MY OWN STYLE
The Deepak & Ananya Story
Chapter 1 — The Rain at the Door
Deepak had always liked keeping his hair long. It fell past his shoulders, usually tied in a practical ponytail. He preferred simple unisex clothes that allowed him to move comfortably.
One evening, rain arrived without warning. By the time he reached an apartment lane, his shirt was completely soaked and his phone was nearly out of battery.
He took shelter beneath the awning of a nearby building.
Ananya, returning from a nearby shop, noticed him standing in the rain. They had never met before. She approached and offered him a towel and a place to wait until the rain eased.
Deepak hesitated but eventually accepted her kindness.
Ananya lived alone in a compact 1BHK apartment. She made tea and gave him a dry towel. They introduced themselves and started talking about the rain, music and the city.
As the rain became heavier, Ananya suggested that he contact someone he trusted and wait indoors.
For the first time that evening, Deepak felt comfortable despite the unexpected situation.
Chapter 2 — A Borrowed Nighty
Deepak's spare clothes were in a bag that had also become completely wet.
Ananya checked her cupboard but couldn't find any men's clothes. However, she had a clean, loose cotton nighty that she had recently purchased.
She showed it to Deepak and explained that he could wear it if he felt comfortable.
Deepak looked uncertain. The garment was unfamiliar, but it was dry and comfortable-looking.
After thinking for a moment, he agreed. He changed privately while Ananya waited in another room.
When he returned, he was still unsure how to arrange his long ponytail with the unfamiliar outfit.
Ananya asked whether he wanted help.
With his agreement, she gently gathered his hair, smoothed the loose strands and arranged everything into a neat bun using a soft hair tie and a few pins.
She showed him the result in a mirror.
Deepak was surprised by how tidy and different the hairstyle looked.
Ananya asked whether he would like a photograph to remember the unusual rainy evening. Deepak agreed to one private photograph.
The evening became less about embarrassment and more about discovering a style he had never tried.
Chapter 3 — A Promise About Privacy
The rain continued late into the night, and transport services became unreliable.
Ananya offered Deepak the sofa and fresh bedding. She made it clear that he could leave whenever he felt comfortable and that the photograph would remain private.
Deepak appreciated her kindness.
They talked for hours about childhood, family expectations, fashion and hairstyles.
Deepak admitted that he had often wanted to experiment with different clothes and hairstyles but worried about how people might react.
Ananya listened without judging him.
Before sleeping, they agreed on separate sleeping spaces. Ananya used her bedroom, while Deepak slept on the sofa in the living room.
The arrangement was simple and respectful.
In the morning, Deepak woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of rainwater dripping from the balcony.
A message from a friend brought unexpected news: local restrictions were about to begin.
Deepak checked the announcement twice.
What had seemed like one unusual rainy evening was about to become a much longer chapter in both their lives.
Chapter 4 — The Lockdown Announcement
The next day, travel restrictions were announced, and Deepak could not immediately return to his shared accommodation.
He contacted his family and friends, explained where he was and made a temporary arrangement.
Ananya offered practical help. They discussed household routines, expenses and boundaries before deciding that he could stay for a short period.
The first few days were quiet.
They cleaned the apartment, arranged groceries and followed public-health guidance.
Their daily routine gradually developed:
- Morning breakfast together.
- Household cleaning and cooking.
- Work and entertainment.
- Evening conversations near the window.
- Haircare and styling experiments.
Deepak kept his hair tied back while doing household tasks.
One afternoon, Ananya noticed his loose ponytail and asked whether he wanted to try a braid.
He agreed.
She carefully divided his hair into three sections and created a simple three-strand braid.
When Deepak saw the result, he smiled.
Ananya suggested maintaining a notebook of different hairstyles they could experiment with during lockdown.
Deepak wrote the first entry:
A simple braid for a quiet day.
Chapter 5 — The Hairstyle Notebook
As the weeks passed, Deepak's hair grew longer and required more care.
Ananya showed him how to detangle it gently, use conditioner and dry it without rough rubbing.
They experimented with several hairstyles.
Their hairstyle collection included:
- Low ponytail.
- Loose side braid.
- Half-up hairstyle.
- Soft bun.
- Claw-clip hairstyle.
- Long braid over one shoulder.
Deepak gradually began choosing the styles himself.
Some days he preferred a relaxed look with a claw clip. On other days, he wanted a long braid falling over one shoulder.
Ananya photographed the results only when he requested.
They gave each hairstyle a special name in their notebook.
The Window-side Braid was for reading days.
The Quick Errands Bun was practical for household work.
The Festival Practice Braid included a decorative ribbon.
The notebook also contained notes about comfortable hairstyles and the time required to create each one.
The lockdown was difficult in many ways, but their creative routine gave Deepak a sense of confidence.
He was discovering what he genuinely liked.
Chapter 6 — The First Wardrobe Experiment
One afternoon, Ananya brought out a few clothes she no longer wore.
She asked whether Deepak would like to try something different.
He agreed to see the collection.
Among the clothes was a soft printed kurti with leggings.
Deepak chose to try it.
