Chapter 10 — Learning the Art of Being Herself
Lakshmi Devi introduced Sowjanya to a trusted local beautician who helped her learn basic grooming and hairstyling.
Sowjanya practiced different hairstyles: a loose side part, a low ponytail, a simple bun, and a traditional braid. She learned how small changes could create different expressions and moods.
Some mornings, she wore a sky-blue chudidhar. On other days, she chose a floral kurti or a simple saree. She learned to drape a saree carefully, arrange the pleats, and secure the pallu.
She also learned makeup at her own pace. The first time she applied eyeliner, she laughed at how uneven it looked. Lakshmi Devi laughed with her.
"Practice makes everything easier," her mother said.
Sowjanya's confidence grew. She began taking photographs of herself, not to prove anything to anyone, but to remember the stages of her journey.
She learned household tasks too: cooking, cleaning, arranging flowers, and preparing the courtyard for festivals.
Every new skill brought a small victory.
Sowjanya was discovering that femininity was not a set of rules she had to obey. It was a personal expression she could shape in her own way.
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