The beauty parlour stood on a busy street in Kolkata, between a clothing boutique and a small tea shop.
Arjun followed Maya and Tara inside. The bright mirrors, colourful product shelves, and rows of styling chairs made him feel as though he had entered a completely unfamiliar world.
Pooja, the stylist, greeted them.
"What would you like to try today?" she asked.
Maya answered enthusiastically. "We want to see how different hairstyles and a feminine look might suit him."
Arjun took a seat in front of the mirror.
Pooja examined his long hair. "You have excellent length to work with. We can try soft face-framing layers, a side part, and a high ponytail without cutting it."
She began carefully combing his hair. Maya suggested a high ponytail, while Tara preferred loose waves that fell over his shoulders.
After trying several styles, Pooja secured his hair with a ribbon and added a few simple clips near his temples.
Next came a light makeup experiment: a little concealer, a subtle shade on his lips, and a natural finish that did not dramatically change his face.
Arjun watched his reflection.
He still recognised himself, yet the styling gave him a different appearance. He felt awkward, curious, and slightly embarrassed by how closely his cousins watched his reaction.
Pooja brought out a pastel-blue kurti and a pair of dark leggings as an optional outfit. Arjun agreed to try them in a private changing area. When he returned, Tara smiled encouragingly.
"You look different," she said.
"Different isn't the same as better," Arjun replied.
Maya laughed lightly, but Tara understood that he was serious.
The makeover had been an experiment, not a promise to become someone else.
Before leaving, Arjun asked Pooja to show him how to recreate the hairstyle himself. He wanted to understand what had been done rather than depend on his cousins for every decision.
That small request marked the first step toward taking control of his own appearance.
Outside, Kolkata's traffic moved noisily along the road. Maya reminded him that they still needed to solve the accommodation problem.
Arjun adjusted the ribbon in his hair and followed them into the afternoon crowd, wondering what Mrs. Sen would say when they reached the hostel.
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