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?
Chapter 7: Whispers Among Matriarchs
Ragini called Vishu and over the conversation casually asked "Vishu beta, are you happy?". "What ma? What happened? Why are you asking this? Ofcourse I'm happy. Touchwood, I'm presently in Happiest phase of my life so far."
Ragini- Let me come straight to the point. Your father observed a lot of changes in Aashu. He thinks he is turning into a girl. After he told, i too observed him. He forgot about his career, spends most of the time doing all girly stuff including watching serials. He is kind of an expert in women fashion. His hair is better than mine. Oflate he started behaving just like us women. Is he satisfying you as a man? Your father wants to know when you will give us grand kids.
Vishu - Don't worry ma... we are very happy with each other. You tell dad that we will give him grandchildren when we are ready. Aashu is my everything. And the girly look, it is just for fun and convenience. I like him this way a lot. Infact I often make him wear my clothes and be my wife in my home.
Ragini- what are you talking? Did he accept? How did he look?
Vishu - Check the pics in your WhatsApp. Bye for now... Heading to the gym.
Pics flooded in Ragini's Phone. Aashu in lehenga/makeup/bindi, perfect bra-curves, magnificent ponytail, etc followed by a message "Maa, keep this as our secret—don't let him know you have seen these pics. He is sensitive."
Ragini was astonished. Aashu looked Stunning... just like a daughter. She did not show them to prakash. But told him that both are absolutely fine. Cold weather has had its effect on Aashu... that's it.
Prakash calms down and says "If my daughter is happy, I'm fine even Aashu is clad in a saree and becomes my daughter in law. Days later, Ragini confided Sumathi over chai: "Guess who?" Said Ragini showing the pics. Sumathi gasped: "AI generated pics of young me? The curls, the softness! My god .. technology has really advanced".
"Your Aashu," Ragini revealed. Sumathi's sweet surprise made her say "My beta? How come? He so cute... just like me. Looks very Happy in the pics. Who sent them? Is Vishu happy with this?".
"They are fine. Enjoying all aspects of their life. Just don't let him know you've seen these pics. We will wait for him to open up to us. Deal?"
Mother and Mother in law knew that Aashu dressed as female often. Playful banters ensued... group calls dodged mentions. One day Aashu could not remove the long lasting (72 hour smudge proof) lipstick that he tried at Vishu's request. His cherry red lips couldn't be hidden. He deliberately answered the video call from a dark room hoping they will not know. But they could easily see it. Yet neither his mother not his mother in law mentioned it. Emboldened, He answered another video call made by his friends later. And when they mentioned it, He was confused why his family did not say anything. But his friends said it suited him.
Another time, Prakash saw his faint traces of makeup, lipstick and nailpolish and said "Weather rosy today?" with a wink. Ragini, who was also in the call with him, said "When someone gets naturally healthy, it shows!"
Prakash beamed privately: "My new daughter-in-law—Vishnu's anchor." Family's silent cheers wove acceptance.