NepaliTantrums: Touch Me Not

Source: Google

Girl: Hey I'm lookin' for *******, you got it? 

Dealer: Yeah, got a few, how much you lookin fo’? 
Girl: Um, I'm not sure it's my first time.
Dealer: I'm thinkin’ you should start off with this, how much you thinkin’ of spendin’? 
Girl: I got 200 bucks, how much for a dose? 
Dealer: 100 fo’ the premium one, you in? 
Girl: Sure, I’ll try one, *hands him the money*
Dealer: Thanks. *wraps it with a paper and covers the package with a black polythene*

Girl: (Walking with the package in her hand) *I hope nobody finds out what I’m carrying… Shit shit shit… why is that guy looking at me… now he’s looking at this packet… should I run? No, act normal, breathe…breathe… avoid eye contact! Why is this dog following me now… no no no… don’t start sniffing  the packet... people will notice... I think I should just run until I get home or I’ll get caught… fuck… this is why I hate having my period.* *Starts running*

If you’re a girl and could relate to this, either you’re a victim of the “social culture” of Nepal, or you are involved in buying drugs. Personally, I have always wondered why we have portrayed a visit to the pharma like explosives trading. I’m not trying to say that whenever we buy any female hygiene product, we should go around shouting “Hey people! I just bought pads. I’m so proud. Yay!”, but the fact that people are embarrassed by the mere topic of these products is why I think a change is necessary. Seriously! What’s so gross about sanitary pads as long as they are not used? No one cries “gross” by looking at the Mamy Poko Pants advertisements displayed in billboards and newspapers, do they?

I have been in many situations when I had simply asked for a packet of sanitary pads and got one wrapped with a long roll of patrika, kept inside a black polythene bag in return. If a Kathmandu basinda has to witness this scene so often, I wonder what the situation in the rural parts of the country is like. 

We are made to talk about periods in hushed voices as if it’s a dirty secret and all in all made to act as if it is something we should hide more when it is really a part of biology. Period cramps, mood swings, insatiable hunger, blood coursing like a crimson landslide when you sneeze, speak, walk, talk, even breathe! There is no such thing as a happy period like the ones shown on the advertisements. As if this wasn’t enough, our society has created its own sets of rules where utensils have to be separated for that specific time, entering in the kitchen is taken as a sin, touching a tree is forbidden because if that happens, it would stop it from bearing fruits (seriously?), entering a temple during that time of the month is the worst possible thing one could imagine. Talking about me, I have been to temples during that time of the month and celebrated Dashain and Tihar without telling anyone about it. Why? Because I did not want to miss out in the once in a year celebration (The dakshina part is a plus point obviously ;) ). And in case you’re wondering, I’m still safe, sound, alive and throwing tantrums like always.

You know what the actual problem is? No, not “nachune bhako keti le choyeko achaar”, but “our bichaar.”