Chapter 2

As Banishree adorned herself in a vibrant green salwar kameez, the melody of "Main Agar Kahoon" resonated in the room. Humming along, she swayed to the music, lost in the rhythm of her own world. The morning sun cast a gentle glow on the scene, accentuating the hues of her attire.

In the midst of her morning routine, Raju, the bearer of news, entered the room. "Bani, teri Dadi tujhse milne ke liye tadap rahi hai. Vibhushan chacha tujhe lene ke ke liye aayenge, dopahar ke aas-paas camp se," he informed her. (Bani, your grandmother is eagerly waiting for you. Uncle Vibhushan will come to pick you up around noon from the camp.)

Banishree, with a mouthful of breakfast, responded, "Arey, Dadi ne bulaya? Achha, bata doon main ready hoon." (Oh, Grandma called? Okay, let them know I'm ready.)

Raju smiled, "Jaldi khana kha le, Bani, humein nikalna hai." (Eat quickly, Bani. Uncle Vibhushan will come, and we need to leave.)

Banishree nodded. "Bilkul, maama ji. Hum bas thoda aur kha loon." (Of course, Uncle. Let me just finish eating some more.)

Inside the green medical tent, Arjun diligently attended to a woman who had developed an infection due to using clothes instead of sanitary pads during her periods. The serious lines on his forehead softened as he explained the importance of proper hygiene.

Arjun (In Hindi): "Aapko ye infection isliye hua hai kyunki aap kapde istemal kar rahi hain mahine (periods) ke time par. Sanitary pad istemal karna bahut zaroori hai, yeh aapko UTI jaise infections se bachata hai." (You developed this infection because you are using cloth during your periods. It's essential to use sanitary pads; it protects you from infections like UTI.)

The woman, looking concerned, nodded attentively.

Arjun (In Hindi): "Sanitary pad ka istemal karna hygiene ke liye important hai. Isse aapki health par bhi achha asar padta hai." (Using sanitary pads is crucial for hygiene. It also positively impacts your health( reproductive mainly).)

The woman listened intently as Arjun continued to educate her about the proper usage and benefits of sanitary napkins, emphasising their role in maintaining health and preventing infections.

Arjun (In Hindi): "Agar aapko koi aur sawaal hai toh poochh sakti hain." (If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.)

The woman, now more informed, expressed gratitude as she left the tent, carrying not just medical advice but also a newfound awareness about menstrual health.

Banishree, the last one in the queue after standing for three hours, finally reached the medical camp. As she stepped in, fatigue evident in her movements, she stumbled on the ground pole of the tent, her head colliding with the base of a table.

Banishree (In Hindi): "Ooi maa, mar gye hum toh." (Oh my, I think I'm done for.)

Rubbing her head in pain, a comforting hand circled around her arm. Pausing, she looked up, her eyes wide and mouth open. Her gaze fixated on the man checking for injuries. Lost in the moment, she kept looking at him, momentarily captivated. The man waved his hand in front of her, prompting her to chuckle back to reality.

Banishree absent-mindedly spoke "Aap toh bahut te hi Sundar hai. Aap doctor Babu hi hai na?" (You are very handsome. You are a doctor, right?)

Arjun's eyes widened in amusement, and the nurse standing nearby cleared her throat. "Kyu doctor log Sundar nahi ho sakte?" He asked tilting his head to the side, still amused by the girl in front of him.

(Why can't doctors be attractive?)

Banishree still in awe with Arjun, jollily said, "Ummm... pata nahi. Oo ka hai na humare gaon me ek bhi doctor sundar nahi hai. Humne ek bhi Sundar doctor nahi dekha hai."

(I don't know. You see, in our village, there isn't a single good-looking doctor. I haven't seen a single attractive doctor.)

Arjun, now back in a professional stance, asked, "Zyada lagi toh nahi tumhe?"

(Didn't it hurt too much for you?)

Banishree shook her head, a childlike innocence in her response. "Areee, isse zyada zor se toh hum apne dadi se pit jaate hai. Hum estrang hai." She flexed her non-existent muscles.

(Oh no, getting scolded by my grandmother hurts more than this. I'm strong.)

"Itna toh chalta phirta hai. Hum ek din action heroine banenge. Katrina Kaif jaise. Aise choti moti chit toh lagegi hi." She continued blabbering animatedly, and Arjun listened to her patiently, smiling in amusement.

(This is nothing. I'll become an action heroine one day, like Katrina Kaif. These small bumps are bound to happen.)

"Okay okay. Ab batao kya taklif hai tumhe?" (Okay okay. Now tell me what trouble you're facing?) Arjun asked, signaling the nurse to measure Banishree's blood pressure and quickly check her glucose levels. Banishree suddenly quietened, and noticing her hesitation, Arjun said, "Dekho hum doctor hain. Humse sharmao mat. Nahi bataogi toh kaise pata chalega ki tumhe kya hua hai." (Look, I'm a doctor. Don't be shy. If you don't tell me, how will I know what's wrong with you?) He said softly.

Banishree, after a moment of thought, said softly, "Woh humko idhar dard hota hai. Tanik so bhi nahi pate kabhi-kabhi." (I have pain here, and sometimes it even makes it hard for me to sleep.) She pointed at her breast.

Arjun nodded and asked, "Aur kuch?" (And anything else?)

She nodded again. "Aur idhar se safed-safed Pani nikalta hai. Chip chips sa. Aur hamara matha bhi bahut darad hota hai." (And sometimes, white fluid comes out from here. Like a sticky substance. And I also have a lot of pain in my head.)

Arjun, maintaining a professional demeanor, instructed the nurse, "Tent ke windows neeche kar do." (Roll down the windows of the tent.) He wore his gloves and began a thorough examination of Banishree's breasts to check for lumps. As he pressed, a white milky fluid came out, and Banishree screamed, "It hurts!"

Arjun, concerned, immediately stopped and reassured her, "Thoda dard hoga, Bani. Hum dekh rahe hain." (It might hurt a bit, Bani. I'm watching.) The nurse handed Banishree a tissue, and Arjun continued the examination, carefully noting his observations.

Arjun, focused on writing the diagnosis, asked, "Kya age hai tumhari?" (What is your age?)

Bani smiled excitedly, pulling her kameez back down, "Aaj hum pure unnis saal ke ho gaye hain. Aaj humara happy birthday hai." (Today, I've turned nineteen. It's my birthday today.)

Arjun smiled at her, "Happy birthday, Bani." She nodded excitedly and said, "Thank you, thank you." Arjun chuckled.

On the prescription, he wrote 'galactorrhea' and prescribed medications along with investigations such as TSH and prolactin. "Last time mahina kab aaya tha?" (When did you last have your menstrual cycle?) he asked.

Bani started counting on her fingers and raised five fingers, saying, "Panch din pehle." (Five days ago.)

Arjun, engrossed in writing the prescription, was interrupted when Bani asked, "Sehri Babu aap sach me doctor hain? Aap phir chasma kaahe nahi pehnte?" (are you really a doctor? Why don't you wear glasses?)

The nurse, attempting to stifle her laughs, cleared her throat. Arjun, amused, shook his head and patted Bani's head, "Hum kuch test likhe hain, ye sheher se karwana padega." (I've prescribed some tests; you'll need to get them done in the city.) He was about to hand her the prescription when a middle-aged man angrily walked inside the camp and slapped Bani.

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