The day was finally getting over, and I couldn’t wait to get back home. It was around 6 PM, and I stood on the platform of Delhi’s famous Chandni Chowk, a station which was crowded invariably. So, I lost all hopes of finding a seat, for that matter I negated walking a long distance towards the ladies coach. My eyes went towards the display board and the two minutes seemed unusually long.
“What makes you so restless today Mahira, this is an everyday story, isn’t it ?” I thought to myself. I started roaming on the platform waiting for the metro when my eyes caught the sight of a little boy who was having a creamy candy bar and an unusual yearning for chocolates started. I repressed this feeling and boarded the metro towards Huda City Center. As anticipated, there wasn’t a single seat vacant, therefore I stood leaning with my back against the pole. It hadn’t been even more than five minutes that I started having an uncanny feeling. Not after ten minutes had passed, I saw a man staring at me. Just when our eyes met, he whispered something in the ears of the lady sitting beside her. Soon I realized he wasn’t the only one. And then, a woman walked up to and in a very rude tone, told me to pull down my t-shirt. Before I could process what had happened, the door opened and she got out.
Oh no! I started freaking out. I understood why I was the center of attention. I had to do something! Where’s the washroom? Do I have a pad in the bag? Why did I not wear a scarf today? I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking about how people might be contemplating it and what all comments they might be framing in their minds. It was my fault only. I shouldn’t have stepped out of the house for the first two days. All of them say that it’s something which is to be kept hidden from everyone but today the stain on my pants has caught the attention of various people. I had never felt this embarrassed before.
After contemplating about this embarrassment, I thought to myself what is the big deal about periods? Why am I so ashamed? Menstruation is normal, and we have made this natural process so complicated. I bleed every 28-35 days, it is painful at times, I get moody at times, but I walk into the kitchen, get myself some strawberries and I am good to go. We see people talking about chumming, PMSing, cramping and other bi-products of menstruation. And yet, we aren’t open to see period stains and reach out to them to tell them its okay, as half the population of the globe goes through it. And that’s when I thought – “Its absolutely all right, and I won’t cover it.”
Thoughts are free but actions, heavy! I was conscious of other people checking out the big red blotch, or rather an artistic red dot on my pants but I knew there was nothing to be ashamed of. I plugged in my earphones to make it any regular journey towards home. I wanted everyone not to whisper the word “PERIODS”, and not subtly offer a woman a sanitary napkin. Rather, let’s ask her if she needs one, tell her she has stained her clothes. I really hope that one day, period stains don’t need any special stare and people help, to help it and not hide it. It was the last station. The door opened, and I walked off proudly with my head held high.
By Yashaswi & Bhawna