A Aa : The Bald Love Story of Cousins 1
Krishna's house was filled with people from the village. Relatives, neighbors and friends had gathered after hearing the heartbreaking news. Outside the house, Eswari was made to sit on the ground in a blue floral saree. Her broken bangles still rested on her blooded wrists, and her long hair was left loose. She cried heavily, unable to control herself. Two women sat beside her, holding her shoulders and trying to comfort her, but nothing could calm her pain. The barber quietly poured water over her hair and fixed a fresh blade into his straight razor. As he came closer, Eswari cried out, "If I shave my head... will Krishna come back?" The women held her tightly while the barber placed one hand on her head and slowly began to shave her. The first lock of her hair fell onto the ground, and her loud sobs filled the entire house. Beside her Krishna's body rested peacefully on a white cloth covered with flowers. Little Anand sat beside his father, looking at everyone with confused eyes.
He softly asked an elderly aunt, "Why are they shaving Amma's head?" Tears rolled down her face as she hugged him and replied, "You are still small to understand all these Anand." Around them, some relatives cried remembering Krishna, while others arranged everything for the funeral. A few men prepared the bamboo bier, some informed the remaining relatives, and others discussed the final rites. Outside, the barber continued shaving Eswari's head stroke by stroke. She touched the hair falling into her lap and cried again, "Krishna... you loved this hair so much... now you are gone, and even this hair is leaving me." The head shave slowly continued as the house remained drowned in grief. Mahalakshmi hurried towards Krishna's house with a cloth bag tightly held in her hands. She had finally arranged the money and had come to return it, but the moment she entered the gate, her steps stopped. The crying, the crowd, and Krishna's body lying inside left her frozen. Her eyes slowly turned towards Eswari.
She was sitting with half bald head. Tears rolled down Mahalakshmi's face as she walked closer without saying a word. The barber was about to continue when Eswari suddenly caught his hand and stopped him. She slowly stood up, her half-bald head and tear-filled eyes burning with anger. "Why did you come now? For one whole week Krishna begged you for that money. Bank people came every day and insulted him in front of everyone. This morning he hanged himself and ended his life. Are you happy now? You brought the money after sending my husband to his death. Take it away... it has no value anymore." Mahalakshmi tried to speak, "Eswari... please..." but Eswari shouted, "Don't call my name. You are the reason my children have no father." The entire house fell silent. Ramalingam quickly stepped forward and folded his hands before Eswari. "Please... let the final rites be completed first amma," he said softly. Eswari wiped her tears, sat down again, and the barber continued the shave.
Mahalakshmi broke down crying as a few relatives tried to calm both sides, but nothing could heal the moment. She looked straight at Eswari with tears in her eyes . Eswari was crying and getting her head shave done . "You have blamed me for everything today. Fine. From now onwards, I will never step into this house again. Even if I die, don't expect me to come here." Ramalingam gently held her hand and took her away while she cried without looking back. Soon Eswari's head shave was completed, leaving her completely bald. She was given a holy bath near riverside as Krishna's body was carried there, where his final rites were performed. By evening, the house had become painfully quiet. Bald Eswari sat on the floor with little Anand and Paddu beside her, all three holding each other and crying. Many years had passed. Mahalakshmi was now living in Hyderabad with her husband Ramalingam and their daughter Anasuya. Ramalingam owned a well-settled small IT company in the city.
Mahalakshmi managed most of its work and rarely had free time. Anasuya had just completed her college and was tired of her busy city life and her mother's strict rules. One afternoon, while cleaning an old cupboard, she found a family photo. She smiled as she saw little herself sitting beside young Anand, with Krishna and Mahalakshmi standing happily behind them. The smile slowly faded as she remembered those childhood days. Holding the photo, she walked to Ramalingam and asked, "Daddy... why don't we ever meet them now?" Ramalingam looked at the picture for a moment and replied, "There was a misunderstanding between both families long ago. It is better to leave it there." Anasuya stayed silent for a while before softly saying, "I just want to meet them once." A few days later, Mahalakshmi informed everyone that she had to stay in Bengaluru for nearly a month because of an important business meeting and company work.
