KOLKATA: It all started three years ago when Dipan Chakraborty visited SRS Solutions Kolkata at Agarpara, which provides medico-legal services to transgendered/transsexual individuals. It was there where he met Tista Das.

Das (38), a

, was a consultant and guide at the centre and there was an immediate connect between the two. What started as friendship developed into a love story during Dipan’s

(SRS) process.

Taking their relationship a step forward, the duo announced their engagement through a social networking site on April 15 (National

Day of Visibility), and is all set to tie the knot on August 5.

Chakraborty (40), who hails from Lumding, Assam, got over with his sex reassignment surgery in February 2019 and currently waiting for few official documents. “For me, the post-surgery period was smooth, thanks to Tista, who took good care of me. As of now we are waiting for my voter ID and changes in the other documents to notify court for a registry marriage,” said the 40-year-old, who works at a pharmaceutical firm as a brand executive.

The social marriage is set to take place as planned and preparations are in full swing. Das has already designed the wedding card and the joint reception will take place in Agarpara.

Talking about his relationship, Chakraborty said: “Tista is an amazing human being. We used to talk over phone while my SRS process was on and I found a friend in her. Our way of thinking matched and last year I proposed to her to which she said yes.”

Chakraborty was in an unhappy relationship and it was Das, who came to his rescue. “I had come to Kolkata in 2016 for the girl I loved. But I soon realised it was not working. It was Tista who helped me out,” said Chakraborty.

It’s not been an easy journey for the duo. Chakraborty, who was born biologically female, and Das, 38, who was born biologically male, had to face flak from their families.

Dipan’s family has not been able to accept his new identity. “My family never acknowledged or felt that I was a man inside a woman’s body. They would not let me dress up like a boy. I went into depression and wanted to hide myself from the world,” said Chakraborty, who had to shell out Rs 4lakhs for the surgery.

For Das it was the 40-year-old’s humility and heart of gold that attracted her. “I liked him the day I met him. He was emotionally dependant on me because of his troubled relationship. His caring nature made me fall in love with him,” said the 38-year-old.

Das, who has worked in Sohini Dasgupta’s award winning documentary ‘I Couldn’t Be Your Son, Mom’, is a full-time transgender and animal rights activist. But unlike Dipan she was able to convince her parents for her SRS in 2004.

“First it was difficult to convince my parents and then arranging Rs 2.5 lakh for it was another tough job. To top it all, the doctors in Kolkata too rejected my plea for a surgery,” Das said.

Das’s mom is equally thrilled for her daughter and son-in-law. “Dipan is a nice person. I am happy Tista has chosen someone like him.,” said her mother.