Vedhika – Chapter 2

(Re-post)

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Halloween in Bengaluru

Vedhika tossed in her sleep, tangled in bedsheets that smelled faintly of jasmine hair mist and talcum powder. Her dream had been vivid—too vivid. She was walking through the office cafeteria in a floral dress, laughing, adjusting a dupatta that didn’t exist. Heads turned. People smiled.

No one knew.

When she woke, her chest felt heavy—not with anxiety, but literally.

Her eyes flew open, heart thumping.

“What the—oh…”

It came back in waves. The breast forms were still attached, bonded to her chest with adhesive they said would hold all day. She had been too exhausted after rehearsals to remove anything below either, collapsing into bed fully padded—bra, hips, and other bottom prosthetics they’d carefully helped her try on last night.

She sat up slowly, feeling the strange weight and pressure of her altered body. For a moment, panic buzzed under her skin.

“This is too much. It’s too real.”

She stood, peeled off the lower padding with care, and stepped into the bathroom. As the hot water ran, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Even without the saree, without makeup—her bare, smooth skin and curved silhouette stared back. The pierced ears. The arched brows. The soft waves of her hair.

She wasn’t pretending anymore. Not really.

After her bath, she powdered herself liberally—everywhere the prosthetics met skin. The bra clicked shut over the soft silicone forms with ease now. She adjusted the straps and turned, catching her profile in the mirror.

She’d memorized this routine over weeks. But today, it wasn’t practice.

It was performance.

She sat at the vanity Shilpa had set up for her in the corner of the room and applied her makeup slowly, carefully—just the way they’d taught her. Light foundation, blush, subtle contour to soften her chin. Eyeliner in thin, upward strokes. A generous coat of mascara to lift her lashes. Her lips, painted in a soft rose shade, tied the look together.

Then came the saree.

The same baby pink saree, dotted with soft floral appliqués, draped with elegance across the deep navy blue blouse. She had worn this exact outfit the night before, but this morning… it felt different.

More natural.

She stood before the full-length mirror. The earrings swayed gently. The bangles caught the morning light. The saree shimmered around her waist like it belonged there.

The ride to the office passed in a blur. Her heart thumped faster with every kilometer closer to the gate. She walked with deliberate poise from the parking lot, each step feeling both terrifying and thrilling. She clutched her handbag tightly—Archana’s old one—like it was a shield.

When she reached the security desk, the guard glanced at her and then at the ID card.

Frowned.

“Ma’am… this isn’t yours.”

Vedhika’s heart stopped.

She smiled lightly, cleared her throat, and in a lower, carefully practiced masculine tone said, “It’s just for today—Halloween costume event. They’re expecting me.”

The guard blinked, then laughed awkwardly. “Oh! Yes, yes. Very good costume, Ma’am. Sorry. Please go in.”

Vedhika nodded, switching instantly back to her lighter, trained voice. “Thank you.”

Inside the elevator, she let out a long, slow breath.

First hurdle, done.

The glass doors slid open with their usual soft swoosh, but everything felt different.

Vedhika stepped into the office lobby, her rose-pink chiffon saree fluttering lightly at her heels, the gentle cling of the fabric reminding her with every movement: this isn’t a dream anymore.

The air conditioning hit her skin—bare arms, collarbones, and especially her midriff—with a soft chill that made her instinctively draw the pallu tighter for a second, before reminding herself to let it fall freely. That was the look they had practiced: confident, effortless, a little glamorous.

Each step she took echoed slightly more than usual. Maybe it was the heels, or maybe it was the quiet hush in the room. Heads turned.

Some stared too long. Others just smiled and moved on.

Around her, the office was clearly in costume mode—someone from HR walked past dressed as a Gothic vampire, two engineers wore matching minion overalls, and a guy in marketing had painted himself head-to-toe in green as the Hulk. There were fairy wings, witch hats, awkwardly ironic T-shirts and a random shark onesie.

The moment she stepped onto her floor, all heads turned.

People she barely knew offered compliments—“Wow, that saree’s stunning!” “Who’s that?” “Is she new?”

And those who did know her… just stood frozen.

“V—Ved?” someone asked, wide-eyed.

She smiled. “Vedhika. Just for today.”

“Holy shit.”

Archana was waiting near the break area, phone already out to capture reactions. She gave an approving nod and whispered, “You’re killing it.”

