I woke up in the morning and the first thing I noticed was the date mentioned in the calendar. I was really nervous as I had to go through the same once again. I really felt bad when ever that happened but somewhere I knew that was not my fault.
It was a natural thing and people should take it naturally. It happens to all there was nothing new in it. Then why on the earth you all make us feel that it was something shameless to buy a protection for it.
I got up from the bed and opened the closet there were plenty of dresses laying inside it but I remember the look I got when I went there wearing one of my tight jeans and shirt. I didn’t have an option a modest dress or whatever they call it. I were always comfortable in the dress I used to carry. But for these days I wanted some dress which was as per the stander of people’s mindset.
I choose a black long skirt and went inside for a bath. It did arrive yet I still had time for it but taking a risk was not a good idea even as it might even be coming in evening or maybe at sometime in afternoon.
I am talking about my periods. But well that’s not the really problem as it is natural for a girl to have one. But I don’t think that in this society full of men with a peculiar mentality and colorful imaginations it’s hard for a girl to walk up to the store and ask for a pack sentry napkin. Why?
Well I am facing this since I had to take control of my life. Don’t know if mom faced the same but maybe she too was embraced some or the other day while having a purchase. I had being a confident girl always but there is always something in someone’s eyes that is enough to shake you confidence and bring you to the ground.
What a silly topic to worry about? I know many of you are right now thinking in the same way you won’t even believe it to be so serious. So let me share an incident with you.
The thing goes back to some eight or nine months from now. By that time I was use to of it. Going up to the shop and having the shopkeeper staring at you. But what happened that day was really something to be embarrassed.
I went to one of the stores to pick a packet of napkin. It was quite populated by males but I had no other option as I passed all the stores and this was the last I had. I stepped inside everyone was busy with their own work I asked a person for a pack of napkin. I think I was loud enough for everyone in the store to listen. Some of them didn’t paid attention at my words but other looked at me in a weird way. Later did I know they were not the member of the shop they were customers. I choose not to pay attention on their look so I paid and left.
I was quite late than usual and I was unable to find any auto nearby I knew I had to walk home now. I was already in pain and walking home from there was not a good idea for me. I thought of standing there to wait for an auto or any other transport.
I saw a bike coming from a distance seeing me the person stopped. He was wearing a helmet so I was unable to reorganize his face. It was when he took his helmet off when I thought I saw him somewhere.
He was one of the customers in the shop I visited today. But what did he want from me? I tried to ignore him and pretended I was not paying attention to him.
‘Can I drop you somewhere?’ He asked.
‘No I am fine,’ I replied.
‘I don’t think you will find auto today,’ he instead again.
‘I can walk to reach my place,’ I replied I still remember the look he gave me it showed that he of course was not a good guy and above all he was a stranger for me.
‘Madam, ese dino main kaha chalk e ghar jaogi? Apko wese bhi dard ho raha hoga,’ he said and stared to laugh.
I was really amazed to hear those things from him. I never expected someone to be so cheap to say all that. I was dumbfounded I had nothing to speak.
‘How dare you say all that?’I finally gathered.
‘What wrong did I said?’’ He asked shamelessly ‘its okay you to announce your periods in public by buying a pack of pads but it’s not okay for us to mention it while helping you?’
I was really ashamed that day not ashamed of me but ashamed of the society with this sick mentality. That guy smiled at me shamelessly and derived away I was still standing there. It was already hard for me to buy a packet of napkin but after that happened to me it became harder.
From that day every time I visit a shop it is the look of the people standing there which draws my attention the most. Even if it is nothing weird in their look I still feel bad in my own self. Maybe this is the outcome of the sick mentality of that idiot and maybe he won because after that day I was really uncomfortable to speak it out loudly. Yeah somewhere his mentality won over my confidence.
(P.S. Writer’s note:
This was just a work of fiction and was created to make the other gender of the society to realize their unknown mistake. It no where support the thinking that the girls should be afraid of buying the product of their daily need.
Be it bra or napkins you must be bold enough ask for the goods you need from the shopkeeper. If it is called shamelessness just be shameless.
Being a girl I never think about what the person standing on front of me will be thinking about me when I ask stuffs from him. It is his job to sell it. That’s because they are the shopkeeper right? Their duty is to shell the goods kept in the shop than thinking about what the buyer must be doing with that good.
It was a very small topic and many of my readers will this it to be unnecessarily added in the book. Yes I could have neglected it but there are girls who don’t use sanitary napkins because they feel ashamed in asking one from the shopkeeper. That causes infection in them and many other diseases. Dear it’s nothing odd to have a period it’s the rule of nature. If guys can go to the shop to buy a packet of condom you too should be able to ask for what you need for sex is a choice but periods isn’t what one can choose to have. The mentality of the people is not going to be changed for several more years but you need to be bold enough to face them with courage.
Thank You
-Regards
Vatsala Mehta)