A Aa : The Bald Love Story of Cousins 2
Mahalakshmi brought Anasuya and Mangamma back home. The moment they entered the house, Ramalingam looked at them in surprise and asked, "Why did you shave your head anu?" Anasuya gently rubbed her bald head and replied with a smile, "I just wanted to feel how it would be." He then looked at Mangamma and laughed. "Then why is she also go bald?" Anasuya quickly replied, "I didnt wanted to go bald alone." Both of them laughed for a moment, but it stopped as soon as Mahalakshmi entered the hall. She sat on the sofa and called Anasuya before her. "First you lied to me. Then you went to that village. You met those people even after knowing everything. Without asking me, you shaved your head, and on top of that you got Mangamma's head shaved too." Mangamma slowly tried to speak. "Madam... actually..." Before she could continue, Anasuya stopped her. Mahalakshmi looked at both of their bald heads with disappointment, said nothing more and silently walked into her room.
Days slowly turned into weeks. Anasuya spent most of her time at home watching television, playing with the pet dog and looking out of the window when she felt bored. She was not allowed to go anywhere alone. Slowly, soft hair began growing all over her shaved head. One evening, Ramalingam sat beside her and asked with a smile, "Tell me... how was your village trip?" Anasuya's face brightened at once. She happily spoke about the village, the paddy fields, eating together with everyone, the warm love she received and the peaceful life she had enjoyed there. Finally she smiled, touched her short growing hair and said, "Dad... I even liked getting my head shaved. At first it felt strange, but later I really enjoyed it." She stayed quiet for a few moments before softly adding, "Dad... I love Anand bhava." Ramalingam looked at her with surprise, then smiled gently. "Yes, I always felt one day you would say this," he replied, while Anasuya lowered her head with a shy smile.
Ramalingam looked at Anasuya for a long moment and noded. "It is almost impossible anu. The wall between those two families has become too strong." He quietly told her how both families had lived with pain ever since Krishna's death and how non of them have thought to break it. Anasuya listened carefully, but her heart still refused to give up. A few days later, she walked to Mahalakshmi's room while she was reading office files. She spoke casually for some time before taking a deep breath. "Mummy... I love Anand bhava. I want to marry him. If our marriage happens, I will slowly convince everyone. Even Eswari atta..." Before she could finish, Mahalakshmi stood up in anger. "Don't take that name in front of me anu!" she shouted. She immediately snatched Anasuya's mobile phone, locked her inside her room and warned, "You are not stepping out without my permission ." She then turned to Ramalingam and strictly said, "And you... don't help her in any ways."
Soon Mahalakshmi began searching for marriage matches. She spoke to a marriage broker and gave all the details about Anasuya. Before ending the call, she added, "She recently shaved her head. No problem... we can manage with a wig for the wedding if needed." Far away in the village, Anand told Eswari everything that had happened in Hyderabad. Eswari quietly listened and simply said, "Leave it, Anand. Some wounds take time to heal." Anand understood and tried to move on, though he often found himself missing Anasuya. One day, at the market with Paddu, he accidentally bumped into a young girl. "Sorry," Anand said politely before walking away. The girl stood there smiling without saying a word. Her friends quickly gathered around her and laughed. "Your plan worked perfectly valli." The girl blushed happily. She was Nagavalli. She eagerly asked about the next plan to make Anand fall in her love. Her friend smiled and replied "Head shave."
Nagavalli looked at her friends and asked, "Head shave ah... Are you all sure?" One of them nodded. "I have seen Anand getting his head shaved in the jathara every two years." Another added, "This year also he shaved his head." A third friend said, "I even saw him hugging a bald girl too." Hearing all this, Nagavalli smiled to herself. "Then I must also get my head shave". She took all her friends to a small barber's shed near the riverside. Sitting before the barber, she placed fifty rupees in his hand and said, "Anna, shave my head." The barber simply nodded and untied her long thick braid, poured water over her curly black hair, fitted a fresh blade into his straight razor and gently placed his left hand on her head. With the very first stroke, a long lock of her hair slipped down onto the ground. At first, the feeling was strange, but Nagavalli stayed still as more and more of her thick curly hair fell in front of her. The barber kept wetting her hair and slowly shaved each part with steady strokes.