Archana stood near the break area in a dramatic purple velvet cape, a glittering tiara sitting proudly on her head. Her eyeliner was sharp enough to pierce egos. In one hand, she held a rhinestone-covered thermos with “Caffeine is Power” scrawled in gold.

“What are you supposed to be?” someone had asked earlier.

“Queen of deadlines and bad decisions,” she’d replied, without missing a beat.

Shilpa was her usual efficient chaos—black slacks, a tailored blazer, and cat ears perched on her head. Her whip, made of braided HDMI cables, curled at her hip like she meant business. Her company badge read: SHE-EO.

Shilpa was beaming. “No one’s going to believe this is you. Like… no one.”

She nodded, smiled, and said a polite “Happy Halloween!” in a slightly higher voice than usual. It slipped out on instinct, thanks to the late-night voice training. She caught it and softened the next line into her usual tone—but the moment had already landed.

Archana grinned and popped the tiara off her head, placing it gently onto Vedhika’s hair.
“Every party girl needs a crown,” she said with a wink.

Vedhika adjusted it slightly. The weight felt ridiculous. “Wearing it on my head might be a bit much…”

Archana tilted her head. “Then toss it in your bag. Come on. At least pretend you’re committed to the bit.”

Vedhika hesitated for a second, then took it and gently tucked it into her laptop bag.
“Fine. But if anyone asks, I was technically wearing it.”

“You’re learning,” Archana said, already scrolling through photos she’d just snapped.

It was surreal.

People called her Ma’am. Held the door open for her. Moved aside in the hallway. Complimented her earrings, her saree, her hair.

And through it all, she kept her voice steady—soft, lilting, effortless. Every bit of training clicked into place.

As she walked toward her seat, the saree moved around her body like breath—cool and sensual. It swished gently behind her. Her hips shifted more fluidly than she was used to. Every slight movement of the pallu brought a whisper of fabric across her stomach, her back, her side.

Vedhika sat at her desk, the soft hum of the office enveloping her. The morning had been a whirlwind of compliments and double-takes. She was still adjusting to the sensation of the saree’s fabric against her skin and the gentle weight of the earrings swaying with every movement.

Her phone buzzed, jolting her from her thoughts.

Hemant (CEO): Please come to my office at 10 AM. Urgent.

Her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at the clock—9:45 AM. Taking a deep breath, she stood, smoothed the pleats of her saree, and made her way to the elevator.

As she approached Hemant’s office, his secretary looked up, momentarily puzzled, before recognition dawned.

“Ved? Is that you?”

Vedhika smiled softly. “Yes, it’s me. Vedhika, now.”

The secretary chuckled. “You look amazing. Go right in; he’s expecting you.”

She knocked lightly and entered.

Hemant was reviewing some documents but looked up as the door closed. His eyes widened in surprise.

“Ved?”

She nodded, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. “Happy Halloween, sir. It’s Vedhika for today”

He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. “Incredible transformation. But I’m afraid we have a pressing issue that needs your immediate attention.” He gestured to the conference table, where several documents and diagrams were spread out.

“We’ve secured a new client—a prominent local firm here in Bengaluru. They’re expanding rapidly but lack a dedicated software division. Currently, they have a small team handling various tasks, but it’s not sufficient for their growth.”

Vedhika nodded, listening intently.

“Their chief architect, Mr. Varun, is a remarkable individual. Despite not having a formal background in software engineering, he’s identified critical flaws in our proposed architecture. He pointed out that our design wouldn’t scale and fails to address several corner cases.” Hemant sighed, rubbing his temples. “Ved, you’re one of our brightest engineers. In just two years, you’ve led your team to develop some of our most successful software solutions. I need you to step up again.”

He glanced at the clock. “Varun and his team are in the conference room, reviewing our proposals. I want you to join them, understand their concerns, and come up with a viable solution. This is a significant opportunity for us, and I believe you’re the right person for the job.”

Vedhika straightened, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders. “I’ll do my best, sir.” Hemant smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes. “I know you will. And Vedhika—good luck.”

She nodded, turned, and made her way to the conference room.

Vedhika stood before the conference room door, her heart pounding beneath the delicate folds of her saree. The morning had been a whirlwind of compliments and double-takes, but now, a new challenge awaited.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.