After changing privately, he returned with his hair arranged in a loose braid.
The outfit felt different from his usual unisex clothes, but he liked the comfortable fabric.
Ananya suggested a few matching accessories:
- Simple earrings.
- A thin bracelet.
- A small bindi.
- Matching hair accessories.
Deepak selected the accessories he liked.
They took a full-length mirror photograph after he approved the appearance.
Later, they browsed clothing catalogues together.
Deepak became interested in deep green, muted purple and earthy colours.
He also discovered that matching hairstyles and accessories with outfits was becoming one of his favourite hobbies.
Their conversations became increasingly personal.
Ananya shared stories about independent living, while Deepak explained the pressure he sometimes experienced because of other people's expectations.
Their friendship was gradually becoming warmer.
Chapter 7 — The Green Saree
By the time restrictions eased, Deepak's hair had grown well past his shoulder blades.
He had become comfortable with several hairstyles, but one idea remained particularly special.
He wanted to try a green saree.
Ananya asked what kind of appearance he imagined.
Deepak described a traditional green saree with a fine gold border, matching blouse, delicate earrings and a long braid.
They planned the outfit carefully.
Deepak selected the saree and decided how he wanted it draped.
Ananya helped arrange the pleats after he asked.
Next came the hairstyle.
She carefully gathered his long hair and created a thick braid over one shoulder.
They completed the appearance with:
- Green-and-gold bangles.
- A small pendant.
- Matching earrings.
- A green bindi.
- A neat, thick braid.
When Deepak looked in the mirror, he recognised the same person who had arrived at Ananya's apartment during the rain.
However, he was now enjoying a style he had never expected to try.
Ananya smiled and asked how he felt.
Deepak replied:
"Like I finally got to try something I had imagined for a long time."
They took a few photographs in the warm afternoon light.
Deepak selected his favourite and asked Ananya to keep it in their private album.
Chapter 8 — A Festival at Home
Their first festival together after the restrictions was modest but memorable.
They decorated the apartment with flowers, arranged a small lamp and prepared a homemade meal.
Deepak wanted to wear the green saree again, this time with jasmine woven into his braid.
Ananya helped place the flowers near the end of the braid and checked that the pins were secure.
They also experimented with another hairstyle: a low bun decorated with jasmine strands.
Deepak liked the contrast between the bun and the traditional jewellery, but ultimately chose the long braid for the evening.
He paired it with turquoise earrings and a simple necklace.
Ananya took photographs from several angles, showing him each photograph before saving it.
Deepak laughed at how seriously they had begun treating their styling sessions.
What had started with a borrowed nighty had become a shared creative hobby.
After dinner, they spoke honestly about their feelings.
Ananya explained that she cared about him and wondered whether their friendship could become a relationship.
Deepak admitted that he felt similarly but wanted them to move slowly.
They agreed that affection should always include respect and freedom of choice.
Chapter 9 — Beyond the Apartment
As daily life reopened, Deepak and Ananya began spending more time outside the apartment.
Their first outing was a quiet visit to a clothing shop.
Deepak selected a printed kurti for everyday wear and the green saree for a later family celebration.
He also purchased a sturdy hairbrush, a satin scarf and several clips to care for his now very long hair.
They discussed how to handle photographs online.
Deepak wanted to share a photograph eventually, but only after choosing the image, caption and audience himself.
Ananya supported his decision.
Deepak also became increasingly confident in styling his own hair.
He could independently create:
- A neat bun.
- A side braid.
- A long traditional braid.
- A half-up hairstyle.
- A relaxed ponytail.
Ananya still enjoyed helping with flowers and checking the back of his hairstyles, but the final decisions always belonged to Deepak.
Their relationship became official over a simple dinner.
There was no dramatic ultimatum. They simply chose to care for each other and communicate honestly.
Chapter 10 — The Look He Chose
Months later, Deepak prepared for a special portrait.
He selected the deep green saree with its delicate gold border.
He completed the look with a matching blouse, green bangles, turquoise-and-gold earrings and a small green bindi.
His long, glossy hair was parted neatly and gathered into a thick braid over one shoulder.
A matching green tie and a few jasmine flowers completed the hairstyle.
Ananya helped arrange the necklace and checked that the saree border fell smoothly.
Then she stepped aside so Deepak could choose his own pose.
He folded his hands gently in front, looked towards the camera and smiled with quiet confidence.
The photograph captured the appearance he had developed through months of experimenting with hairstyles, clothing and accessories.
They remembered the storm that had brought them together:
- The soaked clothes.
- The borrowed nighty.
- The first neat bun.
- The first private photograph.
- The unexpected lockdown.
- The growing collection of hairstyles.
- The first green saree.
- The festival decorated with jasmine.
But the most important part of their journey was not the clothing or hairstyle.
It was the trust they had built by asking, listening and respecting each other's choices.
Deepak saved the portrait under a title he chose himself:
My Own Style.
Ananya stood beside him, proud not because she had changed him, but because she had been there while he discovered what he wanted.
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THE END
My Own Style — A story of rain, friendship, long hair, fashion and self-discovery.
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