Sarees for life - 2

Now almost an year is completed since he has went to his in law's home. 

Now his hair has grown till his armpits. He was limited to only sarees and he became very comfortable in sarees. 

Rupa always complements his hair and sarees. Now his hair is longer than Neha's. 

After Anush spoke to Rupa in a video call. She requested him to send her a photo of him in his current saree. 

So Anjali took a photo and sent to Rupa

Rupa couldn't believe it's her son in the photo. She went to Neha and showed her the photo as well. 

Just look at his hair. It has grown long, said Neha 

Yeah it is. He is looking really good in sarees better than he ever looked in pant and shirts, said Rupa 

I agree, said Neha

I hope this lock down ends and he can come home, said Rupa 

It's almost over mom. Since it's take time to travel they have to be careful. They shouldn't get stuck in the middle of their journey, said Neha 

Yes, I agree, said Rupa

.... 

Next day, 

Anush can you go to kitchen and make sure the curry is not burnt, while i wash the clothes, said Rekha 

Anush went to kitchen and just then he received a call from his mom. 

Anush what are you doing? Asked Rupa 

Cooking mom, said Anush 

Rupa asked him about the dishes and everything.

Lately Rupa and Anush are chit chatting a lot. 

In the pic, I saw you have no pimples now, said Rupa. 

Yes, mom. After I started using turmeric paste as you suggested. They slowly got reduced, said Anush 

See. When I suggested the idea. You are very adamant to use turmeric paste. Now you can see the result for yourself, said Rupa 

Now I am using it every friday, said Anush

That's good to hear, said Rupa 

I heard Rekha is applying some special kind of oil to your hair, asked Rupa

Yes mom. It's increasing my hair volume, said Anush

Yes, I noticed. Continue using it and you will have hip length hair in no time, said Rupa happily 

It's not his goal to grow his hair that length but he just agreed with his mom. 

So did you watch the serial I told you about? Asked Rupa excitingly

Yes mom. Anjali and aunt also generally watch it. So I also started to watch it, said Anush 

I wish you are here. We can watch it here. I was all alone to watch it, complained Rupa 

What about Neha? Doesn't she watch serials? Asked Anush 

She is not like us, said Rupa 

Anush didn't understand what does she mean but decided not to ask his mom about it. 

OK darling. Continue your work. I will call you later, said Rupa and cut the call. 

After 6 more months, 

You could wear a silk saree while going home, said Rekha 

Anush wanted to wear his pant and shirt but they are not available. So he wore a saree. 

Rekha packed lot of her sarees for both Anush and Anjali. 

After they packed everything. They kept everything in the car. 

Anush can't believe how much as changed since he came here. 

Rekha gave a big hug to Anjali and Anush. 

Anush started the car. 

They started the journey early in the morning, after traveling for 4 hours, they stopped the car for breakfast. 

Anush was reluctant to go out of the car. He has been wearing sarees for almost 2 years but he never went out. 

A lady was cooking and the place was very crowded, mostly men. Being a man Anush hesitated go past men. He is thinking like a women. 

The cooking lady noticed both Anush and Anjali and called inside the hotel, where no men are there. 

She served them food and she casually asked few things. 

She looked at Anush's saree and complemented it. Anusha just smiled. 

They paid the bill and was about to leave. 

Wait a minute madam, said the lady and went inside. 

She came back holding lot of flowers in her hand and gave them to Anush. 

They are a lot, said Anush 

His voice is not feminine but it's not manly either. Because of his looks, it won't create any problem for him as a women. 

I don't have a hair pin, said Anush thinking he can avoid these flowers. But the lady immediately took a hair pin. 

She took the flowers from his hands and pinned it in his braid. 

Anush never worn these many flowers. He doesn't want to be rude, so he thanked the lady and went to his car. 

Anjali was surprised to see the flowers in his hair. 

As they were driving, 

You could have shared some flowers with me, said Anjali 

Hey, if you want you can have them, said Anush

He stopped the car aside and Anjali removed the flowers from his hair. She cut it in half and wore a half strand in her hair. 

You can wear everything, said Anush

It won't be fair to you, said Anjali and pinned the flowers in his hair. 

As they were driving, Anjali noticed few people on the side walk asking for lift. On closer inspection. She realized they are her college friends Radha and Ramya. 

Anjali asked Anush to stop the car for them. 

Anjali got down and met them. They immediately recognized Anjali. They all are roommates in college. 

Seeing Anjali not getting into the car, Anush got out as well. 

Anjali has to introduce Anush to them. But she can't say Anush is her husband. She doesn't have any problem of him being in a saree but others might judge. 

Radha and Ramya. This is my sister in law, Anusha, said Anjali. Anush understood why Anjali said it. 

So where are you both going? Asked Anjali 

Tomorrow is Kavya's marriage. So we are going there. Actually she tried to contact you but she might not have your contact number, said Radha 

Ramya was already on a call with Kavya. 

Ramya gave the phone to Anjali after speaking for a while. 

Anjali took Anush aside. 

Anush my friend is inviting us to her marriage. Tomorrow after marriage we can continue our journey, requested Anjali. 

Anush doesn't want to go. 

Please Anush, requested Anjali again and he have gave in. 

As Anush was driving, 

Anjali and Anusha, we can have lot of fun tonight in the mehindi function. It's just us girls, no boys, said Radha happily

Anush was embarrassed, he couldn't even tell them that he is a man not a girl. 

