“Indu? Hey Indu! You donkey! How many times I am yelling here. What are you plucking at? The harsh steel blades like words peireced Indu’s ears. She limped and came fastly. “Sorry madam, I was not able to come faster my leg is paining" replied Indu. “How dare you bitch! Did you forget the thrashings I gave? you should be present at next second" told Gowri. the Landlor’s daughter. Saying so she stamped at her badaged feet." “Oh God! yelled Indu and fell fainted behind." Don’t act too smart you swine. Now get back to work and I want all these vessels to be clean as like as mirror or else I will make you starve to death." Gowri roared at Indu and went away.
Later that morning the news spread that Indu got suicide and her body was took over by jungle beasts.No other than Gowri was happy hearing the news. Kanna returned and felt very sorrow. He left the place and told that he dont want to work any more since Indu died. The landlord paid for him with a couple of cows and bid him farewell.
A week later suddenly one night the Landlord’s farm was caught fire. The fire consumed all of the farm lands. Wheat,rice maize every thing were swallowed by fire. The landlord got scared. he could not do anything but to watch. Later that week his store house filled with cotton caught fire. It was a heavy loss for him since all of the villagers also stocked their cotton bags there. Every one got doomed. They now started fear it was some evil. Each and every men searched and investigation for the reason. But it went vain. Every week it continued as a cycle. It burned every where and any where. They thought it was some deeds of demon or ghost. They feared of it and though of a remedy. Suddenly they heard that a saint was penancing at the hill side so he could give some remedy.
Every one rushed to search the saint. At last they found him on the caves of the hill. The saint heard their stories and meditated by closing his eyes. Suddenly he opened his eyes. He shouted that it was a great misfortune. They have done a great misfortune and the cause is a girl named Indu. She is asking for justice. There was an injustice happened and the vengeance won by evil.
They ask about the remedy. The saint pointed his fingers at Gowri. She refused and asked what wrong she had done. The saint smiled and asked that if she has done nothing.He told what does it meant the injustice given to Indu. She glared and started to scold the saint. He then pointed the servent who hid the jewels for Gowri. The land lord got furious and slapped him. He asked what has happened on that day. He revealed everything and cried to spare him. The land lord glared with fire. He asked what was the remedy for this. The saint replied that the same thing must be done as to Gowri and that is the only thing which is the remedy.
Gowri ran away to the village and refused that she will never accept. The villagers threatened that if she refused her father will be killed instantly. Gowri could not escape. She accepted at last. She sat on the same place where Indu got shaved. She was decorated with bunch of flowers. A lady poured a pot of water on her head. She was bounded with heavy ropes to make sure she could not escape or refuse. The barber came with the smiling face. She looked like a wet sheep to be sheared. The barber massaged her head till the half curls were drenched . He took a hot water and poured and massaged it again and again. He now took the razor and loaded with the new blade. He started to shear her. Gowri thought of the wicked deeds and started to cry. He swiftly finished the frontal head and the bangs got removed. He now started to move to the ears and shaved the part of the ear lobes.It looked like a japanese hairstyle with front head shaved and left with the tanned middle hair line was visible and the left over was the white scalp with stubble. She was felt like humiliated. He did not stopped. He then moved to the side part o the hair line and swiftly removed the right and the left portions. Now the nape was cleanly removed and it rained with the locks of wet hair.Her face and shoulders were covered with the hair. It flew all over the ground. He then severed the plait and repeated to shave until her head was like a que ball. She cried that her head was burning but he never listened. He did not lathered her head but scraped from the opposite. She cried of pain.The barber inspected by rubbing his hands and told it is finished at last. Finally he lifted her chin and quickly started to sprinkle the water on her eye brows. with his professional quickness he swipped of the two brows. Today Gowri became most uglier than ever. She told that she made a mistake and pleaded the villagers to spare. The ladies came and untied the ropes. They started to hold her hands and undressed her. Gowri was shocked. She asked what is that for. The ladies replied that half of the process is completed. She should be dressed in the white saree and must resemble as widow. Gowri started to remmber. She refused but at last agreed. She wore a white saree and one lady gave her a mirror. She was awe struck at the mirror. She was shocked to see how ugly it looked. The barber came now and told that he was left with one thing. The ladies suddenly caught Gowri’s hands. They made her to kneel down and the barber swiftly poured a liquid. She yelled with pain and her head burnt. The barber told that it is a hair removal liquid. She became dumb. He told how Indu would be feeling when she poured it. She screamed with burn and pain. The lady beside her told that they have heard from the barber that Gowri had made this humiliation to Indu. To complete the vow this was done. Gowri rmembered and cried for her misdeed and asked apologized for the poor girl’s death. She atlast told that she accepted the punishment and this is deserved for her wickedness.
Later that night two figures were travelling on a moon lit path.They reached a meadow from there it went like a foot path which led to a deep bushy way. After a long walk. They reached a hut. A bald lady welcomed them. They were none other than the saint and the barber. The bald lady is non other that Indu.
The barber greeted her with a smiling face. Indu asked how come you know my place. The saint came behind and told that they were adviced by a lad called Kanna to come to his hut and bless her. Indu immediately bowed before the saint. Indu asked the barber how come he knew that she is there. The barber told the story which happened from the day she left. Indu cried for Gowri both of them were surprised. She told that she treated Gowri as her sister but some grave things happened in her life. The saint changed the topic. He told that the barber have done a sin by making Indu bald for ever. The barber immediately shocked. But he denied that he has not commited any sin but saved Indu. She went surprised and asked how her hair will grow back. “Indu, I know that no woman could loose her vanity. When Gowri asked for the permanent hair removal I thought she is going to use against you. So I quickly changed the bottle and gave her the scent oil.see for your self" he handed over the oil bottle to her.
Indu applied it on her head. She suddenly felt cool. She asked what is it. The barber told that this is not the hair removal liquid. This is a scented oil. The barber told this oil will stop the growth of hair for two weeks, but then it will enhance the hair to grow back thick and shiny. Indu was so happy hearing this and thanked the barber a lot. she offered him food and he had it heartily.The barber told that Gowri is also applied with the same oil. Once Gowri complained that her hair growth is not proper. The barber told that this oil is to be applied only if her head got shaved. At that time she did not accepted it. Now it came in a coincidence. Indu got relieved on hearing the explanation.
Indu asked the barber how come the saint knew everything and why he have told she was dead. “It was me" a voice said. When both of them turned to the door It was Kanna holding the dress of the saint. Indu was greatly puzzled. She asked why he dressed like a saint.
Kanna told everything. From the day he left the job he took indu to the deep forest side and made to dwell in a hut, and took some of her clothes and casted like she had suicides. He went to the nearby town and changed himself like a saint, went to the village and made himself as visible. He burned the villagers’ properties and made them believe its an act of Indu’s ghost. After that everything made as expected.
Indu was so moved by this and asked how she is going to repay him. He asked her to marry which is the correct repayment. They tied the knot and is there any more story you need?
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