Legendary Head Shave Tales
It was a usual hot afternoon in Guntur, with dusty roads and the smell of fresh mirchi bajji floating in the air. Krishna, a young man from the nearby village, wandered into town wearing his faded jeans, a checked towel around his neck, and that usual carefree smile. Though jobless, Krishna had an energy that made people remember him. He’d help neighbors, repair things for free, and even make jokes in the toughest times. But there was one thing Krishna had which was his strange obsession for bald-headed women.
In his heart, he had dreamed of his future wife to be bald too. His close friends laughed off such dreams. Krishna didn’t care. One day, while roaming near the old bus stand, his eyes caught someone. She was behind the counter at Gobi Chats, serving food with a clean-shaven head covered with small kerchief, her sharp eyes focused, lips pressed into a slight frown. Krishna stopped walking. He just stood there, staring. Her name was Riya. She wasn’t from Guntur originally, but she had been here a few months now, helping her aunt in the shop.
Her attitude was straight—speak less, smile less, work more. But her kindness was quiet and visible in how she helped old people sit, gave free food to a hungry child, or packed a little extra for tired workers. Krishna started coming to Gobi Chats every other day. Even though there were better stalls near his street. Riya noticed. At first, she thought he was just another jobless guy with time to kill. But he never tried to flirt, never cracked silly jokes, never acted over-smart.
He would just order the same Gobi Chat, sit silently, and leave with a soft thank you. Over days, Riya began to expect him daily. One day, she decided to test him. She told her friend, who was working with her, “Vadiki cheppu… I won’t be today. Let’s see if he still comes.” Her friend nodded. When Krishna arrived and didn’t see Riya, he looked confused. “Riya garu ledu?” he asked. “Ledu bro… she not feeling well,” her friend replied. Krishna paused, looked at the empty spot behind the counter, smiled softly, turned around and left.
Didn’t even order anything. That night, Riya couldn’t sleep well. She kept thinking about Him. He came for me. Not for food… not for timepass… not even for my looks. I’ve shaved my head, and he still came. It was a usual busy morning near the Gobi chat shop. Riya was managing the counter as always, bald head shining in the sun. Suddenly, one customer came in, big guy with angry eyes. He started scolding her loudly, “Eyy! What kind of attitude is this, dont know how to serve gundu moham daana ?”
Riya didn’t say much, just gave a cold look and handled the order calmly. The man left cursing. Later, Krishna was walking down the lane near the shop when the same guy was there, talking loudly on his phone, looking careless. Krishna stopped and walked up to him calmly. Without warning Krishna slapped the guy hard across his face and trashed him badly on the road. Riya saw everything from the shop corner, her eyes wide open. She knew Krishna didn’t really make a mistake. Next day as Krishna walked into the Gobi chat shop, but didn’t see Riya.
He waited for a few minutes, as two of Riya’s friends came by, asking for some Gobi. Krishna shook his head, forced a small smile and turned to leave. As he passed the shop’s entrance, he caught sight of Riya stepping out behind him. “Hey,” she called casually, adjusting the kerchief on her bald head. “Ela unnav, Krishna?” He was surprised but didn’t show it. “Baane unna. What about you?” She nodded, walking beside him and began asking, “Why didn’t you eat anything? You come daily for that Gobi, kadha?”
Krishna smiled slightly. “Aa… food won’t taste nice without seeing the chef, and today, she disappeared.” Riya gave him a side look, then smirked. “So, you come there just to see me ah?” Krishna didn’t hesitate. “Maybe. And also because your Gobi is actually the best. But mainly neekosame… ninnu chuste oka vibe untadi.” He looked ahead, not meeting her eyes. Riya was silent for a second and adjusted her kerchief again with shyness . Krishna noticed and gently said,
“You don’t have to hide it, Riya. Meeru head shave chesaru ante, adi weakness kaadhu. Confidence untadi kada? Though you have shaved your head you still are looking beautiful.” She looked at him and rolled her eyes a bit. “Flirt chestunnava?” He stopped walking and turned to her. “Nijam cheptunna. I like it. I don’t know why… Not everyone can carry it. But you wear it like a crown.” Riya blushed slightly but kept a straight face. “Hmm. Most people laugh, or enquire if health issues.”
“Naaku avanni matter kaadhu, People see the head. I see the heart.” She walked beside him, quiet for a while, then asked softly, “You always like this? Speaking like this to everyone?” “Only to the ones I feel close to, you know in Guntur from childrens to elders everyone like me. Nenu comedy chestha, help chestha… mad fellow la untanu. But my heart is clean.” As they reached the market, vendors waved at Krishna. Riya was observing all this. She saw the way people smiled at him, respected him, and how effortlessly he moved with the crowd.
“So… you’re a celebrity here?” “Celebrity kadhu, Just… friendly neighborhood Krishna.” They walked through the vegetable stalls, chatting lightly.“So… your family?” she asked. “Single mother. Amma tho untanu. I have other big plans than 9 to 5 jobs.” “Hmm, You’re Crazy… but good Crazy.” Krishna asked “Do you like cooking?” “Hmm… sometimes. But I mostly run the shop. Fast life so I can help,” he said casually. “Gobi taste cheptanu. Sample taster avutha.” She chuckled. “You’ll become permanent customer like that.”
“Customer kaadhu, as a Permanent partner.” Krishna replied. Riya looked at him, eyes searching his face. Krishna didn’t look away. The moment passed in silence, just the sounds of the market around them. Their pace slowed, the air shifted. Something had started building between them, natural and warm. From one-sided attraction to mutual spark, the journey had already begun. As the evening sun slowly dipped, Krishna and Riya sat together on the canal bridge edge, both tired from walking but hearts full.
Riya, with her clean-shaven head now proudly uncovered, leaned a bit on Krishna’s shoulder. After a small pause, she turned to him and softly said, “Oye Krishna… I’m accepting your proposal, okay na ? From now on, I’m your pendlam… and I’ll be a little strict also so better listen.” Krishna gave a playful nod, grinning, “Yes Riya garu… from now, I’ll be your full-time husband and part-time boyfried.” She blushed and asked in a half-serious tone, “But you promise me something first.”
He looked at her with curious eyes, “Em cheppali?” She raised her eyebrows, “No more staring at gundu women, understand?” Krishna chuckled, “Eh enti, when you are with me, bald and beautiful, I don’t need to look at any other woman… neeku lifetime gundu ok na” Riya gave a small smile, pretending to be angry, “So if I grow my hair, you’ll start roaming your eyes around again?” Krishna shook his head quickly, “Aiyo! Don’t worry fo that every Sunday we’ll do full gundu party, private ga bedroom lo?”
Riya laughed, “Yem mental fellow ra nuvvu,” and pulled him into a tight hug. The wind passed gently through the fields around them, and for a moment, it felt like everything — the breeze, the birds, the entire village — paused to witness their quiet little world filled with laughter, love, and the soft glow of an odd but perfectly matched pair.
