Brihannala

When they finally came downstairs, Lakshmi quietly called Kavitha into her room.
“Come here.”
Kavitha followed her and sat on the edge of the bed.
Lakshmi closed the door.
“I want to ask you something.”
Kavitha looked nervous.
“Why didn't you tell us about the chemistry test?”
Kavitha lowered her eyes.
“I don't know, Amma.”
“You're normally a good student. How did you end up with twenty-four?”
Kavitha was quiet for a moment.
Then she finally admitted,
“I was very upset that time.”
“Because of Anna?”
Kavitha nodded.
“Akka wouldn't speak to me. She treated me like I was some boss giving her orders. I didn't know how to talk to her anymore.”
She swallowed.
“I was mentally affected by everything. I couldn't concentrate properly.”
Lakshmi's expression softened.
“I am sorry, da.”
Kavitha looked up.
“I got so caught up with what was happening to Archana that I forgot you were also going through something.”
“I'll be okay, Amma.”
“I'll study properly. Don't worry.”
Lakshmi nodded.
“I know you will.”
She paused.
Then she remembered something else.
There was one question she wanted to ask—but this time she was careful.
After everything that had happened with Archana, she had learned not to jump to conclusions.
“Kavitha…”
“Hmm?”
“Why did you want that particular type of bra?”
Kavitha immediately looked embarrassed.
Lakshmi continued gently.
“Did someone say something to you?”
“No.”
“You're perfectly fine as you are.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Kavitha hesitated.
Then she finally said,
“It isn't for me.”
Lakshmi looked surprised.
“Then?”
“For Archana.”
Lakshmi stared at her.
Kavitha continued quietly.
“People may still look at her and think she's a hijra because of the way her clothes fit.”
Lakshmi's expression changed.
Kavitha looked down.
“I searched online.”
She spoke almost apologetically.
“I thought if there was something that could make her clothes sit more naturally, maybe people wouldn't stare so much.”
Lakshmi remained silent.
Kavitha added,
“I thought it might help her feel more comfortable.”
Lakshmi suddenly leaned forward and kissed her daughter's forehead.
“I completely forgot these things.”
Kavitha smiled faintly.
Lakshmi held her for a moment.
“Come.”
“Where?”
“Shopping.”
They found Archana downstairs.
Lakshmi picked up one of Archana's blouses.
“Come with us?”
Archana looked confused.
“Where?”
“Shopping.”
“For what?”
Kavitha quickly intervened.
“Can you give me some photographs wearing this blouse?”
Archana stared at her suspiciously.
“Why?”
Kavitha smiled innocently.
“Can't a sister have some photographs?”
Archana hesitated.
Then shrugged.
“Okay.”
She posed for several photographs.
Kavitha checked the pictures carefully.
“That's enough.”
Archana looked at both of them.
“What are you planning?”
“Nothing,” Kavitha replied.
Lakshmi smiled.
“Absolutely nothing.”
Suresh came downstairs just then.
“Where are you going?”
“I'll drive,” Lakshmi said. “I'm taking Kavitha shopping.”
She looked toward Archana.
“She'll stay here.”
Suresh nodded.
“Okay.”
The two women left.
Lakshmi drove toward the city centre and stopped at a well-known boutique.
Inside, she explained to one of the sales assistants that they were looking for specially fitted clothing.
“There are some requirements,” Lakshmi said.
The saleswoman listened carefully.
“My daughter needs something with additional support and padding. Something that can be fitted properly and maintained easily.”
The saleswoman nodded.
“We have a few options, madam. Regular padded products, removable inserts and some specially fitted ones.”
Kavitha immediately showed her the photographs.
Lakshmi handed over the blouse.
The saleswoman examined it carefully.
“Based on this fitting, I think a 35C should work as a starting size.”
She brought several options.
“There's also a silicone insert system. We can stitch a secure pocket inside the garment and place the insert there.”
Kavitha looked interested.
“So it won't move around?”
“Not much. And if the garment eventually wears out, the insert can be removed and fitted into another garment.”
Lakshmi nodded approvingly.
“That sounds practical.”
After comparing the options, they selected six pieces.
Then they began looking at other clothes.
Kavitha chose two churidar sets, three tops and two pairs of jeans for herself.
Then, with the sales assistant's help, she selected several churidar/salwar sets, tops, leggings, palazzos, chudi pants and shawls for Archana.
Finally, Lakshmi added three nighties.
By then, nearly two hours had passed.
They returned to the counter.
The saleswoman smiled.
“Your special order is ready.”
Kavitha looked surprised.
“That quickly?”
“The inserts arrived from our warehouse. We've fitted them and finished the stitching.”
Lakshmi checked everything carefully.
They paid and packed the purchases.
Then they headed home.
By the time they returned, Archana had already prepared dinner.
Dosa.
Tomato chutney.
Suresh was sitting in the living room watching the news, occasionally making notes about business trends and investment developments.
Archana served dinner.
After everyone finished, Lakshmi looked at her.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Kavitha's room.”
Archana followed.
The shopping bags were already there.
She stared at them.
“What is all this?”
“Try them.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Lakshmi took out one of the blouses.
“First this.”
Archana hesitated.
Lakshmi noticed her discomfort.
“We're all women here.”
She smiled.
“We're your family.”
Archana slowly nodded.
She changed into the blouse and tried the first garment.
She initially struggled with the fastening.
Kavitha laughed.
“Akka! You watch so many movies. Didn't you learn anything from them?”
Archana laughed despite herself.
“I never paid attention to that part!”
Lakshmi laughed too.
“Give it here.”
She showed Archana the easier method.
Archana tried again.
This time it worked.
She adjusted the straps and looked at herself.
Lakshmi watched carefully.
“Too tight?”
“No.”
“Too loose?”
“No.”
“Comfortable?”
Archana nodded.
“Perfect.”
“Put the blouse on.”
Archana did.
The fitting was surprisingly good.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
Lakshmi smiled.
“Try the others.”
One by one, Archana tried the remaining clothes.
Some fitted perfectly.
Others needed small alterations.
Lakshmi kept notes.
“This one needs the shoulder adjusted.”
She wrote it down.
“This one is slightly loose here.”
Another note.
“This one is fine.”
Kavitha helped organize everything.
Finally, Lakshmi took out the three nighties.
“These are yours.”
Archana looked at them.
“For tonight?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Thank you, Amma.”
Kavitha suddenly came running back from the other room.
“Amma!”
“What?”
“The salwars and tops need some minor alterations.”
Lakshmi nodded.
“Put them separately.”
“I already did.”
She showed her mother the piles.
Lakshmi added those notes too.
“Good.”
Kavitha yawned.
“I'll sleep.”
“Go.”
Kavitha looked at Archana.
“Good night, akka.”
Archana smiled.
“Good night.”
Kavitha disappeared into her room.
Lakshmi looked at the neatly arranged clothes.
Then at Archana.
For months, their family had been so consumed by punishment, discipline, fear and uncertainty that they had forgotten something very ordinary.
Archana still needed clothes.
She still needed someone to teach her how to care for herself.
She still needed her mother's attention.
She still needed her sister.
And perhaps most importantly, she still needed to feel that she belonged in the family.
Lakshmi quietly folded the last garment.
“Tomorrow we'll finish the alterations.”
Archana nodded.
“Okay, Amma.”
For once, the word Amma didn't sound frightened.
It sounded like home.