Rakhi and Rajdeep had bought everyone to the farm. Latika Mami had told post lunch they all should go and show Suman and Poornima the fields. Since it was a bit hot Latika Mami didn't allow Nami and Adwaith to go and asked them to play with Saran and Shreya. She gave a bag with lime juice, cut mangoes flavoured with salt and mirchi, and home made snacks in Rakhi's hand so that they can have it in the fields itself.
Sreedhar observed Suman. She was chatting with Rakhi like anything and was completely comfortable with her. But then she has not looked at him once since he took that packet yesterday. When he tried to look she averted eyes. When he tried to talk she rushed, now also she was keeping a distant pace with him.
Sreedhar knew it cannot go on. They were going to Ria's place tomorrow. Suman cannot go there in this condition and behave uncomfortably in front of all of them . He needed to speak to her and clear whatever inhibitions she was having. But how was the question. Rajdeep and Rakhi were with them.
He looked at Vaishnav and Poornima chatting and enjoying the bajra and corn fields. He knew only they could help him. There was a barn at the far end of the field and he knew once he could get Suman there he will be able to talk if Vaishu and Poorni can keep Rakhi and Rajdeep distracted enough.
He excused himself with Rajdeep and called Poorni and indicated to Vaishu give company to Rajdeep. Vaishu did as requested and Sreedhar told Poorni his need.
" Chachu don't worry. Me and Vaishu will ensure you and Chachi get some private time." As she moved away from Sreedhar, Vaishnav also systematically moved away from Rajdeep. Sreedhar went back to Rajdeep , while Poorni and Vaishu discussed what they need to do.
Poorni told " Rakhi didi we are walking for so much time. Can we have food. I am feeling very hungry"
" Yes of course Poorni why not " told Rakhi and they all sat and feasted on the food. During the course of food Rakhi was engaged in conversation by Poorni and Vaishu engaged Rajdeep with this question and that question.
So once the food was over the group was split into Rakhi –Poorni, Rajdeep –Vaishu. Suman had no choice but to walk with Sreedhar. She kept her head lowered. Sreedhar increased his pace indicating her to follow. Suman said no, but his eyes were firm and he whispered " Don't create a scene". Suman took her pallu and covered herself. Sreedhar was surprised. What has happened to her. She was never uncomfortable with him except maybe for the first 2-3 days they practiced Jodi dance in college. He looked behind. Poorni and Vaishu had kept their side of the bargain well. They were far behind.
Soon they reached the barn and once they entered Sreedhar closed it three fourth and put on the light. He knew from experience at this time no one will come there as due to summer time workers went home by noon.
Sreedhar looked at Suman who had turned away from him and was leaning on the hay in the barn.
" Sumi" he called her gently and placed a hand on her shoulder. She went rigid
" Sumi what is the problem. Why are you behaving like this. Unless you tell something how will I understand. "
" I am sorry. Don't scold me. It will not happen next time" she murmured still not looking at him
" Sorry" Sreedhar was perplexed
" Sorry for what. What did you do to offend me " asked Sreedhar.
" You have bought me here to scold right because you had to take that packet. It is dirty for you right" told Suman
" Stayfree. Sumi. Who told you it is dirty for me. And why should it be dirty for me. I have enough common sense to know it is a product used by ladies for hygiene purpose during their monthly cycle. And scolding you. Sumi me and Kailasah had bought a packet of Stayfree for Shalini when we had gone for inter college competition in Agra"
" You what ..." this time Suman turned and looked at him incredulously
" I said I had bought a packet of Stayfree for Shalini. Shalini and Gautham were for debate competition. Me and Kailasah were for quiz. Shalini's family knew us three idiots so they knew we will drop her safely back to hostel. Unfortunately the competition which was supposed to start at 10 am got 4-5 hrs late due to problem with electricity. After sometime Shalini started fidgeting. Then in another 10-15 minutes she started crying. She was not telling what was her problem. We were surprised what suddenly happened to uber cool Shalini. It was Kailash who finally solved the problem as he has two younger sisters unlike me and Gautham who doesn't have sisters at home. He asked what brand to her gently. Though surprised at first Shalini told Stayfree. We went to the nearby medical shop and got her that and Shalini was back to her real self. This was never told to anyone as we knew how sensitive such a topic would be for Shalini. Apart from 4 of us you are the 5th person to whom I am telling this"
Suman looked at him " You didn't had any problem taking that packet"
" No Sumi I don't have any problem. Why should I. It is a product that a lady needs for something very personal. She has a monthly need because of something God has given her. A process which is very much necessary to sustain life on this planet. Why did you feel I will scold you Sumi for this. In your home you are scolded"
