"Di..." Anamika's voice cut through the room, and I groaned. Seriously? From all the way at the back of the dorm? Her bed was basically in another zip code. I had to actually stand up on my own bed to get a glimpse of her.
"Haaa," I replied, barely able to muster any enthusiasm. Midnight vibes were kicking in hard.
"Vel lagel... bathroom chya baher aani aat donhi thikani pack aahe." (It'll take time... both inside the bathroom and outside, it's packed.) Anamika's voice, full of frustration, didn't surprise me. Of course, it was packed. Why wouldn't it be?
"Bara..." I sighed. (Alright...)
"Guys, hamesha ki tarah raat ke ek baje hi jana padega." (Looks like, as always, we're heading there at 1 a.m.) I announced to Diksha, Mahi, and Twinkle. They gave me this half-dead nod of agreement. We've reached a point where even rebellion feels like too much effort.
Twinkle, of course, being Twinkle, wasted no time in finding a way to get comfortable. "Mahi, mere baalon mein tel lagade tab tak yaar." (Mahi, put oil in my hair until then, please.) She practically planted herself in front of Mahi's bed, not leaving room for any objections. Classic Twinkle move—no permissions, only demands.
I snorted. Twinkle was shameless, and I loved it. Mahi, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Honestly, it's our sacred Wednesday and Saturday night oiling ritual. Protesting at this point? Useless.
Meanwhile, I pulled my best "please-help-me" face at Diksha, who gave me a knowing look.
"Haa... haa, samajh gayi. Tel kahan rakha hai?" (Yeah, yeah, I got it. Where's the oil?) Diksha asked, sighing. I could almost see the resignation in her voice.
I pointed toward the bottle like the queen I was, and moments later, I was sitting in front of my bed, while Diksha's expert fingers started their magic. I swear, if Diksha wasn't one of the good student, she'd have a backup career as the world's best masseuse. My head felt like it was floating. I was about to ascend to oil-massage nirvana when—
"Saher di?" A small voice broke through the peaceful haze. Oh, come on. I mean, really?
I opened my eyes to see two of the new girls standing there, looking like they'd just run into a horror movie villain. They had been here for what? Two weeks? Why did they look like they just saw a ghost?
"Dii..." the other one echoed, clutching her friend's hand like the room was about to collapse.
I sighed inwardly. What now? I pushed the zen out of my system and sat up straight. "What happened?" I asked, and immediately, the others sat up too, our little relaxation bubble popped.
Trust me, there's nothing quite like someone else's panic to kill your chill. Whatever was going on, it wasn't going to be good. My scalp was mid-massage, my hair was half-oiled, and these girls looked like they'd just walked out of a nightmare.
Fantastic. Just fantastic.
But hey, that's my life, right? Queen of fixing disasters while trying to enjoy basic pleasures like head massages.
"Dii..." the second girl started sobbing, tears streaming down her face like a flood that wouldn't stop. I shot up from my spot, already feeling that familiar tug of responsibility as I rushed toward her. Great. Midnight crisis mode, engaged.
I hugged her tightly, rubbing her back, trying to calm her down. She must be missing home—we all go through this at some point.
"Missing home?" I asked gently, pulling back and wiping away her tears. "Next Sunday is the first Sunday. You'll meet them, okay? Don't cry." I added, hoping to calm her. I mean, it's practically routine by now—at least one kid cries about missing home every day. It sucks for everyone, those first few weeks. Even I still feel homesick sometimes after all these years. These poor girls must feel terrible.
"Come on, sit on the bed," I said, trying to guide her over, but she refused and just stood there, still sniffling.
"Dii... Ritu is going to die!" her friend blurted out, her voice trembling, and then she started crying too.
Wait. WHAT?!
"Whattt?" We all said in unison, our voices overlapping in shock. By now, everyone had gathered around us in a messy circle, looking as alarmed as I felt. And just like that, Ritu, the girl in question, started wailing even louder.
What in the world is happening?
"Who told you that?" I asked, my heart rate picking up.
"She's bleeding," the girl whispered, horror plain in her wide eyes. Her words sent a ripple of unease through the room. My eyes shot to Ritu, still sobbing uncontrollably.
Bleeding? What kind of nightmare have I walked into?
I crouched down to meet Ritu's gaze. "Ritu, speak up. What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though my brain was rapidly shifting gears from chill-Saher to detective-Saher.
