Radha

Radha paused on the busy street, looking at the door of the salon. This was the one frequented by Shwetha, who sported a short, no-nonsense pixie. Shwetha was always full of praises for the barberette of the salon: Priyanka. Radha hoped she would find Priyanka available, as this was a special occasion. Nervously she tucked in a stray wisp of hair behind her ear, looking around. Spotting a gap in the traffic, she quickly darted across, her thick long braid bouncing off her butt. She climbed up the three stairs to the salon door, pushing it open. The rhythmic music of scissors greeted her as it took her a couple of seconds to take in the scene in the salon. A perky young barberette was giving a woman the final touches on a cute chin length graduated bob. She caught Radha’s eye and nodded to her to sit on the couch. Still feeling nervous but excited at the same time, Radha adjusted her shirt as she sat down to wait her turn. She watched the barberette work with confidence. Snipping away at the ends of the bob and texturing it. Comb a section, flip it and snip into the ends. The scissors were doing an intricate dance in her hands. Radha had always wanted to have short hair. However, her conservative mom had never permitted it. Even getting the split ends trimmed was a headache. As she grew older, Radha tried harder to convince her mom to agree. For the last couple of years, her mom’s mantra had been: “Get married. It’s a decision for your husband. If he agrees, you can get it cut.” At long last, it had happened. Well, the marriage at least. The typical arranged marriage, about a year ago. After the usual give and take of getting to know (and love) each other post marriage, she finally picked up the courage to ask her husband what he thought of short hair. To her surprise, he said it was up to her if she wanted to get a haircut. It was completely her choice and he would love her no matter what. Her heart soared at his words, and well, a week later here she was. Waiting for the barberette. The woman’s cape was removed, sending a pile of hair from her lap and shoulders to the floor. Radha’s heart was now beating in her throat as the woman checked her bob, running her fingers through it. She stepped out of the chair. The barberette took her to the front of the shop, collected her payment and closed the door behind her. Radha got a good look at her. Tight waisted jeans, skinny fit. Peach coloured top with short sleeves and a collar. A preppy, bouncy ponytail, pulled slightly above the occipital. Soft brownish hair that fell in soft waves, a couple of inches past her shoulders. And a bright cheerful smile on her face. “Hi! I am Priyanka… what can I do for you?” “Hi… My name is Radha. I wanted to get a haircut. My friend comes here regularly and she’s always praising you…” “Oh, nice to know I have a fan following. Come.” Radha was guided to the chair. As she sat down, Priyanka lifted her thick heavy braid out. The chair was pumped up to a comfortable height to work with. Priyanka’s fingers curled around the base of her braid and she felt a gentle pull. Her braid was lifted up and she saw Priyanka examine the split ends. “So… just a trim then?” “I.. Actually I wanted to go shorter than that.” “How short are you looking for?” “P-Pixie…” Radha stammered nervously. Priyanka didn’t answer. Instead she slipped off the hair band at the end of Radha’s braid, looping it around her wrist deftly. Her experienced fingers slid down Radha’s braid, undoing it. Seconds later, she was running her fingers down her nervous client’s hair, finger combing it. Soft, silky and thick. Holding the hair firmly at her nape, she reached for a comb. The sharp teeth of the comb raked against Radha’s scalp as her hair was combed out in slow long strokes. Priyanka let the hair fall back naturally as she worked out the occasional tangle. She could sense Radha’s nervousness. She reached for the scissors and steadied her client’s head. Snipping the scissors in the air a few times, she made and held eye contact with Radha. Ready? Radha looked in the mirror. The mirror on the wall behind her reflected the back of her chair. Thick, long, silky hair that had been part of her identity all her life. True, she wanted it cut, but the moment felt like she was on the edge of a cliff, her mind urging her to jump. She closed her eyes and nodded. Priyanka snipped the scissors a couple of times and slid it into her hair, level with her nape. One sharp steel blade disappearing into the curtain of silk. She paused, waiting mischievously. Radha braced for the snip, but it did not come. Surprised, she opened one eye to see what the hold up was. Radha closed the blades with a grin. The sharp blades making the first snip as a sheaf of soft hair separated away. The scissors slid further across her neck, and a second snip sounded. A thick sheaf of hair slid off her shoulders and fell at Priyanka’s feet. With her hand firmly holding Radha’s head, Priyanka made a slow, steady, free hand cut across her nape. Each snip, liberating another thick sheaf of hair. The pile at her feet grew as the scissors finally emerged from the other end, cutting her hair down to chin length. Radha