Soon one half of her head was completely bald. The barber told them he would be back in a moment and walked towards the bushes nearby. Nagavalli touched the smooth half of her shaved head with wonder while her friends smiled and said, "It actually suits you." She looked at herself by feeling the smooth scalp and happily imagined Anand's reaction. After a few minutes, the barber returned and carefully shaved the remaining hair. When he finished, Nagavalli smiled and said, "Anna, please shave it once more properly." She gave him twenty rupees extra. The barber happily applied more water and gently shaved again until her head became clean, smooth and shiny. He wiped away the tiny leftover hairs from her neck, cleaned her forehead, dusted a little powder over her freshly shaved scalp and stepped aside. Nagavalli slowly ran both her hands over her smooth bald head, smiled with satisfaction and quietly said to herself, "Now I want to show Anand my bald head and how much I love him."
That evening, Nagavalli took a fresh bath and happily washed her newly shaved head. She wore a beautiful red and black saree, applied a small black bindi, a little scent and stood before the mirror with a bright smile. Again and again, she gently rubbed her smooth bald head and admired it with excitement. At home, her parents and relatives looked at her in surprise and worried about her. One of them whispered, "She shaved her head in the morning, and now look at her... she is getting ready like a bride who is about to get married." Nagavalli only smiled without answering. She called her friends and said, "Don't come with me. Just some how bring Anand near the banyan tree." Her friends somehow managed to call Anand there, saying someone wanted to meet him. Anand reached the tree, looked around in confusion and quietly waited. Nagavalli slowly came from behind the tree and stood before him. Anand looked at her slowly, noticing her neatly draped saree and her smooth shining bald head.
Before he could speak, she smiled nervously and said, "Anand... I love you." She told him how long she had liked him and then softly added, "My friends said you like bald girls. I happily gave up my long curly hair because I wanted to see you happy anand." Anand listened patiently and gently smiled. "Nagavalli, you misunderstood everything. I don't love someone because they are bald or they got head shave." He continued, "The girl you saw with me is my maradal, Anasuya. She shaved her head because she wanted to know how it felt. I already love her." Nagavalli quietly lowered her head. Anand softly said, "You are a good person, but this is only an infatuation. Don't change yourself for someone else's liking." After a few silent moments, Nagavalli looked up with a small smile. "Can we at least be friends anand?" she asked. Anand smiled and nodded rubbing her bald head. "Of course we can be good friends valli." Both of them walked away peacefully with good understanding and new friendship.
Days passed, but nothing changed inside the house. Mahalakshmi was still strict with Anasuya. She took her to doctors, bought medicines and oils, and did everything she could to help her hair grow faster. A few marriage proposals came, but some families stepped back after seeing Anasuya's short hair, while others suggested wig for the wedding would be unrealistic. Anasuya never showed any interest. Whenever her mother spoke about marriage, she replied, "I will marry only Anand bhava." One evening, Mahalakshmi left for an out-of-town meeting and was expected to return late at night. Seeing the chance, Ramalingam quietly helped Anand meet Anasuya. They met on the rooftop of the house after many weeks. The moment Anasuya saw Anand, she ran to him and hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much bhava," she said with tears in her eyes. Slowly she told him everything on how her mother had locked her inside, taken away her phone and stopped every way of contacting him.
Anand listened quietly and said, "Anu, there is something you should know." He gently understood that she had slowly started disliking Eswari. "Please don't think my mother is a bad person," he said. He explained that from the day Mahalakshmi got married, Krishna had worked day and night for the family. He had sold their land to arrange her marriage and meet all the expenses. Later, on one Raksha Bandhan, when Mahalakshmi needed money, Krishna gave her the amount he had saved for Anand's school fees because he did not want to disappoint his sister. After that, the bank people kept coming every day. They insulted him again and again. He came to Hyderabad many times hoping to meet your mother, but they could never meet. I'm not blaming your mother, Anu. She did not know how serious it had become." He paused before adding, "When my father lost hope, he ended his life. The insurance money later cleared the loan, but by then it was too late." Anand looked into her eyes and said,
"My mother was angry because she felt help came after everything was over, not because my father gave money to your mother." Anasuya stood silently for a long time. Finally she nodded and said, "Now I understand. My mother was not heartless... and Eswari atta was not cruel. Both were only carrying their own pain." Anand smiled gently, knowing this was the first step towards bringing both families together. Anand and Anasuya sat on the rooftop after many days, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Anand smiled "Your hair has started growing well anu," he said softly. Anasuya rubbed her short hair with a smile. "I can't wait to shave it again with you," she said happily. Anand laughed. "First let it grow properly. Why are you so eager to shave your head?" She held his hand and leaned closer. "Because every moment with you feels special," she replied. They continued talking, laughing and teasing each other like they had forgotten the whole world. Suddenly a loud voice broke the silence. "Anasuya!"
