Am i Ready?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you serious?" I groaned into the phone, feeling the hot afternoon sun on my neck.

"No, I'm not! It's really bad, you have to come!" My sister's voice sounded scared, like she was about to cry.

I raised my eyebrows, but I could hear in her voice that something was wrong. "What's going on?"

"I got caught sneaking out of school!" she blurted out. "They saw me with a boy at the movies during lunch. They think I was doing something bad, and now they might suspend me! Or worse... they might expel me!"

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. My sister, the goody-two-shoes, sneaking around? "Are you serious? It’s just a movie, right?"

"But it's not just that!" she cried. "You have to help me! I swear, it was a mistake! They won’t believe me unless you help me!"

I sighed, feeling like she was overreacting. "Fine, I’m coming home now. We’ll figure it out."

When I got back, the house was way too quiet. Normally, there would be lots of noise—Mom cooking, Dad yelling at the TV, my sister complaining about something. But today, it was like no one was around. I went straight to her room.

She was pacing back and forth, looking like she was about to burst into tears. "Thank goodness you're here!" she said, grabbing my arm like I was her only hope. "You have to help me! Please!"

I blinked. "Okay, what do I need to do?"

She bit her lip nervously. "You have to be my alibi. You’re going to pretend to be my cousin. You can say you came to visit from out of town, and I accidentally got mixed up with you."

I stared at her. "You want me to pretend to be you?"

She nodded, looking really worried. "You're about my size. If you wear my school uniform and act like you're me, maybe they'll let it go!"

I felt my heart race. "So you want me to wear your uniform and pretend to be a girl? Are you serious?"

She grabbed a pile of clothes off the bed and threw them at me. "Yes, please! It's the only way!"

I stared at the clothes. A navy blue skirt, a white top, and some other stuff that looked like it was from another world. "You really want me to wear this?"

She nodded. "Hurry, we don’t have much time!"

I sighed but agreed. "Alright, but I'm not doing this again. And you owe me dinner!"

She gave me a huge smile and rushed to get more things. The next thing I knew, I was standing there, holding a big soft petticoat, which looked like a skirt but puffed out a lot. "What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked.

"Just put it on. It’s important for the outfit," she said, already pulling out a matching white top and a set of earrings.

I shook my head, but I knew I had no choice. I slipped on the petticoat and the top. Then she grabbed a bunch of foam padding and shoved it into a bra. "This is how we’ll make you look more like a girl," she explained. I wasn’t sure what she meant, but she seemed so sure about it, I didn’t ask any questions.

She started brushing my hair. She tied it into two thick braids and then grabbed some pink hair ties. I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. She had put on some powder and blush, making my face look like hers. The bindi stuck to my forehead like it belonged there, but I felt like it was a lie.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked... like my sister. Only I didn’t feel like me anymore. The petticoat felt tight around my waist, and the uniform itched. My arms felt weird with the bangles clinking around my wrist, and I couldn’t stop feeling like I was wearing a costume.

"You look great," she said, sounding proud. "Just act like you’re visiting from the village, and don't talk too much."

I nodded. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this.

We walked to school, and I felt like everyone was staring. I was trying to walk like my sister, but the petticoat kept getting in the way, and I was scared of tripping over it. When we finally got to school, we went straight to the headmistress’s office.

The headmistress looked at me, then looked at my sister. "You must be her cousin, then?" she asked, looking at me with suspicious eyes.

I nodded, my heart pounding. "Yes, ma’am. I’m visiting."

She raised one eyebrow but didn’t say anything else. "Alright. I suppose we can let this slide, just this once. Tell your sister to be more careful next time."

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. "Thank you," I said quietly, feeling like my voice might crack.

As we left the office, I felt like I had just survived something big. But I wasn’t out of trouble yet. I still had to get through the rest of the day.

Later, I found myself in the back of a rickshaw, trying to get home. The petticoat was uncomfortable, and the whole time, I just kept thinking about how wrong everything felt. When I got out of the rickshaw, I was glad to be away from the uniform. But then Rajan, a boy from the neighborhood, pulled up on his motorbike.

He stared at me like he was confused. "Why are you dressed like that?" he asked, smirking.

I blushed. "It’s... uh... it’s a bet."

But he didn’t buy it. He grinned and said, "Okay, sure. You look just like your sister. Want a ride home?"

I didn’t know how to say no. He helped me onto the bike, and before I knew it, we were speeding down the street. My heart was pounding because I knew something wasn’t right.

