My Journey: Annual day 4

Please read the previous part by clicking on the Story Name My Journey: Annual day 3

 After my mother finished my makeup and made me stand in front of the mirror, I was amazed by my looks. The feeling of wearing a saree was really different and wonderful. The best part was making my mother happy. She always wanted a girl, and now she was able to dress me up and treat me as her daughter. I didn't have any problem wearing the saree because I had been practicing how to handle it for the past week. The only thing that bothered me was the jewelry. I wasn't used to it. The Jhumkas on my ears were really heavy, and the chains around my neck were also heavy. I had six bangles on each hand, and the anklets made a loud noise when I walked around the room. It was a different feeling and a different experience for me. I was confused if I was happy or sad because I couldn't express the feeling. 

The whole day went by with me practicing expressions and making sure I handled the saree and jewelry properly. My mother kept telling me what to change in my expressions so that I could perform well on the annual day. After dinner, I was watching TV when my mother called me to her room. She removed all my jewelry, then my makeup, and finally the saree. She folded it properly and kept it in her cupboard. As I was about to leave the room, she stopped me and called me back. She wanted to take some measurements to stitch the blouse. She told me to go change into normal clothes and go to sleep.

The next morning, my mother woke me up early and made me take a bath. I wasn't sure why, so I asked her. She said, "Girls are supposed to wake up early." I was confused. She told me, "Until your annual day gets over, you are a girl." I was okay with it. After my bath, I went to my mother to ask for breakfast, wearing my normal boys' clothes. But she refused and told me to wait in the room while she finished packing my father's food. I went to my room and sat on the bed, waiting for her. She came back after some time and told me to remove my clothes. She took a saree from the cupboard and made me wear some blouses she had stitched for me. They fit perfectly. Then, she made me wear the blouse and draped the saree around me.

After she finished setting the saree pleats properly, she made me sit in front of the dressing table and started doing my makeup. She began with foundation, spreading it evenly across my face to create a smooth base. Then she applied powder to set the foundation and reduce shine. She carefully applied kajal to my eyes, making them look larger and more expressive. She added eyeshadow, choosing colors that complemented the saree. She drew a thin line of eyeliner along my eyelids and applied mascara to my lashes, making them look longer and fuller. She brushed blush onto my cheeks to give them a rosy glow and finished with lipstick, choosing a soft shade that matched the saree. Then she added the jewelry: heavy Jhumkas for my ears, multiple chains around my neck, six bangles on each wrist, and anklets that jingled with every step. She placed the wig on my head and styled it into a bun, adding flowers for a traditional touch. When she was done, she took kajal from her own eyes and put a small dot on my chin to ward off the evil eye. She made me stand in front of the mirror, and I was amazed at my reflection. I looked completely different, like a beautiful girl.

My mother and I had breakfast together, and then we practiced my role. She gave me suggestions throughout. By lunchtime, I was exhausted. We ate lunch and watched TV together. In the evening, my father came home with a guest. I was shy to come out of my room, but my father called me. I had no choice but to go out. The guest was also a Yakshagana artist who often performed with my father. He played female characters in their performances. My father said he would train me daily.

My father told me to go to my room and practice with him. We went to my room, and he asked me to perform the scene I was given at school. I felt shy, but he reassured me, "I've been doing this for 12 years. There's nothing wrong with it. It's a tradition, so don't feel shy." I performed the scene, and he was happy. He said, "You're doing well, but try to get more female expressions. Think about how a girl would feel in that situation, and you'll do great." He showed me how he performed. His expressions and grace were just like a girl's. I was amazed. He started teaching me, and we had a great time. 

When he left, I removed all the jewelry, makeup, and the saree, then went to sleep.

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