Mahalakshmi stood at the rooftop entrance, shocked and angry after seeing them together. She walked straight towards them. "Leave my daughter's hand right now!" she shouted. Anand smiled calmly and said, "Atha, see properly who is holding whose hand." Mahalakshmi looked carefully that Anasuya was tightly holding Anand's hand standing behind him. Anand said, "If I wanted to marry Anu, I could have taken her away long ago. I came here because I want both our families to become one again. My mother is still waiting for the day you will come back." Anasuya looked at her mother and said, "Mummy, he never spoke against you. He only wants everyone together. Please understand him once." Mahalakshmi stood silent without saying a word. Anand gently held Anasuya's hand and started walking downstairs with her. Ramalingam came near Mahalakshmi who was lost in deep thought, watching them leave. One month passed as the wedding preparations went on happily in Anand's village.
Just then a car stopped outside the wedding hall. Eswari looked towards the entrance and stood still. Mahalakshmi slowly walked inside, went straight to Eswari and hugged her tightly. With tears in her eyes she said, "Eswari... forgive me. I came too late." Eswari hugged her back and replied, "You also forgive me for the words I spoke that day." The two women cried for a moment before smiling at each other. Seeing them together again, Anand and Anasuya smiled with relief. The wedding was completed happily, and after many years both families finally became one again. A week passed after the wedding, and the house was full of happiness. Both families started lived together like one family. Anand and Anasuya enjoyed their new married life, while Mangamma and Balu continued their small arguments that made everyone laugh. Ramalingam and Mahalakshmi slowly started liking the peaceful village life. Eswari and Paddu were happy to see the house filled with smiles again.
One morning a barber came to the house carrying his shaving kit. Anasuya looked at him and asked, "Who is he?" Before anyone could answer, Mahalakshmi called the barber to the backyard and quietly sat down on the ground. Everyone looked at her with surprise. She smiled gently and said, "I just want to leave my ego behind. This head shave is a small thing I want to do for myself." Anasuya's eyes became bright when she learned that even before marriage her mother used to shave her head once every two years during the village jathara. The barber untied Mahalakshmi's hair and let it fall behind her shoulders. He poured water over her hair, combed it back with his fingers, fitted a new blade into the straight razor and began the head shave with slow, steady strokes. Wet strands of hair slid onto Mahalakshmi's lap and the ground as the razor quietly cleared one path after another. Mahalakshmi sat calmly, letting the barber gently turn her head whenever needed.
Anasuya watched every moment with excitement and smiled at Anand, who understood exactly what she was feeling. Soon the last locks were shaved away, leaving Mahalakshmi completely bald. She quietly asked, "Make it smooth once more." The barber applied soap water and carefully shaved again in the opposite direction until the scalp looked clean and shiny. After wiping away the foam, Mahalakshmi slowly rubbed her smooth bald head with both hands, smiled at Anasuya, and Anasuya smiled back with quiet happiness. Anasuya looked at Anand with a cute smile and softly said, "I also want to shave my head along with mummy." Mahalakshmi looked at her with concern and replied, "No, your hair has just grown back after previous head shave." Anand understood what Anasuya was feeling and smiled at the barber. "Shave my wife's head too anna," he said. Anasuya happily sat on the ground in front of the barber. He sprinkled water over her short boy-cut hair, fitted a fresh blade into the razor.