Seeing the chance, Ramalingam slowly spoke to her about letting Anasuya go on a short vacation during her college holidays. At first Mahalakshmi refused, but after a lot of convincing she finally agreed with one condition. "Mangamma will go with you. She will stay with you all the time," she said firmly. Anasuya happily nodded without arguing. After Mahalakshmi left for Bengaluru, Ramalingam quietly called Anand and asked him to receive Anasuya at the railway station. On the way, Anasuya somehow convinced Mangamma to come with her without informing Mahalakshmi about the real destination. Mangamma hesitated for a long time but finally smiled and agreed. As the train slowly moved forward, Anasuya sat near the window with excitement shining in her eyes, waiting to meet her childhood memories and her beloved bhava, Anand, once again. The train slowly came to a stop, and Anasuya stepped onto the platform with Mangamma beside her.
She looked around for a moment before her eyes stopped on a young man waiting with a gentle smile. She looked at him carefully and suddenly smiled with excitement. "Anand bhava!" she called out happily. Anand turned towards her and smiled back as years of distance disappeared in a moment. He welcomed both of them warmly and took them to the village. As they reached home, Eswari, Paddu, Balu, Gayathri and little Leela welcomed Anasuya with bright smiles. Eswari lovingly placed her hand on Anasuya's head and asked about her journey, while everyone spoke to her as if she had never been away. They asked about Ramalingam with affection and listened happily to her stories. Anasuya was surprised by the warmth around her. She had never received so much love and attention at once, and by the end of the day, both she and Mangamma already felt like members of the family. The next morning brought a completely different experience for Anasuya.
She laughed while bathing in the open-roof bathroom and looked up at the sky. "It would be even better if there was a shower bhava," she said with a smile. Anand head that, thought for a while and quietly brought a water pipe from outside and sprayed water over the roof, making it fall like rain. Anasuya laughed like a little girl while Mangamma stood nearby smiling at the silly idea. During breakfast, everyone sat together on the floor and shared hot homemade food. Anasuya enjoyed every bite and quietly remembered how she usually ate bread and jam in the morning, fast food during the day, and most of the time alone. Later she looked around and asked Anand, "Is there no TV here?" Anand simply smiled and went out. By evening, he had somehow managed to buy a led TV and even arranged a set-top box, though it cost him more than he had planned. Seeing the effort he had made just to make her comfortable, Anasuya looked at him with quiet admiration.
The next day, Anasuya switched on the new TV for a while and soon walked out with a bored face. "Bhava, I am bored already," she said. Anand smiled and replied, "Then come, I'll show you something better." He took Anasuya, Mangamma and Balu to their green paddy fields. A cool breeze passed through the crops as all four slowly walked along the narrow paths. Balu and Mangamma happily looked around while Anand showed Anasuya the fields he had worked on with so much care. After walking for a while, Anasuya looked at him and asked with a smile, "Bhava... didn't you miss me all these years?" Anand laughed softly. "Many times. I only asked Ramalingam mavayya to send you here." Anasuya quickly shook her head and smiled proudly. "He didn't send me. I only planned everything myself. I wanted to come here... to meet my loving bhava." Anand looked at her for a moment, smiled shyly and asked, "So... you really came just for your loving anand bhava?"
Anasuya nodded gently, and slowly they hug each other. A little away from them, Mangamma and Balu had started arguing after seeing a hen walking with its chicks. Balu insisted the hen came first, while Mangamma argued that the egg came first, and both refused to give up. Hearing them, Anand and Anasuya laughed and walked towards them. As they continued through the fields, Anasuya quietly held Anand's hand for a moment and asked, "If I trouble you with all my little wishes, will you really bear them?" Anand smiled and replied, "I did it yesterday, didn't I? If it is for someone I love, I don't mind doing it for a lifetime." Anasuya smiled with happiness and slowly let go of his hand. Just then, an auto passed by with a loudspeaker announcing that the village jathara would begin in two days. It also invited everyone to shave their head. Curious, Mangamma looked at Anand and asked about it. Anand smiled and said he will tell everyhting at home.
