It was a late afternoon in the city of Chennai and as usual, it was hot and humid, even inside the house where Anjali and her daughter Meera lived.
Anjali was in her early forties and had a well rounded figure with brown skin and was wearing a simple cotton saree, meanwhile her hair was tied into a bun. Meera was nineteen and had a tall and lean figure with smooth brown skin. She was wearing a loose cotton blouse with cut sleeves, revealing her forearms, along with a pair of cotton shorts ending.just above her knees, as it exposed her natural smooth body hair in her thighs.
"You know Meera, you need not hide yourself," Anjali said.
They were preparing dinner with a few guests at home as she smoothed down Meera's blouse.
"What do you mean?" Meera asked.
"You look like you're trying to hide. Your body is beautiful and every part of it." Anjali said.
"People you know, they make comments." Said Meera.
Anjali nodded as she understood Meera's thinking.
"I used to feel that way once upon a time but you know, there's power in embracing yourself." she said.
They stood in the mirror as Anjali reached out and lifted the blouse from Meera's shoulders and let it fall, revealing Meera's skin. Her dark underarm hair was visible which was thick and natural so was the soft hair at her lower abdomen.
"You really think it's beautiful?" Meera asked, looking at her mother.
"Indeed, every part of you is beautiful. Your hair, skin, it's what you are." Said Anjali.
Taking a deep breath, Anjali began to undo her own sari blouse, letting the fabric fall away from her shoulders and the petticoat followed, revealing her toned legs and her own dark hair under her arms was soft and curled
"I don't feel so strange now," Meera said shyly.
Anjali nodded and wrapped an arm around her daughter's waist as she pulled her close. "
"Mom, what about... down there?" Meera gestured toward her lower abdomen.
"Everything about you is beautiful, Meera," Anjali said with a smile.
"You know our bodies always tell a story and we should decide what that story is. Body hair is one part of who we are. When I was your age, I was scared too but with time, I learned how to see ourselves." Explained Anjali.
Meera always felt embarrassed about the small patches of dark hair at her lower belly and soft curls at the top of her thighs.
"Can I see them? Yours?" Meera asked rather inadvertently.
"Of course," Anjali replied as she was already in her underwear.
"There's no shame in asking."
Anjali brushed her fingers along the waistband of her panties, and lowered the fabric as it slid slowly down her hips and pooled at her ankles. Meera wandered over her mother's look, as dark, soft curls of her mother's pubic hair contrasted with her belly.
"This is part of who I am." Said Anjali.
Anjali gently lifted her arms above her head, and with a soft sigh, unhooked her bra, letting it fall.
"Just like your body, mine too has changed over the years," Anjali said.
Her arms, now raised, revealed the soft dark hair under her armpits.
Meera's insecurities started going away with her mother's words and actions.
