Legendary Head Shave Tales
The rain had almost stopped, leaving only small drops falling from the tin roof of the roadside daba. The air was cool, the sky covered in soft grey clouds. Prerana sat on a wooden bench outside the daba, slowly finishing her lunch. Her long hair was slightly wet, and her dress stuck to her back. She looked up at the foggy hills, calm and relaxed. When she got up and walked to the road, the bus was gone.
Her bag had gone with it. For a second, she just stood there, then smiled. “Abba… it left,” she said, as if missing the bus was no big deal. Just then, a boy came around from the back side of the daba. He was tall, wearing a sweatshirt and holding a cigarette. His walk was slow, and he looked surprised when he noticed the empty space where the bus had been. Without saying anything, he walked to the small bus stop nearby and sat on the cement bench.
Prerana walked over and sat next to him, leaving a little space between them. Both were quiet for a moment, only the sound of water dripping from the roof filling the silence. “You missed it too?” Gani asked, looking ahead. “Hmm,” Prerana replied, brushing her hair back. “Was finishing lunch. I guess it got tired of waiting.” He gave a small smile. “I stepped away for a smoke. Bad timing.” “Looks like we were meant to be left behind,”
she said, looking at him with a playful smile. He nodded. “Maybe.” A few more seconds passed. “naa peru Prerana,” she said.“Gani”, he replied. “You’re from Hyderabad?” she asked. “Yes. You too?” She nodded. “I study MBBS. Final year. Going back after holidays.” “I work there. I write sometimes… not seriously.” “You don’t talk much,” Prerana said. “You talk enough for both of us.” She laughed softly. “Avnu. I’ve always been like that.”
After a few minutes, Prerana pointed down the road. “I think there’s a small village ahead. Maybe two or three kilometers anthe… we can walk.” Gani looked at the road, then at her. “You sure?” She stood up and stretched her arms. “Why not? It’s not raining anymore. And I like walking.” He smiled. “Sare . Let’s go.” They started walking slowly down the wet road, mist still floating over the trees. As they walked along the quiet road.
Gani glanced at her, sensing something different in her silence. She wasn’t usually quiet for this long. “You okay?” he asked softly. She nodded, then looked at him with a smile that had a spark of mischief in it. “Gani… do you think I’m mad if I say I feel like doing something crazy today?” He raised an eyebrow. “crazy ante yela?” She looked ahead, then back at him.
“Like… shaving my head. Bald. Just like that.” Gani stopped walking for a second, unsure if she was joking. “I don’t know… it just hit me. I’ve always wanted to try something wild. Something that makes me feel free.” He caught up to her, his voice low but steady. “And now, walking with a guy you met an hour ago, in a forgotten village road… this is the moment?” She smiled again. “Exactly. Maybe this is the right time. Maybe you’re the right company.”
Gani didn’t laugh. He didn’t stop her either. He just looked at her for a second longer and said, “Then let’s find a place that has a mirror and a chair.” The village was quiet, wrapped in mist and the sound of light rain returning. Gani said pointing to a tiny structure at the corner — an old barbershop with a rusted tin roof and a old plastic chair insid. “Looks like that place is open,” he said. Prerana looked at it with excitement and smiled at Gani.
They stepped inside. The barberquickly got up from his stool. “For him?” he asked, pointing to Gani. Prerana stepped forward, her damp hair falling over her shoulders. “No uncle, for me.” The barber blinked twice. “Meeku? Gundu aa?” “Ha full clean gundu,” she said, climbing into the chair as if she did this every weekend. Gani leaned against the wall quietly smiling. The barber hesitated, then took his scissors and began snipping.
Hair fell fast, uneven chunks landing on her lap and the floor. Long locks slid down her shoulders. Prerana watched her reflection without flinching, eyes bright. “I always wondered how it would feel, Now I know. Chaala light gaa undi gani… like throwing off something heavy.” She said with relief. Gani smiled. “You are really brave.” The scissors stopped. Only short, rough strands were left on her scalp.
The barber looked at Gani for a second, unsure. Gani stepped forward, “Uncle, foam veyandi. Shave properly. Smooth ga.” The old man nodded and gently applied the white foam over her head. The mirror fogged a little from the rain outside. He picked up the straight razor and began shaving slowly, carefully. The blade slid over her head with soft scraping sounds. Prerana closed her eyes. “You’re still watching?” she asked softly. “Hmm,” Gani replied.
“I don’t look scary?” “No,” he said. “You look… like an angel now bald angel.” She smiled, breathing deeply. “I think I needed this. Not just for fun… for myself.” Gani stepped closer and gently brushed away a few fallen hairs from her cheek. “You’ll always be beautiful. But this… this is something else.” As the last stroke of the razor finished its path, the barber wiped her head clean. Prerana opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror.
Then she turned to Gani, her voice playful again. “So… inka nannu love chesthunnava?” He didn’t answer right away. Just looked at her, then nodded slowly. “More than ever.” Outside, the rain had finally stopped as they stepped out of the barbershop. They caught a small local jeep that dropped them at the highway, just in time for the next bus heading to Hyderabad. Prerana took the window seat, rubbing her smooth scalp smiling to herself.