Back at home, Anand explained everything about the village jathara to Anasuya and Mangamma. He told them many people came to offer thier hair and get head shave, and it is very common thing. Anasuya became more and more excited with every answer. "Even ladies shave their heads? How do they shave? Does it hurt? How will a bald head feel?" she kept asking one question after another. Mangamma also listened with curiosity, wanting to see it with her own eyes. The next day too, Anasuya followed Anand, Paddu and Balu around the house asking the same questions. Finally Paddu laughed and said, "Ask Anand bhava. He is shaving his head this time." From that moment Anasuya stayed behind Anand the whole day and suddenly declared, "Then I also want to get head shave!" Eswari and Paddu immediately refused, worrying about what her parents would think. Anasuya kept requesting them until they finally agreed to send her along with anand just to watch the head shaves.
The next morning, Anand took them to the jathara. Under a large shed, rows of men and women calmly sat before barbers, getting their heads shaved. Anand sat down first, and Balu sat beside him. The two barbers wet their heads and beards, then slowly began shaving. Hair fell into their laps and onto the ground with every stroke until both of them became completely bald. Their beards and moustaches were shaved clean, and Anasuya laughed, "Now both of you look like small kids." Before anyone could react, Anasuya removed Mangamma's dupatta, made her sit before the barber and cheerfully said, "Anna, shave her head too." Mangamma looked around in confusion as the barber began wetting her hair. "Anu... I only wanted to watch. I like my long hair. Madam will scold us," she said nervously. Anasuya laughed, signalled the barber to continue and said, "I'll manage Amma. You don't worry even i will get it done." Anand and Balu looked at each other in surprise as the razor slowly cleared Mangamma's hair.
When the head shave was finished, Mangamma stood up rubbing her smooth bald head again and again, still missing her long hair. Balu smiled and said, "You look like a small girl now," and Mangamma immediately slapped his cheek making all of them burst into laughter. Anasuya stood quietly for a moment, feeling both excited and nervous. Anand held her cheeks and said, "Don't worry. It will be okay. He will shave your head slowly." His words gave her confidence. He took her dupatta and Anasuya sat before the barber. The barber poured water over her long hair and held her head gently with his left hand, he placed the straight razor on her scalp and began shaving her head. Long strands of hair slowly slipped down on ground. At first the feeling was strange as the razor scrapped her hair, but after a few strokes she got relaxed. The barber slowly turned her head from one side to another while shaving her head propelry. Anasuya quietly enjoyed the new feeling with a bright smile.
The barber shaved off the remaining hair, running the razor smoothly until her head was completely bald. His rough hand gently rubbed her bald head and Anasuya simply sat there smiling, enjoying the whole experience. Nearby, Balu and Mangamma had already started another silly argument, both touching each other's bald heads and claiming, "My head is more round than yours." Anand laughed at their fight, but when he turned around, Anasuya was already standing before him with a bright smile on her freshly shaved head. For a moment he simply looked at her, then held her cheeks and smiled. "You look more beautiful without your hair," he said honestly. Anasuya laughed and asked, "Then after our marriage, shall I shave my head daily for you?" Anand immediately laughed and replied, "Are you mad?" and pulled her into a warm hug. Watching them, Balu nudged Mangamma and said, "Look... these two have started their romance again, even in the middle of this crowd."
Mangamma smiled, rubbing her bald head.When they returned home, Paddu saw them first and excitedly shouted, "Amma... they are back!" Eswari came out from the kitchen, and smiled seeing Anand and Balu with their freshly shaved heads, but the smile disappeared for a moment when she noticed Anasuya and Mangamma standing bald beside them. "Anasuya... you also shaved your head?" she asked in surprise. Paddu happily walked to Anasuya, gently rubbed her smooth bald head and laughed. "Akka, you are looking very beautiful like this." Eswari sighed and said, "What will your parents think now? You should have thought once." Anasuya smiled without any worry. "Don't worry, atta. I'll manage everything." Looking at Anasuya's cheerful face, even Eswari smiled and said, "You really look nice... and Mangamma, you also look good without hair." Mangamma touched her bald head and made a sad face. "I brought my shampoo and hair oil and now its waste."
