Shadow of a Saree

by Josephine Gonsalves

 

The next day :The function would get over by 11 O'clock. After that they, that is Richard, his girlfriend Jean, Margaret and he, were to see the new blockbuster movie they had all agreed to go to last week. It was an adult movie and the last time he tried to enter he was not permitted by the manager, who kept a watch for underage viewers. It then struck him that he would request Ms. L to let him go home dressed in her saree, saying that his Mother who was sick wanted to see how he looked, dressed as a Gujarati woman. He had this sudden rush of blood and wanted to be dressed a little longer. He knew dressed in that saree, and with proper womanly behavior, he would have no difficulty getting pass the manager. He also wanted to see Margaret's reaction. He wanted to see the look on Margaret's face when she saw him all 'dressed up' at the theater. He was sure Margaret would take it well, after the way she had treated him on the terrace. Anyway he wanted to find out what it was like to 'be' and go out as a woman.

True to his feelings he enjoyed the next day, as a Gujarati woman, during the flag hoisting ceremony. Photographs were clicked and there was much gaiety as the ceremony came to a close. Ms. L had him dressed well before time. This time she was less shy and nervous. She had him wear a silk saffron blouse, which fit him very well, instead of the off white one, which he had worn yesterday. She was dressed in a silk saffron colored saree, with a rich gold border, and the blouse he had worn yesterday. She said that last night, when she decided to wear this saree, she remembered that she had no matching blouse for it, as the matching blouse, which he now wore was too tight for her. Instead of doing any alteration to the off white blouse, she decided to switch blouses.

When the boys were being led to the changing rooms, after the ceremony, Ms L pulled him by the hand and led him back to the main hall. She called to the photographer to click a photograph of him alone, then one with him & her together. Ms. L said that she had to go to visit her relatives and that she better get Joseph changed. That was when he told her that he wanted to stay dressed a little longer. He wanted to tell her the lie he had thought about earlier, but thought better of it and told her that he was going to the movie with his 'girlfriend' and he was going to surprise her.

She looked at him a little surprised. Then she smiled and said 'Okay, but we will have to wait for the rest to clear the changing room, as we will have to make some changes. You can't go out dressed like that. That was good for the 'stage', not for ordinary real life" She then advised him that it would be better if she dressed him up in the normal urban woman style(Nivi) which she thought would be more comfortable and practical. Also the wig would not do as he needed a more realistic everyday hairstyle.

When the changing room was empty, she led him in and undid his saree. She asked him to remove the petticoats. He undid the draw string and remove the white petticoat and then the thicker extra petticoat. When he turned around, he found that she had undraped, her saree and was wearing the white petticoat, he had worn earlier. She had the hem lifted and was hurriedly undoing the alteration she had done to it. She asked him to wear the orange petticoat, which she had worn earlier. It was already short in length and did not need any alteration. She was going to switch sarees as she was worried that the white saree, which belonged to her mother would get stained or snagged. He would be better off in the orange saree. He put on the petticoat, noticing her scent as he wore it and tied the drawstring. When she had finished with the hem of her petticoat she let it down and smoothened the petticoat out over her lower self, she approached him and opened his petticoat's drawstring and retightened it more securely, so that it was tight on his waist. She took the saffron saree, and still clad only in her blouse and petticoat, expertly draped the saree on him. She pinned the pleats to the petticoat underneath, with a big safety pin, so they would not open up and stayed securely tucked inside the petticoat. The pallu, she pleated and pinned over his left shoulder. The picture of her in her petticoat and tight blouse was exciting. But she went on with the job on hand, for the first time very calmly. A wig with a thick braid was selected from the rack on which they were placed by the other boys, after the show. It was fixed expertly, on his head. The extra make up was wiped away and instead a light coating of scented talcum powder and touch up of lipstick was added. All this touching and tucking was quiet pleasing and he was getting used to being 'dolled' by her. When he finally looked at himself in the mirror, he was pleasantly surprised to see the smart looking woman staring back at him. She replaced the large bindi with a smaller one, giving him a more modern woman look. She replaced the white bangles he had on his wrist, with the orange and red ones she had worn earlier. The large, hanging earings were removed and only the small clip on gold studs, were kept on.. She told him to take care and be sure to return the saree, and all her things back safely. She then draped the white saree on her self, in Gujarati fashion, put on the bangles, earings etc and was ready in a jiffy.

 

His first time out : He packed all his boy stuff in her bag and they both exited the school building. She holding his hand and guiding him like an older sister. When they reached her place she noticed he would be late for the movie, and offered him a ride on her scooter. She gave her bag with his things to her mother, who was waiting by the door, tucked her saree to one side and stared her scooter. He got behind her, sitting sideways, holding his saree pleats in his left hand and putting his right one around her waist, like a woman. The feel of her body against his was excruciatingly intoxicating. It was good that the theater was close by, or he would have lost control and done something embarrassing. At the theater she forgot all her earlier shyness and kissed his cheek and wished him a good time. She took out from her shoulder bag a small change purse and gave it to him. He took from her his cash and the ticket which she had kept in her purse. She reminded him that his boy clothes were with her mother, if he needed them or he could wait till she was back from visiting her relatives by 7 pm.

