Swapna knew that the police wouldn’t stop searching. Tanish couldn’t remain hidden in the corner of her little rented room forever. He had to blend in, become invisible in plain sight. And the only way was to transform him completely.

That evening, Swapna went to the transgender community in her area. She approached her Guru maa, Radha, and with folded hands narrated the entire story.

Swapna (pleading): “Guru maa, once this man saved my life when I met with an accident. Nobody even looked at me that day, but he took me to the hospital. Today he is in trouble, accused of a crime he did not commit. I want to pay him back by protecting him.”

Radha listened calmly, her eyes sharp with experience. The other members of the community, Keerti and Jenny, were nearby.

Radha: “Swapna, hiding him is risky. If police find out, all of us will suffer. Our homes, our dignity, everything will be questioned.”

Swapna (desperate): “I know, Guru maa. But I cannot abandon him. Please… I beg you.” Radha finally spoke after a long silence.

Radha: “Alright. We will help. But there is one condition. If he has to live among us, he must live as one of us. He must follow our rules, our rituals, and accept this identity fully. Otherwise, he is not safe.”

Swapna’s eyes filled with relief. She immediately agreed. With Guru maa’s blessing, Keerti and Jenny accompanied her back to her house to begin the transformation.

When they knocked, Tanish nervously opened the door, still wrapped in a cotton saree. His eyes widened in shock seeing two strangers walk in.

Tanish (whispering): “Who are they, Swapna? Why did you bring others here?”

Swapna (calmly): “Don’t panic, Anna. They are my sisters, Keerti and Jenny. They will help us keep you safe.”

As soon as they entered, Keerti and Jenny clapped their hands in the traditional hijra style and teased him.

Keerti (laughing): “Arey wah, what a beauty! Chickney! You already look like one of us.”

Jenny: “So delicate… if police see you like this, they’ll never guess you are Tanish. Guru maa was right, you can be saved.”

Tanish didn’t respond. He lowered his head, humiliated, remembering his college days. Back then, he used to tease girls, force them for kisses, laugh at their helplessness. Now, the tables had turned. He felt the sting of his own sins.

Keerti sat cross-legged on the floor and spoke firmly.

Keerti: “Listen carefully, Tanish. Hiding you is not easy. If we do this, you must follow our rules. No male clothes anymore. From today, you live as a woman. You eat with us, dress like us, behave like us. Only then will the community protect you.”

Jenny (nodding): “And if you don’t, then sorry, we cannot risk our lives for you.”

Tanish swallowed his pride. His voice trembled.

Tanish: “I have no choice. I will do whatever you say. Just give me time… I need to prove my innocence.”

Jenny immediately stood up and snapped her fingers.

Jenny: “Good. Then transformation begins now.”

Keerti pulled out a small suitcase filled with beauty tools. She grabbed the end of Tanish’s saree and tugged it off.

Tanish (shocked): “Arrey! What are you doing?”

Keerti (mocking): “What is the use of this when you’re going to wear saree like us? Don’t be shy, Chickney.”

Tanish’s face turned red with humiliation. He wanted to protest but his strength was gone. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Jenny (scolding): “Stop crying like a child! If you want to live in this world, you need to be strong. Otherwise, society will crush you.”

Keerti boiled wax in a small pot and began waxing his arms and chest. Tanish winced and sobbed with every pull.

Keerti (mocking): “Aiyo! This much crying? What will you do when real pain comes?” Jenny took a thread and shaped his eyebrows into thin arches. Then she shaved his face clean and brought out a small hand-held laser machine.

Jenny (strictly): “Don’t move. This will hurt. But it’s necessary.”

Each shot stung like fire. Tanish gritted his teeth, silently thinking, “Maybe this is punishment for all the sins I committed.”

Swapna, watching from the corner, felt pity. Her eyes softened, but she knew this was the only way.

Just as they were about to leave, Jenny suddenly stopped.

Jenny: “Arey, we forgot something important! His ears and nose.”

Keerti grinned and took out a piercing gun.

Tanish (terrified): “No! Please, not that…”

But before he could resist, click-click!—two quick shots pierced his earlobes, followed by one sharp piercing on his left nostril.

Tanish (screaming softly): “Ahh! Enough! Please…”

Jenny smirked.

Jenny: “Now you look complete. From today, no more male clothes. Daily saree only. You will join our activities, clap with us, dance with us, bless people with us. Only then you are safe.”

Keerti packed her things and added sternly:

Keerti: “And remember—if you get caught, we all get punished. So follow our rules. Otherwise, you are on your own.”

Tanish sat exhausted, his body aching, his face burning. The mirror in front of him reflected a stranger—a fragile, feminine figure with red eyes and a saree draped awkwardly.

Swapna came forward, placed her hand gently on his shoulder, and whispered:

Swapna: “Anna, be strong. This is the only way.”

Tanish closed his eyes, his tears falling silently. His punishment had begun.

P.S: This story is a purely fictional story and any resemblance of characters in real life is just a coincidence.