Maya and Tara took Arjun to meet Mrs. Sen, the warden of their paying guest hostel.
Arjun wore the pastel-blue kurti he had tried at the parlour, paired with dark leggings. His long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and a few loose strands framed his face.
Mrs. Sen looked at the three visitors.
"How can I help you?"
Maya explained that Arjun was searching for accommodation and asked whether there might be any permitted arrangement for a temporary guest.
Mrs. Sen shook her head. "This is a women's residence. I must follow the hostel's admission and safety policies."
Maya suggested the name Riya for the makeover experiment, but Mrs. Sen immediately asked for the required identification and application details.
Arjun realised that an appearance could not solve every practical problem.
"I don't want to create trouble for anyone," he said honestly. "I only need a safe place while I look for work."
Mrs. Sen's expression softened slightly. She explained that she could not make an exception to the hostel's rules, but she offered contact details for a local accommodation service.
Outside the building, Maya was frustrated.
"We thought the makeover would help," she said.
"It helped me try something new," Arjun replied. "It didn't change the rules."
Tara agreed that they needed another plan. Their next challenge would be finding Arjun a place where he could live safely without pretending to be someone else.
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