Trigger warning: Sensitive topic; blood, periods.

Criticism appreciated.

Scene inspiration - Dwivedii

Shiva squinted his eyes, it was still dark, but his sleep was broken due to bodily functions.

Raavi had been sleeping with one hand and one leg over him, and he thought it was funny that he was like her personal teddy bear.

He disentangled himself from her, and went to the bathroom, half asleep. Turning on the lights, he noticed some colour on his pants, but ignored it, as he didn't want to break his sleep.

When his eyes were open completely open, he noticed blood on his pants. He looked around his hands, legs, torso for any injury that could have caused the stain, but he couldn't find any.

He was confused was 2 minutes, until it struck him. He took out some of her clothes, her napkins, and kept them in the bathroom. Turning on a small light, he went to wake up Raavi.

"Raavi, uth jaa." He gently nudged.
"Kya hai, Shiva. Sone de na." Raavi mumbled, hugging his hand.

He tried again. "Uth jaa, aur jaake change karle."
"Kyu?" She sat up, until she noticed the stains on Shiva's pants.

Her eyes widened, as she looked down on the bed, to find blood stains all over the bedsheet and her dress.

"I'm so sorry Shiva." She hid her face in her hands.
"Kuch nahi, jaa tu change kar. Nahale, best, tujhe bhi accha lagega. Garam paani rakh ke aaya hu tere liye." He nodded at her.

Shiva had read about periods in books, and how they could help out their wives, moms, sisters and friends in these 5-7 days.

While Raavi took a shower, Shiva changed his clothes, bedsheet, and the blanket, as it got stained as well. He rinsed everything under cold water and soap, and put it out to dry.

He searched for a hot water bag, and kept it for heating, just in case Raavi had severe cramps.

Raavi came out of the shower, just as Shiva was making sure the pain killers were in the right spot. "De, tere kapde sukha deta hoon." He went to take her clothes, but she jerked it out of his hands and dried them herself.

Normally, she isn't this quiet or reserved. But, something bothered her and Shiva knew exactly what.

"Raavi, kuch nahi hua hai. It's fine, normal toh hai." He turned her by her shoulders to face him.

"I'm sorry, woh aise hamesha nahi hota hai, aaj pata nahi kaise..." Raavi trailed off, slightly embarrassed. "Aur aise pure bed pe, tere kapdo par, I'm so sorry."

Raavi didn't think that periods were a stigma. It was nothing to be ashamed about. If women didn't go through this every month, no one would be born.

But, she accidentally stained the bed, and even Shiva's clothes. That had never happened before, not even before marriage. Maybe that's why she was a little flustered, it was the first time this had happened.

"Dekh. Tu embarrass kyu ho rahi hai? Pati hu na mai tera? Aadat toh mujhe hona hi chahiye iska. And it's okay, aisa ho jaata hai." He explained.

"Mere liye toh ye sab normal hai. Ghar pe toh periods aate the, aur mujhe kapdo mein se blood stains nikaalne ko itna irritate hota tha, woh bhi har mahine." Raavi rolled her eyes. Truly, as much as it was important, it was equally annoying.

"Par tere liye aise, suddenly raat ko uthke dekhna, tujhe accha nahi laga hoga."

"Accha nahi laga hoga matlab? Tujhe periods aate hai, raat ko ho gaya, aur thoda sa stain hua, bas. Ab agar mujhe chot aati, aur raat ke beech me ghaav khul gaya, toh bata ye dono situation me difference kya hai?" He looked at her, not being able to understand why she felt so embarrassed.

"Ye mere saamne hua, tujhe accha nahi laga?" He asked, trying to coax her.

"Haa. Nahi... Matlab. Mein tere saath bohot comfortable hoon, sacchi. I think, ye hamesha akele hi handle kiya hai na, toh suddenly ab mera pati isme involve ho gaya, toh mujhe samjha nahi kya karu." Raavi sheepishly said.

Shiva cupped her face and chuckled, "Arre baba, ab itna mat soch. Mai kaha tujhe iske liye kuch bolna waala hu, mera koi haq hi nahi hai!" He laughed.

Raavi chuckled at that. Indian men usually act so weird about periods, as if it's a crime to be a woman. They don't want to even talk about it, let alone associate with it.

All her life, she was told that she shouldn't mention periods or anything related to menstruation in front of men, because society stigma. It really infuriated her.