But all she did was cry harder. Come on, Ritu, you gotta give me something here.
"Ritu," I said, trying my sweetest, calmest tone. "Bataogi nahi toh mai help kaise karungi?" (If you don't tell me, how will I help you?) I coaxed, hoping my voice could somehow cut through her panic.
We were all standing there, practically holding our breath, waiting for her to spill the beans. Whatever was going on, it was clearly serious, and I could feel the weight of it pressing down on everyone in the room.
"Dii... fr... from the last two days... my panty was getting wet with blood," Ritu stammered, barely able to get the words out before the sobs hit again.
Oh. Well, there it is. Midnight crisis level 2 unlocked.
I stayed calm—at least on the outside. "Today also?" I asked, tilting my head to make sure I was hearing her right. She nodded, her face crumpling like she was carrying the weight of the world.
I hugged her tightly, rubbing her back, the poor thing probably thinking she was on her deathbed. I led her toward my bed, hoping to calm her down a bit. "Come, sit here," I offered, but she resisted again, shaking her head furiously.
"Nahi dii... jab bhi baithti hoon, waha red-red ho jata hai." (No, dii... whenever I sit, it turns red-red there.) And boom, back to the crying.
I wanted to sigh, but I held it in. Okay, Saher, emergency mode. This girl thinks she's dying, so time to pull out the 'not your first rodeo' face.
"It's okay, really," I said, offering her a smile. "You're not going to die, I promise." I reached out and pinched her cheek lightly, trying to make her laugh even a little. She finally sat down, but I could tell she was still pretty freaked out.
"When you came here, did your mother explain anything to you?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle but knowing full well the answer. "Like, sometimes blood can come when you pee?"
She shook her head. Of course. Why do I even bother asking?
Why is this always the case?! Moms know they're sending their daughters away for school, and they still keep this stuff under wraps? Like, 'Here's your school uniform, don't forget your books, and oh by the way, you might randomly bleed for a few days once a month but we'll let you figure that out on your own.' It's practically a rite of passage at this point. Even my mom did the same thing, and I thought I was dying back in sixth grade. Talk about a horror show! Thank god for the seniors who saved me from the embarrassment back then.
Flashback:
I remember it all too well—the day everything turned upside down. There I was, squirming on that uncomfortable, old wooden bench. Mahi sat beside me, completely oblivious. I mean, why wouldn't she be? She wasn't the one feeling like her body was betraying her. We were best friends back then, not like now where things are... complicated. But anyway, back to that moment. I turned to her, feeling the panic rise in my throat.
"Yaar Mahi... blood again," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady, though inside I was absolutely freaking out.
She shot me a confused look. "Abhi? (Now?) How do you know?"
"Yaar, it's hot... something's coming out, I can feel it." I blurted out, the fear in my voice unmistakable. We were both scared senseless, neither of us having a clue about what was going on. And of course, no one had warned us about this.
Mahi's eyes went wide, like saucers. "Should we... tell the teacher?" Her voice was barely audible, as if saying it louder would make it real.
Tell the teacher? Was she serious? I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "What will she think of me?" I muttered, my throat tight. I was about to cry, and honestly, I wasn't sure if it was from the fear or the embarrassment.
But then Mahi said something that made my heart drop to my stomach. "She'll probably send you home, na? I mean, these are your last days with your family. Don't you want to spend them with them?"
What? Last days? I whipped around to face her. "How can you say that?!" My voice cracked as the tears spilled over. Was she seriously thinking I was dying?
"Yaar... I don't know how much blood you've got left in your body, okay? And when it's all gone, you'll be gone too!" Mahi was crying now, full-on sobbing, and honestly, that just made it worse. If she was scared, what hope did I have?
We were both crying by then, hugging each other like it was the end of the world. Note to self: When two 6th graders are bawling their eyes out, it does feel like the end of the world. "Don't tell anyone, okay?" I whispered into her shoulder. She nodded, her cheeks wet with tears. I didn't need the whole school knowing I was about to 'bleed out,' as Mahi so poetically put it.
Fast forward to later that day. After school, I found myself in the washroom, scrubbing my underwear in the sink like I was trying to erase the evidence. It had been two days. Two days. And I hadn't told anyone. Not a soul. Why? Because I knew what they'd do—they'd look at me like I had some kind of plague and stay ten feet away. And that was the last thing I needed.
