Akshai
My name is Akshai, a 21-year-old Tamil boy who has always been very fond of headshave—mottai. The love for mottai started long ago, during a simple school haircut. While the barber trimmed near my ear, the cool air touched a small exposed patch of skin, and that tiny sensation gave me a strange thrill. From that day, a secret thought stayed in my heart: “One day… full mottai.” I didn’t tell anyone, but deep inside I kept wondering when I would get the chance.
Then during February. A festival was going to happen in our family temple. One evening, my mom casually said,
“Festival-ku venduthal irukku. Nee mottai panna pora.”
(There’s a vow for the festival. You will shave your head.)
I controlled my face and said, “Okay maa,” like it was nothing.
But inside, I was exploding with happiness.
For an entire week, I couldn’t sleep properly. Every night I only imagined the razor sound, the feel of bald scalp, the cool breeze. The thought never left my mind.
Finally, the festival day arrived.
We started from home around 7:00 AM and reached the temple by 9:00 AM. The moment I entered, I saw so many freshly shaved heads—men, women, children—all glowing in the morning sun. That sight tempted me so much. I thought, “In some time… this will be me too.”
We went near the shaving tent. It was overcrowded, so my family and I waited outside. Suddenly, a barber came out, looked directly at me, and asked:
Barber: “Thambi, mottaiya?”
(Brother, headshave?)
Immediately I said,
“Aaama anna.”
(Yes, brother.)
He smiled and said,
“Ulla romba crowd irukku… nee mattum inga va. Naan pannidren.”
(It’s too crowded inside… you alone come. I’ll shave for you.)
I felt special, like he chose me out of everyone.
I followed him into a smaller space. He told me to remove my shirt so it wouldn’t get wet. Standing shirtless among strangers already made me feel shy.
Before he began, I quietly said,
“Anna… paathu pannunga… mandaila kodu potradhinga.”
(Please be careful… don’t cut my head.)
He smiled reassuringly.
“Thambi… nalla clean-aa panni vidren. Bayapadadha.”
(I’ll shave you cleanly. Don’t worry.)
He poured cold water on my head—so much that it dripped onto my shoulders. He massaged my scalp and took complete control of my head. Then he opened a new blade, placed it inside the razor, and asked me to bend.
Barber: “Konjam bend aagunga thambi.”
(Bend a little, brother.)
I bent forward.
He placed his hand firmly on my crown, positioned the razor, and then came the moment I had dreamed about for years.
SCHRKK… SCHRKK — The First Stroke
The razor scraped across my scalp.
A big bundle of hair slid into my lap.
My whole body tingled.
The barber chuckled as he shaved slowly and perfectly.
“Feel varudha thambi?”
(Feeling nice?)
I nodded shyly.
He continued shaving the front.
But suddenly his phone rang.
While he talked, I gently touched the freshly shaved patch.
The smoothness gave me instant chills.
He laughed,
“Touch panna innum feel aagum… aana nikkadha!”
(If you touch, you’ll feel even more… but don’t move!)
I froze immediately, feeling shy and caught.
He shaved my sides and said,
“Thambi, konjam turn aaganu.”
(Turn a bit.)
But right behind me was a line full of people.
I hesitated, feeling embarrassed.
Still, I turned slowly.
My half-shaved coconut head was fully visible to everyone.
A couple of people in the line smiled.
My face turned red with shyness.
The barber said softly,
“Shy aagatha thambi… mottai unga face-ku romba suit aaguthu.”
(Don’t be shy… this shave suits your face beautifully.)
That one line boosted my confidence.
He then bent my head down and shaved the back—
SCHRKK SCHRKK SCHRKK
Hair falling everywhere.
Then he poured water again and gave a super-clean finishing shave.
My head felt like glass… smooth and shining.
He tapped my shoulder proudly:
“Achu thambi… super smooth.”
(Done, brother. Super smooth.)
I smiled and said,
“Anna… romba nalla pannirkeenga… thanks.”
(You did it really well… thank you.)
The Family Teasing Begins
The moment I stepped outside, my sister saw me and screamed:
“DAIII! Mottai molu molu-nu irukku!”
(Your head is shining like a bulb!)
My cousin added,
“Ball maari irukka da!”
(Looks like a cricket ball!)
Another one said,
“Solar panel polish panni vachirkiye pola!”
(Looks like you polished a solar panel!)
One cousin tapped my scalp and said,
“Moluuuu… smooth-aa irukku!”
(Sooo smooth!)
I covered my head with my hands, shy but laughing inside.
The Open Bath
I went to the men’s open bathing area.
As I poured cold water on my fresh mottai, a strong chill hit me—it felt heavenly.
Some men around me kept looking at my shiny clean head.
That made me even more shy.
After the bath, a temple volunteer applied thick sandal paste on my mottai.
The coolness was unbelievable.
Then we went to temple for darshan…
The Ride Back Home
During the ride home, the teasing didn’t stop.
“Close the window! Akshai’s mottai reflection will blind people!”
“Oi bulb, sit inside properly!”
“Ball rolling in the back seat!”
But I sat there touching my smooth head again and again, smiling to myself.
Because for me, this wasn’t just a ritual.
This was a long-held wish finally fulfilled.
A day full of excitement, shyness, teasing, and pure happiness.
A day I will remember forever.
