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We relaxed a little bit. Gabi was very happy. She started recalling the events from the time we came to the village for our wedding. She told me about her henna experience. Three women applied henna on her body - one on her hands, one on her legs and the other one on her breasts and vagina. She explained to me how surprised they were to see her color; even more so, when they realized she could speak in Hindi. When Gabi told them that she liked their skin color as well, they told her that they had darker vaginas. It is amazing how women can have such intimate conversations with each other. Men, I am sure, can not talk like that. There is an inherent one-up-man-ship. If a man says that his penis is x inches long, the other would claim that his is a bit longer and thicker. But women, I guess, are not as competitive when it comes to the sizes of their private parts.
They also had appreciative things to say for Ma and Kajal. Unknown to me, Ma and Dad had started donating money to village for various activities, especially for the school and the temple, where we got married. I realized that in the last year of my college, I received scholarship, and Dad also had a promotion. The requirements at home were not big anyway, so as soon as Ma and Dad had some money, they started to make good social use of it. Many women commended Ma for that. The village people were poor, and they really appreciated such helps. Dad also helped a few villagers in getting loans for farming, which helped them further. Many women commented that Ma could have at least one more child, as she was still very young and physically able. In the village, women even in their mid to late forties had children. At that, Ma replied that she already had a second child in Gabi. In India, not many mothers-in-law can say that about their daughters-in-law. Gabi told them that she felt the same way for Ma, and that their bond was much stronger because Ma breastfed her.
Ma shyly and pleasantly chided Gabi for disclosing such private details. But women there were not as fussy. While they expressed their surprise that Ma could breastfeed Gabi, they accepted that if their daughters-in-law were like Gabi, they would breastfeed them too. At their encouragement, Ma let Gabi suckle her for some time. The women present there laughed in amazement. One even commented that Gabi was going to marry her brother, because both have breastfed from one mother. Gabi then revealed that she has another mother - Kajal. Kajal was so overcome with emotion when Gabi referred to her as her mother in front of everyone. One of the women teased her asking whether she too had breastfed the bride. To which Gabi replied in affirmative. Ma was not surprised: since Kajal breastfed me regularly, it was but obvious that she did the same for Gabi as well. Gabi told me that on Ma’s request, Kajal fed Gabi her milk, and felt proud doing it.
After they were done, one woman chuckled, “Bahuraani, ab doodh peene ki nahi, pilaane ki umra hai tumhari… (Daughter, you are now old enough to breastfeed, and not be breastfed)”.
Gabi paused at that and asked me, “Honey, I know that you are still young… but what are your views on starting a family… as in having kids?”
“What do you think? It is you who will have to bear a child for nine months, not me. If you are okay, then I am okay. I mean, I have a good job… I have Kajal, who will help us. So, I would say, I am neutral on this topic. So, what do you say?”
“I don’t know honey. Yet. I desire to have a little you grow inside me… but I would also not mind having a few months before we have any kids… I am a bit selfish; you know. I have just started having your love and I would want to continue having it for some time before it is divided…” she smiled.
“Oh, I can never stop loving you.”
“I know that… but imagine, we are engaged in a torrid session, and then suddenly our baby starts to cry, as he has soiled his nappy… ha ha!”
We both laughed.
“As I have said earlier too, it is up to you. Whatever you decide, you have my support!” I reiterated.
I don’t remember when we drifted in deep sleep.
They also had appreciative things to say for Ma and Kajal. Unknown to me, Ma and Dad had started donating money to village for various activities, especially for the school and the temple, where we got married. I realized that in the last year of my college, I received scholarship, and Dad also had a promotion. The requirements at home were not big anyway, so as soon as Ma and Dad had some money, they started to make good social use of it. Many women commended Ma for that. The village people were poor, and they really appreciated such helps. Dad also helped a few villagers in getting loans for farming, which helped them further. Many women commented that Ma could have at least one more child, as she was still very young and physically able. In the village, women even in their mid to late forties had children. At that, Ma replied that she already had a second child in Gabi. In India, not many mothers-in-law can say that about their daughters-in-law. Gabi told them that she felt the same way for Ma, and that their bond was much stronger because Ma breastfed her.
Ma shyly and pleasantly chided Gabi for disclosing such private details. But women there were not as fussy. While they expressed their surprise that Ma could breastfeed Gabi, they accepted that if their daughters-in-law were like Gabi, they would breastfeed them too. At their encouragement, Ma let Gabi suckle her for some time. The women present there laughed in amazement. One even commented that Gabi was going to marry her brother, because both have breastfed from one mother. Gabi then revealed that she has another mother - Kajal. Kajal was so overcome with emotion when Gabi referred to her as her mother in front of everyone. One of the women teased her asking whether she too had breastfed the bride. To which Gabi replied in affirmative. Ma was not surprised: since Kajal breastfed me regularly, it was but obvious that she did the same for Gabi as well. Gabi told me that on Ma’s request, Kajal fed Gabi her milk, and felt proud doing it.
After they were done, one woman chuckled, “Bahuraani, ab doodh peene ki nahi, pilaane ki umra hai tumhari… (Daughter, you are now old enough to breastfeed, and not be breastfed)”.
Gabi paused at that and asked me, “Honey, I know that you are still young… but what are your views on starting a family… as in having kids?”
“What do you think? It is you who will have to bear a child for nine months, not me. If you are okay, then I am okay. I mean, I have a good job… I have Kajal, who will help us. So, I would say, I am neutral on this topic. So, what do you say?”
“I don’t know honey. Yet. I desire to have a little you grow inside me… but I would also not mind having a few months before we have any kids… I am a bit selfish; you know. I have just started having your love and I would want to continue having it for some time before it is divided…” she smiled.
“Oh, I can never stop loving you.”
“I know that… but imagine, we are engaged in a torrid session, and then suddenly our baby starts to cry, as he has soiled his nappy… ha ha!”
We both laughed.
“As I have said earlier too, it is up to you. Whatever you decide, you have my support!” I reiterated.
I don’t remember when we drifted in deep sleep.