Then, a senior girl, washing clothes beside me, glanced over. She noticed something, I could tell. "Saher... do you know about periods?" she asked, like she had some secret I was supposed to be in on.
I nodded with this fake smile, like yeah, totally, I got this. Spoiler alert: I did not have this. But before I could say anything, she cut me off. "Not that." She sighed, leading me away like I was some lost puppy. Not the best feeling. She handed me a pad, no explanation, just, "Put this on your underwear and wear it."
Umm... how about a little more detail? But no, she just left me with that cryptic advice. So, I did what anyone would do—I used my extensive 6th-grade knowledge and logic. Sticky part up, right? That's gotta be it. I slapped it on and went about my day. But sitting? Sitting was suddenly the enemy. It felt all kinds of wrong. Spoiler alert: Sticky side goes down. Obviously.
The worst part came when I couldn't hold my pee any longer. Because of course, that would happen. I rushed to the bathroom, and... you guessed it—the pad fell right into the toilet. Plop. I stared at it, horrified. Is this supposed to happen? Is this part of the process?
Cue me, crying in the bathroom because I had no idea what I was doing. I went back to the senior girl and told her, "It fell in the washroom." I mean, I assumed that's how it worked—when it falls off, you replace it. Logical, right?
Finally, thank god the next day was Sunday. I told my mom everything, and she explained it all to me. She even looked a little shocked that I'd started so early. But hey, better early than... well, bleeding out, right? Thanks for that, Mahi.
Looking back, it's hilarious how clueless I was, but in that moment, it was terrifying.
Flashback ends
I dug around in my drawer, pulling out a sanitary pad and an extra panty. Time for an impromptu life lesson. "Okay, see this?" I held up the pad, demonstrating how to fold it properly and stick it to the underwear. "You wear it like this, and then you're good to go."
Her wide eyes followed my every move like I was performing some sort of magic trick. Once I was done, I handed her the pad and said, "Now, go wear it, and make sure you wash your hands carefully after." She nodded, still sniffling, but at least there was action happening. She shuffled off, clutching the pad like it was a lifeline.
I turned to the others, who were all standing around in stunned silence, watching the whole scene unfold. Yup. Another night, another crisis averted. Should I add 'period coach' to my resume? Probably.
I shot them a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. I swear, I need hazard pay for this job.
"Guys... don't you think it's high time we address this? What if someone else also thinks they're going to die, like her?" I asked, scanning the room. I mean, this can't be the first time someone's had a mini heart attack over this, right?
"You're right, Saher," Diksha said, giving me a nod before glancing at the junior. Of course, I'm right. This place will be chaos if we don't fix this.
Without wasting a second, I strode over to the mic and flicked it on, the static filling the dorm. "In 10 minutes, I want all the girls from both houses gathered here in line. It's an important announcement, and if anyone's missing, they'll be fined five hundred rupees. You all know I never spare anyone when it comes to fines," I announced, loud and clear. That should get their attention. Nothing like a hefty fine to motivate teenagers.
Within five minutes, every girl had gathered in the house. They all sat on the floor, filling the space between my bed and Mahi's, neatly spread out in small squares to make sure everyone was comfortable. Honestly, the efficiency when money's involved is just chef's kiss.
I stood near the guest room door, arms crossed, watching the sea of girls settling down. The chattering died down as they all looked up, curious. Alright, time to drop some knowledge, Saher-style.
"Guys," I began, my voice steady. "What I'm about to talk about is an important topic for all of us—about a significant part of a female's life. Our life."
By now, you could hear a pin drop. All eyes were on me, and the room was dead silent, except for a few awkward coughs.
"What's so important about being a female? Can anyone tell me?" I asked, letting the question hang in the air.
The silence broke immediately as they started whispering and muttering to each other. Some were nudging their friends, and I could see a few giggling in the back, probably cracking some joke they thought was hilarious. Yeah, laugh now, girls, but just wait till you see where this is headed.
I cleared my throat, locking eyes with a few of them to get their attention back. This is going to be one hell of a conversation, but someone's gotta do it.
"Eating," one girl blurted out confidently.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... I know how much you love eating, but other than that?" I asked, rolling my eyes with a smirk. Honestly, priorities, right?
"Dii... I like dancing," another girl chimed in, completely missing the point.
"I asked what's common in females, darling, not just about you," I said, giving her a tight-lipped smile. These kids, I swear.
"Marriage!" another voice piped up, and I just stared at the ceiling for a moment. Oh god... These little insects really think that's the pinnacle, huh?
