The itch

One fine day on a work from home something itched below her waist, is it a rash? Is it something else? She faced the window so she had a clear view and there it was!!! She was shocked! The new mother with a lot of weight, despised being body shamed every now and then. Some would say household chores will make you slim, some would say you looked like a model before, some commented, so much time has passed but you haven’t shed that baby weight, some blamed the virus for gyms not being open and also came surplous unasked suggestions like herbal tea in the morning, running, ashtang yoga, giving up carbs and sugar, aerobics and Zumba! With all of this she was in the game - maintained her calm, resumed work, did her chores and taught new things to the munchkin everyday. Life becomes so redundant with the same chores doesn’t it? As the time passed, the child in her started becoming old, maturing with the monotony of chores.

The moment she looked down, she discovered something absurd today.  Shocked and elated and and to her surprise her soul became alive with what she saw. Shiny Leopard stripes in broad day light! And whats more interesting? Underneath her belly there lied a protracted streak. The stiches shined and the surgery wound now healed and pigmented looked so bright. She gazed at the scar, smiled and smiled and saw it yet again till she became conscious. My bubba came from here! I should be awarded, I made life and the doctor sealed me and there I am with victory marks on my body! A warrior with warrior scars which will always make me happy, she thought. She looked at her left and there lied a bunch of stretch mark creams – ah mothercare, forest essentials, bio oil and shea butter – listen you expensive stretch mark removal creams, she screamed. I like my scars and they made me realize I am no less than a superwoman!

Never did she get the time or sense to look at her marks and give a thought to them. Blindly after bathing she would moisturize herself and like a bot continue her chores repetitively. The next 10 minutes she was in awe, as the nine months of her gravidity, just ran through her memory lane, the ultrasounds and the morning sickness, the cravings and gobbling like a dinosaur, her husband pampering her with foot massages for her feet would swell like never before. Peeing in every 2 minutes and repeat. Seeing the baby for the first time, those tiny hands and feet. Those tears of happiness and admiration. Being paranoid about everything, the back and neck pain and the sleepless nights. The first word and the first tooth, EVERYTHING!  

She couldn’t help it but lifted her shirt up for the second time, looked her victory marks and smiled again! 

The itch vanished but the smile remained.