THE HAIRCUT

Never ever take anything for granted, unless you have the guts to live through a different outcome. That’s it. Even a haircut. Wait did I just say…even? Sorry. Especially a haircut is more appropriate.

As usual I breezed into my hairdresser’s salon, expecting her to be there, waiting to transform shaggy me into ever-so-smart me. But she was away, on a long vacation. There are very few hairdressers who are good at cutting hair in the style that I sport. I asked the parlour staff, and most took a step back, eagerly volunteering to cut my husband’s vestigeal strands.

One boy, stood with arms folded, saying that he would do it, looking steadfastly into my eyes. Amazed at his confidence, I took the chair, condescending saying….just a trim will do.

And the snipping began. Normally I am so relaxed with a haircut, more than I am with shavasan also. But then the racing of the thoughts began….

It is said that one has about forty thousand thoughts in a day. And I exhausted that quota during THE CUT.

What a smart boy, so confident…

Good. One more special person in my life.

Anyway what’s the big deal? It is only a haircut.

This long for a trim? He is still at the nape of my neck.

Listening to waves is relaxing. Snip snip snip is not.

What if the style is not right?

Stop thinking. Hair grows. Even in a dead body. No you fool, that is only the skin contracting making the already grown but hidden hair prominent.

About time to open your eyes Sarojini. Do it now!

I did and looked at the floor like a demure bride. Soooooo much hair, and all around my chair!

They need not be yours, idiot, the cleaning lady is sweeping all the greys.

Greys? Who else is int he parlour, that too with greys.

No one. Just me. My husband has a few of his few hairs grey, and he was beginning to look human, in the reflection.

Conclusion….all that was my hair, and this was no trim.

Okay. Let it go. You can sport a full botch better than a partial one.

What has Ramakrishna Paramahansa said about thoughts….watch them, let them go…do not chase them.

But they are not your thoughts at all, they are from the Universal thought bank.

Why would the Universe have thoughts about my haircut?

Shut up.

Did I miss some beats? Is my left bundle branch block acting up?

What is the rate of hair growth? What use is there in knowing the speed of light and sound ?

I should have taken an extra tablet for my blood pressure. My sugar will spike with this stress.

This too shall pass….chin up!

“Madam please lower your head”

You should not stifle a sneeze, except during a haircut.

Should I have asked for general anaesthesia? Maybe next time.

Snip snip snip……buzz buzz…..

“Madam please check”

A mirror was being held at my occiput. That, the frontal and temporal regions were looking ….GOOD!

The outcome of the fallout was excellent!

I thanked the kiddo and complimented the beaming boy and touched terra firma again.

I left the parlour, wondering if the boy was good at liposuction as well!