 

He had asked Richard to go on ahead with the girls to the movie, as he was going to be a little late getting changed and all. He checked his ticket. He realized that he was walking fast and slowed down and tried to walk as he was taught earlier, in small steps. He wrapped the pallu end around his right hip. Now he was truly enjoying his walk in a saree. When he reached the cinema entrance he realized that Richard and the girls were already in. He had hoped that they would do so, as he wanted to play out his scheme his way. He walked in confidently handed his ticket to the usher who leered at him. If only the jerk knew who he was leering at. So that's what young unescorted women had to put up with everyday. He walked into the main foyer and saw Margaret and Jean coming out of the 'ladies'. They looked at him, but did not recognize him, even though he smiled at them. They giggled and walked on by, into the darkened hall. The next attraction was being shown. He followed behind and sat in a vacant seat, immediately behind them, taking care to sit properly and not cause creases to the saree.. The aisle seat next to Margaret remained unoccupied. Bobby and Jean looked at the empty seat and said "well, I guess the manager turned him away or he got tied up in Ms L's saree' and they laughed. He made a beautiful Gujarati woman though, this morning, you girls should see the photographs, when they are displayed next week on the school notice board. Sachin, Suman, Adithya, and Ajay, always act as girls, in school plays but to see Joseph, Linus, Jimmy, Darryl and the other boys in sarees was really surprising. They looked so feminine. Unbelievable". He heard Margaret and Jean laugh softly.

Then the main attraction started and just before the introduction was getting over, he was asked to move from the seat, as the guy whose seat it was had turned up. He got up and in the best ladylike manner seated himself, in the seat besides Margaret. She glanced at him and continued watching the screen. He waited for her protest saying the seat was already taken, but no protest came. He busied himself watching the movie. Every now and then he would cross and uncross his legs adjusting his saree and swishing his pallu against her bare arm or thigh. He watched slyly how she flinched at first, and just pushed the offending pallu away discreetly.

Just before the intermission light went on he got up and walked out into the foyer. He went and sat quietly in the corner seat and watched as the crowd poured out and lined up for ice creams and popcorn. He saw a few of his school friends, the ones who looked older with their girlfriends, enjoying their ice creams and snacks. But they failed to recognize him. Funny only a few hours ago he was dressed in a different saree and hair style, and they could not recognize him. So what the girls said was right 'boys don't look at the faces only boobs and buns and miniskirts. Sarees were worn by older women'.

He purchased two cone ice creams and a bag of popcorn and walked into the hall and stood next to Margaret. In a soft voice he asked her to hold on to the cones and popcorn bag while he adjusted his saree, before he sat. He crossed his legs and purposely let his pallu end fall into her lap. She waited for him to settle and retrieve his snacks, and the offending pallu end. He took one cone and said the other one was for her. She started protesting and only then did she look closely at him, in the dimmed theater lights. A puzzled look crossed her face. She looked again more closely and realized that the woman besides her was strangely familiar. Then it struck her, she took a deep breath and shook her head in amazement. Just then the lights went out and the movie started again.

They watched and ate their ice creams and popcorn in silence. After a time she slowly put her hand in his and squeezed lighty. He squeezed back. She lifted her hand from his and placed it on his saree clad thigh. Ever so slowly she started rubbing till she was up to his crotch. Then although he was enjoying himself he told her that he would come and stain the saree. She withdrew her hand from his thigh and put it around his waist. The rest of the movie was a haze, as he was only aware of her hand around his waist. Just before the movie could end Margaret nudged him, whispered an excuse in Jeans ear, and they left the theater, holding hands. She had parked her new scooter outside the theater and soon he was sitting behind her, ladylike. She drove to the promenade, where they could enjoy the cool sea breeze. They walked and talked and sat on a bench till the sun set, like two girlfriends, sharing so many secrets. He told her about his secret desire and fondness of wearing women's clothes. She asked him many questions, half of which he had no answers to. The most embarrassing ones were 'if he wanted to be a girl', 'if he was attracted to boys' etc. He assured her he liked to be a girl with her, not otherwise and he was not attracted to boys, he just like to look and dress as a woman, sometimes. She told him that he looked extremely pretty and attractive. If he dressed up like this, and was seen outside often he would surely have a line of men waiting to court him. No one would know the difference, especially dressed in a saree. She admitted that she fond him attractive and it was good that they were surrounded by strollers and leisure seekers, or maybe she would have kissed and petted him like they had done on the terrace, yesterday. He said he had enjoyed the experience and was looking forward to their next session. She told him she too enjoyed and was waiting to make love to him again. In the meanwhile he was to concentrate on his studies. Maybe this 'hidden' asset could be used sometime in future.

Then it was time to go home. They drove to Ms. L's place and seeing her scooter parked outside knew she was at home. L welcomed them and her Mum offered them tea and snacks. She seemed very comfortable with them and they talked and told her about the day. She was in no hurry to get him 'undressed', so they sat and watched TV for sometime. Margaret then reminded her that it was getting late. Together like two bridesmaids, they guided him to her bedroom, and undressed him. While he dressed in his 'boy clothes' and washed his face of all traces of makeup, Margaret and L, folded and put away the saree and other feminine wear, talking and sharing their views on Joseph's transformation. Margaret confessed that she found Joseph very attractive. Ms. L too said that she was nervous and shy at first but found Joseph quite attractive, in a saree.

Margaret said that since Joseph looked very attractive and convincing in a saree and behaved like a woman , he and L could attend the college function next month. Her mum was with her older sister, in Dubai. And she would be pleased to book their tickets. Ms L, was reluctant, as she was not used to attending functions where there was girl/boy dancing and flirting. But she was delighted with the idea of dressing Joseph. This made him happy as he could wear more of L's sarees. Maybe she would get over her shyness and they could get intimate, while being dressed as a woman.

That night, he slept peacefully, like a well fed baby, having realized one his fantasies. He had been dressed as a woman, by a woman, and behaved as a woman, for an entire day. His girl friend had seen him dressed in another woman's saree and had been more attracted to him. She had met the other woman and now they were making plans and finding reasons to dress him, up in feminine clothes, more often.

  

  

  

*********************************************
© 2006 by Josephine Gonsalves. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, and compilation design) may be printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without the express written consent of StorySite and the copyright holder.