Those five days...

Those five days of every month! It all started on 20th April, 2000: summer vacation of Class V had just begun. Papa brought a new cycle and I was determined to learn cycling then. But my summer plans were already destined to be something else. While cycling, lower abdomen slightly started paining. I could realize something happening within me (I can still feel that while writing this experience) as if I urgently want to use the washroom. I rushed home, to the toilet and what I saw was blood getting ejected from my body instead of urine. So many questions were exploding like volcano in this ten and a half year old brain. Slightly opening the door, I called Mom and said what I saw. She just said one thing, "Do not come out till I say!" and left home with her purse and door keys. The blood flow was constant and I was thinking that if this does not stop, then I am surely gonna die. But what the hell did happen to me and where did Mom go in a hurry! She came back, I opened the door. She handed over a packet of Stayfree to me. The moment this came into my hand I could relate a bit with those ads. But why do they use blue ink for demo, can't they show the actual blood! I wore the pad and came out. Then menstrual cycle story started and I just remember one line of that, "God has given you the blessing to become a Mom some day later; getting periods is a prerequisite for it". All that went bouncer to the brain. I really hated those days because it was my summer vacation and I wanted to go cycling and jumping and do what not. Here I was not allowed to go out of home. My bedsheets and dresses were coloured (you know which colour and why). Eventually the wardrobe got changed from frocks to salwar kameez. The five days were gone and I still had those heavy flows. So now Mom rushed to specialist. Doctor said it’s normal to have the first cycle for more than 15 days (mine continued till 5th May). I exclaimed, "What! First cycle means it’s gonna repeat every month!” Like babies wear pampers, I would have to wear this Stayfree every month for five days! The second cycle was all the more surprising because it started in June when I was at school. Now whom should I ask for help; friends don't know anything. I asked the lady peon for help, she took me to the staff-room. Mangela teacher gave me the pad. Now friends outside were thinking that I am unwell. At home younger siblings were also thinking I am unwell. As years passed by, all friends started having the menstrual cycle and the school also conducted workshops for the same. So we had more information on it.Class XII had a complete chapter on reproduction. 

Having periods on Monday in that white PT uniform was a nightmare!

Menstrual cycle had its pain. First of all it repeated every 28 days but the date was never fixed. So carry an extra pad in your bag always. It’s nice that now there are vending machines for it in washrooms. Secondly it starts with stomach cramps. The feeling is like someone is hammering the nails on my stomach and the intensity of the pain keeps varying from low to highest. But this is just nothing to the pain during delivering a baby. So we are kinda getting practice for it. We do not feel like eating or drinking anything and sometimes we faint. The body sometimes gives up to even getting up from bed. Those free pimples on face! But still in any circumstances we do not let it stop ourselves from achieving what we want and we do not take a backseat for those five days!

Five days of…  Will I be able to? May be, May be not today     

Should I pack up?

Five days of...    Stop PMSing babe, Calm down

Is it that time of the month? Take it easy

Five days of…   Today’s not your day. Are you unwell?

Why don’t you just go back?

Five days of I can do it!

Five days of who can stop me!

Wait! What five days?

Five days of confidence, of being unstoppable, of striding ahead

Those five days are what you make of it!

So go ahead! Own those five days!