Gani sat next to her, watching her with quiet amusement. After a few minutes of silence, she turned to him with a sudden burst of energy. “Okay, ippudu rapid fire?” Gani raised an eyebrow. “Now?” “Yes, now. No skipping. Straight answers.” He chuckled. “sare adugu.” “Would you marry a Gundu women?” Gani didn’t hesitate. “If it’s you? In a heartbeat.” She blinked, caught off guard for a second. Then smiled and continued.
“What kind of wife do you imagine?” “Someone mad,” he said. “Kind-hearted. Doesn’t follow the crowd. Talks a lot, but only when she means it.” Prerana leaned back, smirking. “Sounds familiar kada.” Gani nodded. “Exactly.” “Okay next… Do you like girls who try bold things without asking?” “I love it,” he said, looking at her directly. “Guts undali ala cheyyali ante.” She stared at him for a second longer, then looked away, hiding a smile.
“What if your wife wanted to shave her head once every year just for fun?” He shrugged, still calm. “Then I’ll be the one booking her barber appointment.” Prerana let out a laugh, her fingers brushing over her scalp again. The bus rolled into Hyderabad, as people slowly moved toward the exit. As they stepped off the bus, Gani adjusted his bag over his shoulder, when Prerana asked. “Gani… wait here for just 20 minutes. Don’t ask why, okay?”
she said, already walking backward, that same mischief dancing in her eyes. “Where are you going now, Prerana?” “Friend’s place. Tattoo shop. Very near. I’ll be back. Promise.” He blinked. “Tattoo? Ayyo, nuvvu serious aa?” She grinned, waved, and disappeared into a lane before he could say another word. Twenty minutes felt longer than the entire bus journey. Gani stood with a strange mix of worry and excitement growing in his chest so he began to smoke.
Finally, she came walking back, her steps light and her face glowing. She stood in front of him, holding his hand. “Ready for your surprise?” she asked. “ippudu yenti?” She turned around, lifted her kurta slightly from the back, just enough to reveal the fresh ink below her neck. In neat, stylish letters, it read: Love You Gani with 2 small red heart beside it. Gani’s eyes widened. He didn’t speak for a few seconds. Then he smiled — wide, stunned, full of awe.
“Are you mad or what?” he said softly, stepping closer. “Prerana… this is… this is guts.” She turned to him, her voice gentle. “I am mad about you. I’ve known you for less than a day, but Gani you feel like home. You didn’t laugh when I said I’d get gundu. You didn’t stop me. You saw me, just as I am crazy, loud, full of weird ideas and you smiled.” She added “Ee tattoo… it’s not to impress you. It’s because I don’t want to forget this feeling. Ever.”
Gani didn’t say anything at first. He just pulled her into a quiet hug, resting his forehead lightly on her freshly shaved head. “Naaku evvaru intha real ga cheppaledu,” he whispered. As they walked hand in hand through the buzzing streets of Hyderabad, Prerana gently tugged Gani’s arm and looked up at him. “Yevandi… one final thing. No more cigarettes. Seriously. This girl needs you alive and healthy for at least the next 60 years. Minimum. ”
Gani smiled and slowly pulled out the cigarette packet from his pocket. He looked at it for a moment, then crushed it and tossed it into the nearby bin. “Aithe, done. For you, Chinnu… no smoking. Ever again.” She watched him for a second, a quiet smile spreading across her face. “First time someone called me that… and I actually liked it.” Prerana was waiting near the tea stall. She looked at him with quiet pride, and he gave her a small nod and said
“Chinnu, shall we talk marriage, seriously?” Prerana leaned her fresh shaved scalp head on his shoulder, “Let’s not wait too long, yevandi. I don’t want a grand wedding. Just our people, some flowers, and you standing there waiting for me.” He smiled. “And you walk in like an angel” Prerana slowly ran her fingers over her clean scalp again, still smiling to herself. Gani smiled watching her and asked.
“Chinnu… how did it feel? I mean was this your first time?” She looked at him, thoughtful. “Not my first time technically. Amma got it done when I was six. Total gundu. And during board exams just a short boycut dye to exam stress, But this… this was different.” He tilted his head. “Different how?” She smiled lightly and added, “And maybe because you were there… it didn’t feel like I was losing anything. It felt like I was getting lighter.”
Gani nodded slowly, sipping his coffee. “Will you do it again?” She gave a small laugh. “Not every month, le. But maybe once a year. Just to remind myself… I don’t need anything to feel beautiful. And also…” she looked at him carefully, “…if you’re okay with it.” He smiled, holding her gaze. “If this is you… then I love every version. Hair or no hair. And if you ever need help with the shave… I’ll be there.”
Prerana took another slow sip, then glanced at him. “Yevandi… where are we going for honeymoon?” Gani turned to her, smiling. “Ooty again?” She made a face. “Not again. This time I want peace. Somewhere we don’t know anyone.” “Okay… cold weather or beach?” “Cold,” she said, rubbing her hand lightly over her head. “That way I can shave again just before we leave. Smooth ga untundi honemoon crazy night ki.” He chuckled.
