Chapter 21: Weekend continues

The next morning, I woke up in the soft, comforting embrace of the saree I had fallen asleep in. The light filtered through the curtains, and I lay there for a moment, relishing the sense of peace and freedom that had come with this new identity, and the companionship of Aditi and Shruthi, who had accepted Suhasini without question. As I glanced over, I saw that they were still sound asleep, curled up under their blankets.

A spark of excitement ran through me. I didn’t want to waste a moment of this newfound freedom. Quietly, I got up, careful not to wake them. I slipped out of the saree, folding it neatly, and headed to the bathroom to take a bath. The cool water washed away the sleepiness, leaving me feeling fresh and invigorated. Once I finished, I spotted a beautiful floral nighty hanging on the door, a sleeveless, flowing one with soft pastel colors. Without a second thought, I put it on. The soft fabric felt light and free on my skin, much more comfortable than anything I had worn before.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, feeling a growing sense of confidence. I quickly applied a light layer of makeup—just enough to accentuate my features but still keep it natural. I retained the simple gold bangles, chain, and anklet from the night before. These small touches of femininity had become comforting, a reminder of how far I had come.

Feeling playful, I tied a towel around my head the way I had seen women do after their baths, wrapping it up in a neat turban-like style. I giggled softly at the reflection; I could hardly believe how natural it all felt.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I decided to do something special for Aditi and Shruthi. I made my way downstairs and started preparing the kitchen, humming softly to myself. It was almost instinctual now—the way I moved around, like I was the woman of the house. I cleaned up the kitchen first, making sure everything was neat and tidy, before starting to prepare coffee. As I brewed the coffee, I even decided to do a small pooja, lighting a lamp and offering prayers in front of the deity like I had seen my mother do countless times.

By the time Aditi and Shruthi woke up, the kitchen smelled of fresh coffee and the soft ringing of bangles filled the air. They found me standing there, pouring coffee into cups, still wearing the floral nighty, the towel still wrapped around my head like a woman fresh out of her morning routine.

Aditi’s eyes widened in surprise. "Suhasini! Look at you!" she exclaimed, unable to hold back a laugh. "You’re like the perfect wife already!"

Shruthi burst out laughing as well, walking over to me and giving me an exaggerated once-over. "What have we created?" she teased, nudging me playfully. "You’re good wife material, Suhasini. We should start looking for a husband for you!"

I blushed deeply, my cheeks heating up as they continued to tease me. The way they were looking at me, with a mix of affection and playful banter, made my heart flutter. I lowered my gaze shyly, feeling the warmth spread across my body as the idea of being seen this way—so openly and lovingly—sank in.

“Oh, stop it,” I mumbled, unable to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. “I’m just… trying to help.”

Aditi shook her head, still grinning. "Help? You’ve gone above and beyond! Look at this place, it’s spotless, and you’ve even made us coffee! You’re making us look bad, Suhasini."

Shruthi wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "Seriously though, this is amazing. We’re so proud of you. Look how comfortable you’ve become."

Their words sent a rush of happiness through me. It wasn’t just the teasing; it was the acceptance, the camaraderie we had built. In that moment, I truly felt like Suhasini was more than just a part of me—she was who I wanted to be.

As we sat down to enjoy the coffee together, the teasing continued. "I’m telling you," Aditi said with a sly smile. "If you keep this up, we really will have to find you a nice husband to take care of."

Shruthi giggled. "And he’ll be one lucky guy! Suhasini’s already got all the skills—cooking, cleaning, looking stunning in a saree."

I blushed even harder, feeling flustered under their teasing but secretly loving every moment of it. The idea of being seen as so feminine, so naturally girly, was both thrilling and a little overwhelming. But I couldn’t deny it—deep down, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged.

"Okay, okay!" I finally said, laughing despite myself. "Maybe I’ll just settle for being the girl of the house for now".

We three decided to whip up a simple yet hearty breakfast.

“Let’s make something special for brunch,” Aditi suggested, pulling out a few ingredients from the fridge. “How about some fluffy dosa and coconut chutney?”

“Sounds perfect!” Shruthi agreed, already reaching for the dosa batter. I joined in, feeling the excitement of the morning washing over me.

As we cooked together, the playful teasing continued. “You know, Suhasini,” Aditi said with a playful grin, “you should really embrace your new look. I have a cute floral chudidar that would be perfect for you!”

I looked at her, feigning reluctance. “I’m fine in this nighty, thank you very much.”

“Come on!” Shruthi chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “It’ll be fun! And you can wear it with the matching dupatta. Trust us, it’ll look adorable!”

Before I could protest, Aditi disappeared into her room and returned with a lovely chudidar adorned with delicate floral prints. The fabric felt soft and light in my hands, and as I looked at the vibrant colors, I found myself intrigued. The dupatta was a matching shade, flowing and elegant, and I couldn’t help but imagine how it would feel draped around my shoulders.

With a gentle push from both Aditi and Shruthi, I soon found myself changing into the chudidar. As I slipped it on, the fabric hugged my body comfortably, and the floral patterns made me feel fresh and feminine. When I looked in the mirror, I was surprised at how good I felt. The soft material and vibrant colors made me look and feel more like Suhasini than ever before.

“See? I told you!” Aditi said with a satisfied smile, adjusting my dupatta over my shoulders. “You look like a true desi girl!”

“Now let’s enjoy a movie,” Shruthi said, leading the way to the living room. “We should watch something romantic to go with our breakfast!”

Once we settled down, the atmosphere turned cozy. As the opening credits rolled, I could feel a sense of comfort wash over me, especially with my friends by my side. The movie unfolded into a beautiful love story, and soon I found myself captivated by the scenes on the screen. The chemistry between the lead pair was palpable, filled with laughter, longing, and undeniable charm.

