Part 9

In the meantime Aganee and Aanya had been looking through the racks to pick out a few outfits that they thought would suit me. I was happy to let them do this as every choice that had been made for me so far had worked.

They had chosen a couple of multi-hued long dresses with high neck that would do for day wear when I didn’t need the salwar kameez. There were also three long skirts and, by the time I had tried on, and modelled, the dresses, they had a small pile of beautiful blouses for me to try on. Of course, we had to model each skirt with every blouse so it was nearly an hour before we had made the selection. Aanya had put together a small pack of stockings and a couple of garter belts to use with them and when I was told what the total was for my purchases I showed my surprise at the low cost. Aanya smiled and told me that I was getting everything at cost because of my talent and my obvious place with Aganee and Birgitta.

I had enough for a couple of pairs of jeans and asked if they had them. Adweta went and brought back a collection of jeans that you wear when you don’t want to wear jeans. They were heavily embroidered and in very bold colours as well as being leg hugging. When I went and tried them on I was captivated by my look and, as the girls now knew the truth, I paid for four pairs using my credit card.

We put my bags in the car and then went into a shoe store owned by yet another cousin and I came out with some black leather boots that would go with any of the jeans. I knew that I would have to get more shoes later as I grew into my new life but I already had more than I had owned as Gavin at any one time. We put that box in the car and then went to the big store that Gaurav managed. Aganee explained that it had a café within it where we could get some lunch.

Of course, the whole family was well known and, by the time we had found a table and sat down, Gaurav had been made aware of our visit and came to join us. He complimented me on my look with the comment that I wore it better than his sister had, which got him a rebuke from his smiling mother. We had a nice lunch and then he told us that his father had called him this morning to tell him that the two of them, with their partners, had been invited to a civic reception at the town hall on Thursday evening and he asked me to be his companion on the night. I was blushing and about to resist when Aganee said “Of course she will. Your parents can take you and pick her up on the way as she will be in her own place by then.”

When we left him to carry on our time in the shops Birgitta said we needed to go back to the dress shop and get me something suitable for a civic reception as there was certainly nothing I now had that would suit. So I ended up with a stunning evening gown with the correct high neck and three-quarter sleeves and then needed to go back to the shoe store to find a pair of medium heels that would fit and that I could wear. Aganee insisted that she would pay for everything as she wanted her grand-daughter-to-be to look as good as she could.

Monday evening when we ate I found out that the civic reception was to donate a cheque to a care home in our area and that there would be a collection on the night, as well as an auction. Birgitta turned to me and said “don’t worry about that, Geet, your partner will give generously” and Gaurav smiled and said that he would be feeling very generous with me at his side.

Tuesday came around and Janet picked us up. I say us because my shadow and my mentor, Aganee, insisted that she inspect the place for ambience and hygiene. We both knew that she was just happy at something to do and I did appreciate her input. The block was not far from my previous one in position but years younger and a long way in style and fittings. Janet led us up to the fourth floor in a clean lift and went along a corridor which smelt of air freshener and then opened a door to usher me in. I was taken by the space and the big windows that looked out over a park. The kitchen was good, as was the one big bedroom with a walk-in robe and ensuite. All in all it was like moving to a mansion after my room and Aganee did comment along those lines.

Janet said the other girls all lived in the floor above and on the same side of the building. She led me to a window and pointed out a building on the other side of the park which she said was the hall where the band practised so we only had to walk across the park but the girls made sure they finished before dark. I said it was lovely and asked when I could move in. Janet said that the block manager had told her that the previous tenant had moved out over the weekend and the rent was paid up to tomorrow but he didn’t mind if I moved in today with my rental period starting on Thursday. She had the papers so I signed.

Aganee got on her phone to Birgitta and they decided that they could move me this afternoon so I hugged Janet and Aganee and had a good look around again before we locked up, Janet giving me the keys which I put in my bag. Janet took us back to the house and told me that there would be a band meeting on Friday evening when she would tell us of our likely shows over the next six months. She said that the girls would knock on my door when they were leaving and we would all go to a little café they often used for meetings and a meal.

In my room I packed all of the underwear and nightwear in my case, along with the blouses. I had not put away any of my shopping so only needed to take the clothes on hangers and they could be carried as is. The shoes and jutti could go in with my boots in the bag. With just the cosmetics, creams and bathroom supplies that I had decided I liked and, with my bongos and dholaks I was ready to go. We loaded up the car and both the maid and the cook gave me a hug and wished me well and we were away to the next stage of my life, living alone again but this time as a woman.

On the way we stopped at a Hi Jet store and walked out with bread, milk, tea and cans enough to see me right for a few days as well as a couple of sets of sheets and pillow cases and a doona. Birgitta helped me carry everything up to the unit and then helped me to put things away, giving me instruction on where everything should go, and why. There seemed to be a lot of complications in the life of a single girl. I hugged her and thanked her for all her help and then made us a cup of tea and opened the biscuits I had bought. My first bit of entertaining in my new home. Actually, it was the first entertaining I had done anywhere. When she left she said that they would pick me up on Thursday afternoon to take me to the salon for a little tidy up.

After she left I sat and looked out of the window with a cup of tea beside me. In my old place the one window looked out into a light-well so the view from here was like living in a palace. I then went through the place with a duster and then a broom. If I was going to live as a girl I was going to live like one. I made up the bed and then I went into the wardrobe and made sure that everything was hung right and then stripped off to use my shower. It was heaven to be in a full-size one and I dried myself and put on clean underwear and the decided to wear one of the pairs of jeans with a colourful top and try out the boots, even if I did not intend to go out.

It was a good job I was properly dressed as there was a knock on my door as I was wondering what I would do for my evening meal. It was the whole band and they were carrying hot food and a couple of bottles. I let them in and they all gave me a hug and a kiss and welcomed me to the tower. When they laid out the food I saw that there was plenty for us all and we had a wonderful housewarming. Tavleen told us that Janet had been a bit strange lately and I said that she had been in deep conversation with the venue manager and that she had told me that we would know what was going on Friday evening.

I found out, during the meal, that Tavleen was single and the other three had boyfriends with Jenianna going out with an Anglo. After the meal, the three went off to spend the evening with their boyfriends and Tavleen asked if she could stay and chat. Over a glass of wine she said that she had spoken to a friend who knew Balnoor. She said that Balnoor was asking around to find his friend Gavin; or Gitaz as they knew him. It seemed that this Gavin had disappeared just after being dropped as a dholak player in their band and he was worried that Gavin may have done something stupid as he had lost his job and his girlfriend in the same week.

I listened with dread that it was all going to end here. When she looked into my eyes I could not lie. I told her how Guptar had found me busking and asked me to become Geet to help him out. She took it all in and then asked me what I was going to do now. I told her that I would be the best Geet I could be and that I really wanted to be a part of the band as I loved playing with them and I loved singing. She thought for a moment and then said “All right, your secret is safe with me because I think you are going to take us to heights we have never seen before. However, for me to keep your secret I think we must create another that you can keep for me. I have had enough to drink so why don’t we go to bed and you can show me the bit of Geet that I have not seen yet.”

Marianne G 2021