They reached marriage hall in a hour. Few girls were waiting for them at the entrance. Once he parked his car, the girls took them to ladies rooms. 

Anjali was happy to see her friends and she introduced Anush as Anusha, her sister in law. 

Everyone thought Anush is a women and they started to mingle with him. 

In the evening Kavya's mom entered the room with a lady. 

Kavya, sit here. Your nose will be pierced, said her mom. 

Mom, I don't to, said Kavya

Kavya's mom looked around and said 

Apart from you and that girl, everyone here has nose piercing, said Kavya's mom pointing her finger towards Anush. 

Anush was scared after everyone starred at him. 

Kavya's mom convinced Kavya to a nose piercing. Once her nose is pierced. 

Anusha, you can also have your nose pierced here, said a girl. 

Immediately all girl requested Anush to have a nose piercing. 

Anush was saying no very calmly but the girls are persistent. Anjali tried to convince the girls but she couldn't. Anush couldn't rise his voice, if he did, they would know he is a man. With no choice he agreed to have a nose piercing to silence them. Anjali was shocked by his decision and she understood his decision as well. Just like that left side of his nose is pierced. 

Anjali couldn't get alone time with him.

At night mehindi function is started. The girls were dancing and having fun. By the end of the night all girl's have mehindi to their hands and legs including Anush. 

Next day early in the morning, Both Anush and Anjali took a separate room to get ready. 

They both got ready quickly in silk sarees. He felt his hands are really girly because of the mehindi. 

I am really sorry for your nose piercing, said Anjali. 

You did nothing wrong. So don't worry about it, said Anush

Once they got all ready, they joined other ladies. 

Once wedding is over Anjali and Anush said byes to everyone and left. 

By afternoon they reached their home. 

Anush was very nervous to meet his mom and sister. Even though they have seen him in sarees in video call, it's the first time they see him in flesh. 

Anjali pressed the door bell. Before she can press it again. The door was opened. 

Immediately Rupa and Neha hugged them tightly. 

Rupa ran her fingers in his hair and by closer inspection she noticed his nose piercing.

Anush you got a nose piercing? Asked Rupa 

Yes, it's along story. I will tell you later, said Anjali

Neha was starring at her brother. He is looking just like any other women.

They all had a long chat and Anjali explained the reason for his nose piercing. 

Neha helped Anush to carry their bags to his room. 

When they entered the room both Anjali and Anush noticed their room is remodeled. 

In the middle wardrobe both of you can keep your sarees and in the left wardrobe Anush can keep his blouses, nighties and his jewelry. In the right wardrobe, Anjali can keep her blouses, nighties and her jewelry, said Neha excitingly

Anush was stunned. He was hoping to start wearing pants and shirts again in the home but here all his male clothes were gone and his wardrobe is also modeled to keep HIS sarees, blouses and jewelry. 

Before he can say anything Rupa caught his hand and took him out of his room. 

They both sat on the sofa. Rupa with so much happiness looked at him. Looking at her face Anusha also smiled. 

What mom? Why are you starring at me? Asked Anush 

You are looking really good in sarees, said Rupa holding his bangled hands. 

He wanted to say, he doesn't want to continue wearing sarees but looking at his mom's face he decided to continue wearing sarees for few more days. 

Later when he went to his room, he noticed all the wardrobes are filled.

Anush we need to shop lot of bangles for you. You don't even have basic bangles collection, said Rupa 

And Anush nodded his head. 

The very next day, 

Rupa took Anush for bangles shopping. Anush sat beside Rupa and she started to put different sizes of bangles to his hand and finally decided a size for him. 

Anush complained the bangles are loose but Rupa told him that's how bangles should be, they should move freely in your hands. After selecting 10 dozen bangles of different colors, Rupa selected bindi packets and hair accessories as well. 

At home, Rupa helped him to arrange all his accessories properly. 

For the next few days he continued to wear sarees and based on the insists of Rupa he started wear 6 bangles to each hand. 

After a week, 

Anush is your nose still painful? Asked Rupa

No mom, the wound is heeled now, said Anush 

Good. Now wear this nose stub, said Rupa showing a nose stub. 

Mom I don't want to wear a nose, said Anush immediately 

Please try it for few days. If it doesn't suit you, we can remove it, said Rupa trying to convince him. 

After a lot of requests, he agreed and Rupa helped him to wear it. 

The nose stub really suits you, said Rupa with a smile. 

When Anjali and Neha saw Anusha with a nose stub, they were surprised and they complemented him saying nose stub really suits him. 

After few days Anush was trying to braid his hair. Braids are new to him, so he doesn't know how to braid his hair properly. 

Rupa smiled looking at the struggles of Anush to braid his hair. 

Anush cut your hair a little, so it will be easy to handle, said Neha. 

Before he can say anything 

Neha, if you want you can cut your hair short but don't try to convince him to have a hair cut, shouted Rupa at Neha 

Both Neha and Anush were shocked by Rupa's anger. 

Rupa took the comb and started to brush his hair.

Anush it's important you learn how to braid your hair. It's OK if you want try different hair styles like Anjali but when your hair grows as long as mine, it's good to keep your hair braided when we go out, said Rupa while brushing his hair. 

Rupa's hair is till her hips, so is Anjali's. Now Rupa is expecting him to grow his hair at least till his hips, thought Anush

It's done, said Rupa and placed his braid on his shoulder. 

It's beautiful right!, asked Rupa with a smile 

Anush just smiled at Rupa.