Tara was overwhelmed with worry about her infant contracting the disease. Without any hesitation, she went for the test only to get the dismal news that she had tested positive. Her worry for her baby grew. But they told her that the test could not be carried out until her baby completed 18 months. She was also warned not to breastfeed her baby.

Tara went back home with more problems than she had started. She could not think straight. “How could she afford to feed her baby?” She tried for a while but could not continue to ask for milk from others all the time. Desperate, she breastfed her baby. Her fair, big and healthy baby died that year. The following six days, Tara BK blanked out. She does not know who took care of the cremation and final rites of her baby. All she remembers is the endless flow of tears.

When her test results showed positive she was given post-counseling and asked whether she wanted to keep her result confidential or did she want to “come out.” Tara’s world was her husband and her son. She cared nothing for what others said or how they would behave. If her “coming out” would help others, Tara had no hesitation. Tara was the first to “come out” in her area.

After her son’s death CWC and Samaj Sewa organization volunteers counseled her and helped her through a period where life and death for herself held no meaning. The support group gradually nursed her back from her stupor, guided her through her depressive period and took her to group meetings. They went to her relatives and community, explained about HIV/AIDS and above all the importance of accepting Tara and supporting her. They also mobilized volunteers to collect basic food items for her such as rice, gram and oil.