Dharini's POV

"Mummmaa" I screamed from top of my lungs.

"What happened?" Mumma hurriedly came.

"Mumma I got period"

"What? What will we do now? What will I say to your mother in law? She will think that I'm laying"

"What should I do now? Can I go there and not tell anyone?"

"No no rini, it is a matter of worship. You are not mature but I am. I can't let you commit sin. You talk to Anav ji, he will talk to his family"

"Mishra Sir? No mumma he is my teacher, how can I talk about periods to him?"

"In few months, he will be your husband and you will share everything with him not just about your period"

"What?" I asked, I'm totally clueless why mumma is saying that I will share everything with him? He is man and I'm a woman. How can I share my girly stuff with him.

"You will know when time comes.

Now call him and tell that you got your period"

"Mummma nooo"

Telephone rang

"Go and see who called" mumma said

I reluctantly came to living room

"Hello?"

"Hello? Dharini beta?"

My mother in law

"Charansparsh Aunty" I said

"Stay happy always beta and call me ma"

"Ok ma"

"I called to inform you that the weather has become cold due to unseasonal rain, so bring a sweater."

"Uh um ma"

"Yes beta"

"Ma a..actually I g..got my period today"

I don't know how will she react

"Oh. Then you can't come tomorrow beta" she sounds dissapointed.

"I'm sorry ma"

"What sorry beta? Is it your fault? Nahi na? It's oookkk, it can happen to anyone and it is not in our hands"

I don't know why her words brought tears in my eyes.

"Don't get dissapointed beta, you will meet others next time. I'll tell them that you are not well"

"Thank you ma"

"Take care of yourself beta and don't cry"

"Yes ma"

When I turned after keeping receiver, I saw mumma standing there with a smile.

What good deeds my daughter had done God, that you gave her such a good mother-in-law?

I just smiled hearing this.

****
Next day

Anav's POV

"Hello Aanu"

"Yes Ma, Charansparsh" I greeted her.

"Stay happy son. When are you coming?"

"I will pick Dharini in afternoon then we will reach bus stand around 4."

"Aanu, yesterday I called Dharini to tell her about the change in weather. I got to know that she can't come tomorrow"

"Why ma? What happened?"

"She got her period and you know that now she can't touch anything here. So why should I ask her to ckme here when she can't attend ceremony? And it's good in a way because you wanted her to concentrate in studies and now she will. Chal, phone rakhti hoon"

(Now I'm ending this call)

"Hmm" I could only reply this. It's true that I wanted her to focus on studies but some part of me is dissapointed that she is not coming with me. I was kind of excited because for the first time we would get this much alone time. I wanted to use this opportunity to know her likes and dislikes. But what can I do now. Ma was also right, though I don't like this untouchability behavior with menstruating woman. Afterall, they didn't subscribed for this willingly for every month and because a woman get periods, they got a child whose naming ceremony they are organizing. But still women are impure. What an irony. I know basic details about periods. No, school never teach 'boys' about it. I got to know by ma. When I was kid I used to wonder why Vishakha didi's back pains every month? I thought initially that she don't want to go school that's why she make excuses. One day I asked ma that why she don't scold Vishakha didi for making same back pain excuse every month so that she could skip school. That's when she explained to me that every women, from certain age gets period every month for 3-6 days. It is very important for every women, yet some women or girls have to bear pain during those days. From then on, I started respecting women more. I hope Dharini doesn't feel pain like Vishakha didi.

I'm ready to go. Initially my plan was to pick Dharini and then go to bus stand and I planned to pick her early but since she will not be going with me, I decided to go on time. But wait, she can't go with me but she can meet me. I don't know if she is in pain or not and as this is taboo topic, she might be uncomfortable in sharing about it with me because I'm not her husband.

Yet.

I should give her something to lighten her mood. She must be irritated. I saw ma and didi's behavior become rude during periods. I will buy something on the way.

I checked my room, kitchen, bathroom everywhere for lights, fans, gas etc. Safety precautions! I locked my house and going to auto stand. I can't go to her home by my bike because then I will have to leave it there.

A boy is selling flowers roadside.

"Stop here uncle for a minute" I told auto driver.

"How much for this?" I asked the boy.

I picked variety of flowers. I don't even know name of few of them.

"Rs. 30" he said

I quickly paid him Rs. 30

Then I saw a shop, which has a hoarding of Dairy Milk ad. I don't know if she likes chochlate or not but she will like if I give her.

I quickly purchased two chochlates, one for Dharini one for Drishti. Drishti is a kid for me, I don't want to make her sad.

I sat in auto and gave him directions for Dharini's home.

****

"Are Anav Ji, please come" Mumma said. I quickly touched her feet and went inside with her. She noticed flowers in my hand but didn't say anything. Thank god.

"Hello Jijaji" Drishti said.

Mumma went to kitchen. I guess, to bring water.

"Hello Drishu" I racked my eyes here and there.

"Where is Dharini?" I asked in low voice.

"Jiji is upstairs. You brought flowers for her?" She asked curiously.

"Yes. But I have something for you too"

"For me? What?" She asked excitedly

I gave her chochlate

"Chocolateeee...thank you jijaji, you are the world's best jijaji"

"Can you call her" I asked

"Uh jijaji...actually jiji is not well.. she's having stomach pain and since morning she has mild fever"

Oh no

"Fever?"

"Yes, because of weather change I think" she said.
Hmm she must be unaware of Dharini's periods I guess.

Mumma brought water for me.

I took a sip.

"Mumma can I see Dharini?"

"Um Anav ji...you are going for function and uh umm..."

" Please Mumma, I want to meet her before going"

"Ok, she is in her room. Drishu, take him upstairs"

"No, it's ok, I can go" I refused politely.

When I reached there, the door was wide open, then I saw her, I felt something in my heart seeing her so pale and without energy, lying on her bed covered in navy blue blanket with pink flowers. Her eyes are close.

I silently sat beside her. May be she felt my presence and opened her eyes. As soon as she saw me, her expression changed from irritated to shock.

"Hello Dharini"

"He..hello sir"

"Don't get up, stay like that. How is your pain?"

"It's little less now after I took medicine"

I hesitantly put back of my palm on her forehead and she gasped. May be my hands are not warm compared to her burning forehead or may be because of my touch as I never touched her so I can understand if it is the reason. She still has fever.
She hasn't noticed flowers because she is laying on bed.

"Dharini, this is for you" I gave her chochlate and flowers.

Her eyes suddenly got lightup. She gave me full smile.

"Th..thank you sir...they are very beautiful an..and fragrance is so good" she said after inhaling.

"I'm glad that you liked them. Take care of yourself Dharini, I will come to meet you again when I come back. Ok?"

"Okk sir" she said with a smile.

I gave them my goodbyes and left.

Urgh I will miss her....

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