was in a bit of a daze. Even though she’d wanted her hair short for the past fifteen years, the speed at which the cut happened left her a little overwhelmed. “Are you okay?” “Y-Yeah.. I-I think s-so…” “Big change, eh?” *whimper* “Do you want me to stop here, or go for the pixie?” “P-Pixie please…” Radha fought desperately to suppress the elation in her heart that came moments after her barberette stopped cutting. Though she was initially in a daze, the lightheadedness that followed, and the cool air flowing over her neck made her heart soar. She bit her lip to stay calm and focused. A white nylon cape floated down on her and was pulled around her neck. With no hair in the way, Priyanka had no difficulty securing it firmly around her neck. After adjusting her cape, she took the water sprayer and started to mist down her hair. Cool water was combed through her hair, getting it wet for the sectioning. Water dripping on the cape and running down her neck. It really was happening. Priyanka combed her hair straight back and then pushed the hair forward gently to figure out her natural part. Surprisingly, the part was on her left. Following the hair part she clipped off the forward sections on the side, and combed down the back. The top half was then again pinned up with an inverted ‘V’ line. There was a small clink as she picked up the scissors again. She obediently bent her head, offering up her nape. “Good girl.” She felt the comb run up her nape and heard the merciless snipping of the scissors. The comb raking her nape as her merciless barberette cropped the back section short. She had no clue how short she was being taken, but she was too far in to care. Snip after snip as the comb moved up slowly to her occipital. Bits of hair of various lengths littering her shoulders, sliding off the soft nylon cape. After a couple of minutes of intense snipping, Priyanka combed down the severely shortened section. Scissors against skin, she edged the hair precisely, cutting a neat straight line. Bits of hair were sticking to Radha’s exposed neck. Clumps of wet black hair lay on her shoulders and a few had found their way into her lap. Her heart was going at a hundred and eighty in her throat. She didn’t expect things to get this intense. She hoped that her husband would love her short haircut. Priyanka wiped off Radha’s neck with a tissue, leaving it on her shoulder. She went in for a second pass with the scissors. Taking the nape even shorter, all the way down to a ¼ to ½ inch. Precise cuts. Radha started feeling a little sleepy from the rhythmic snipping of the blades. This pass was slower, more precise and careful. She wiped the blades on a piece of tissue left strategically on the shoulder. The top section came down. Well at least half of it. The rest was pinned back up, and her head was damped down again. The longer wet hair felt weird falling against the cropped nape. Not for long though. Deftly using vertical sections, and her wrist moving like an experienced leg spinner, Priyanka started cutting the newly liberated hair in vertical passes. Cutting into a smooth taper and dropping the wet chunks of hair on the floor. She got the length down to her satisfaction and then switched to scissors over comb. Point cutting for a soft feathered look. The last section in the back came down. One more pass across with vertical sections, matching the length to the rest of the hair. A lot more point cutting to blend the layers and give the back a soft textured look. Radha’s hair was now ¼” at the nape line and about an inch and half at the occipital. The back looked perfect. Radha felt a firm grip on her chin as her head was tipped to the left. The right forward section was unclipped and a quick chop above the ear removed the bulk of it. A wet sheaf of hair was dropped in her lap. It slid off the nylon, landing on her feet, wet strands tickling her toes. Her ear was folded with the comb as Priyanka started cutting the side to match and blend with the back. Slowly the cropping crept up, blending beautifully with the back. She was mesmerized by the expert scissor work. As Priyanka reached the top, she kept the upper section a lot longer. She switched to thinning shears to crunch into the hair and strip out the bulk. Radha was a little weirded out by the crunching of the shears and the chunks of hair stuck in the blades and comb. Priyanka had to regularly stop to clear the teeth of both her tools. She dried out Radha’s hair lightly and switched to point cutting. Building up to a longish textured top. Satisfied with the overall effect, Priyanka turned her attention to the last remaining section of chin length hair. Unclip and snip. Another sheaf of hair slid down the cape on her toes. Radha’s head was bent the other way and the scissors resumed their mesmerizing song and dance. Snip after snip. She was feeling really lightheaded at this point. She was scolding her mom for not letting her experience the cool, light headed bliss of short hair. Priyanka continued to dry, style and texture her hair. A cute short, classy pixie emerged. Finally she picked up the straight razor and swapped out the blade. Radha’s heart skipped a beat as her