It was a very hot and humid early morning as Maya, the twenty year old, felt her knee-length sleeveless cotton nightgown heavy with the dampness of sweat. She looked at her mother, Lakshmi, who was making morning coffee, wearing a cotton saree.
"Amma, it feels different today." Maya said, looking at her mother, in an irritated manner.
"Different how, darling?" Asked the mother.
"I don't know Amma," Maya said.
"It's the heat, I think. It is making everything intense, even this smell you know" She said, as she pointed towards her own armpit.
Lakshmi smiled looking at her daughter as she stirred the coffee.
"Oh, that one? That's the summer scent and it's a part of us Maya," She said.
"Come here, let me see." Said Lakshmi.
Maya moved closer hesitantly to her mother as Lakshmi gently lifted her daughter's arm and inhaled deeply.
"Yes," she said.
"It is a sweet musk, like a blooming jasmine. You're growing into a woman, Maya." Lakshmi continued.
Maya started blushing and protested playfully.
"Amma!"
Lakshmi raised her own arm.
"And I am also a woman of this earth. This heat you know Maya, it brings out the essence of us." She said pointing towards her own armpit.
"Feel it." Lakshmi said to Maya.
Maya slowly touched her mother's skin under her arms. It felt warm and damp as the scent was strong as well.
"It's a bit intoxicating," Maya said.
Lakshmi smiled.
""Let me feel yours again Maya." Asked Lakshmi as Maya lifted her arm.
"Oh, Maya," you smell so fresh and young. It is almost a bit too much." Lakshmi continued.
The mother took another whiff bringing her nose closer.
"Good, you know this is how a young woman's scent should be." She said as she touched Maya's armpit still inhaling closer making Maya giggle.
"That tickles, Amma," Maya said.
Lakshmi kissed the skin of Maya's armpit and continued, as Maya let out a soft moan.
"What are you doing Amma?" Asked Maya, a bit confused and surprised.