Suman sat on the floor leaning against the hay and Sreedhar sat opposite to her
" Tell me Sumi why did you feel I will scold you"
Tears were flowing through Suman's eyes as she showed the mark on her arm to Sreedhar " My father burned me for keeping a packet of Stayfree inadvertently in grocery bag. He said all these things are dirty for men. And we during that time are impure. In my house during that time we cannot go through front door, we can go only through back door. The whole neighborhood will know when we have cycle. The boys will stand by side and laugh at us as if we are having something dirty. I used to walk to school with bowed head during that time. Then at night we have to sleep on the floor. Even in winter no blanket is given only bedsheet is given. We have to get through the night shivering. Then on 4th day early morning 4 am, even during winters we have to get up and wash the clothes. Only if clothes is washed and we had the bath we are allowed to enter inside. If anything goes wrong during that time we are cursed and sometime after the bath we are beaten and sometimes burned too"
" It is like that in my home" asked Sreedhar
" No Maa has only two conditions. One without bath no one will enter kitchen and you are supposed to have batch twice a day mandatorily. Second after the 3rd day before bath put bedsheets and other clothing in washing machine and ensure they are washed. She always ensures hot water is made available for us to take bath and also makes us drink lot of water, lime juice, lassi etc.." told Suman and Sreedhar looked at her whether to proceed on the topic or not. He decided to proceed.
" Sumi shall I ask you something very intimate, if you feel uncomfortable to answer don't answer"
She looked at him " Sreedhar you told you don't consider my cycle dirty, neither is that packet dirty for you. You don't know how happy I am. I will try to answer your question, you have every right to ask me intimate question"
" Sumi do you have problems during your cycle. I mean I have read woman have lot of discomfort during that time. Is it true. What happens to you during that time"
" Sreedhar it differs from person to person but one thing is that we all feel very tired during that time. For me I have terrible stomach ache and back ache for 1 day and then it subsidies in the consequent days. But the most tough thing for me is that I have nausea. If I eat anything I feel like throwing out, but then nothing happens. It is sickening. At my home I use to stay hungry because I will get beaten up for being nauseous. Since it is a pregnancy symptom my Papa and my brothers were very much instigated when that happens as they feared people will feel I am pregnant. So I will stay hungry. I will go hungry to school, write exams with hungry stomach. Even with terrible stomach ache I will write exams as I couldn't find another way to escape the prison of my family. My family never bought any medicines to alleviate our pain. And add to all the stupid things that woman Prathana Devi comes and sermonizes again and again our cycle is Indra's curse for being impure. It was when I went to college I got Cyclopam the pain killer from my friends and it was when I came here Maa made me drink Ashokarista to relieve me of all such symptoms to a great extend."
Suman saw Sreedhar's eyes were teary
" I don't tell you such things because you will cry. I don't like to see you crying Sreedhar"
" Sumi I want to be your medicine during this time. I want my hugs and kisses to alleviate all your pains you feel during this time. I don't know how you have survived all this. I cant concentrate with a prick on my finger and how do you write exam with a stomach ache."
" Necessity makes you do a lot of things Sreedhar. When option is between a life of freedom and chains of gender bias you will do a lot of things. You don't consider me impure at all to hold me during that time"
" Sumi I only feel happy whenever I hold your hand. It doesn't matter whether you are having your cycle or you are not having it. You are always pure for me. In college you might not have told me but I would have taken your hand at that time also right. So yes I can share intimate moments with you during that time as I believe there is no medicine better than love for such pains"
Suman was feeling overwhelmed and she wanted to go and hug him, but she restrained herself " Sreedhar I never knew a man will value me so much"
He moved forward , took her hand and kept it on his chest " Sumi you don't put value for your heartbeat. You are my heart beat" Suman closed her eyes feeling his heartbeat. When she opened her eyes he saw him smiling.
" Shall we go. They might be waiting for us " he asked . As they got up they heard Poorni's call " Sreedhar Chachu, Suman Chachi can we go back"
" Yes Poorni " told Sreedhar as he came out followed by Suman
" So Sumanji how is the barn, the fields of Jodhpur"
" It is good Sreedhar. I am enjoying" she replied as they made her way back to house