At one point, a romantic song played, and I couldn’t help but get lost in the music. Aditi and Shruthi exchanged mischievous glances and leaned closer, teasing me. “Imagine yourself as the heroine, Suhasini,” Aditi whispered, a playful grin on her face. “What would it be like to dance with your hero in this scene?”

I felt my cheeks flush as I attempted to protest, “Oh, come on! That’s silly!” But inside, my heart raced at the thought. I envisioned myself in a beautiful dress, twirling around with a handsome hero, laughter filling the air as we danced under the stars. The idea was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of romance—a feeling I had never really considered for myself before.

“Imagine how magical it would be,” Shruthi added, nudging me gently. “You could be twirling in a beautiful lehenga, your hair flowing, and your hero holding you close. It’s a perfect moment!”

I could feel a mix of embarrassment and excitement bubbling inside me. “Stop it!” I insisted, though I couldn’t hide the smile creeping onto my face. Deep down, the fantasy of being a heroine with a hero of my own was planting seeds of desire and longing I hadn’t fully recognized before.

As the movie continued, I allowed myself to indulge in these daydreams, envisioning a life filled with romance, laughter, and the warmth of love. The playful banter between my friends only added to the delightful fantasy, creating a world where I could embrace both my femininity and the beautiful ideas of love and companionship.

When the movie ended, Aditi turned to me with a sly grin. “So, Suhasini, do you think you’d make a good heroine?”

“Maybe,” I replied shyly, looking down at my floral chudidar, a soft smile lingering on my lips. The idea didn’t seem so far-fetched anymore, and with each playful tease from my friends, I felt a newfound confidence blossoming within me.

“Just wait until you find your hero,” Aditi said, winking at me. “It’s going to be a beautiful story.”

As the movie drew to a close, the credits rolled, and Aditi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Now that we’ve enjoyed the romantic vibes, let’s really get into the spirit of it!” she exclaimed. “Suhasini, you’re going to dance with us!”

My heart raced at the thought. “Dance?” I stammered, glancing nervously at Shruthi, who was grinning widely.

“Yes! We’ll reenact a scene from the movie,” Shruthi said, her excitement contagious. “Aditi and I will take the roles of the hero, and you’ll be the heroine. Just think of all the graceful movements, the twirls, and the romance!”

I felt a wave of shyness wash over me, my cheeks heating up at the idea. “But I—”

“No buts!” Aditi interrupted, playfully nudging me. “You’ve already dressed the part, and you look stunning. Just let go and have fun!”

With a sigh, I decided to surrender to their enthusiasm. The music shifted to a cheerful romantic song that had been featured in the movie, and they began to sway, imitating the lead couple's dance. I hesitated for a moment, but as I watched them move, the rhythm started to seep into my bones.

“Come on, Suhasini!” Shruthi encouraged, extending her hand to me. “Just follow our lead.”

Nervously, I joined them, my heart pounding in my chest. As we danced, I felt a strange mix of excitement and embarrassment. The way they took turns pulling me into the center, spinning me around, made me feel as if I were truly embodying the role of the heroine. The laughter and joy in the room created a safe space, and slowly, I began to lose myself in the moment.

With every twirl, I felt the fabric of my chudidar swirl around me, accentuating my movements and giving me a sense of grace I had never experienced before. I found myself laughing, the shyness starting to melt away as I embraced the music and the playful energy. The way Aditi and Shruthi danced around me, pretending to woo me with exaggerated gestures, added to the magic of the moment.

In the midst of the playful chaos, I imagined what it would be like to be in the arms of a hero. My mind drifted to visions of a charming man, holding my hand as we danced together, looking into my eyes with admiration. I envisioned him pulling me closer, spinning me around in a gentle embrace, and whispering sweet nothings. The thought sent a shiver of longing through me, awakening desires I hadn’t fully acknowledged until now.

The dance continued, and with each step, I found myself craving that feeling of being cherished and adored. Aditi and Shruthi’s laughter rang in my ears, but deep inside, I was lost in the fantasy of romance—a world where I could be Suhasini, the beloved heroine, longing for her hero.

As the song reached its climax, we spun one last time, and I felt the exhilaration of the moment. Breathless and flushed, I stumbled to a stop, my heart racing from both the dancing and the daydreams swirling in my mind. The girls stopped too, catching their breath, their smiles wide.

“Wow, Suhasini! You really took to that role like a fish to water,” Aditi teased, leaning against the wall for support. “I didn’t know you could dance so beautifully!”

I laughed, still blushing from the exhilaration of it all. “I was just following you two!”

Shruthi shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “No way! You have that natural grace. It looks like we’ve discovered your hidden talent!”

My heart fluttered at their compliments, but they were soon followed by playful ribbing. “At this rate,” Aditi continued, “we’ll need to find you a hero to dance with very soon. You’ve got the moves down!”

I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks again as I hid my face in my hands, unable to help the shy smile that crept onto my lips. “You guys are impossible,” I said, but inside, their words thrilled me. The idea of being matched with a hero, to live out the fantasies that had begun to form, sent a wave of longing through me.

“Seriously, Suhasini,” Shruthi said, her tone turning earnest. “You should embrace this side of yourself. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be feminine, and if you keep dancing like that, I’m sure you’ll find someone who appreciates all of you—your charm, your grace, and your beautiful spirit.”

Aditi nodded in agreement. “Yes! And just think about all the romantic songs you can share with your hero. Imagine slow dancing under the stars!”

Their encouragement sparked something inside me. I felt empowered and excited by the thought of exploring this side of my identity even further. Maybe I could truly be Suhasini, the heroine, and in doing so, find the love and acceptance I craved.