I was raised by my mother, a hardworking woman who worked on a farm and as a house help. My father self-immolated when I was young, leaving him severely burned and in need of constant care.

My journey has been a tumultuous one, marked by hardship as a girl child born into the family. My parents left the house after being humiliated by the family.

I was raised by my mother, a hardworking woman who worked on a farm and as a house help. My father self-immolated when I was young, leaving him severely burned and in need of constant care. This incident scarred our family deeply, and my mother was left alone to fight this battle.

Despite the challenges, my mother was determined to ensure that I received an education. She worked tirelessly to make ends meet, even taking up additional jobs to support us. As I grew older, I faced my own set of challenges, including discrimination and harassment from relatives and classmates. I was even blackmailed once just to be with someone. My father's injury and my struggles with menstruation only added to my feeling of isolation.

To support my family and fund my education, I took up a part-time job at a departmental store. However, the pressure to get married from my close relatives added to the strain on our relationship, leading to a bitter conflict at home.

After completing my graduation, I decided to take control of my life and moved to Delhi. It was there that I began my transition, supported by my cousin who was also gay. However, the expenses of transitioning and the lack of job opportunities pushed me to make a difficult decision; I turned to sex work for two months to make ends meet.

Despite facing discrimination and struggling to find a safe place to live, I was determined to continue my journey towards self-acceptance and freedom. Today, I am working towards my dream of pursuing an MBA, and I am hopeful that one day I will find a place where I can live openly as my true self.

My mother has been my biggest supporter throughout this journey, even though she still has reservations about my transition. She has since met my girlfriend and accepted me for who I am, showing me that love and acceptance can transcend societal norms.

I know that my journey is far from over, but I am grateful for the strength and resilience that I have developed along the way.