Inside, a group of professionals huddled around a table strewn with documents and diagrams. At the head stood a man in his mid-thirties, exuding an air of authority and intellect. His sharp eyes met hers, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

“Good morning,” he began, extending a hand. “I’m Varun, the chief architect.”

Vedhika accepted his handshake, her grip firm yet graceful. “Good morning, Mr. Varun. I’m Vedhika, here to discuss the architectural concerns you’ve raised.”

Varun’s gaze lingered, curiosity evident. “I must say, I see everyone else in a costume, but you just look – dashing, or is there something I am missing?”

A moment of panic seized her. She had forgotten about the her costume isn’t obvious amidst the pressing matters. Quickly, she reached into her laptop bag and retrieved the tiara.

“Ah, yes,” she said with a light laugh, placing the tiara atop her head momentarily. “I decided to be a ‘party girl’ today.”

Varun chuckled, the tension easing. “Well, you certainly bring a festive spirit. I am sorry our team did not rise up to the occasion. Shall we proceed?”

For the next hour, they delved deep into the project’s intricacies. Varun’s insights were sharp, his understanding of potential pitfalls evident. Vedhika listened intently, her mind racing to formulate solutions.

As the discussion progressed, she moved to the whiteboard, sketching out a revised architecture. Her hand flowed with confidence, each stroke reflecting her expertise.

The room buzzed with renewed energy as ideas flowed freely. Hours passed unnoticed, the collaboration yielding a robust, scalable solution.

As they wrapped up, Varun extended his hand once more. “Vedhika, your expertise has been invaluable. I look forward to our continued collaboration.”

She smiled, a sense of accomplishment washing over her. “Thank you, Mr. Varun. It’s been a pleasure.”

Leaving the conference room, Vedhika felt a surge of pride. Not only had she met the day’s challenges head-on, but she had also done so embracing her true self.

The afternoon sun had barely shifted by the time Hemant’s message pinged her phone again.

Hemant: Can you drop by my office? Few things left to close.

Vedhika entered, back straight, heels soft against the floor. Hemant looked up with a tired smile. “You crushed it in there today. I really mean that. They were happy. Very impressed.”

She exhaled, finally letting her shoulders drop a little. “That’s a relief.”

He folded his hands on the desk. “But… there are still a few questions they had after reviewing what we discussed. Small things, but sensitive enough that they want to go over them before they sign.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “So… more meetings?”

“They’re coming back tomorrow. One final round.”

Vedhika blinked. “Tomorrow?”

“I know,” Hemant said. “I just pulled you off your current project—Shilpa’s team will handle it from now on. You’ve done the heavy lifting. I just need you to close this clean.”

She nodded, feeling her stomach tighten. Then Hemant tilted his head slightly.

“I assume you told them this was just a costume, right?”

She hesitated.

A beat passed.

“No,” she said, softly. “I didn’t mention it. I… I didn’t want to derail the conversation. I will resolve this tomorrow.”

Hemant looked at her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Do what you think is best. And… thanks again, Vedhika.”

She smiled faintly, but inside, her nerves were already churning.

That evening, the girls insisted on dinner. All of them—including Vedhika—crowded around a long table at their favorite rooftop restaurant.

“So,” Archana said, leaning forward with her drink, “tell us everything.”

Vedhika blushed. “It was… intense. He’s incredibly sharp. He caught things even I missed at first.”

“That’s hot,” Shilpa said flatly, and the table erupted in laughter.

“Oh my god, do you have a crush on Varun?” someone asked.

“No,” Vedhika said quickly, too quickly. “I just… admire how his mind works.”

“That’s code,” another girl smirked, already pulling up LinkedIn. “Let’s find out if he’s single.”

“I swear to god,” Vedhika laughed, hiding her face behind her glass.

“You blushed when you said his name,” Archana accused.

“I’m going home,” Vedhika joked.

“No you’re not. Because we’ll miss you,” one of them said, suddenly earnest. “You’ve been so… alive this week. It’s like we got to know a different person. And we love her.”

Vedhika bit her lip, unsure what to say. But then she smiled. “Well… there’s one more day.”

They screamed.

Shilpa literally screamed.

“No way!”

“Vedhika 2.0 incoming!”

“I need to take so many pictures tomorrow.”

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