Nalini was resting on the wooden cot, wearing a green cotton saree while Meera, her twenty two years old niece was sitting cross-legged on the cool floor, wearing a lavender kurti with white leggings. Nalini's baby was sleeping in a cradle nearby as Nalini was constantly adjusting her blouse every now and then, with a soft sigh as noticed by Meera.
"Aunty, are you okay?" Meera asked.
Nalini smiled.
"It's nothing, Meera. You know, sometimes, the milk just doesn't stop. As you can see in this blouse" she said as she pointed at wet spots.
"You look so tired. Is it always like this?" Meera asked as she got up and walked over to her aunt.
Nalini nodded.
"It's not easy, you know, as sometimes the baby doesn't drink enough so it builds up." She looked down.
"It must be painful. Can I do something to help?" asked Meera.
Nalini hesitated with a laugh.
"What could you possibly do, Meera?"
"Maybe you just need to relieve it a little," she said.
Nalini looked at her niece being unsure.
"Alright," she said as she reached and untied the knot of her pallu.
Saree's folds fell away as Meera saw the damp patches on Nalini's blouse.
"I didn't think it would be so much," Meera said in a low voice.
"This is nothing Meera, you know what, wait till you have a baby of your own." said Nalini.
Meera smiled as she moved her fingers hesitantly.
"May I?" she asked
Nalini nodded.
"Be gentle," she said.
Meeras reached the hooks of her aunt's blouse and started undoing one by one, making the blouse open She could see Nalini's full breasts trapped in her damp bra