He slowly began shaving anasuya's head. The short strands fell onto her lap and the ground as the razor gently cleared her scalp. Anasuya closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the familiar feeling with a bright smile. Paddu and Eswari came into the backyard and stopped in surprise. Eswari understood the moment, smiled at Mahalakshmi's freshly shaved head and said, "It suits you well." Soon Anasuya's head was completely shaved, and she happily asked, "One more time... make it smooth like Mummy's bald head." The barber applied shaving foam and carefully shaved once again until her scalp became smooth and shiny. As soon as the shave was finished, Anasuya got up, hugged Anand and laughed with happiness. Mahalakshmi then looked at Eswari, and with a small smile said, "Come eswari... why dont you also get a head shave along wiht me, this time lets do it together." Eswari quietly sat before the barber, and with steady strokes her hair slowly fell around her .
Soon her head too became clean, smooth and bald just like Mahalakshmi's bald head. Paddu kept touching Anasuya's smooth head with curiosity and smiling. Anasuya gently held her hand and said, "You always wished to shave your head but didn't have the courage to tell it out , paddu come sit and get your head shave it will be nice." Paddu quickly shook her head and stepped back, but Anasuya laughingly made her sit before the barber. Paddu stayed a little nervous as the first few strokes removed her hair, but soon she relaxed, smiled shyly and let the barber finish the shave. Watching everyone, Anasuya turned to Anand with the same cute eyes and softly requested, "Now you also get a head shave bava." Anand laughed, sat before the barber and asked him to leave only his moustache. The barber shaved the rest of his head clean, and when he finished, Anasuya kissed his shaved head. Mahalakshmi smiled and gently teased the newly married couple so everyone around them started laughing.
Mangamma came out of the bathroom after her bath, drying her short hair with a towel. The moment she stepped into the backyard, she froze in surprise. Anand, Anasuya, Paddu, Eswari and even Mahalakshmi were all standing with freshly shaved bald heads. She looked at Mahalakshmi again and asked, "Madam... you also shaved your head?" Mahalakshmi smiled and pointed towards the ground before the barber. "Mangamma, come and sit down get a head shave." Mangamma became a little hesitant and was nervous. Anasuya walked to her, held her hand and said, "Come on, mangamma. Let's match again. get an head shave again no problem." Mangamma laughed softly and finally sat down. The barber wet her hair, fixed a fresh blade into the straight razor and slowly began shaving. Stroke by stroke her hair fell onto the ground until her head became completely bald. Mahalakshmi looked at her and smiled. Just then Balu laughed and said, "You just bathed, now you have to bathe once again."
Mangamma immediately slapped his cheek, making everyone laugh. She caught Balu's hand and pointed him towards the barber. Balu refused, but Anand joined her laughingly and together they made him sit on the ground. The barber immediately started shaving, and after the first few strokes Balu simply smiled and accepted his fate and let the shave finish. Just then Ramalingam returned home and stopped at the backyard, surprised to see the whole family bald. Mahalakshmi walked up to him with a sweet smile, gently rubbing her smooth bald head and asked, "Tell me... how am I looking without hair?" Ramalingam smiled warmly and replied, "You still look beautiful maha." Mahalakshmi smiled back and softly said, "Then you also shave your head na. We will both look matching, just like Anand and Anasuya." Ramalingam looked at her for a moment, smiled and nodded before quietly sitting on the ground before the barber. The barber carefully shaved his head clean and smooth.
After finishing all the shaves, he packed his kit, took nice payment with a happy smile and left. Everyone freshened up and gathered for breakfast. Paddu mixed a big bowl of turmeric paste because there were so many freshly shaved heads. Eswari applied turmeric to Paddu, Paddu to Eswari, Mahalakshmi to Ramalingam, Ramalingam to Mahalakshmi, Anand to Anasuya and Anasuya to Anand. Balu and Mangamma looked at each other for a moment. Mangamma suddenly slapped a little turmeric onto Balu's bald head as revenge. Balu laughed and tightly slapped turmeric onto her bald head in return. Watching them, Eswari smiled and said, "Now we should get Balu married." Mahalakshmi immediately laughed and said, "Why not? Let Balu marry Mangamma only." Balu quickly shook his head and said, "No... she keeps slapping me." Anasuya laughed and said, "When she slaps you, shave her head and you can slap her bald head again and again." Mangamma covered her face in embarrassment while everyone burst into laughter.
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