Mom's
#Surprise #what if #Time for the Change
Prajakta lived in Delhi with her younger brother, Yash. She was a determined, hard-working woman making strides in her career, but there was something about her life that irked her. Despite her professional achievements, she often felt like people reduced her identity to her waist-length hair.
That morning at work had been the tipping point. Her colleagues were buzzing about something, exchanging compliments as they walked into the office. Prajakta overheard a friend say, *“Prajakta, you’re always so polished. But you know, the one thing everyone admires is your hair. It’s stunning!”
Prajakta froze, her smile tightening. After years of accolades, why was it always her hair that people praised? Maya, her closest colleague, chuckled. *“Honestly, if you didn’t have that, what would make you stand out?”*
Prajakta clenched her jaw. “What do you mean by that, Maya? I have more skills and talent than just… hair!” she snapped.
Maya shrugged, clearly not expecting such a sharp reaction. “Of course! But you know how people are. It’s just a fact—your hair is iconic.”
Prajakta spent the rest of the day fuming. Her talent, her intelligence, her hard work—none of it mattered. People only seemed to notice her looks. By the time she reached home, she had made a decision.
The Bold Decision
“Yash!” Prajakta called as she slammed the door.
Yash, lounging on the couch, looked up lazily. “What’s up, Di? You seem mad.”
“I’m cutting my hair,” she announced firmly.
Yash sat up, stunned. “Wait, what? Are you serious? Mom and Dad would flip! You know how they are about short hair. They don’t even let me keep mine longer than a buzz cut!”
“I don’t care, Yash. This is for me,” she said, her voice resolute.
“But Di, it’s *your* hair,” he said, gesturing dramatically. “They’ve always been so proud of it! You know how strict they are. If they find out—”
“They’re at the village right now, Yash,” she interrupted. “They can’t stop me. And it’s just hair—it’ll grow back.”
Yash sighed, running a hand through his own short hair. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Waist-Length to Layers
Prajakta sat on a stool in front of her mirror, her long hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Yash hesitated behind her, holding the scissors with an unsure grip.
“You’re really sure about this?” he asked one last time.
“Just do it, Yash,” she said, her voice trembling slightly but filled with determination.
Yash took a deep breath and gathered her hair into a thick section. With a hesitant snip, he cut the first chunk, reducing her waist-length locks to layered hair just above her mid-back. The hair fell to the floor in heavy, glossy strands.
Prajakta stared at the hair on the ground, her chest tightening. The mirror reflected her now shorter hair, but it still felt long enough to be recognizable. Tears welled up in her eyes as the reality of her decision hit her.
“Di…” Yash noticed her expression. “You don’t have to do this. We can stop here.”
Prajakta wiped her eyes quickly, forcing a smile. “No, Yash. Keep going. I need this.”
Layers to Shoulder-Length
“Alright,” Yash said, his voice laced with hesitation. “This will be easier to maintain, and it still looks good. Why not stop here after this?”
“Not enough,” Prajakta said firmly. “Take it to my shoulders.”
Yash combed through her now shorter hair, dividing it into sections. With precise cuts, he trimmed her hair to shoulder length. As the weight lifted from her head, Prajakta touched her hair, feeling a mixture of loss and freedom.
“I think it’s nice,” Yash said, stepping back to admire his work. “It suits you.”
Prajakta shook her head, her fingers running through the new length. “This is still too boring. Let’s go shorter.”
“Di, you’re pushing it,” Yash muttered.
“I’m serious,” she said. “Let’s try a long bob.”
Long Bob
Yash groaned, picking up the scissors again. “Fine. But I swear this is the last step.”
He carefully trimmed her hair into a sleek long bob, the ends framing her face perfectly.
The transformation was striking, and even Yash had to admit it suited her.
“See? Now this is a real change,” Yash said, crossing his arms.
