Barbershop visit with Mother-2: English

The memory took Samantha back many years, one quiet afternoon during the lockdown. Trisha sat on the floor with little Samantha in her lap, gently playing with her soft hair while the baby samantha made small sounds and tried to grab her fingers. Trisha said worriedly, “Ravi… our Tirumala vow is still pending. Temple is closed, travel also not allowed. What to do now?” Ravi sat nearby calmly and replied, “Vow is vow, Trisha. We cannot postpone, its already too late.” Trisha frowned, “But who all should get head shave now?” Ravi answered simply, “All of us. Me, Sam and you too Trisha.” Trisha’s eyes widened, “Ayyo no, Ravi! Head shave ah? I cant imagine myself bald at all.” Ravi smiled softly, knowing her nature, “Trisha, don’t worry, It’s only hair, and it will grow back” She shook her head, as baby Samantha was pulling Trisha's hair and she was getting irritated. After a pause, Trisha asked, “Okay… but where will we do it?” Ravi thought for a moment, “Barbershop is not so safe…” Trisha immediately resisted, “Big no for home Head shave, Ravi, house will be full of hairs” Ravi laughed lightly, “Ayyo, calm down. We’ll manage.” He thought for a while and took his phone and called Balayya, explaining the vow and the lockdown situation. After listening for a moment, Ravi nodded and said, “Okay… please come home tomorrow.” He ended the call and looked at Trisha, “Balayya agreed. He’ll come.” Trisha looked down at sleeping Samantha, slowly accepting, as the decision settled in.

The next day morning, Balayya arrived at Ravi’s house, Trisha quickly brought sanitizer and a mug of hot water, “Please wash properly, uncle.” Balayya smiled, cleaned his hands and legs properly, then even wiped his small toolbox carefully, laughing. Ravi chuckled and shared a small talk before he grew serious and said, “Balayya, all three of us are getting head shaved today.” Balayya nodded calmly, “Okay, hmmm it is better to do it properly in the Terrace, Open air, sunlight also.” Ravi and Trisha went up and arranged everything—water bucket, small stool, white clothes—while Balayya laid out his blade and tools neatly. Trisha stood near the doorway, nervous and shy, watching silently. Ravi noticed and gently signaled her inside. She shook her head lightly, but Ravi smiled and held her hand, “Come, Trisha. It’s okay.” He led her to Balayya and said softly, “Shave trisha's head first” Trisha sat down removing her dupatta and slowly adjusting her kurti. Balayya nodded with understanding, tied her hair into two quick ponytails with rubber bands, and gently wet her hair. Trisha closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, she was nervous and scared as she had never shaved her head from childhood and now she is getting head shaved along with her family. Balayya picked up the razor and started from the middle of Trisha’s head, shaving slowly and carefully. Trisha flinched a little as balayya made the first pass, “Uff… ayyo, this is very strange feeling” surprised by the new sensation. 

Ravi smiled and said lightly, “Relax Trisha, it is common, dont worry balayya is shaving your head slowly and properly only.” Balayya continued, moving to the right side and shaving off her right ponytail hair slowly and properly. Trisha was looking tensed downwards. Ravi noticed Trisha and teased playfully “You will look like a egg head after you become completely bald?” Trisha shot him a playful look, “Oiii, you just keep quiet.” Balayya also laughed and added water on her shaved portion and resumed shaving. Soon he finished shaving off the right side of her head, He took a new blade and added a little water to her left side head and started shaving it smooth and steady. Trisha was looking at ravi and balayya as her head was getting shaved off. After her head was shaved fully Ravi insisted balayya to make it smoother so Balayya wet her head with water and shaved again in reverse manner, from the nape up towards the top, this made her head extra smooth and shiny. Ravi carefully collected both ponytails and packed them into a small plastic cover. Balayya brushed off the loose hair from Trisha’s neck. She stood up, touching her bald head shyly and feeling the new sensation of smoothness. Ravi reached out and rubbed her head playfully, “Very nice bald head” he said, smiling. Trisha moved away quickly, embarrassed, “Ayyo enough ravi stop it, it feels like tickling,” and went inside. In a moment, she returned holding baby Samantha in her lap, settling her gently in front of Balayya.

Balayya opened a fresh blade and began preparing quietly, as Trisha held her daughter close. Balayya adjusted baby Samantha gently on Trisha’s lap, baby samantha was fresh after a nice sleep. Balayya wet her small hairs with water and started shaving her tiny head with the razor slowly and steadily. Baby Samantha stayed calm, looking around curiously, not crying or making any fuss. Trisha smiled softly, holding her close, “See… she’s so good, not at all crying and getting her head shaved happily and quietly.” Ravi laughed quietly, “Brave girl, just like her mother only.” Trisha starred at ravi and sighned playfully to stop teasing her. The razor moved smoothly over the soft hair, and little strands fell onto the cloth below. Soon her head was almost shaved off and near the end, baby Samantha suddenly made a small cry, feeling uncomfortable due to the water and shaved off hairs making her feel uneasy, and Trisha quickly took her, “Shhh… Sam… it’s okay, its almost done, calm down ma.” Ravi added playfully, “Listen sam, after this you will become same like your amma, bald and beautiful” Trisha stared him with an annoyed look, “Oiii ravi, don’t disturb her now ” Balayya finished carefully, wiping her head clean, and Samantha soon settled down again. Trisha took Samantha inside to wash her head gently. Ravi gathered the tiny hair carefully and packed it into a small cover. Then he removed his shirt and sat down moving his hand on his long hairs.

Balayya took a fresh blade, wet Ravi’s head, and shaved it clean. He shaved off Ravi’s beard and moustache too, then did a quick reverse shave to smooth it out. Ravi stood up, touched his head once, and smiled in satisfaction. He collected his hair as well, packed it neatly, and placed all three covers together. Balayya cleaned his tools packing them back into his box. Balayya was about to leave when Trisha came down after the bath, holding little Samantha in her arms. She was wearing a light blue saree, her freshly shaved head smooth and clean, still shining slightly. Samantha was happily rubbing Trisha’s bald head, giggling softly. Trisha tried to look calm, but Ravi noticed her slightly irritated face and asked, “Balayya, what to do for after shave burning sensation?” Balayya replied simply, “Apply turmeric paste and oil daily for one week. It will cool the skin.” Ravi laughed and teased, “Oho… yellow head trisha for a week” The memory faded, and Balayya brought everyone back to the present. He smiled at Nishan and said, “See kanna, your amma was very quiet and happy that day. No drama at all.” Nishan laughed and turned to Samantha, teasing, “Ammaaa… so you enjoyed getting bald ah?” Samantha forced a small smile. Balayya looked at nishan and added casually, “I remember one more incident child, When she was eighteen, she made huge drama and got forced head shaved in this same chair.” Samantha's eyes widened and Nishan laughed with excitement ready to listen to another story.