by Pravleen Kaur
This is from the time when I was in 7th or 8th standard. So, one day when all the students gathered in the school ground for the morning assembly. I was on my period and had to wear white PT uniform that day. At that time period was something which I was not used to since it was just the beginning. I was new to it, and I used to worry a lot about period stains.
There were some girls who had already got their first before me so they always used to ask each other ki, “Yaar skirt pe dekhiyo koi nishan toh nahi hai? Their continuous talks about period stains kind of intimidated me and I started fearing period especially in school.
Whenever I felt my period days coming closer, I used to pray to god, “ghar pe date aa jaye”.
That day, when I was attending the morning assembly, after standing for almost half an hour when we were about to go to our respective classes, the school prefect stopped me and asked me to come with her. She then took me aside and informed me that my white skirt had a huge red spot exactly in the middle. I was so embarrassed and scared, thinking what to do now? I didn’t even had an extra skirt. And then she took me to the medical room where they gave me a spare skirt to change into and a sanitary napkin.
Suddenly I thought, how much time has passed just standing there with a bloody skirt? Students must be making fun of me or talking about me. And since that day I always carry a pad wherever I go but the fear of stain never left me.
It is still there but I haven’t told anyone or let anyone know this about me. I just discreetly check myself whenever I see a mirror.
