Bhavana Akka gundu

Bhavana was a kind-hearted college student who spent her evenings teaching underprivileged children in her neighborhood. She wasn’t just their teacher; she was their akka, their friend, their guide. She often encouraged them with little challenges, never expecting them to take things too seriously. One day, while trying to motivate them for their exams, she casually said, “If you all pass, I will shave my head!” She laughed as she said it, thinking it was just a fun way to push them to study harder. The children, however, took her words to heart. They studied with full dedication, and for the first time, every single one of them passed. The day the results came, they rushed to Bhavana’s small rented house, cheering and clapping. “Akka, you promised!” one of the younger kids shouted. Bhavana smiled at their excitement but quickly realized what they were referring to. “Ayyo, that was just a joke, babu! Who takes these things seriously?” she said, waving her hands dismissively. But the children weren’t ready to let her go that easily. “You always tell us to keep our word, akka,” another girl reminded her, folding her hands dramatically. Before Bhavana could protest further, they gently pulled her by the hand and led her outside, their innocent smiles making it impossible for her to refuse outright. They walked through the narrow lanes of their small Andhra town, past fruit vendors calling out prices and auto drivers honking impatiently. Bhavana kept insisting, “We can talk about this, okay? There’s no need for all this!” But the children giggled and shook their heads, determined to hold her to her promise. They finally stopped at a small, old-fashioned barber shop. The shop smelled of sandalwood powder and fresh coconut oil, and an elderly barber sat inside, casually reading a newspaper. He looked up as the group entered, his thick glasses sliding down his nose. “Madam needs a gundu,” one of the kids declared proudly. The barber looked at Bhavana, then back at the children. “Arey, she really wants a bodi gundu?” he asked, adjusting his glasses. The kids nodded excitedly, while Bhavana stood frozen, still trying to process everything. May be an image of 5 people and child Before she could form a proper protest, they guided her to a small wooden platform. The barber, now convinced, motioned for her to sit down cross-legged, just like in traditional temple head shaves. “Ayyoo, wait! I didn’t agree to this!” Bhavana exclaimed, but the barber had already started preparing. He poured cold water over her head, making her shiver, and before she could react, he tilted her head forward and made the first stroke with the straight razor. Bhavana gasped, feeling the cool breeze against her freshly shaved patch of scalp. She opened her mouth to say something, but the sensation was so unfamiliar that no words came out. The razor scraped against her skin smoothly, and with each stroke, thick locks of her black hair fell onto her lap. The children watched in fascination, some recording videos on their small phones, others clapping in excitement. “Akka, you look like one of those panthulus in the temple,” one of them giggled. Another one jokingly asked, “Shall we put a naama on her head after this?” Bhavana remained in stunned silence as the barber continued, his hands moving with practiced ease. The wet cloth wiped away tiny leftover hairs, and within minutes, her scalp was completely smooth. She finally lifted her hand to touch her bald head, and the reality of what had just happened sank in. The barber stepped back, nodding approvingly. “Now you look fresh, madam,” he said with a smile. The children cheered loudly, celebrating their victory, while Bhavana stared at her reflection in the old mirror. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Bhavana rushed back home, covering her smooth head with her dupatta, but as soon as she stepped inside, her mother gasped in shock. “Ayyoo, what have you done to yourself?” her mother scolded, while her father shook his head in disappointment. “This is why you shouldn’t make such silly promises!” he warned. Her younger brother burst into laughter but quickly stopped when their mother glared at him. Bhavana, still processing everything, simply nodded, realizing there was no use arguing. The next day, she resumed her tuition classes as usual, now teaching with a completely bald head, while the children grinned mischievously, still proud of their work.