But Shiva, he wasn't like that. In fact, he spoke so openly about it. Raavi was proud, that he was so open about it. That's exactly how everyone should be about periods or anything menstruation related.

"Aur agar tujhe kuch bhi chahiye hoga, toh mujhe bolna." Shiva kissed her forehead. "Chal, ab so jaa."

Raavi slept one one side, back facing Shiva. In 2 seconds, she felt an arm around her, along with it, an envelope of warmth.

"Tujhe aise sone me problem nahi hai?" Raavi asked, snuggling more into his embrace.

Shiva mumbled from behind her,

"Mujhe toh bas meri biwi chahiye. Aapko problem hai kya, madam?"

~~

2 days later

"Rishita bhabhi, aur kuch laana hai?" Shiva called from the entrance, just before leaving.

"Nahi Shiva, Dhara bhabhi se ek baar confirm kar, mujhe jo laga uska list bana ke diya." Rishita said from the corridor.

"Shiva!" Raavi called out from the dining table, munching away on some kachoris. "Mere na pads khatam ho gaye hai, aate waqt ek packet le aana please. Baadme mai online le lungi."

"Kaunse waale? Kuch bhi toh uthake nahi laa sakta na. Naam toh hoga." Shiva asked, wearing his watch.

"Woh na, last time maine kuch alag khareeda tha, woh comfortable the, tujhe naam check karke text karti hu. Woh nahi mila toh phone kar mujhe." Raavi said, casually.

He nodded and left on his bike. Rishita came and sat down next to Raavi.

"Tu kya kar rahi thi?" Rishita asked, glancing around.

"Matlab? Shiva ko pads laane bheja. Mere khatam ho gaye the, aur waise bhi woh dukaan jaa raha tha, toh mujhe tumse ya Dhara di se puchne ki zaroorat nahi padi." Raavi happily munched on her kachori.

"Haa par idhar sab baithe hai na. Aise kaise casually bol diya tumne?" Rishita turned to look at everyone, sitting on the sofa and chairs, casually doing something or the other.

"Toh kya hua? Kisiko waha farak nahi pada. And it's normal. Agar kisiko problem hoti hai, toh unhe apne priorities set karne chahiye." Raavi smiled at her.

"Yaar, tum log sab itne cool ho. Mere ghar pe toh woh typical Indian mentality thi. Isliye mera bhi first reaction bilkul unke jaise hota hai. Sorry. " Rishita frowned.

"Arre Rishita, sorry kyu? Tumhe nahi pata he parivaar kitna cool hai. Chal tujhe kahaniya sunati hu bachpan ki" She called Rishita, as she got up to keep her plate.

~~

"Raavi, aise kyu leti hai?" Shiva asked.

She was clutching her stomach, and sleeping sideways, in fetal position.

"Mat puch. Jaan nikli jaa rahi hai." She mumbled, as she adjusted herself to ease the pain.

"Bolke toh gaya tha ki yaha water bag rakhha hai." Shiva walked to connect the bag.

"Ab uska garam hone ka wait kaun karega? Tum ko na laat maarti hu, aur fir bolti hu ki 'wait karo, first aid aa raha hai'. Kuch bhi bolta hai." Raavi angrily muttered, still adjusting herself.

Shiva didn't say anything, he patiently waited for the bag to heat, and then took it to her.

"Seedha let." He instructed.

"Dekh Shiva, mujhe kisine water bag diya nahi hai itne saal me, maine iske bina 22 saal guzaare hai, iski zaroorat nahi hai." Raavi whined.

"22 saal guzaare hai iska matlab ye nahi ki aage bhi guzarne padenge. Let chup chaap." Shiva said, with utmost patience.

Raavi rolled her eyes and obliged. Shiva placed it on her lower belly, and it instantly felt better. Where was this invention her whole life and why did no one give it to her?

"Thank you. And sorry. Tujhpe chillane ke liye. Woh pain ke wajah se irritate ho raha tha." She apologetically said, mood much better.

Shiva just smiled and kissed her on her cheek, before lying down next to her, with arm over her.

"Tujhe agar zyaada pain hua toh pain killer waha pe hai, mujhe utha lena." He mumbled, before snuggling into her warmth.

What a dork. He's my husband, he's an amazing dork.

- - - - -

As I said, I really felt like writing this chapter. Of course, women are very independent when it comes to periods, I just thought it would be fun to write this chapter.

Criticism accepted. Don't forget to vote :)