head was tipped down firmly, exposing the back of her neck. “Don’t squirm.” The sharp razor scraped down from the hairline that Priyanka had cut earlier while doing the back. Neatly shaving off all the overgrown hair on her neck. She paused to wipe the blade on the back of her wrist as she continued to shave carefully. Finally, the back of her neck was dusted off with a brush. A light coat of talcum powder was applied and she felt Priyanka’s firm fingers massage her nape. She squirmed helplessly. Priyanka laughed at her reaction as she undid the cape carefully, sending the remaining chunks of hair to the floor. As she got out of the chair, Radha looked in wonder at the huge pile of hair, scarcely believing that it was all hers just a few minutes ago. She took a proper look at herself in the mirror, no longer hiding behind a curtain of hair. She would definitely need to thank her husband for giving her the chance to get a short haircut. Slowly she walked with Priyanka to pay her bill.

Tanya and Aisha

**Part 1: The Plan** Tanya and Aisha were both known for their stunning, long hair that cascaded down their backs like silk. Their mutual jealousy over each other’s hair was an open secret among their friends. They were always trying to outshine each other in terms of hair length, shine, and style. The tension reached a boiling point when Aisha won a local beauty pageant, her glossy locks stealing the show. Tanya, seething with envy, concocted a plan to bring Aisha down a notch. She decided to cut Aisha’s long hair without her knowledge, turning her envy into action. Tanya befriended Aisha more closely, pretending to have put their rivalry behind them. One day, Tanya suggested a girls’ day out at the salon, claiming she had found the best stylist in town. Aisha, always up for pampering her precious hair, agreed without suspicion. **Part 2: The Execution** They arrived at “Glamour Salon,” where Tanya had already spoken to a stylist named Maya, bribing her to go along with the plan. The salon was known for its high-end treatments, and Aisha, unaware of the impending betrayal, felt at ease. “Trust me, Aisha, you’re going to love this place,” Tanya said with a fake smile. The two settled into their chairs, and Tanya initiated a casual conversation with Maya, making it clear with a wink that she was in on the plan. Aisha, blissfully unaware, chatted away about her upcoming events and how she needed her hair to look perfect. Maya, following the plan, suggested a “special treatment” for Aisha’s hair, which would involve cutting a few inches for a healthier look. Aisha hesitated but eventually agreed, convinced by Tanya’s fake reassurance. As Maya began, she subtly cut more than a few inches, expertly disguising it by styling Aisha’s hair as she went along. Aisha, relaxing and enjoying the pampering, didn’t notice the significant change in length. When the session ended, Aisha looked at herself in the mirror, horrified to see her once long hair now barely grazing her shoulders. “What have you done?” she exclaimed, tears welling up. Tanya feigned shock and concern. “Oh my God, Aisha! I’m so sorry. I thought you wanted a new look!” Aisha stormed out of the salon, devastated, while Tanya secretly savored her victory. **Part 3: The Aftermath** Aisha’s initial devastation turned into determination. She decided to own her new look, and surprisingly, it suited her. The shorter hair brought out her features, and she received numerous compliments, much to Tanya’s dismay. However, Aisha soon discovered Tanya’s involvement through a mutual friend who had overheard Tanya bragging about her scheme. Furious, Aisha confronted Tanya, who couldn’t deny it any longer. “You thought cutting my hair would break me?” Aisha spat. “It only made me stronger.” Their friendship shattered, Aisha walked away, leaving Tanya to deal with the consequences of her actions. Tanya’s own reputation suffered, as their mutual friends learned about her deceitful act. Aisha, on the other hand, embraced her new look, using the incident as a stepping stone to greater confidence and success. Her story of overcoming betrayal and finding strength in adversity became an inspiration, turning her into an even more admired figure. Tanya, consumed by her jealousy, ultimately learned that true beauty comes from within, and her actions only reflected her own insecurities. **Part 4: Years Later** Years passed, and both women had moved on with their lives. Aisha had become a successful entrepreneur, her story of resilience inspiring many. She often looked back at the incident with a sense of pride, knowing it had shaped her into the strong, confident woman she was today. Tanya, having faced numerous repercussions for her actions, had undergone a transformation herself. She realized the folly of her envy and worked on becoming a better person. She eventually reached out to Aisha, seeking forgiveness. Aisha, having grown and evolved, forgave Tanya. They never became close friends again, but there was a mutual respect between them. They both learned valuable lessons from their past, understanding that true beauty and strength come from within, not from the length of one’s hair.

