CHAPTER THREE / ESCAPE

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      SOMETIMES YOU want little adventure in your life. To make your breathing go harder and your heart beating recklessly fast.
The tiny collection of years called 'Life' is a journey that must be travelled far, lived to its fullest and discovers every secrets.

      I personally wanted some spice in my life since childhood, for that books were of great help. Ever as I age, my pure child self sits safe and sound in the boughs of the trees or window sill to visit those sacred places and find adventures in yellowish - white upturned pages of books.

      Apart from heavyweight books, running away or escape sounds more good is a better option. Like how I am planning to sneak through the front gate to avoid my ma right now.

      It was Sunday afternoon, quite drowsy to be precise. The burning sun was at its peak, the early summer heat was evidently found everywhere.
The lush green, small herbs, tulsi at the centre of aangan turned dried down. The sweet chirps of sparrows were weak due to their dry throat.

Ah! Nobody kept water pitcher for them today

      Walking silently on my toes, I arranged my dupatta near my shoulder and pumped my fist  triumphantly in the air. Did it!!

    Fifteen minutes later, I'm waiting for Mili to arrive in front of town church. After contemplating a lot, I figured working with her part time will be nice. Morning classes in college with tutions at evening will be a perfect routine. Only one thing is to worry, nobody from house or neighbours should know about it. The last thing I want is to be caught red handed.

    "Mil gayi, how are you? I thought you'll wait in front of stall" Mili shrieked loudly. She wore her hair in long braids today.

      "Does it take so long to reach town church, your house is just two blocks away. Anyways, I'm fine and agreeing to that offer we talked about." I answered breathlessly.

    "What got you so riled up today? Finally, you decided aim of your future." She asked with fake concern. I chuckled.

   "I sneaked out of my house in afternoon. There's a lot of chores left back there. Ma will kill me afterwards." said I frustratingly.

   "Acha! I saw that coming. Why didn't you confronted her? Your cowardness will get you nowhere."

    We took a sharp right turn, into a street so narrow that not more than two person can pass through it at once. This was more of the
clustered and stuffed part of the
city.

      There were various repair shops, stacked with broken electronics. A little stall selling flowers was on the left, right next to a textile shop. There were a lot of tiny stalls and when we got to the end of the street, selling various street food.  The smell of masala and other delicacies wafted in air. Making my mouth salivate.

    "I will definitely one day. Now, you're going to pay today, remember last time I did. So, its your turn." I stated, giggling at the end.

    Mili ordered the old man standing beside the thela to serve us panipuri. One by one, he served both of us puris in a bowl made up of dried palm leaves. Stuffing my mouth with tangy food, I wiped the  corner of my mouth with the back of my hand.

   "Bhaiya, leave it. I think I'm full." I continued "What about you Mili?"

   "Mera bhi ho gya!" Mili replied to me and the plump man at the same time.

    Washing my hands, to get rid of spills with the bucket of water in the other side of stall. I called Mili and helped her with her purse. We smiled at him and walked through the different steps towards main town.

   Sitting in the bench of dhabha we started chatting about our lives to coming festive preparation. She informed me about the her recent discovery of women nearby suffering from RTI. Their ignorance towards using sanitary napkins and adopting a unhygienic ways of grooming. Almost half of young girl in the town is unaware about those diseases and safe measures.

    A fact, which is saddening, a potential reason of death of every other woman in our country.

     "You know what, this pcod is also new problem now. I thought you were the only one suffering. I mean, it was rare. But later I saw, five other young girls." Mili exclaimed, dusting her dress with her hands.

      "Oh god! It is curable though. But initially you face plenty of problems. From lectures of Aunties to  degrading mental health. You know one of those old woman, told ma that no one is going to marry me." I informed her.

Mili sighed.

     And it was true, the amount of stigma and misconceptions involved regarding these topics are insane. Instead of working on those issues and helping young girls, people start associating irrelevant taboos and false accusations on infested person.

     "It is concerning. Plus the insecurities those girls face at such young age is serious. Weight gain and other symptoms are horrible. Why not start a small campaign against it? Just you, me and some of our groups." Mili suggested.

I nodded.

     "You are correct. We should. It will take some funds and a handful of other options to build it in a larger area. We can start with our town first." I further added.

     We started discussing about other personal matters for other thirty minutes. The new shop opened near bus stop was actually a designer boutique.

    Browsing and searching for other half and hour in the shop. Mili settled with a new patterned halter neck dress and a cute, blush pink off-shoulder top. I, on the other hand bought few perfectly tailored jeans, a puffed sleeve shirt. Seeing the less amount of outfits for college, I added some more pieces to my cart.

     At the end of the day, we parted our ways towards our house. The day of adventure coming to an end. Giving rise to an another sun of hopes and dreams ahead.

~*~

a/n:- i hope y'all enjoy reading it. PCOS is a literally a new challenge for some girls these days, including me. one of five of every Indian woman is suffering with this disorder.

don't forget to vote and smile!

GLOSSARY

tulsi: holy basil, a plant

aangan: courtyard (in hindi)

dupatta: scarf like piece of clothing

tution: private tutor

mil gyi: found you

aacha: good or okay( in the context of chapter)

thela: lorry or trolley in which street food are sold

bhaiya: brother or friendly way to address a strange man

mera bhi ho gya: I'm done too

dhabha: roadside restaurant

masala:  indian spices