Star Diary

Gone, but not really

Last year I went to India with two of my photographer friends. Our plan was to spend the entire vacation shooting different aspects of Indian culture. We shot for hours wandering around the streets of Delhi and Jaipur and had a great time. My camera was full of photos of architectural aspects as a part of my photo story that I was working on. We were quite happy with the pictures that we got. My memory card was full with pictures, and it was time for me to transfer the pictures to my laptop. However, as we were travelling a lot to different places, I forgot to put my memory card back in the camera. I did not transfer the pictures as well.  So all my pictures were gone with that memory card, and they were nowhere to be found. My heart broke, but it's not easy to find something that you have no idea where it fell out. I started retracing my steps, I asked the room service people- but it was gone. Suddenly three days ago as I took out my jacket, I found the memory card in one of the pockets.  I put the card inside the laptop and I discovered all the missing shots from Delhi. I could not believe my eyes that I could actually rescue each and every photograph. I think this is one of the best things that have happened to me this year.
Tamjid Hasan
North South University, Dhaka

Hush hush!

Last week I went to buy a packet of sanitary napkins from a local pharmacy. Like most of the girls, buying sanitary napkins has always been one of the most uncomfortable experiences. Of course I did not have the comfort of comparing different prices and brands, so I asked for my usual brand. The shopkeeper grabbed a pack and covered it up in a brown paper as if he is embarrassed that a woman came to buy a pack of pads. There was another man buying lots of medicines, who accidentally picked my brown paper wrapped pads. "Excuse me, that is my packet," I said very politely. The man looked at the packet and instead of apologising or replying to me, he put down the pack on the counter right away. It seemed like he touched something that he was not supposed to. I felt so disgusted at his behaviour. It seemed to me that this purchase is strictly a female thing and they should feel embarrassed and self-conscious while buying it. Every time I go to buy sanitary napkins to a super mall, I need to pause once or more than once near the shelf because I find other people being curious and peeking into my trolley. The fact that women get period is a natural process and everyone knows it happens. Yet we tend to look at this matter as a taboo.
Tanusri Chowdhury
Tejgaon
Dhaka