I don't know much about love, not sure if I understand it enough. Neither am I old nor sage to recognize how it appears but if there's one feeling that has been expressed by saints & sinners alike it's love.

So, what does love really look like? I believe love is like water. It floats & takes the shape of the container it is held in. Let's explore it the filmy way:

- The not-so-conventional love story between Barfi (deaf & mute since birth) & Jhimil (autistic)

- The finding love in old age as seen in Lage Raho Munna Bhai

- The fight for acceptance of your orientation & lover by one's family as shown in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

- The love that knows to wait & didn't stop even when borders & religion separates them as portrayed in Veer-Zaara.

Movies have defined & redefined love time & again but one of the central aspects among its varied faces is acceptance.

Accepting one's identity for who they are, loving them unconditionally & the struggle around it is not just essential but also difficult.

The movie Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui explores acceptance & struggle effectively. The confusion, difficulty in acceptance & struggle is not just displayed through the lead character Manu but all the characters. It depicts the struggle Maanvi, her parents, relatives & everyone else has but it also gently reminds us that rose & love with any other name would still be the same.

Dum Lage Ke Haisha is another such reminder. The fat shaming that Sandhya faced from her husband acted as a contrast for the comfort & love she had for her own body. The realisation that it doesn't matter what size his wife is & that love doesn't fix itself on a shape knocks Prem's mind & heart towards the end of the movie.

So, what even is love? I don't know but I know that the next time someone worries about log kya kahenge I'll quote Amitabh Bachchan & sing "Mere angane me tumhare kya kaam hai", as an answer to all the people because love is love.

Keep sharing love in little ways!

Let's understand what toxic parental behaviour is, when one or both parents engage in behaviours that stem long-term adverse consequences for their offspring, often continuing into adulthood.

Identifying toxic parental behaviour

• Self-centered behavior

• Physical abuse

• Verbal abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Manipulation

• Inability to respect boundaries

Here are some coping mechanisms while dealing with toxic parent/s:

• Stop trying to please them

• Set and enforce boundaries

• Be mindful of what you share with them

• You don't have to be available 24/7

• Know your parents' limitations

• Don't try to reason with them

• Always have an exit strategy

• If you wish to, you can work on their limitations

Lastly, the most important of all, don't forget to take care of yourself!

Random aunty no. 345790 : 24 and still single? Bete, when I was your age I was nursing my first child. You should hurry and find someone. You don't want to be a single, lonely and sad woman forever.

I force a smile. I have lost count of how many times I heard something similar this week.

Aunty, what makes you think that if I'm single I'll be lonely too? Is it from the societal expectation of seeing people in pairs? Is it so hard to believe that I'm happy even when I'm single? I'm content with where I'm at the moment and enjoying the growth and changes I get to see in myself everyday? I can focus on my self-development at the moment which makes me feel great. While a relationship might have its own merits, it can also be stressful and with the current stressors in my life I'm not interested in adding one more. A partner may come, stay or go but I won't be leaving myself. And why do you think I'm lonely? I have my career to focus on, myself to take care of, family and friends for company. Honestly, I don't feel I need anything more at the moment. Trust me, I'm not anti-love or anti-marriage, if it knocks on my door we'll see. But I'm no damsel in distress waiting for someone else to make me happy. I make me happy. What's so bad about loneliness anyway? We all might feel it sometimes, relationship or no relationship. Also, relationships are no guarantee that I wouldn't feel lonely. I'd rather be single and alone than in a relationship and lonely. So please stop telling me to look for a partner because that is not the most essential thing to do in life. Please don't worry about my biological clock ticking. Marriage and having children are a choice not essential to live one's life. I respect those who choose it but I don't appreciate you pushing me towards it. Just let me be.

I want to tell her this and more. So much more. I'm tired of hearing this again and again. But I force a smile do small talk and just say I want to focus on my career first (as if that's the next best thing 🤦) she says something more and I somehow manage to get out of the conversation. I want to tell her this but it feels pointless to explain this to someone who has only known life a certain way. It feels pointless because I might speak but she might not listen to it.

Dodging comments on relationships at the moment,

At home: Don't talk about Menstruation in front of men or the family.

With friends: Hey, let's talk softly about our monthly birthday, someone might hear us.

At the store, the shopkeeper: *wraps your pack of sanitary napkins in a newspaper then puts in a black bag* (for nazar purposes guys)

You might have come across these atleast once if you are a mensturator. We are always hushed down when it comes to this topic. Not to forget the never-ending taboos, names & practices that are associated with periods.

Even as a child and now as an adult, I feel that instead of giving such age old stigmas a shoulder, we must start talking about periods and spread awareness coz many of the mensturators tend to know about the process only once faced by them. And we are taught to follow tons of myths that may not have any relevance but is being followed just because the earlier generation did so.

It's time we must understand why we are told to stay hidden, not go into the kitchen or not to touch pickles. More than them getting spoilt it's the person and the body that goes through a lot and needs rest. Periods doesn't make a person impure, it's a process through which new life is brought to the world.

