Barbershop visit with Mother-1: English

Monday morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, falling on Nishan’s messy long hair. Samantha shook him gently, “Nishu! Wake up ra… today we are going to the barbershop, remember?” Nishan groaned, putting his face in the pillow. “Ayyo amma, five more minutes…” Samantha tapped his shoulder, smiling, “Aiyuo dont worry after haircut i will get you ice-cream, okay now get up fast” At once, Nishan sat up, rubbing his eyes, “Oho… fine fine amma, I’m coming!” Samantha ruffled his damp hair, noticing how fast it had grown and how sweaty he was, “Ayyo, you sweat so much ra… hair grows very fast. Summer is too hot, get some short haircut.” They walked down the dusty lane to the old village barbershop. Samantha felt a flicker of nostalgia as she entered the shop but she didn’t express much. Charan, a young barber, waved cheerfully and asked who was getting haircut and Samantha pointed towards nishan and helped him onto the chair. “Bro, give him something short for this summer, heat is too much,” she said. Nishan twisted, squirmed, “Ayyo amma… i dont like short haircuts, i want long spikes” Samantha starred at him, “Oiii Nishu, behave.” Charan held up an image of a crew cut, “Like this okay na” Samantha nodded, “Yes yes… like that only.” Nishan groaned, moving his head, “Nooo i dont want like that amma…” Samantha patted him hardly, Charan smiled and placed the trimmer at the nape as the cold metal made Nishan freeze for a second. 

The haircut had begun, Charan started trimming Nishu’s nape and sides carefully, the buzzing sound filling the small barbershop. Samantha looked around slowly and hesitantly asked, “Bro… where is Balayya uncle?” Charan replied casually, “Ayyo Akka, he went to the house for some work, will come a bit later.” Samantha nodded, a tiny shiver running down her spine as she remembered the memories she had with balayya uncle. Charan then asked, “Akka, do you want any haircut for yourself?” Samantha blurted quickly, “No… no i dont need” and frightened a little. Nishu snickered quietly from the chair, seeing his amma and Samantha gave him a quick angry stare and looked at Charan “Hmm… can you reduce the top more?” Charan used scissors, cutting carefully with the fingers method. After a few snips, he showed her, “Is this length okay?” Samantha shook her head and pointed to another image on the poster, “Bro can you do something like this?” Nishu tilted his head, confused, “Amma… what’s buzzcut?” Samantha smiled lightly, “Wait and watch, Nishu ” Charan chuckled and picked up the trimmer again, fitting the number 3 guard. He started from the middle of Nishu’s forehead, moving straight back to the nape, while the sides stayed shorter. Nishu squirmed a little, “Ayyo amma… this is too short!” Samantha patted his shoulder as charan worked steadily, finishing the sides with number 1 and the top with number 3, blending it carefully. 

Finally, the faded buzzcut was visible in the mirror, sharp and clean, and Nishu froze, staring at his reflection, a mix of shock and curiosity on his face. Samantha leaned closer to the chair and said, “Charan… sides still look thick. Make it more short.” Nishu immediately protested, “Ayyo amma, already very short” Samantha gave him an angry look, “Oiii Nishu, don’t start again. just get the haircut silently” Charan nodded and removed the guard, running the guard less trimmer cleanly over the sides. Hair fell faster now, and Nishu sat stiff, watching the mirror closely. Samantha crossed her arms, satisfied, then added, “Hmm … top also reduce more. Do number one guard bro.” Charan fixed the number 1 guard and trimmed the top neatly. Samantha nodded with approval, “Yes, it looks better now... but...” Nishu started fidgeting again, shaking his head slightly, “Uff amma, enough please ” Samantha sighed amused and annoyed, “Oh god, why you make scene for everything?” She waited a second, then looked at the haircut again and said “Charan… do top also like sides, it will be better for this summer heat” Nishu’s eyes widened, “No amma! Please no!” But Samantha didn’t change her mind, “Hey Nishu, sit properly.” Charan quietly removed the guard and placed the trimmer on the top of his head. Slowly he shaved the remaining hair clean, leaving nothing behind. The buzzing sound felt louder now. When Charan finished, Nishu stared at the mirror, touching his smooth head softly.

Nishu rubbed his head and frowned, “Ayyo amma… this is bad haircut. Very rough, poky poky, i dont like it” Samantha touched his stubbly head and paused, “Ayyo… yes, it’s rough only, bro please do something for this roughness” she said mildly, then added calmly, “It will be fine.” Charan smiled, understanding the issue, “Don’t worry akka. I’ll smooth it nicely.” He took a small bowl, mixed shaving foam, and gently spread a thick layer over Nishu’s head. Nishu widened his eyes, “Amma… what is this? too cold!” Samantha smiled as charan picked up the razor, holding Nishu’s head firmly with his left hand and started shaving his head. He started from the top, slow and steady, the blade gliding smoothly. Nishu felt a strange new sensation. Samantha watched closely, her eyes following the razor movements, a quiet nostalgia passing through her. Charan spoke softly while shaving, “Full head shave is best for summer, akka. No sweat, no itching and all.” Samantha blushed. Charan moved to the sides next, stretching the skin gently and shaving nishu's head clean and smooth. Nishu tried to talk again, “Amma i am feeling tickling sensation, its hurting a bit too” Samantha stopped him, “Shhh… sit still or else no ice-cream.” Within minutes, the foam was wiped away, and the head was completely smooth and shiny. Nishu stared at the mirror touching his fresh bald head in surprise. Charan removed the cape gently, brushing off the loose hair from Nishu’s shoulders and neck.

He tapped some powder around his collar. Nishu kept rubbing his bald head again and again, his face falling, “Amma… I don’t like this at all. No hair only.How do i go to school like this” Samantha teased lightly at first, “Ayyo, don’t worry Nishu. Hair will grow back… in few days—okay maybe in few months,” she said with controlling her laughter. Nishu complained louder, “No amma! I am looking very bad now” Samantha’s tone changed slightly “Enough Nishu. Stop it now.” He went quiet and slowly got down from the chair sadly. Just then, Balayya entered the barbershop. Samantha froze the moment she saw him, her body stiffening. Balayya squinted, smiled wide, “Ayyo… Samantha? Is that you?” She nodded quickly, “Yes… Balayya uncle,” a little awkward. Balayya looked at Nishu’s shiny bald head and laughed softly, “So you came for his head shave, ah?” Then he turned to Nishu cheerfully, “Do you know, kanna… I was the first person to shave your amma’s head.” Nishu’s sadness vanished in a second, his eyes lighting up, “Really ah? You shaved my amma's head ah?” Balayya nodded proudly, “Yes… when she was 1 year old during lockdown i was the one to shave her head.” Nishu turned to Samantha excitedly, “Amma, is it true?” Samantha stood feeling awkward and shy as she didnt know how to react and respond for that as that situation was very unexpected. Balayya began narrating the story of Samantha's first head shave to nishan...