Balu quickly laughed, "Don't worry, in a few days small hair will grow. You can use everything then." Mangamma immediately gave him a light slap on the cheek, and the whole house burst into laughter. Eswari took everyone inside and asked Paddu to mix turmeric with water. While bathing, Anasuya had enjoyed the cool water flowing directly over her smooth bald head. At first it felt strange, but soon she loved the cool feeling and kept rubbing her head with a smile. Eswari gently applied the turmeric paste to each of their shaved heads to cool the skin and protect it from the hot sun. Anasuya closed her eyes for a moment and smiled, enjoying the soothing touch. After lunch, all four of them wandered through the paddy fields, taking selfies, teasing each other's bald head and enjoying the evening breeze on their freshly shaved heads. Suddenly Mangamma's phone rang. "Anu... Madam is on video call," she said softly. Anasuya immediately looked at Anand, silently asking him to save her.
As soon as Mangamma told them about the video call, Anand quickly looked around the paddy field. He pulled two straw hats from the nearby scarecrows and gave them to cover their bald head. He took them to the small watchtower in the middle of the fields where the mobile signal was better. Anasuya answered the call with a smile. Her mother asked how the trip was going, whether they were eating properly and if everything at the farm was comfortable. Anasuya replied casually while Mangamma stood quietly beside her. After a while, her mother looked at the screen carefully and asked, "Why are both of you wearing hats?" Mangamma quickly replied, "It is very hot here, Madam." Just then, the afternoon heat made the turmeric mix with their sweat, and thin yellow lines slowly appeared on their foreheads and necks. Her mother questioned, "what is that yellow on your neck?" Mangamma became nervous and blurted out, "We we played Holi Madam." Anasuya immediately looked at her in disbelief.
Before another question could come, she lowered the phone and said, "Hello... I can't hear you properly. The signal is low , i will call you later," and quickly ended the call. Looking at Mangamma, she laughed and said, "Next time don't bluff if you can't. Holi... at this time?" Even Anand and Balu burst into laughter as Mangamma made an embarrassed face. A few days passed peacefully in the village, but her mother had quietly begun to doubt whether Anasuya and Mangamma had really gone to her friend's farm. One Sunday morning, Anasuya walked up to Anand and said, "Bhava, I want to watch a new movie." Anand pointed towards the TV and said as today was sunday some new movie would have telecasted. Anasuya shook her head at once. "No... I want to watch movie in PVR." Anand looked at her bald head and asked with a smile, "Are you really okay going to a mall like this?" Anasuya confidently replied, "Why not? what's wrong with bald head" After a little convincing, Anand finally agreed.
By afternoon, Anand, Balu, Anasuya and Mangamma started their journey towards Hyderabad, After the movie, Anasuya happily asked "Bhava, I want KFC chicken," and all four of them sat together with their meal. Anasuya was busy enjoying her chicken when Mangamma quietly poked her shoulder. Without looking up, Anasuya continued eating. Mangamma slowly leaned near her ear and whispered, "Madam is watching us." Anasuya looked up at once and froze. A little distance away, her mother was standing silently, staring straight at both of them. Anasuya quickly touched her smooth bald head with both hands and whispered, "Oh no... we shaved our heads." Mangamma also held her bald head and nervously said, "We forgot to bring our hats." Anasuya gave her a helpless look. "Now covering it won't bring our hair back." Anand immediately understood the situation and softly said, "Don't panic." By then, her mother had already walked up to their table.
She had been too busy and never realized how serious his situation had become. "When I finally took the money to return it, Krishna was gone," she said with pain in her voice. "He had hanged himself. Beside his body, your atta Eswari was getting her head shaved. She stopped it halfway and blamed me for everything in front of everyone. Her head shave was important or insulting me was more important ah? That day I decided I would never step into that house again." She looked at Anasuya with disappointment. "But you... being my own daughter... lied to me, went there and even shaved your head in that jathara. And you too, Mangamma, you always loved your long hair, how come anu convinced you to get a head shave." Neither of them had the courage to answer. Sitting silently in the back seat of the car, both Anasuya and Mangamma held their stubbles bald heads with both hands and looked at each other with worried faces, wondering what was waiting for them when they reached home.
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