He stopped under a big tree, and I felt like the world was closing in on me. "Let’s take a detour," he said in a low voice, making me feel even more nervous.

I didn’t know what to do. He leaned in closer, and I felt his hand on my waist. "I know what’s going on," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I know you’re not really her."

I froze. How did he know?

Before I could answer, he kissed me. I didn’t know what to do. My body was frozen in shock. His hand went under the petticoat, and I felt my heart race faster. I didn’t want this. But at the same time, part of me didn’t know how to stop it.

"Rajan, stop," I whispered.

He pulled back, looking at me. "You don’t want to?" he asked, a little confused.

I shook my head. "No. You can’t tell anyone about this."

He smiled like he understood, but I knew he didn’t. "Your secret’s safe with me," he said, and kissed me again.

When we finally stopped, I felt terrible. I wanted to run away and never wear that uniform again. I wanted to tell my sister everything, but I didn’t know how.

When I got home, I went straight to the bathroom, washed off all the makeup, and took off the uniform. It didn’t feel like me anymore. I felt dirty, like I wasn’t myself.

The next morning, my sister was acting like nothing had happened. "You can’t tell anyone," I warned her. "Promise me."

"I won’t," she said quickly. "But maybe you should talk to Rajan again. He really likes you."

I couldn’t believe it. "What? Are you crazy?" I said, feeling embarrassed.

She just smiled and said, "You never know. Maybe it could be fun."

I shook my head. "No way. I’m done."

The rest of the day was so awkward. People stared at me like they were trying to figure out who I really was. And when Rajan came up to me during lunch, I knew I was in for more trouble.

"I’m sorry for what happened yesterday," he said, looking nervous. "I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable."

"I’m fine," I said, trying to hide how my heart was still racing.

"Maybe we could talk again? I really think I like you," he said, looking at me like he was waiting for an answer.

I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to tell him everything, but the other part was scared. What if he told everyone? What if my sister got in trouble?

"I’ll think about it," I said, walking away, still feeling like I was stuck in a big mess.

I wasn’t sure what to do next. I just knew I couldn’t keep pretending to be someone else forever.

The next morning, the house was filled with the usual breakfast chaos, the sounds of clattering pots and the smell of sizzling curry drifting in from the kitchen. My sister, Asha, was unusually quiet, sitting at the table, picking at her food. She kept casting sidelong glances at me, as if waiting for some kind of reaction. I couldn’t blame her; I had spent the entire night replaying what had happened with Rajan, my mind swirling with confusion and a strange sense of guilt.

I picked up my cup of tea and took a long sip, trying to steady my nerves. My sister was watching me closely, her eyes wide, her lips pressed tightly together as if she was holding back something. Finally, she broke the silence.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked softly, her voice tentative.

I put the cup down, unsure of how to answer. What had happened wasn’t just her fault, but I couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

“Mad?” I repeated, searching for the right words. “I don’t know. I’m just… confused, I guess.”

Asha sighed, pushing her plate away. “I didn’t mean for things to go that far. I just thought you’d be able to handle it. You know Rajan. He’s not that bad.”

I shot her a look. “Not that bad? He practically… he touched me without my consent, Asha. How is that not bad?”

She flinched at my words, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. “I didn’t know he’d do that. I swear, I didn’t think—”

“Then why did you tell him?” I interrupted, unable to hide the anger in my voice. “Why did you tell him I was… a girl?”

“I thought it would be funny! I didn’t think he’d actually go along with it. And then…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “I just wanted to make sure you’d be safe. If he thought you were a girl, he’d leave you alone.”

I stared at her, the weight of the lie she’d spun wrapping itself around my chest. “By lying to him? By putting me in that situation?”

“I didn’t want you to get hurt,” Asha said softly. She reached across the table and grabbed my hand, her eyes full of sincerity. “Please, I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t think he’d… do that. I’ll fix it. I’ll talk to him.”

“Fix it?” I asked bitterly, pulling my hand away. “How are you going to fix this, Asha? He knows everything. And I… I don’t know what to do anymore.”

She looked down at the table, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her plate. “You could talk to him. Tell him the truth. Maybe he’ll understand. Maybe he won’t.”

I shook my head. The idea of facing Rajan again, knowing what he had tried to do, was too much. But deep down, a part of me felt a strange pull. What if he really did understand? What if he could keep my secret, like he said he would?

I sighed and stood up, grabbing my bag. “I’ll think about it,” I muttered, heading towards the door.