Prajakta touched her hair, tilting her head to study her reflection. She liked it, but something still felt incomplete. “It’s better,” she admitted, “but not there yet.”
Yash threw up his hands. “What now?”
“Bangs,” she said, a small smile forming.
“Bangs? You’re really committed to this, aren’t you?”
Adding Bangs
“Let’s get this over with,” Yash grumbled, pulling a comb through the front section of her hair.
He carefully cut her bangs, making sure they were even and neat. When he stepped back, Prajakta’s face lit up. The bangs softened her features, making her look younger and more vibrant.
“Wow,” Yash muttered. “You actually look… really good. If my friends saw you, they’d definitely flirt with you.”
Prajakta laughed, her earlier frustration melting away. “Thanks, Yash. But we’re not done yet.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Yash said, his voice dripping with exasperation.
The Pixie Cut
“I want a pixie cut,” Prajakta said, her tone unyielding.
“Di, this is a terrible idea. What about Mom and Dad? You know how strict they are about this stuff!”
“I’ll deal with them,” she said. “Just do it.”
Yash hesitated for a long moment but eventually picked up the scissors again. With each cut, her hair became shorter and shorter, until it was a neat pixie cut.
When he finished, Yash stepped back, shaking his head. “You look amazing, but you’re so dead when they see this.”
Prajakta touched her hair, smiling. “I love it. But wait—”
“No,” Yash interrupted. “Absolutely not.”
“I want to shave it,” she said, her voice steady.
“Di!” Yash exclaimed, clearly alarmed. “This is insane! They’re going to kill you!”
“They’re not here, Yash,” she said. “I need this. Please.”
The Shave
Reluctantly, Yash picked up the clippers. With each pass, her hair fell to the floor, leaving her scalp smooth and bare. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched the transformation in the mirror. Yash, too, seemed emotional, though he tried to hide it.
When it was done, Prajakta ran her hand over her smooth scalp, a wide smile breaking through her tears. “I’ve never felt this free,” she whispered.
“You look brave,” Yash said softly. “But good luck explaining this to Mom and Dad.”
The Next Day: A New Look at the Office
The next day, Prajakta entered her office with confidence, donning a black western outfit—a sleek crop top that accentuated her figure and tight jeans that fit her like a second skin. Her buzzed hair only highlighted the boldness of her look, and the tattoo on the back of her neck, now visible, seemed to shimmer in the light.
As she walked through the office, everyone stopped to stare. Her colleagues were shocked, murmuring about the dramatic change. Maya, her friend, was visibly rattled. She had always admired Prajakta’s beauty, but now she couldn’t ignore the attention Prajakta was getting from the men in the office. Every head turned as she passed.
“Wow, Prajakta, you look… different,” Maya said, though her voice carried a hint of jealousy.
The men were openly gawking at her, and it was clear they were smitten. Prajakta couldn’t help but feel a sense of power from all the attention. But Maya, who had always been the center of attention before, was quietly seething.
“Honestly, Maya,” Prajakta said, her eyes sparkling with a sense of pride, “I’ve always had more to offer than just my hair. But now? People see me for who I really am.”
Maya, trying to maintain composure, only nodded. But Prajakta noticed her growing irritation, particularly when her tattoo caught even more eyes due to the shaved style.
Facing the Family
Two weeks later, on a video call with her parents, Prajakta braced herself for their reaction. Her hair had grown into a soft buzz cut by then, but it was still far from the long locks they cherished.
“Prajakta!” her mother gasped. “What happened to your hair?”
Prajakta smiled, though her heart raced. “It got stuck in chewing gum, Ma. Yash had to cut it to save what he could. We kept cutting to fix the damage.”
Her father frowned, clearly unimpressed, but her mother sighed, shaking her head. “You and your careless habits…”
When the call ended, Prajakta and Yash burst into laughter.
“You’re something else, Di,” Yash said, shaking his head.
Prajakta grinned. “I know. And it feels amazing to finally be myself.”
