Chapter 6: Shades of Concealment
Intimacy intensified over the following weeks. Vishu's passions left marks—hickeys blooming on Aashu's pale neck, collarbones. She wanted his body to be hairless as she loved to touch and kiss him all over the body all the time. He obliged and let her do whatever she wanted with his body. He tried a lot to hide the hickeys but invariably they showed up in video calls. Embarrassment flared. WhatsApp girls noticed: "Aashu, love bites? Conceal them with foundation, like we do...!" Lakshmi shared tutorials BB cream, concealer, a little make-up just enough to hide. When Vishu saw him using makeup items, she bought him more of them. Some gift wrapped makeup kits came with all the items used by women, the Mascara, lipsticks & nailpolish in various colours, nail polish remover etc. Aashu showed them to his friends proudly. They were envious. They wanted him use all of them. Just to see how the products were. In a group call, they pleaded him to wear some makeup and put on lipstick for them to see. He was not interested, but he thought "my friends show me everything. In return they just want me to model for them. There is no harm. No body is going to judge me." So he put on lipstick for the first time. It made his lips so kissable that his friends sent messages to Vishu directly asking them to buy similar products for them aswell and get them to India when they come.
Vishu came home and found that Aashu was not wearing any lipstick or makeup. She casually brought the topic and said "It seems your friends can't stop praising how beautiful you were today with full on makeup. That are asking me to buy them same products. Did you show them?". Aashu replied shyly "Yes. I was so happy with your gifts that I showed them. They insisted me to put on and show them. I thought there was no harm and no body is going to judge me. So I put on some makeup and showed them.". "Your friends are lucky. When will I get the opportunity?" Asked Vishu. "No dear. I think I looked wierd. It was embarrassing for me. Yet i did it for friends" said Aashu. "You can do the same thing for me. Nobody here is being judgemental apart from you. You say you looked wierd. But let me also see. Please. I think I deserve it." said Vishu.
So that night Vishu helped Aashu wear makeup and painted his nails for the sake of completeness. With his male clothes on, she said "Yes. You do look wierd. Remove your clothes. I will do something". She gave him a bra to wear and was surprised to see how nicely his fat- filled chest set into the cups. He needed very little padding to look the girl his age. She made him wear a lehenga and choli. She also styled his hair and put a bindi between his eyebrows. She used a plucker to remove some extra hair strands on his naturally thin eyebrows which he got genetically from his mother. She also made him wear fake eyelashes and a necklace. Once all was done, she stepped back and saw a beautiful girl infront of her. While she was still staring at his beauty, she couldn't say a word. After several seconds, Aashu asked "What happened? I knew I will look wierd. That is why I kept on resisting this. Come help me remove all these.". Vishu replied " Just stay as you are. I will be back in a moment. She went to her cupboard and brought her diamond ring which she stopped wearing since reaching Canada. She just took a rose from the vase and bent on one knee sad said "Aashu, i love you. Will you marry me?". Aashu blushed and asked "Really? Am i that pretty". "Beyond anybody's imagination Aashu. No one will believe you are a man. Atleast i can't understand see what is in front of me. Forever. I loved Ashwin a lot. But as Aashu, you take my breath away. Cannot imagine life without you" said Vishu. "I'm always yours" said Aashu and they both kissed.
A new Routine born: every morning Aashu applied light makeup to conceal hickeys. Took care of his lips as Vishu loved the tase and texture of his lips. Nailpolish stayed on sometimes as he did not find enough time to remove them. With his thin hands . Long curls ponytailed, yoga-toned curves in tights, he looked... polished. He was careful not to show his makeup or nailpolish to his family or friends in video calls. But day bybday it was becoming difficult for him to hide. Invariably, one day, his father in law Mr Prakash noticed the changes in him when he was in video call with his mother in law. He asked "Ragini, Whats happening with our Aashu. Is he turning into a girl?". "Why? What on earth made you ask this?" she countered.
Prakash - Come on..., haven't you noticed how his face looks? Havent you spotted the difference? I bet i saw some lipstick and nailpolish when he was on call with you.
Ragini - Oh for god's sake. Stop finding faults with your son in law. He is a gem. I speak to him daily. I see him daily. I haven't noticed anything odd or different.
Prakash - maybe that's the reason you did not see the change. You haven't noticed it because it may have happened gradually. And that long hair and ponytail tail? He wasn't like that here...
Ragini - Sobit is the hair. You haven't complained when Vishu cut her hair. Why complain when Aashu grows it. It's their personal choice. They both are really happy and they cherish eachother. That's all that matters.
Prakash - I'm happy as long as my daughter is happy.... Even if he wears a saree and becomes a daughter in law to his house.
Ragini - Stop it. You are exaggerating it.
Prakash - No No... I'm not saying anything. I want my daughter to be happy. Just find out whether she is. And also find out when they will give us grand children... If you understand what I mean.
Ragini - Okay baba.... I will ask and let you know. Happy?