Legendary Head Shave Tales
It was just past midnight. Simran sat quietly in her room, the bruises on her face and the pain in her arm and heart racing. she reached out and pressed the small hidden switch. On the top floor of the building, Agasthya stood hiding in his friend’s room. Who worked in the electricity department, had done exactly what was planned. As he neared her locality and walked casually to the corner where the electric pole stood. One man asked, “Who are you?” Agasthya replied calmly, “Electrician ra bhayya.. light problem undi.”
He quickly climbed the pole and jumped over into Simran’s house compound. Simran stood up weakly. The moment she saw him, she ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. “You came, finally ” she whispered. Agasthya hugged her close, But just then she let out a muffled cry, grabbing her mouth in pain. Agasthya looked alarmed. “What happened?” “My arm… lagtha hei toot gaya,” she cried. Without wasting a moment, he helped her climb through the window and led her where his bike was parked in the next gully. They quietly escaped the area.
Riding fast but carefully, he took her directly to his home. His mother, Sunitha, opened the door looking confused. “Chinnoda… Who is this ammayi and intha midnight yenti?” Agasthya didn’t speak immediately. Simran stood behind him, tired and barefoot. “Amma, I’ll tell everything. But first help her.” Sunitha let them in, noticing simran’s hand which was hanging slightly. After hearing everything from Agasthya — the forced marriage, the threats, the dislocation… Sunitha’s face changed and sat beside Simran.
“ Simran… now you are like my daughter ma, don’t worry.” She gently held Simran’s arm. “It will hurt a bit, okay?” Simran nodded nervously. With a quick, practiced move, Sunitha located the dislocated bone and pushed it back. Simran screamed in pain but within seconds, the arm was stable again. “Now relax… nothing serious. You don’t need surgery.” She stroked Simran’s hair. Just then, Sunitha called Aryan. “Peddoda… listen carefully. We can’t stay here. We’re leaving tonight itself.” Aryan agreed instantly and asked them to go to Varanasi first.
Agasthya gave Simran his slippers as she had come barefoot, and led her to the bike again. Meanwhile, Sunitha packed a few essentials, locked the house, and left quietly. By the time it was just past midnight, they were all standing at the railway station, ready to leave everything behind. The train shook gently as it rolled through the early morning fog. Simran sat quietly near the window, her red scarf wrapped around her face. Sunitha noticed simran “Remove that scarf ma,” she said softly, “There’s no need to hide anymore ma.”
Sunitha asked gently, “What’s your full name, ma?” Simran hesitated for a second, “Simran khan” Sunitha nodded. “Oh Muslims a meeru,” Simran replied. “But I truly love Agasthya, aunty. I’ll live however you want me to.” Sunitha listened silently and placed her hand over Simran “I only care for my koduku’s happiness.… and now I trust you. Ha nannu aunty ani pilavaku call me as athamma” Simran smiled with relief, “Thank you, athamma.” As the train reached Varanasi by 10 AM, Without waiting.
They found a small house on rent, paid in advance by Aryan, and moved in. It was nothing fancy, but it was peaceful. Their new life had quietly begun. Meanwhile, at the Khan household had turned into chaos. Simran’s sudden disappearance sent shockwaves. Salman Khan’s anger peaked. “Find her! Every gali, every hotel, I want her back!” His men rushed out without question. Aishwarya Khan stood still, her hands shaking. “Agar woh mil jaye, just kill her, Humein aisi beti nahi chahiye.” They gathered Simran’s belongings.
Memories and dumped them into the fire pit in the backyard. Flames rose as if erasing her from their lives. For them, Simran had died that day. Not a single word of regret. Only silence and shame. After few days one morning, Sunitha brought up marriage topic and suggested them to marry with the blessings of Lord Shiva himself. She suggested they get married in front of Kashi Vishwanath, the most sacred place for them. While they were discussing it, Sunitha noticed Simran scratching her head again and again. With a concern she asked,
“What happened, ma?” Simran hesitated a bit but then softly said, “Kuch nahi… it’s just my baal… it’s too damaged.” She explained how her hair had was damaged due to years of wearing a hijab every day. She confessed that she never really liked it but was forced to follow it. Now that she had stepped out of that life, she wanted to let go of all her past — her hair, her identity, everything. She looked at Sunitha and said “Athamma… I want to get mundan, I saw so many women getting mundan at the ghats.
Meeku okay ante ne karwaungi ” Sunitha’s eyes filled with tears, and she hugged Simran tightly. Sunitha smiled and said, “We’ll do it after this pelli ma. I too will get gundu with you.” The wedding was held in a simple but beautiful way. Even Aryan came all the way from USA to attend, looking proud and emotional seeing his brother marry the girl he loved. After the wedding, One night, while sitting on the terrace Simran asked, “Athamma… can we do gundu tomorrow?” Sunitha smiled and said, “Yes, we’ll go together.” Agasthya thought of making fun,
“Wah, what a scene it’ll be — gundu wife and gundu amma!” Everyone laughed looking forward to the next day with happiness and a fresh start. The sun had just started rising when the three of them reached the ghats. Sunitha was the first to sit in front of the barber. She lowered her head. The barber loosened her long hair, wet it completely, and began shaving it using a straight razor. Each stroke was clean and calm, Simran watched with surprise and excitement. She had never seen anything like this.
She looked at Agasthya “This is so powerful… I feel something inside me changing.” Agasthya smiled softly, “This is not just a mundan… this is a new start.” Simran nodded, unable to take her eyes off Sunitha, as her last strands were removed. Then, it was Simran’s turn. She sat down slowly, feeling nervous. The barber poured water over her thick hair. As the first few strokes of the blade moved across her head, she couldn’t stop the tears. Her heart became heavy as memories from her past rushed in.
Agasthya held her hand, and whispered, “Let it all go… this is your swathantratha, your new Jeevan.” His voice gave her strength. Meanwhile, Sunitha quietly went to a nearby shop. She bought a fresh orange saree, a green blouse, glass bangles, jasmine flowers, a red bindi, and everything needed to welcome Simran into her new life. When the barber finished, Simran’s head was smooth and shining. Agasthya gently hugged her, wiping her tears. Sunitha returned, touched her bald head with love, “You look divine like ammoru thalli”
After the mundan, they all went to the temple for darshan. In front of Lord Shiva’s idol, Sunitha gently placed the gift items in Simran’s hands and said, “Ippudu nunchi, you are Samyuktha.” Simran looked up in surprise. Sunitha held her close and whispered, “You are my daughter… a Hindu girl.” just like that, Simran left her past and stepped into her new life as Samyuktha. Samyuktha’s new life begins with calm joy—she wakes up early, bathes, and oils her gundu with care. Draping her saree, she wakes Agasthya with a loving touch and they share a playful romantic moments.
After that, she joins Sunitha in the kitchen to prepare breakfast, and the two bond over stories of gundu, movies, and womanhood. Afternoons are relaxed—lunch together, light TV time, and quiet talks on the veranda. Evening as Agasthya comes home, and after dinner on the floor with everyone laughing, she ends the day cuddled beside her husband, peaceful and complete. One such evening during dinner, Sunitha smiles and casually asks Samyuktha about how it felt—her gundu, the marriage, and becoming part of the family.
Samyuktha shyly shares her feelings, full of emotion and happiness, while Agasthya suddenly jokes, “Now we’re officially my gundu wife !” Everyone bursts out laughing warmly. The room fills with laughter, love, and the glow of togetherness. Samyuktha smiles, feeling truly at home. The story ends with her new name, a new identity, and a new life filled with peace and belonging.
