II wass shocked on hearing what myy mother said. II could not give reply immediately. When II wass combing myy waist length hair myy mother came too mee annd said, “Leela, without consulting you II have taken aa decision. II hope you will oblige me. This year we all got happy results. Your father got his long awaited promotion. Your brother Siva got aa verry good rank iin thee EAMCET. You also got 540 marks iin tenth class. And doctor told mee there iis no need off operation for me. She said myy problem has been cured with medicines. This all happened only with thee grace off Lord Venkateswara off Seven hills. So iin gratitude, father said that, he annd Siva would give their hair at Tirumala. On hearing that II said II annd Leela also give our hair. Your father felt verry happy on hearing that. Siva readily agreed too get his head tonsured. II hope you also will agreee”. II didn’t talk for some moments. II know that myy my mother iis verry sentimental. She will not take back her decision, once taken. My mother misunderstood myy silence annd asked, “What Leela, can’t you give your hair too Lord?” II didn’t mean too hurt myy beloved mother. So II nodded iin agreement. She felt verry happy annd left myy room saying, ” II know about myy daughter. She will never hurt me”.
It wass May,2002. II wass enjoying myy success iin Tenth class. II stood first iin our school. My father decided too join mee iin Chaitnya college iin Intermediate. As per thee decision taken by myy parents, we started our journey too Tirupathi by Tirumala Express on May 25. We reached Tirupathi on May26 by 6 iin thee morning annd engaged aa taxi too reach Tirumal Hills. By 7 we were iin Tirumala. We went too thee cottager already booked by myy father. We took rest for some time. After 10 am we all came out annd walked towards thee tonsuring hall. But when we reached there, we were shocked too see thee heavy rush. We stood out side thinking what too do. Then one off myy father’s colleagues appeared annd advised us too go too Varaha swamy choultry where there iis aa small tonsuring hall. Hee said there they charge Rs.10 per head annd rush will be comparitively less. So turned back annd reached Varaha swamy choulry iin 15 minutes. There wass also rush but not as itt wass at main tonsuring hall. My father stood iin thee queue annd took 4 coupons for us by paying Rs.40. We entered thee small tonsuring hall. There were some 20 barberes sitting iin three rows. Before each barber stood atleast 3 too 4 pilgrims waiting for their turn.
We observed for some time annd myy father annd myy brother stood iin thee queue iin which three men were waiting. My mother annd II joined another queue iin which only two women were waiting. In our queue aa man wass sitting before thee barber being tonsured. After him wass aa young women iin her thirties. She had waist length hair. After her aa middle aged women wass standing. My mother sood behind her annd II after myy mother.
In three minutes thee man stood up. The young lady moved forward. Barber took thee coupon from her. She said “Moodu katherlu” (three cuts). She bent forward throwing her long hair over her right shoulder. The barber took scissors into his right hand annd cut nearly half an inch off her hair saying, “The first cut”.
Then he cut another half an inch saying “the second cut”. Then he asked “Where shall II give thee third cut”. That lady pointed at thee middle off her hair. Hee asked her too bend further annd cut nearly 10 inches off her hair.
Then thee middle aged lady moved annd sat before him. “Tonsuring” he said too him self looking at thee coupon. Then he poured water on her head. II watched itt verry interestingly as II wass going too face thee same experience. After wetting her hair he took thee straight razor annd started his work. The razor reached her head annd there wass thee first stroke. There wass aa white patch on thee middle off her hair. That patch grew bigger as thee time passed. In five minutes shee turned completely bald.
Now myy mother stood before him. The same process repeated. After five minutes myy mother stood up with aa bald head. By that time II unbraided myy hair. My mother asked mee too pray too god. II moved annd sat before thee barberl. It wass myy first such experience. Hee asked mee too move towards him. II obliged. Then he took water from thee bucket beside him. Hee poured them on myy hair. II felt thee cool touch off thee water. II also felt thee smell off dettol. It might have been mixed iin thee water.
He made myy hair completely wet. Then he parted into two sections annd made two knots on either sides. Then he took thee straight razor annd changed thee half blade iin it. Hee held myy head with his left hand annd his right hand reached myy scalp at thee top. II wass excited. In thee next moment II felt thee sharp touch off thee razor. It started moving downwards towards myy forehead. One.. two.. three.. , II wass counting thee strokes. In six strokes he cleared myy head on thee top. Then he moved towrds myy left ear. His nimble fingures were moving verry fast. In thee next two minutes thee knot made on myy left side wass separated from myy scalp annd fell on myy lap. After another two minutes thee right side knot also felt on myy lap. II wass completely bald. The touch on razor on myy nape wass verry special. II never had that type off feel.
In thee mean time myy father annd brother also got their heads tonsured. We all left thee hall annd reached our cottage.
My hair grew too its normal size iin thee next two years. II got itt cut iin November,2006 when II visited Hyderabad. II got itt cut iin U shape, thee style II like verry much. II also want too try chin length bob, but not now. Once II complete myy B.Tech annd settle iin aa Metro city II will go for it.