The days following the revelation were a blur of shock and disorientation for Nalini. The comfortable illusion of a modern marriage had been replaced by a reality she found deeply disturbing.
Rohan’s routine was rigorous, and his adherence to it was absolute. Nalini watched, initially from the safety of her room, as the mechanics of their household unfolded.
Every morning at 5:00 AM, long before the sun rose, she would hear the soft chime of anklets in the hallway. Rohan, wearing a simple nighty that clung to his enhanced curves, adorned with his permanent jewelry—the mangalsutra, earrings, nose studs, and septum ring—would begin his day.
He would light dust the living areas before stepping outside to collect the milk and bread. Nalini once peeked through the curtains to see him sweeping the porch, a bright red bindi on his forehead, carefully drawing a beautiful rangoli to welcome prosperity.
The smell of incense would follow, indicating his morning puja. He prayed daily for the long life and health of Priya and, surprisingly, Nalini.
By the time Nalini and Priya emerged around 7:30 AM, breakfast was on the table. Rohan, now wearing a fresh bindi and his sindoor perfectly applied, would wait by the table. As Nalini approached, he would kneel gracefully, touching her feet with his soft, manicured hands.
"Good morning, Ma," he would say respectfully.
The first time he did it after the revelation, Nalini had snatched her feet back, horrified. Priya had shot her a warning look. "He is showing respect, Ma. Allow him."
Reluctantly, Nalini learned to stand still, though she never offered the traditional blessing in return.
While they ate, Rohan busied himself in the kitchen, preparing their lunches. He never sat with them. Once they finished, he swiftly cleared the table, his bangles clinking over the sound of running water as he washed the dishes. Only when everything was pristine and their lunchboxes packed did he sit in the kitchen corner to eat his own meal.
The transformation for his office job was another spectacle. The saree and heavy makeup were shed, replaced by typical male office wear. Yet, the deep neckline of his shirts was carefully chosen to hide any hint of cleavage, and his face remained completely smooth. Before leaving, he would stand before Priya.
"Are there any errands you need me to run, Mistress?" he would ask. He would then turn to Nalini. "Anything for you, Ma?"
Only after receiving their permission did he leave.
He was expected back before 6:00 PM. The moment he returned, the transformation reversed. He would disappear into their bedroom and emerge half an hour later, fully feminized in a saree, heavy makeup, and heels, ready to start the evening chores.
He cooked dinner, served them, and then cleaned every pot and pan while Nalini and Priya watched television. As the night drew to a close, he prepared their beds, setting out water jugs.
And then came the most uncomfortable part for Nalini.
"Rohan will press your legs now, Ma," Priya announced one evening.
"No! Absolutely not," Nalini protested, her face flushing. "I don't need it."
"It is his duty," Priya insisted firmly. "He must serve you. Rohan, go."
Rohan approached silently, kneeling beside Nalini's chair. He took her feet gently in his hands, his touch surprisingly soft. Nalini sat rigid, staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the heavy gold earrings brushing against his cheeks as he worked, the scent of his jasmine perfume, and the surreal nature of her son-in-law massaging her feet while wearing a transparent saree.
"That is enough," Nalini snapped after five minutes.
Rohan immediately stopped, bowed his head, and retreated.
He would then change back into his nighty, carefully removing his heavy makeup but leaving the light jewelry, before slipping into bed next to a usually already sleeping Priya.
Nalini found herself unable to sleep, her mind wrestling with the bizarre reality her daughter had constructed. It was a rejection of everything Nalini knew, a total subversion of the order she had suffered under, but twisted into something she found equally horrifying.
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