First outing- awakening of something new

After lunch, the atmosphere became charged with a new kind of excitement. Aditi and Shruthi exchanged glances, clearly plotting something. I noticed their mischievous smiles and felt a wave of nervousness wash over me.

"Suhasini," Aditi began, "we've been thinking..."

I looked at them, already feeling a knot form in my stomach. "Thinking what?"

Shruthi leaned in, her eyes twinkling. "We want to take you out today. To the mall, and maybe to a restaurant. As Suhasini."

My heart skipped a beat. "What? Out? Like... outside?" I stammered, suddenly feeling my pulse quicken. The thought of stepping out in public dressed as Suhasini was overwhelming.

"Yes! It'll be fun. You've practiced so much, and you look amazing in a saree. No one will even suspect," Aditi chimed in, her voice full of confidence.

I shook my head, the anxiety building. "I don't know... what if someone recognizes me? What if I get caught?"

Shruthi placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We're with you, Suhasini. No one's going to recognize you. You've gotten so good at this, and trust us, you're going to love the experience. The world will see you as the beautiful girl you are."

They began rummaging through their wardrobe again, pulling out a simple yet elegant cotton saree in a soft peach shade. It was understated, with just a hint of embroidery at the borders-perfect for a casual outing. They paired it with a sleeveless blouse and a set of delicate bangles, the kind that jingled softly with every movement.

"You'll wear this," Aditi said, holding up the saree. "It's light and simple. You'll blend in effortlessly."

I hesitated, biting my lip, but a part of me was curious. I'd spent so many weekends practicing, perfecting my walk and mannerisms with Shruthi, and now, they were offering me the chance to experience it in the real world.

"Okay," I whispered, feeling both scared and excited. "But you have to stay close."

"Of course!" Shruthi grinned. "We wouldn't dream of leaving your side."

They helped me into the saree, carefully pleating the pallu and tucking it in just right. The blouse fit snugly, accentuating my form, while the saree itself felt soft and light as it draped over me. As they fastened the delicate bangles on my wrists and added a simple chain around my neck, I felt a strange sense of calm settle over me.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. Suhasini stared back, her soft, feminine figure draped in a beautiful saree, with an air of grace I had only dreamed of. It was surreal.

Before we left, Aditi applied a light bindi to my forehead and combed my hair, leaving it loose and flowing down my shoulders. I could feel the coolness of the air on my exposed navel, a sensation that sent a shiver down my spine.

As we stepped out of the house, the world outside felt different-more vibrant, more alive. The gentle breeze caressed my skin, especially around my waist where the saree revealed my midriff. It was a strange, intoxicating feeling. Every step I took made the fabric of the saree brush against my legs, and I felt the soft jingling of my bangles with each movement of my hands. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

The mall wasn't far, just a short walk, but with every step, my heart raced. The sound of my sandals clicking against the pavement, the feel of the saree swaying around my legs, the breeze playing with the pleats-it all felt so... feminine. Yet, I walked gracefully, thanks to the practice I'd had with Shruthi over the weekends. Every movement felt natural, as if I had always been Suhasini.

As we made our way into the mall, the first obstacle that loomed ahead was the security check. I felt a wave of nervousness build in my chest as I approached the ladies' security lane. This was the moment where I feared everything could unravel. What if they noticed something off? What if they asked me questions?

Shruthi must have noticed my hesitation because she gently nudged me forward. "Don't worry, Suhasini. Just act normal. You're with us, and you're going to be fine."

The female security guard barely glanced at me as I stepped forward. She waved the metal detector wand over me with the same casual indifference she had for the other women in line. When she said "Thank you, madam," and motioned for me to pass, I felt a strange mix of relief and excitement surge through me. I had just passed through my first public test, and no one suspected a thing. Being addressed as "madam" felt surreal, yet thrilling.

Aditi grinned as we moved deeper into the mall. "See? I told you, no one suspects a thing. Now you just need to relax and enjoy being a beautiful woman for the day."

But relaxing was easier said than done. As we wandered through the brightly lit halls of the mall, the realization that I was out in public, dressed as Suhasini, was both exhilarating and terrifying. Every time someone called me "madam," whether it was a store attendant or a passerby, my heart raced with excitement. It was as though the world had accepted me for who I was in that moment, and the more it happened, the more I began to enjoy the role.

We visited a few clothing shops, and the attendants greeted us with cheerful "Hello, madam!" the same way they would any other female customer. At one point, we entered a boutique full of sarees, and the shop assistant asked if I was looking for something special. I froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Shruthi quickly stepped in, smiling at me.

"We're just browsing, thank you," she said, rescuing me. But the assistant kept hovering nearby, offering compliments on my saree and suggesting new styles I might like to try. I could feel my cheeks burning with both nervousness and excitement. Being treated like any other woman in the store was something I had dreamed of, and now it was happening.

"See?" Aditi whispered in my ear as we moved on. "You fit in perfectly. You're just like any other girl here. Now just breathe and enjoy the experience."

