides, letting everyone have a clear view of my reasonably developed feminine assets. It was quite a different feeling altogether. My first time standing bare in front of a gathering with nothing on my body. I felt ashamed in the beginning but also I felt quite intrigued and excited about the whole set of proceedings as the center of attraction altogether. Perhaps it is a realization that this is something each one of these women in my community might have experienced in their lives too and this was my turn to undergo the same and let it sink in deep into myself. It was one of those moments where I realized not only physically but also emotionally that I had attained proper adulthood and this was something I should be looking forward to than to shy away from.
