Woman’s day Cut: sister comes to barber’s

21 year old Shweta stormed into the barbershop right opposite to their home. Her midback length hair was all disheveled, and she didn’t even changed her dress but came wearing the same Salwar she was wearing at her home.

Observing that there is a large queue of three customer which included her brother she took a seat in waiting area. She actually become center of attention, as she brought all her hair in front to sit comfortably, but she didn’t heeded any attention. Her hair was jet black, and thick.

She relaxed a bit and started watching the barbers doing their job buzzing their customer. Her eyes then moved to her brother, younger by three years, also ahead in queue destined to get a similar haircut. She closed her eyes.

When the day started, she never thought she would be visiting a barbershop at noon, actually she never thought of visiting it again after she started visit parlor at 16. But the day was different. It all started when she told about having a girl’s day out to celebrated woman’s day. Her mother supported her on condition that she would trim her hair at least 2 inches to which Shweta agreed.

Everything was fine, till her brother too ordered to buzz his hair. He resisted at first then accepted it, but he just said one word to Shweta which hurt her, “thanks di, you get a trim, I get the buzz” accusing her for his misery.

She didn’t said anything, but he continued, “Stupid woman’s day, you all ladies shout for equality and everything but you go to parlor when it comes to …you are only interested in…”

Shweta tried to control it, “hey…sorry, I didn’t knew mom would tell you to get haircut…and barbers don’t do woman hair so don’t tell me your rubbish…”

Her brother raged out of the house saying, “you actually never tried in barbershop, if they don’t cut your hair why don’t you demand equal rights to barbershop if it is not there?”

Few minutes later, she is sitting beside her brother in barbershop waiting for a haircut.

The service at shop was really fast. She didn’t noticed when her brother took seat in barber’s chair and was half done.

The other barber was finished and she was called.

She slowly walked to the barber’s chair took seat in the barber’s chair, too big for her stature.

The barber a middle aged man, gently collected all her hair raised it up as he draped a white cloth cape. He then loosened his grip letting the hair fall. Then taking a comb, he asked, “what to do madam?”

Shweta replied, “Umm…I want the same haircut as he is” pointing to her brother.

The barber was confused, “you sure madam? He is getting a summer cut…its very short you know. It will look bad with woman”

Shweta replied, “yeah I am absolutely sure…do you believe I am a woman only because of my hair?”

Barber stammered, “no…but, woman have long hair, its general…”

Shweta said, “If men can have buzzed head, so can I”

The barber didn’t argued more. He took a scissor and combed her hair one last time.

Then placing the scissor at her neck, he gently bent her head forward. Kaachchchch…chchchch...chch her locks started sliding off to floor through her cape. He continued cutting till her mane was cut off. Shweta felt all, the metal blades and then the lightness of her head.

Shweta moved her head up, her hair was now just neck length. She tried to touch it, but couldn’t as her hands were inside the cape.

The barber then took a clipper and plugged it. He removed the guard and then took comb. He spread her hair all around her head, giving her a look of having a bob hair. Then with scissor started snipping long locks of her hair. He would collect her hair with fist and chop it.

He hold the large chunk of hair from front and pulled it. Her head moved backward. Then kaachchchch...chchch…chchch. Shweta closed her eyes as hair fell to her lap. Some getting stick to her face.

He then kept the scissor and picked up the clipper. He touched it at front slowly running it toward her center of head. Hair rained to her lap. He shifted the clipper and did same again.

Then he moved towards right side, and buzzed her right. He did the same with left. Shweta could feel cool air in her head now. Her head now appear greyish instead of black. The floor was getting covered more and more as the clipper passed.

Only hair at her back were left. Bending her head forward he raided her back hair. The last remaining hair was clipped off. The barber then took scissor and started making hairline at her back and sides.

Then he sprayed water at her nape and sides and took out a razor. Placing the razor on her back he warned her not to move. Schchch...chchchch. Shweta had a little painful yet exciting feeling. Schchc…ch she felt it again. After her back was done. Barber did her sides too.

 

After barber finished with razor, she raised her head to see herself. She couldn’t recognize herself. The voluminous hair of her was gone. Her head appeared much smaller. She checked the chair beside her to see her brother. But a man of 40s was sitting there.

The barber gently opened the cape after dusting her with a cloth. He singled her to remain seated as he again picked up the razor. He gently pushed her forward touching her back he pushed her then cleared little hair growth on her back which was exposed from Salwar.

Shweta felt little ashamed but didn’t resisted. She then got up from the chair and started touching her shaved area.

Her brother paid for both the haircut and they left the shop together.

She touched her head and then her brother’s and said, “men and women are equal”