Let's debunk myths and create awareness about periods, related health issues and products that might help.

Take care! Happy Mensturation!

Let's first understand ovulation

Ovulation occurs about 14 days before your period onsets. If your standard menstrual cycle is 28 days, you ovulate around the 14th day. If your typical menstrual cycle is 35 days ovulation comes about around day 21.

The delay

Multiple circumstances manipulate a woman's ovulation period. And yes, specific ailments like cold or flu(some other types of diseases too) might intensify or stress your body and impact ovulation which further would influence your period cycle for the month. When your body is in pain or fighting an illness, it tends to delay your menstrual cycle and your ovulation as a reflex to keep the body from getting further weak. An excessive amount of stress or anxiety too may conclude in delay. Note that this pause is only brief, if it doesn't seem normal, do consult a physician.

The delay of the ovulation period is a rest mechanism of your body to retrieve its strength from the illness and to gain back the body's stability. And if it's the sickness that made you miss or delay your ovulation period and eventually your menses, don't worry, it'll in most cases reappear as your normal date cycle the next month. If it doesn't and keeps on fluctuating then do discuss it with a gynaecologist for guidance.

~Lokeshwari H Naidu, intern @lemmebegirls

Most of us may think that isn't it the same bleeding, cramps and PMS. But no, your menstrual cycle changes as you grow and here's how periods can differ in your 20's and 40's.

Periods in your 20's

In your teens, when you just started bleeding, you re still adjusting to the cycle and there's always an unexpected surprise apperance. But as you reach your 20's, your cycle gets more consistent.

The cycle is more or less fixed and is monthly. Not to mention the start of the unpleasant symptoms of breast tenderness, PMS and nasty cramps. Many menstruators around this age start taking hormonal pills due to various reasons. The pill triggers changes to your flow, making it lighter, less pain and PMS or more regularised periods.

In fact, birth control pills prevent ovulation, and without ovulation, there's no uterine lining buildup that has to be shed, this can result in no flow.

Periods in your 40's

It's the beginning of more changes, including perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations, which are precursors to menopause. Your body starts preparing for menopause. These hormone fluctuations cause ovulation to be more irregular, and your estrogen level change means you could start experiencing missed periods, a heavier flow, spotting between periods, and longer stretches of PMS.

During perimenopause your periods can be less predictable and even if ovulation is erratic, you can still get pregnant. A woman isn't in menopause until her periods have ceased for at least a year.

Take care and make sure to note your change in cycle.

~Lokeshwari H Naidu

Menstrual cups are usually made of flexible medical grade silicone, latex, or a thermoplastic isomer, making them both eco-friendly and budget-friendly, bell-shaped menstrual hygiene device. They are reusable unlike sanitary pads or tampons but cleaning and properly storing them is important.

 How to clean your menstrual cup?

✓Clean your menstrual cup before its first use by boiling it for about 5-10 minutes in an open pot with plenty of water.

✓After use, remove and empty the blood in the toilet.

✓Once empty, rinse thoroughly with clean water and use a mild, oil-free, fragrance-free soap for cleaning.

✓It's ready for your next use.

✓Make sure you sterilize it at least once every month.

 How to store your menstrual cup?

✓After cleaning and drying it, store your cup in a clean, dry and breathable pouch. Keeping it away from dirt and germs is important and so is the air circulation.

✓Store the pouch in a dry and cold place like a vanity drawer.

✓It is ready for your next use once properly dry.

 Happy Menstruation! Take care!

If menstruators could receive a penny for every time a non-menstruating person randomly said, is it that time of the month again or you are just PMSing, they'd be a millionaire before they turned 30.There is so much assumption around the word PMS that we sometimes don't get what it means.So, what exactly is PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) describes the physical, emotional & psychological symptoms occurring a week before a woman’s period. There are around 150 symptoms associated with PMS. Some common ones include psychological changes & emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, extreme moodiness, & irritability. Physical symptoms, like breast tenderness, headaches, & abdominal bloating. Behavioural symptoms include poor concentration, forgetfulness, decreased interest in usual activities & fatigue. In most cases, women with PMS don’t need to see a doctor to cope, as the symptoms are temporary and manageable.

What is PMDD?

PMS and PMDD might look like twins but aren't. The premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a serious medical condition & requires attention from a medical professional. It’s also less common: around 75 percent of women experience PMS, while only around 8% have PMDD. PMDD causes extreme mood disturbances & irritability that the individual can’t control. Its symptoms are behavioural/emotional thoughts and tendencies that lead to social impairment; preventing a woman from living an ordinary life. People suffering from PMS might experience temporary discomfort, but those with PMDD face serious symptoms preventing them from living their daily lives. A recent study revealed that those with untreated PMDD experience a loss of three quality-adjusted life years as a result of premenstrual pains.

Dismissing a menstruating person's pain is easy, but the truth is we don't know what they are undergoing. Let's be empathetic, listen to the person, & not dismiss their pain. If you are someone who faces extreme menstrual pains, please talk about it so that it'll be dealt with properly.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Sending love & hoping for a relatively pain-free period.