As I stepped outside into the bright, harsh sunlight, I felt like I was walking into another storm. A part of me wanted to confront Rajan, to demand answers, to tell him everything and get this over with. But another part of me—one that was much quieter, much more dangerous—wanted to see where things could go, to test the limits of the lie I was living.

I walked to school in a daze, my thoughts spinning around in circles. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was playing with fire, and the more I tried to ignore it, the more the warmth of the flame seemed to reach out, touching me in unexpected ways.

When I arrived at school, the familiar sights and sounds were now tinged with unease. Girls in their uniforms were laughing and gossiping, the boys milling about with their usual cocky swagger. I felt like I was invisible, like I was just a shadow drifting through the halls.

As I entered the classroom, I saw Rajan in the corner, talking to a group of friends. He caught my eye immediately, his gaze flicking down to my chest, then back to my face. I looked away, my heart pounding in my chest. Was he going to come over and say something? Was he going to make some joke about my disguise?

To my surprise, he didn’t approach me right away. Instead, he gave me a small, tentative wave from across the room, his eyes soft, almost apologetic. I didn’t know what to make of it.

Throughout the day, I tried to keep my distance, but I could feel his eyes on me, every time I turned around. He wasn’t being his usual playful self. Instead, he seemed distant, preoccupied. It was like he was waiting for something, waiting for me to make the next move.

By lunchtime, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my lunch and went to sit outside, hoping for a few minutes of peace. But as I was about to bite into my sandwich, I heard footsteps behind me, and then a voice.

“Can we talk?” Rajan asked, his tone hesitant.

I looked up, startled. He was standing there, right in front of me. I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to brush him off, to ignore him and walk away. But another part of me, the part that had been aching for answers, wanted to hear him out.

“About what?” I asked, my voice cold but curious.

He took a deep breath. “About yesterday. About… everything. Look, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I never meant to cross any lines.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. He was apologizing? After everything that had happened? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Apologize?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Is that all you’re going to say? You can’t just apologize and make everything better, Rajan.”

He looked down, clearly frustrated. “I know. I can’t change what happened. But I want to make it right. I think you’re amazing. And I’d like to get to know you, but I need you to be honest with me. I don’t care about your… disguise. I care about you. The real you.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words. I was caught between wanting to believe him and being terrified of what it would mean if I did. Could I really trust him? Could I take the risk and tell him the truth? Or would it all blow up in my face?

Before I could answer, he continued. “I’m not asking you to tell everyone. I’m just asking you to be real with me. Can you do that?”

I felt my chest tighten. The weight of his words hung heavily between us. I looked up at him, searching his face for any signs of dishonesty. But all I saw was sincerity, even if it made me feel exposed.

“I… I don’t know,” I said softly, looking away. “I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“Scared of what might happen if you know the truth. Scared of what it’ll mean for me.” I swallowed, my voice breaking slightly. “I don’t want to lose what I have left.”

He nodded slowly, as if understanding exactly what I meant. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

I hesitated, still unsure. But something in his eyes made me feel like I could take the leap. “Alright,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “But we take this one step at a time, okay?”

He smiled, and for the first time in days, I felt a sense of hope, like maybe—just maybe—things could get better.

Few Days flew by, one weekend rajan asked me to meet, but as a girl..

i was confused but said yes.

On Saturday afternoon sun was setting behind the clouds, casting a golden hue over the room. I stood in front of the mirror, my heart racing as I gazed at the Anarkali dress laid out on the bed. It was a deep maroon with delicate gold embroidery, the kind of elegant outfit that would make anyone feel like they were stepping into a fairytale. I had bought it for a different occasion—never imagining it would be for something like this. But tonight was special, and I wanted to feel beautiful.

Asha entered the room, her presence both comforting and overwhelming. She had been busy all day with her own preparations, but the moment she saw me standing there, she stopped in her tracks, her eyes lighting up.

“You’re going to look stunning, I just know it,” she said, her voice full of excitement.

I smiled, though there was an underlying tension in my chest. The date with Rajan was both thrilling and terrifying. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it, but Asha had been insistent, telling me that it was time to take a chance, to let myself be seen for who I really was.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Asha,” I confessed, glancing at my reflection. “What if I mess up? What if he doesn't like me? What if…”

She walked over to me, cutting me off with a soft laugh. “You’re perfect just as you are. Trust me, you’ve got this. Now, let’s get you ready.”

She helped me slip into the Anarkali, the rich fabric flowing around me like a dream. The dress fit perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places and billowing out at the skirt. I felt a strange mixture of exhilaration and anxiety. This dress, this look—it was a part of me, but it was also a step into something new, something unknown.