"Sleeping," someone added in a deadpan tone.
"Dii... I like chocolates!" another girl declared proudly.
"Does watermelon count?" someone from the back asked innocently. Okay, now we're just naming things.
"Dolls?" a voice added tentatively.
Then, suddenly, a quieter voice said, "Dii... papa is important." My expression shifted instantly as I looked at her. She had that sad, faraway look, and I could tell she was missing her parents. The whole room fell silent, the playful energy vanishing in a second.
"Mummaa bhi," another girl added softly, and just like that, the floodgates opened.
"I'm missing my siblings," one of the younger ones murmured.
Great, now we're all sinking into homesickness.
My mind wandered to my own parents, their faces flashing in my head. No matter how old we get or how long we're away, we still need them, don't we?
"Alright, alright," I clapped my hands, shaking off the heavy mood. "Silent, everyone! I know it's been months since we've seen our parents, but listen, Wednesday is gone, and after a few more hours, Thursday will be here. Then in just two days, it's the first Sunday! We'll wait for them together, okay?" I smiled at them, and slowly, smiles returned to their faces.
In unison, they all shouted, "Yesss, diii!"
Well, that got unexpectedly emotional.
"Okay, okay, back to the point." I cleared my throat, getting serious again. "Those of you in eighth standard might already know this, but we're talking about something important. It's called... periods."
The minute I said it, I could see the older girls' eyes light up with understanding, but the younger ones? Oh, I could practically hear the gears turning in their heads, and trust me, they were not thinking about what I meant.
"I hate math periods," one girl said, making a face.
"History period is my sleeping period," another chimed in, dead serious.
"I love P.E. periods! But only if it's not the last one of the day," someone added cheerfully.
Then, a girl pointed at another and said, "In science period, ma'am slapped her!"
"Why?" someone asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Because ma'am asked her to read 'H2O,' and she said 'H two zero,' not 'O,'" the girl explained, while the accused huffed in embarrassment, crossing her arms.
And there it is—the chaos I live for.
I sighed, suppressing a grin as the laughter rippled through the group. Seriously, sometimes I wonder if I'm talking to future Nobel laureates or the cast of a sitcom.
"Okay, okay, enough about math and P.E. periods," I said, raising my voice slightly to regain control of the room. "The periods I'm talking about aren't something you find on your timetable."
The giggles died down, and I saw a few curious faces finally realizing that maybe this conversation was about something else. Good. Now I've got their attention.
"Periods," I repeated, locking eyes with the younger girls, "are when a girl starts bleeding from down there." I pointed downward subtly, hoping they'd catch on. "It's called menstruation, and it's completely normal. It happens to all of us."
For a second, there was stunned silence, followed by a chorus of muttering as the younger girls exchanged horrified glances.
"Bleeding?" one girl whispered, wide-eyed.
"Yes, bleeding," I confirmed, trying not to laugh at her expression. I mean, I get it, it sounds terrifying when no one's ever told you about it.
"But don't worry," I added quickly, "you're not dying. It's part of growing up, and it happens every month for a few days. That's why it's called a cycle."
I could see a few of the older girls nodding along, clearly more comfortable with the topic. The younger ones, though? Still looking like I'd just announced the apocalypse.
One of the fifth graders raised her hand tentatively. "Dii... will it hurt?"
I smiled at her gently. "For some girls, yes, there can be cramps. It feels like a stomachache, but not everyone has them. You can always come to one of us, and we'll help you out." Not like we don't already have a stockpile of hot water bottles and painkillers stashed away in every corner.
"And no, before anyone asks," I added, giving them a warning look, "you will not bleed to death. It's just a little bit of blood every day, and your body is designed for it."
A sixth grader raised her hand, looking skeptical. "But Dii, what if it never stops?"
Oh, this one's dramatic.
"It will stop," I reassured her. "After a few days, it stops, and it won't happen again for about a month."
Mahi, who had been watching quietly, finally jumped in. "And you can use pads to manage it," she said, holding one up. "Like what Saher di just gave to Ritu."
The younger girls were wide-eyed as Mahi held up the pad like it was some magical talisman.
Well, it kind of is... but that's beside the point.
"Think of it like this," I said, stepping in again, "Pads are like little shields. You just wear them to absorb the blood, and then change them every few hours."
"Can you swim with them?" one of the younger girls asked suddenly, clearly thinking ahead.
