Our vending and selling continued. Our spot seemed to be a little more crowded than the rest. I realized that most men were gathering around to stare at me.
I quietly appreciated Aunt Neelima’s strategy to attract customers by bringing a beautiful girl like me with her and, that too, dressing me only in a saree, keeping my hair open.
Aunt Neelima is a savvy businesswoman. She understands that my beauty, combined with the specific attire, will attract attention and draw many customers to her stall. It was a calculated move to increase sales and gain an advantage over other vendors. By showcasing me, Aunt Neelima asserted a degree of power and control, both over me and over the situation at the market.
It was not long before all over goods were sold out. Aunt Neelima counted the hefty sale that she had made. Then she spotted someone and asked me to wait at the stall. Then she slowly walked away.
I could see that she was talking to somebody, but I could not figure out who, as the person she was talking to was standing behind the tree that was obstructing my view. She was bearing a broad smile on her face, and from time to time,e she would look at me and nod at the person she was talking to.
The way the men looked at me, the whispers that followed my every move, made me feel like I was the center of attention in this bustling market.
Since I was wearing nothing but a sari, I felt half-naked and fully vulnerable. I could almost feel the hungry gaze of men on my skin.
Aunt Neelima returned to the stall, her smile wider than before, and I saw a glint in her eyes that I had not seen before.
“Myra,” she said, holding my hand, “you looked quite beautiful and attractive today. Your beauty has brought us a lot of luck.” She squeezed my hand gently, her thumb rubbing the back of my palm in a way that sent shivers through my body. “But now, it’s time for your next lesson in the customs of the Paankpara.”
Without another word, Aunt Neelima led me away from the market, along a winding path past rows of flowers and whispering trees. The sounds of the village gradually faded behind me, replaced by the soft hum of insects and the occasional distant laughter of invisible children.
The destination was a small clearing beside a quiet pond, surrounded by dense greenery, which seemed to hide some secret within itself. The scent of blooming lotuses was heavy in the air, and the sight of the water rippling in the gentle breeze was mesmerizing.
While we were leaving the market, I could observe that other women had also brought their girls along with them. They were talking to men and quite strangely, these women had made their girls stand in front of them and they had gathered hair of the girls at the base of the nape, just like Aunt Neelima had done the other day… I wonder what they were up to?
As we entered a clearing, Aunt Neelima released my hand and motioned for me to sit on the soft grass beside the pond.
She sat next to me, gathered my open hair at the base of my nape, and clutched it in one hand, making me face her.
Perhaps holding a girl’s hair like that meant a sense of control and possession over her.
With her gaze on the horizon, as if lost in thought, she began, “Myra, there are things in this world that are not spoken of in the city. Things that are considered… taboo. But here, in Paankpara, we understand that these taboos are just a way of controlling us, of keeping us from embracing the fullness of our womanhood.”
Her other hand reached inside my sari, and she squeezed my bare breast.
She looked into my eyes with a serious expression, her grip on my hair tightening slightly.
“The man I was speaking to is one of our most esteemed patrons. He has seen the way you have been looking at me and how eagerly you have taken to our ways. He’s made an offer for the night.”
Her voice was gentle but firm, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
“Myra, tonight, you will lie with him. It’s part of our tradition here, a way of sharing our beauty and keeping the village prosperous.”
My heart raced as I took in her words, the implications of what she was saying sinking in. I am torn between my city upbringing and the newfound desires that have been awakened within me during my stay in Paankpara.
The man she spoke of was one of the few who had seen my uncovered beauty today, and his interest in me was clear. Aunt Neelima’s gaze never wavered as she waited for my response, her hand still resting on my bare skin, her thumb tracing lazy circles around my nipple.
I looked at Aunt Neelima with a mix of shock and confusion, my eyes wide and my breath caught in my throat.
“What… what do you mean by that?” I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
I could not believe what she was saying, but the firmness in her grip and the intensity of her gaze made it impossible to deny the seriousness of her words. My heart hammered in my chest as I thought of what lay ahead. “But Auntie… I do not know if I can… I have never…”
Her eyes softened as she leaned in, her breath warm on my cheek. “It’s okay, Myra,” she murmured, “I’ll be with you every step of the way. You have become a part of this village, and this is part of what it means to be a woman here. That was the reason I made you a woman in the first place by tearing your hymen… so that when the time comes, it does not hurt you much”
Her thumb continued to trace my nipple, and despite my apprehension, I felt a heat building in my core. The way she spoke of it, with such confidence and assurance, made it sound almost… natural. Like a rite of passage, I had not anticipated. I swallowed hard, my eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt or hesitation.
Finding none, I nodded slowly, my voice shaking as I whispered, “Okay, Auntie.”
The decision felt momentous, a pivot point in my life that would change everything. Yet, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the pond’s surface in shades of gold and pink, I felt a strange sense of acceptance.
Perhaps it was the magic of the herbs, or the allure of the village’s mysteries, but I knew that I would do as she asked. For better or worse, I was entwined in the fabric of Paankpara’s traditions, and there was no turning back now.
But I was still curious, so I gathered my courage and asked, “Aunty, what will exactly happen between me and him tonight?”
Aunt Neelima’s gaze was as gentle as the caress of a feather as she looked into my eyes. She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself to explain something she knew I was unfamiliar with.
“Myra,” she began, her voice as smooth as silk, “you are about to experience the ultimate union of two bodies. The man will lie on top of you, and he will introduce his… member,” she paused, searching for the right words, “his penis into your vagina. Then he will engage in coitus…. he will be moving his penis in and out of your vagina… till he reaches his peak and ejaculates his semen inside you…It will be an act of love and sharing, a way for you to truly become one with him.”
Her hand slid down to cup my chin, tilting my face towards hers. “But remember, it’s not just about pleasure,” she said firmly, “it’s about power and connection. You’ll learn to harness the energy of your desires, to channel it into something far greater.”
The way she spoke made it sound like a sacred rite, something to be cherished and revered. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, my heart thudding in my chest as I imagined what was to come.
“But Auntie,” I protested weakly, “I have never… I don’t know if I am ready.”
Her smile was warm, filled with understanding and reassurance. “Don’t worry, Myra,” she said, her thumb brushing over my bottom lip, “you’re more ready than you know. And I’ll be there with you, guiding you through every step.” The promise in her eyes was like a balm to my fears, and I felt a strange mix of excitement and trepidation.
“Okay, Auntie,” I whispered, placing my hand over hers, “I trust you.”
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the clearing, as if nature itself was blessing the moment. The sound of the water lilies brushing against the water’s surface seemed to echo the rhythm of my racing heart.
As I took a deep breath, I knew that this night would change me forever, and that there was no turning back from the path I had chosen in the village of Paankpara.
To be continued