But it wasn't always that easy. As we walked through the mall, I noticed a few boys staring at me from across the hall. My nerves shot up instantly. Were they looking at me because they knew? Could they tell I wasn't really a girl? My hands fidgeted with the pallu of my saree, and I felt my steps falter.

Shruthi noticed and gave me a reassuring smile. "Calm down, Suhasini. They're staring because they think you're beautiful."

As we continued walking through the mall, I couldn't help but notice that the boys staring at me weren't just stealing a glance-they were downright following me with their eyes. Every turn, every shop we passed, I felt those gazes linger, and it made me feel a mix of nervousness and excitement. My mind was racing. Could they really be looking at me because they thought I was... beautiful?

At first, I was too anxious to believe it. My hands unconsciously fidgeted with the edge of my saree, making sure everything was still in place. I turned to Aditi and Shruthi, unsure of what to do. "They're staring at me. What if they figure it out?"

Shruthi gave me a wicked smile, nudging my arm playfully. "Oh, Suhasini, you're such a newbie at this! They're not staring because they know. They're staring because they think you're hot."

I blushed deeply, not quite able to process what she was saying. "But... are you sure?"

Aditi chimed in with a teasing grin. "Of course, they are! Look at you! That saree, those bangles, and the way you're carrying yourself-they probably think you're the heroine of some romantic movie."

Shruthi giggled, pulling me closer as we passed another group of boys whose eyes followed me all the way down the corridor. "See, Suhasini? Those boys can't take their eyes off you! Maybe one of them is your hero."

I let out a nervous laugh, feeling my face grow warmer. The idea of being someone's heroine, the object of admiration, was completely foreign to me. But there was something about the way Aditi and Shruthi teased me that made me wonder if they might be right.

Just then, we passed another store, and I felt the gaze of a tall boy in a casual shirt fix on me. He didn't just glance-he stared, a faint smile on his lips, as if trying to catch my eye. My heart raced, and I turned away quickly, pretending to look at something in the window display.

Aditi noticed and couldn't help but tease me more. "Suhasini! Did you see that? He's totally checking you out! Maybe he's the one!"

"Stop it!" I whispered, feeling completely flustered. I tried to ignore the flutter of excitement in my chest, but it was getting harder. The more they teased, the more I started to see myself as they saw me: a girl, a woman in a saree, catching the attention of boys.

Shruthi nudged me again, her voice playful and full of mischief. "Come on, Suhasini! You have to get used to it if you want to be the heroine of the story. Heroes are going to notice you. Maybe you should smile back. Who knows? He could be your Prince Charming!"

I laughed nervously but couldn't stop the thrill of it all-the attention, the teasing, the idea that someone might find me attractive as Suhasini. It felt like I was living out a scene from a movie, and for a moment, I let myself indulge in the fantasy.

We walked further down the mall, passing more boys who turned their heads as we passed by. A group of them even seemed to be following us for a bit, whispering among themselves. Shruthi and Aditi exchanged glances and smirked at me.

"They're totally into you, Suhasini," Shruthi said with a wink. "You're really living up to that heroine role today. Any of these boys catching your eye?"

I blushed furiously, trying to hide behind my pallu. "Stop it! I'm not looking for a hero!"

Aditi giggled. "Oh, come on, you never know! Maybe one of them is secretly your Mr. Right. How would you even know if you don't give them a chance?"

The teasing was relentless, and yet, I couldn't help but feel flattered. There was something about the way they kept calling me Suhasini, kept teasing me about finding a hero, that made me feel more connected to this side of myself than ever before.

As we made our way toward the food court, I noticed the breeze brushing against my navel, the soft fabric of the saree swaying with each step. The way the boys kept glancing at me, the way Shruthi and Aditi teased me, all of it made me feel a strange sense of pride. For the first time, I wasn't just Suhasini in secret-I was Suhasini out in the world, and people were seeing me that way. And maybe, just maybe, some of those boys saw me as a girl they might want to talk to, flirt with... or more.

Aditi leaned in as we sat down at a table, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, Suhasini, did you find your hero today? That last boy was definitely interested."

I shook my head, still blushing. "You two are impossible."

Shruthi chuckled. "We're just helping you see what's right in front of you. You're the heroine today, Suhasini. And heroines always find their heroes."

At the restaurant, when the waiter greeted us with a polite, "Good afternoon, ladies," I smiled. This time, the excitement wasn't mixed with fear. I was ready to embrace the experience fully, to let myself enjoy being Suhasini in the world.

As we sat down, Aditi grinned at me. "You did it, Suhasini. You made it through the whole day. How does it feel?"

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the saree, the way the fabric hugged my body, the soft sound of my bangles as I adjusted the pallu. "It feels... amazing," I admitted, a shy smile spreading across my face.

"Good," Shruthi said, giving me a proud look. "Because you are amazing. And this is just the beginning."

I knew she was right. Today had changed something inside me. The teasing, the stares, the way I had been treated all day-it made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could embrace this part of myself even more. And while I wasn't ready to find my "hero" just yet, the idea no longer seemed so impossible. The experience of walking through the world as Suhasini had awakened a part of me I could no longer ignore. And with Shruthi and Aditi by my side, I knew there were even more adventures ahead.