An week passed with their marriage and everything was going like before. He was behaving like a strict teacher to her and as usual she was a negligent student.

Shree slowly peeped her head inside from the doorstep and saw him making the bed for her. Then he took a bedsheet and started making his bed on the floor.

"You can sleep on the bed for some days" Shree told him making him frown.

"I can't sleep in this room today" Her words deepened his frown.

"Why?"

"Kiyun ki aj hume ghar ke bahar sona haina!" (Because I've to sleep outside today)

She said like it was so obvious for her.

"I can't get you" Rishiraj focused on her properly letting her continue as she lowered her head not knowing how to tell him.

"I'm on my period" He understood her hesitancy now but why she wanted to sleep outside that didn't get into his brain.

"But why did you want to sleep outside?"

"Because I'm dirty now and you'll get sick if I stay with you" She mumbled lowly but he heard her very well and looked at her shockingly.

Was she real?

"What? Who told these things to you?" Rishiraj questioned unbelievably.

"Kaki ne bataya hai ki is waqt kisi bhi cheez ko chhuna ashubh hai to ghar mein bhi hum bahar hi sote the" (My aunt told me, touching anything at this time will bring harm that's why I used to sleep outside these days in my house)

Her innocent words made him speechless as he sighed and sat on the couch.

"Come here"

"No I can't. If you touch me you'll get sick"

He glared at her hearing all rubbish thoughts which she was bearing in her head.

"Idhar ao shree" (Come here)

His voice was thick which made her gulp heavily.

Shree didn't wait for a second to run towards the couch. Sitting beside him she kept a distance between them. She didn't want him to get sick.

"Batayiye!" (Tell me)

She asked curiously like he was going to share a deep secret.

Rishiraj went towards his shelf and brought a book with him. Then turning over the pages he stopped at a particular page and then looked at her.

"Now read it aloud" Hearing his words, she scrunched her nose.

He was making her study at night too? Didn't he know that it was sleeping time. Why did God tie her with this man who knew nothing other than studies. Her cheeks puffed up in anger. It was better to marry that old and bad man than this strict teacher.

"Read!"

Seeing his glare she took the book and started to read it aloud.

"Mi_Minisataration or a period is aaaa normal part of a w_woman's va_vaganiol ble_beding"

"Ye sab kya padhe ja rahi ho tum, Thik se padho" (What nonsense are you reading. Read it carefully)

He scolded her taking the wooden scale in his hand.

"Hume angreji thik se na ati hai" (I don't know English properly)

She pouted her lips and lowered her head.

Why did he scold her all the time? She wouldn't talk with him further. He was a bad man. Tears were about to come from her eyes but she took it back puffing her cheeks.

He huffed not knowing what he would do with this girl. He took the book in his hand and started reading.

"Menstruation, or a period, is a normal part of a woman's monthly cycle that involves vaginal bleeding. A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone , which cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and develop into a baby. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again" He ended and then continued.

"Menstruation or period is a very normal thing for a girl's body. It happens with every girl because of hormonal changes. Just like eating, drinking, walking, and sleeping, it's also essential for a human body. It doesn't make anyone dirty or impure because she is bleeding" Rishiraj tried to make him understand his words in the simplest way.

But leaving all the other things behind, Shree clearly heard him saying, 'egg'.

"Egg?"

"Yes, If an egg isn't fertilized, the lining breaks down and bleeds, which is menstruation" He thought now she understood his point.

"Hamare pet mein ande ug rahe hai?" (My belly is producing eggs)

He choked on his saliva hearing her question and looked at her with a glare. He was an idiot to make her understand the other things. She didn't know about anything, he concluded.

'Where did I land myself?' He hit his forehead with the book and huffed.

"Bas itna samajhlo aisa kuch nehi hota jaisa tumhare kaki ne kaha hai. Ye sab bakwas hai" (For now, only know that whatever your aunt told you nothing happens like that. These all are rubbish)

He said making her frown.

"Then you're not going to get sick if I sleep here"

Rishiraj denied moving his head side by side.

"It can never happen"

"But Kaki_?" She was going to stay but stopped herself seeing his glare.

"Forget whatever she told you and hear only mine. I'll not get sick if you come near me on your periods. It's not like, if you stay here I'll also start getting periods from tomorrow like you"

Shree looked at him widening her eyes.

"Aisa bhi ho sakta hai?" (Can it happen)

She asked him as he slapped on her head lightly.

"Stupid girl, it can never"

She pouted again at him while rubbing her head. What was the need to slap her?

"Now go and sleep. You don't wanna get more scoldings, do you?" He warned as she immediately ran towards the bed and laid her body on it.

Rishiraj shook his head at this girl and laid his body on the floor.

In the middle of the night, he heard some sniffles and sobs which broke his sleep. He got up with a jerk and saw her sitting on the bed lowering her head, hugging her knees over her chest.

Hearing her sobs, Rishiraj didn't waste a single second and sat beside her.

"What happened, Shree?" He spoke softly holding her shoulders making her face him.

Her eyes were teary, lips were trembling and cheeks were wet with tears.

"H_Hume bohot dard ho raha" (It is paining a lot)

She uttered with her broken voice as it was paining like hell.

He understood her words and softly caressed her hairs to calm her down but she wasn't stopping. An idea popped up in his mind as he went towards the kitchen immediately.

"Shhh, I'm coming" Saying, so he immediately went towards the kitchen.

Shree couldn't even lift her head as her whole body was paining.

After sometime, he came with a hot water bag and passed it to her.

"Take this and run it over your stomach like this. You'll feel better" He instructed her.

With those teary eyes she looked at him but couldn't understand him properly as none did something like this before for her ever.

Rishiraj understood she wasn't aware of this process.

"Lay down"

"I_I can't sleep. I_It is paining a lot" She uttered while wiping her tears.

"It'll get better. Trust me" His assuring words made her calm a little as she laid on the bed slowly.

He hesitantly removed the cloth from her stomach and put the hot water bag over it. While slowly rubbing it there he caressed her hairs.

After sometime, Shree felt a little better as her eyes automatically closed in exhaustion. Her cries stopped as her soft breaths spread the air making him aware of her sleeping soundly.

He remained doing it for the night and then got up slowly not wanting to disturb her sleep.

Taking his place, he slept instantly losing himself in the land of dreams.

•••