Every time I step out of the house, I feel the sense of sheer satisfaction about being a grown-up who doesn't have to be escorted anywhere. But that feeling doesn't last long; in fact, it lasts only a few minutes. I start wondering why anyone ever lets me out of my house because I'm an utter disgrace of a grown-up who can't find her way to the easiest of places around the city. I could never forget that day when I was heartlessly abandoned by my friends at Dhaka University. The gigantic maze of that place I've cursed the most in my life, not because I didn't get into it but because I can never find my way from Kalabhaban to the glorified FBS Food Court. Somehow I always end up in front of Madhu'r Canteen and start feeling lost; the awkward stares of the bystanders are not much help either. 

I usually start planning (and panicking) the night before if I have to go somewhere the next day. Plans basically include consulting Google maps. Yes, you can hire a rickshaw to get you to your destination but the number of rickshaw pullers who will tell you on your face that they never heard of that alien place is higher than the number of CNGs you will get refused by. It doesn't help if you have severe social anxiety issues and can't bring yourself to ask random strangers for direction. 

I feel duty-bound to use this platform to help out fellow sufferers. There're a few dos and don'ts if you don't want to roam around the streets like a headless chicken.

•  Never leave your phone at home. Sometimes when you can't find the way and you need to call someone for directions, you'll have to look for shops that would let you make a call. Unnecessary hassle. 
•  Take help from Google maps before leaving home if you don't carry a smartphone with internet. It saved my life countless times and shielded me from being humiliated in front of geographically knowledgeable friends in situations when I otherwise would've failed to turn up without asking them for directions at least 17 times.
•  Pay attention. If you normally travel in your family car, you don't pay attention to the labyrinth of routes your driver takes. But when you have to go there all by yourself, you won't remember the most obvious details because you didn't observe.
•  Lastly, try to seek help from people who don't seem potentially dangerous. If anything, Bangladeshi people are always eager to help.  
  
  So the next time you expose yourself to the threats of solitary trips around the city, have courage. The geographically challenged community shall survive one trip at a time. Good luck.

Anupoma Joyeeta Joyee is a perpetually sleepy law student who emotionally identifies with ducks and occasionally sets out on writing spree. Find more of her needless banters on facebook.com/joyee.anupoma