I gazed incredulously at mother's revelation, scarcely believing my ears. Surely she must be joking! But no, the evidence was right before my eyes - there stood my father, resplendent in saree, jewels and heels.
The man I had known all my life as Pritam Singh now went by Pratima. It was too much to process.
I sat frozen on the plush velvet sofa, speechless and stunned. Mother gazed at me calmly, awaiting a response to her momentous pronouncement. After a long moment I managed to stammer out a reply.
"You...you mean father is Pratima full time? Like all day, every day?" My voice sounded small in the cavernous room.
Mother nodded solemnly as she regarded me with a steady gaze. "Yes dear, your father has embraced his true self and identity. He lives life as Pratima now - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
I gazed at her incredulously before turning to stare in shock at my transformed parent. This was beyond anything I had ever imagined.
My mind reeled with the enormity of mother's revelation. Father didn't just dabble in crossdressing anymore - he lived it, every waking moment! A myriad of questions flooded my brain but before I could voice them, Pratima spoke up.
"Yes Amita Ji, your Priya Ji speaks the truth," she intoned melodically. "I am now fully Pratima, body and soul." Her tone was even and matter-of-fact as if stating something utterly mundane.
Pratima gazed at me with a beatific smile, ruby lips curving upwards. "And I have more exciting news to share! Soon I shall be getting breast implants - your Priya Ji and I are thinking a lovely pair of 38DDs should suit me perfectly.”
I gazed in stunned silence as Pratima's words washed over me. Breast implants? Surely this was a joke! But no - she seemed utterly serious and content with her transformation.
Mother addressed our attendant who hovered attentively nearby. "Pratima dear, please finish your chores.”
Pratima bowed low, bangles jangling loudly as she pressed palms together demurely. "Ji haan Priya Ji!" Without another word she spun on her heel and glided gracefully from the room, stilettos clicking against the marble floor.
Mother gazed after Pratima wistfully for a moment before turning back to me with a soft smile. Settling herself more comfortably on the plush velvet sofa, she began to speak.
"Your father has always been fascinated by feminine attire and adornment, even from childhood," she explained calmly. "He and I used to dress up together when we were neighbors and schoolmates.”
Priya's eyes sparkled with nostalgic memories as she reminisced about her youthful antics with Pritam. "We would sneak into my mother's closet and try on sarees, bindis, bangles - all sorts of girly things! Your father had such a flair for it even then.”
She chuckled softly before continuing. "He was a natural born beauty!”
Priya gazed wistfully at some point in the distance as she recalled their early courtship and marriage. "When I came home after college, your father was already an established businessman. He confessed his love of crossdressing to me then.”
Mother glanced over at Pratima fondly before returning her attention back to me. "I accepted him completely for who he is inside.”
Priya gazed wistfully at some point in the distance as she reminisced about their early courtship and marriage. "When Vikram and you were little, your father dressed only when we were alone or at night after you'd gone to sleep.”
She glanced over fondly before returning her attention back to me with a soft smile playing on her lips. "As Vikram and you grew older, your father curtailed his crossdressing - we couldn't risk him being discovered by outsiders.”
She spoke with a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's only now that you're grown and gone from home that he feels comfortable expressing himself fully.”
"Pratima is a part of who your father has always been inside," she explained gently. "We felt it was time for you to know the full truth now that you're an adult.”
I gazed at mother in astonishment, scarcely believing what she had just revealed to me about my father's true identity and lifestyle. It was a lot to take in all at once - the man I had known as Pritam Singh now lived full time as Pratima.
Mother gazed back at me compassionately as she spoke again. "I know it's a shock Amita, but this is who your father truly is inside. He's been hiding his authentic self for far too long.”
She reached out and clasped my hand in hers reassuringly. "Please try to accept him as Pratima. It would mean the world to both of us.”
"It's...it will take some getting used to," I admitted haltingly. "But I want you both to be happy mother.”
Priya gazed at me earnestly, her expression softening as she saw my acceptance of their revelation. "Thank you for your understanding Amita. There are a few ground rules we should discuss though.”
She straightened up on the plush sofa and began to outline expectations moving forward in this new dynamic.
I gazed at mother quizzically, wondering what sort of rules could possibly apply in this bizarre situation. "Rules? What do you mean mother?" Surely there was no precedent for such a unique family arrangement.
Mother smiled enigmatically as she gazed over at Pratima who hovered attentively nearby. Turning back to me with a warm expression she explained, "Trust me Amita dear, you'll like these rules."
Discussion (1)
Very nice story, it will be really exciting to know how Pratima started being Pratima after their kids left