Summer haircuts

Aishwarya and Ananya were sisters from Chennai, living with their traditional family. Aishwarya, a college student, had hip-length hair, and her sister Ananya, who was in 12th grade, also had long hair. The summer was particularly harsh this year, and their mother had grown concerned about Ananya’s distraction with her hair over her studies. One hot Saturday morning, their mother asked Ananya to get ready. Ananya reluctantly complied, not knowing the day’s plan. They headed to a nearby barbershop. Upon their return, Aishwarya was shocked to see Ananya with a short bob cut over her ears and a baby fringe close to her forehead. Ananya explained how their mother had insisted on the drastic cut to keep her focused on her studies. Aishwarya comforted her sister, assuring her it would grow back. Two days later, their mother instructed both sisters to come home early. That evening, Ananya, with her bob still fresh, was studying diligently. Their mother asked if anyone at school commented on her new haircut, and Ananya admitted everyone was surprised but some thought it was cute. Their mother reassured her, saying it was for the best. A month passed, and Ananya’s hair had grown slightly, but their mother decided it was time for another trim. She took Ananya to the barbershop again, where the barber gave her a high bob cut, even shorter than before, with a bowl cut and a fringe close to her forehead. Ananya looked like a small school kid, but her mother seemed satisfied. Later that day, Aishwarya returned home complaining of a headache. Her mother, attributing it to her long wet hair, decided it was time for Aishwarya to get a haircut as well. She took Aishwarya to the same barbershop. Aishwarya was nervous, especially since her brother Rahul was also there and insisted they cut her hair immediately. Aishwarya’s heart pounded as the barber removed her hairband and sprayed her hair with water. Without much consultation, Rahul instructed the barber to chop her hair to a shoulder-length bob. Aishwarya’s hip-length hair fell to the floor in thick heaps, and tears welled in her eyes. Rahul held her chin, telling her to stop crying. The barber evened out her hair into a long bob and blow-dried it. Aishwarya thought it was over, but Rahul and the barber had other plans. Her mother arrived and inspected the haircut. She decided it wasn’t short enough, instructing the barber to give Aishwarya a chin-length bob. Aishwarya’s mother held her head tightly as the barber cut her hair higher and higher in the back, creating a dramatic stacked bob. The barber then asked about bangs, and her mother agreed. The barber combed Aishwarya’s front hair forward, snipping it to the middle of her forehead. Aishwarya started crying again, feeling humiliated and exposed. But it wasn’t over. Her mother, noticing the sweat on Aishwarya’s forehead, suggested an even shorter cut to keep her cool for the summer. The barber then took the clippers and gave her a pixie cut, almost shaving the sides and back. Aishwarya’s tears flowed freely as the barber continued cutting, reducing her hair to a mere fuzz on the sides and a short, spiky top. When the barber finished, he showed Aishwarya her new look. She looked like a different person, almost unrecognizable. Her mother rubbed her head, saying, “This will keep you cool for the summer, sweetheart.” Aishwarya was devastated, but her mother assured her it would grow back quickly. The next day at school, Ananya’s teachers were shocked to see her with such a short haircut. Some even commented positively, saying it would help her concentrate better. Despite the initial shock and tears, both sisters adapted to their new looks over time. Ananya focused on her studies, and Aishwarya eventually came to terms with her short hair, finding it easier to manage in the scorching summer heat. Their mother had successfully implemented her strict measures, hoping it would yield better results in their academic performance and daily routines.