15-year-old Raghav came home in a bad mood from his evening tuition. Unlike most days, he did not even keep his shoes on the shoe rack. He went to his room and shut it with a loud noise. He flung his bag on the bed, which landed on the bed’s edge and then dropped on the floor.

His mother, Vidya, understood that something big must have upset him. She took a glass of water and knocked on his door. “Beta, are you all right? Would you like some water?”

“Mom, please don’t talk to me right now,” Raghav said agitatedly.

Vidya was taken aback by his behaviour. He was not such a bad kid. But she understood that something must have happened in the tuition class that Raghav was in such a bad mood. She thought it was better to leave him alone for the time being so that his anger recedes, and once he is ready, he will discuss the matter with her of his own volition.

In the meantime, Vidya prepared dinner for both of them. Once it was ready, she knocked on his door again.

“Beta, dinner is ready. Come out, or would you like to have it in your room.”

There was no answer.

She waited for about ten more seconds and then made her way to the dining table.

After a couple of minutes, she heard the creaking of his door. He came out, rubbing his eyes.

“I slept for quite a while.”

“Yes. That’s unusual,” exclaimed Vidya. “Shall I serve your plate while you freshen up in the bathroom?”

“Yes, Maa. Thanks” He waited for a few seconds before saying, “…and sorry for the behaviour in the evening.”

“It’s okay. Happens to the very best of us. Come fast bachcha.”

After freshening up, he came to the dining table and asked, “Dad isn’t joining us?”

“No. He got called for an urgent meeting at the headquarters. He just came by to get his luggage and went while you were in tuition.”

“Oh…”

That was probably the end of the conversation. They both started eating in silence. Vidya thought of breaking the ice.

“Care to tell me what happened in the evening? I haven’t seen you in such a bad mood ever.”

“Nothing Maa.”

“You can share. I may not be able to give you a solution. But at least it will be out of your system.”

He thought for a moment.

“You know na this Piyu…?”

“The girl who beat you in the merit list last year?”

Raghav stared at her. “Yes.”

“…and the year before as well, if my memory serves me right?”

Raghav was shaking his head while a smile appeared on Vidya’s face.

“Yes, Maa. Do you want to hear it, or do you want to pull my leg?”

“Achchha, sorry baba…That’s it. Please continue. So, Piyu…”

“Yes, Piyu… she was being a bitch today.”

“Careful! Number one, she is a girl. Number two, she is your friend. Number three, I think I have taught you better.” Vidya admonished him.

“But she was…”

“It doesn’t matter. Your father and I have raised you to respect everyone. Even those who hurt you. You can have disagreements, but you will never disrespect anyone.”

“Yes, Maa. I am sorry. Seems like a bit of anger is still in my system from the evening.”

“Even in anger, you must be careful what comes out of your mouth. It can break someone’s heart. Please don’t do this again.” Vidya reached out and held his hand in hers as a sign of compassion and understanding. He nodded in approval.

“So, Piyu…you were saying…”

“She was adamant that women are stronger than men. And I was saying it is the opposite.”

“Oh…”

“I said that men are stronger as they can carry more weight and have more strength. She was saying that strength is not just physical but also mental. She said that women can better manage both household and office work.”

“She has a point.”

“But men also can do that, no? Many men do that. She said that women have to work under the restrictions that society imposes. What restrictions is she talking about? They can go wherever they want. At least in today’s time, they have equal opportunities. In some cases, they are better placed than men. They have much more freedom and are safe from social mocking than men are.”

“But that is only for a small section of society. What about the rest of the women with so many restrictions imposed on them?”

“What restrictions, Maa? You know na the restrictions I must endure to maintain my image and friendship. Do any of the girls have to go through that?”

His mother sighed. She knew he had a point there. But he was also missing the more significant point of the discussion. It was not about him.

He continued, “She also said that women withstand period pain every month that men don’t have to. As if it was caused by men. Men have their own issues. Look at my own friend circle. There is much more competition among the guys. Everyone is fighting for the top rank, the top college, and the best job. They are going crazy, spending long nights to get to that. Women still have the option to become homemakers. I am not saying that it is easy, but that reduces competition. If mental strength is what we are talking about, it certainly doesn’t qualify for that.”

Vidya, a homemaker herself, interjected, “So are you saying that I am not strong?”

“No, Mom. I am not saying that. And you know it. But the line of the argument she was taking doesn’t follow that.”

“No worries, beta. But you should make amends with her tomorrow. She is your friend and may have her own issues to battle with. You should be more compassionate towards her. And you, for one, should not be weighing one against the other. You know both genders have their own experiences and should be celebrated equally.”

Raghav nodded in agreement.

“Next time, don’t get drawn into such arguments. Have a balanced approach like you do in your life. Okay. Now finish your dinner; there is no need to wash the utensils tonight. I will do it for the day. But only for today. This concession does not extend for tomorrow and beyond.”

The rest of the dinner was uneventful. The mother-son duo chatted on topics we discussed in the tuition centre and what needs to be done during the week.

After dinner, Raghav bid his mom good night and went to his room.

He looked at the clock, and it was around his bedtime. He got out of his clothes and moved towards his cupboard. He moisturised his face, hands and legs. Then, from one of the drawers, he picked his night suit. It was a set of chemise and matching boyshorts panties in pink with blue flowers. He wore them and got in his bed. He clicked the lights off.

But sleep was far off. His mind was still clouded with the fight today. Even though his mom assuaged him and made him understand the various facets of the issue he had not considered, his mind was still racing with a thousand thoughts.

“Why does Piyu have to be so adamant about everything? Why can’t she just look at my perspective once? I am not saying one is better, but no one can understand what pain the other foot feels. She needs to understand what I was thinking. And I know how women feel. At least, I have an idea that is better than most men. But why do they have to make it so tough to talk about? Perhaps I will, or we will never understand.”

Slowly the tiredness of the mind took over, and he drifted to sleep with these thoughts that were far from clear to him.

The following day, his eyes opened with the alarm on his mobile phone ringing. He brushed off a lock of hair from his eyes and slid the alarm off. He was still in a confused state, he thought, from last night. It was not a mid-range Android, but an iPhone, he just switched off the alarm on. After a few blinks, he jolted up from his bed. Something was not right. He looked around his room. The room was his, but it was designed in a classier design, and a feminine touch was nakedly apparent. He looked at his arms. He shaved them even before today, but the nails were properly done and painted in powder pink. His eyes slowly travelled up his arms, and he could see that the cups of the chemise were filled.

He felt as if he was still sleeping, and this was a weird dream. He pinched himself, but nothing changed. Well, it seems everything has changed. He rushed to his full-length mirror. It was only a couple of steps, but he had to adjust his steps and gait because of the added weight he now carried.

In the mirror, he saw a woman in the same night suit he had picked up last night. It was a classier and feminine image of what he would have looked like if he had grown to be 30. His mind was thinking about what was happening. He had no clue. Was he in a simulation? Was he in a trance? Was it hypnosis? He was trying to come up with all the possibilities.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. There was a message in his inbox. There was no number or id or name for it. The sender’s name was totally blank. He clicked it open.

It read: “Worried what is happening to you? Don’t be. It was you who wanted to understand why women think the way they think. Now you have the opportunity, so make the best of it.

P.S.: Check the diary on the bedside table. It might be of some help.”

He was in a tizzy. What on earth was happening to him?

P.S: This story was written by Pankhuri and the storyline given to her by her friends Anupama and Shruti.