It was a quiet evening in the suburbs of Chennai, and inside the house Anjali was sitting cross-legged on the floor, wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her elder sister, Priya, who had given birth to a boy recently sat beside wearing a cotton nightie. Their evening conversation wandered casually around many topics before landing on something interesting which made Anjali curious.
"Anjali, do you have any idea which is the most critical aspect of being a mother?" Priya asked, turning towards Anjali.
Anjali was clueless and shook her head on both sides.
"You know, it is not all about feeding but it also involves a great deal of patience and building a connection with the child," said Priya.
Priya nodded simply though she didn't have much of an idea about what her sister meant to say.
"Feeding, especially breastfeeding, is a physical act but it also involves a lot of emotions." Priya elaborated further.
Anjali nodded,again.
For her, she had never thought about motherhood really and especially in regard to the emotional aspects of it. In fact, having listened to priya, she turned towards her and had a good look at her.
To Anjali's surprise Priya shifted her position and slowly removed her nightie over her head and she revealed her chest and abdomen to Anjali.
Priya was shocked but also couldn't take her gaze away from her sister's body. She could see how it would have changed since pregnancy and eventual birth of her son. Her breasts seemed full and complete showcasing her motherhood.
"As you can see Anjali, I'm no longer who I was in terms of my body. It has changed a lot and it is still changing day by day. It's all about having that patience which makes you a stronger woman." Priya explained as she gently caressed her no-nonsense belly, sitting completely bare next to her younger sister.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps from the hallway and the door opened, as their mother entered. She was shocked and clueless in regard to what was happening seeing Priya stark naked.
There was stillness and silence before anyone spoke.
"Priya, aren't you ashamed, are you?" she asked, looking at her elder daughter.
"No, Amma, you know that well I'm not ashamed. In fact I'm very much comfortable with myself and my body. I wanted Anjali to understand the sane." she said looking at her mother.
The mother joined in as she sat next to Anjali on the floor on the other side.
"Anjali, your sister, is teaching you not just about physical things but the essence of a woman and how you nurture yourself." Said the mother.
"In this family, we always believed in trust and love among women, and no-one was afraid to express their feelings. You need not be afraid or feel shy about what you're seeing right now here, "she added.
Anjali nodded, taking everything in.
"Anjali, you know what? Why don't you give it a try? I think the time is right for you also to properly understand how your body feels, so that you can be open about it. Come on, let's see what you've got. Show us yourself," her mother said in a calming voice looking at Anjali.
Anjali couldn't believe what she just heard. She had always been the shy and reserved sister of the family.
"I don't know if I'm ready," she said in a low voice without looking at either of them.
Her mother smiled.
"Well, listen, Anjali, you need not be perfect. It's all about trying it yourself and giving it a go as this is a safe space for you. You need to begin and understand your own body."
"It's okay, Anjali. No rush at the moment. You don't need to do anything you feel you're not ready for, but you can give it a try." said Priya.