Ah, the important questions. "Nope," I said with a grin, "not unless you want to turn the pool red. There are other things you can use for swimming, but we'll save that for later. Baby steps."
The girls giggled, some nervously, but I could tell the tension was easing. They were absorbing the information, even if they didn't fully understand it yet.
"And listen," I said, my voice softening, "Periods are nothing to be ashamed of. Every girl goes through it. It's part of being strong and growing up. You can always come to any of us if you need help or have questions, okay?"
They all nodded, some more hesitantly than others, but I could see the relief washing over them. Well, mission accomplished, Saher. Crisis averted.
"Alright, now that's enough serious talk for tonight," I announced, clapping my hands together.
They scattered like a swarm of bees, whispering to each other and stealing glances my way. Honestly, it's never boring with these girls.
As the last of them left, Mahi leaned in with a grin. "You should've been a teacher, you know?"
I rolled my eyes, stretching out on my bed. "Please, dealing with these kids is enough of a full-time job."
Ooo
It was well past midnight, and here I was, hanging my freshly washed clothes on the line. Of course, Saher, what else would you be doing this late? The cool night air brushed against my skin, sending a slight shiver through me as I wrestled with the stubborn knot on one of the wet dupattas. The quiet was comforting—until it wasn't.
Just as I reached for another cloth, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye.
Wait...what's that? I squinted, focusing on the shadowy figures climbing down from the giant water tank in the distance. Boys. Twelve of them. And what were they carrying? Soaps? Clothes? Oh great. What now?
My curiosity took over. I tiptoed to the back gate and carefully opened it, my heart racing a little from the thrill of sneaking around. Really, Saher? You just told everyone to behave and here you are, playing detective.
I slipped outside and ducked behind a tree, trying to get a better view.
"Hey! What are you boys doing up there?!" the warden boy's voice boomed through the quiet, and in an instant, all chaos broke loose.
The boys on the water tank panicked, scrambling to climb down as fast as they could. Their soaps and clothes were slipping from their hands, clattering to the ground as they jumped and scattered in all directions. One of them lost a shoe mid-leap, sending it flying into the bushes. The warden raced toward them on his cycle, yelling threats about catching every last one of them.
My eyes scanned the scene, catching sight of Rehaan running in my direction. Oh, you've got to be kidding me.
I should've stayed out of it. I really should've. But there I was, instincts kicking in, and before I could think twice, I stepped out from behind the tree and grabbed Rehaan's arm as he sprinted by.
"What the—" he hissed, but I yanked him toward me and pulled him behind the tree, both of us pressed against the trunk.
The warden boy was getting closer, shouting louder, and my pulse quickened. I could feel Rehaan's breath on my neck as we crouched there, hiding like two criminals. His heart was pounding just as hard as mine, though he was doing his best to look unfazed. Why do I keep ending up in these ridiculous situations with him?
The warden's flashlight flickered in the distance, sweeping across the courtyard. My heart raced as I caught sight of Rehaan, and a sudden question slipped from my lips. "Why didn't you come during sports time and send someone else instead?"
As soon as I asked, embarrassment washed over me. Really, Saher? Is this the time for this question? I mentally scolded myself.
He looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected that question at all. "I thought you wanted me to stay away," he replied, smirking. "But I guess I was wrong."
What. A. Jerk.
I shot him a glare, irritation bubbling up. "If you talk nonsense, I'll push you out there and let the warden catch you," I warned, keeping my voice low but firm.
"Along with you?" he countered, leaning closer, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Last time I remember, you caught others doing the same stunt and directly complained to the principal. What changed today?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, a mix of challenge and amusement in his tone.
As the warden's voice faded into the distance, I peeked out from behind the tree, my heart thudding like a bass drum. The moonlight cast a soft glow, illuminating the courtyard, but the shadows felt alive. I turned to Rehaan, who leaned casually against the tree trunk, unfazed by the chaos around us.
"Get back before I actually regret helping you," I snapped, trying to sound tough, but a smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth.
"Umm...ignoring my question? Fine, fine... Goodnight, topper, I owe you this," he replied, that infuriating smirk stretching wider. The glint in his eyes sparked a mix of irritation and something else I couldn't quite place. With a quick push off the tree, he melted into the shadows, leaving me standing there, my heart still racing from the adrenaline.
Why does he always make things so complicated?
So at what age or in which class did you get your period?
Write a comment ...