Next came the wig. Asha had spent hours picking out the perfect one—long, straight hair that cascaded down to my waist in soft waves. I watched in the mirror as she gently combed through it, making sure there were no tangles. Her fingers worked with practiced ease as she secured the wig in place, the weight of it feeling comforting on my head.

“You know,” she said, as she adjusted the hairline, “I always wanted a sister to share this with. When I was younger, I’d always dreamt of playing dress-up, but you were too shy. Now look at you, glowing.”

I let out a soft chuckle, though my nerves still fluttered. “I never knew it would feel like this.”

Asha smiled warmly, adjusting the hair one last time before stepping back. “Because you’re finally letting yourself shine. Don’t ever dim that light, okay?”

Next, she worked on my makeup. It wasn’t heavy—just enough to accentuate my features, bringing out my eyes and lips without making it feel artificial. She applied a soft blush to my cheeks, a hint of highlighter to catch the light, and finished with a bold red lipstick that matched the rich tones of the Anarkali. As she worked, she hummed a soft tune, her movements gentle but confident.

“You’re going to knock Rajan’s socks off,” she teased, as she carefully applied mascara to my lashes.

I could feel the warmth of her love and support in each stroke, each little touch. But even so, my hands trembled as I held the delicate clutch purse, my fingers nervously brushing against the smooth fabric.

When she finished, Asha stepped back to admire her work, her eyes shining with pride. “There. You’re ready.”

I stood in front of the mirror, taking in the image of myself—a girl who had struggled for so long to feel at home in her own skin, now staring back at me with a sense of quiet strength. The Anarkali shimmered with every movement, the colors and fabrics woven into a delicate dance of elegance. My hair framed my face perfectly, and I couldn’t help but feel a little more confident, a little more at peace with who I was.

“Thanks, Asha,” I whispered, turning toward her. “You’ve done more for me than you’ll ever know.”

She pulled me into a tight hug, her arms warm and comforting. “I’ll always be here for you. Go out there and show Rajan who you really are. The real you.”

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for my sister’s unwavering support.

The final touch was the accessories. Asha handed me a pair of gold jhumkas—traditional Indian earrings that dangled elegantly from my ears. I slid them on, feeling their weight and hearing the soft tinkling sound they made as they swayed. She also gave me a thin gold bangle to wear, the subtle sparkle of it catching the light as I moved.

As I bent down to put on my sandals—simple yet stylish gold flats—my breath caught in my throat. I was ready. But the question remained: was I ready for Rajan to see me like this? Was I ready to face him as myself?

“You’re going to look incredible tonight,” Asha said, brushing a lock of hair from my face. “Just remember to breathe. You’ve got this.”

I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror once more. A woman stood there—a woman who had fought for her place in the world, who had fought for the right to be seen and loved for who she truly was.

As I made my way to the restaurant, the evening air cool and crisp, I couldn’t shake the feeling of excitement coursing through my veins. Rajan had texted earlier to confirm the place—a cozy little café by the beach that looked romantic and intimate. It felt like the perfect place for this moment.

When I arrived, I saw him waiting by the door, looking handsome in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans. His gaze swept over me the moment I stepped out of the car, and I saw his eyes widen in surprise.

“You look…” He hesitated, taking in the full view of me, “You look beautiful.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. It wasn’t just the compliment, though—it was the way his eyes softened when he saw me. It was the first time in a long while that I felt truly seen.

“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice trembling slightly. “You look great too.”

We walked into the café together, and as we sat down at our table, I felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation. There was a lot riding on this night, but as I looked at Rajan, I felt a quiet sense of hope.

Throughout dinner, Rajan was kind, attentive, and surprisingly shy. He asked about my life—my dreams, my struggles—and listened intently to every word. There was a warmth to him, a sincerity that made me feel comfortable, despite the butterflies in my stomach.

As the night wore on, I started to relax. The food was delicious, the conversation easy, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could just be myself.

But the moment that stuck with me the most was when he reached across the table and gently placed his hand over mine. His touch was light, but it felt like an unspoken promise—an acknowledgment that this night was just the beginning of something deeper, something real.

When we said our goodbyes later, Rajan kissed my cheek softly, and I felt the world shift beneath my feet. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was the beginning of something new.

As I walked back to the car, my heart full and my mind buzzing with the possibilities, I couldn’t help but smile. The night had been everything I’d hoped for—and more. I didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time, I felt like I was walking toward it with open arms. And I was ready.