I enter " Sunny Hair Saloon" and am greeted with a warm smile by a man sunny who possibly has lot to thank me on account of me being his only customer during his initial learning phase when he had started assisting his father in their shop. I remember the guy used to stand on a small stool to reach my head or his "University of learning" with trembling hands he used to ask me what cut do i want and a programmed reply was always forwarded to him" chota kar de"
That was then now the guy has become a veteran of sorts and that stool and trembling hands have been replaced with dexterity and confidence. During my last visit to his shop in the middle of all clatter and clop and usual rounds of questions he asks me something which he had never asked before" Sahab Hair Colour kar doon". This statement had a magical effect on me as instead of answering him, i felt profound powers of concentration bestowed upon me by some power unknown and i stare at the mirror in front . I feel my eyes moving out of my body and placed over my head for a better view. I see spectacular strands of grey and white peppered over a black sowing field. Satisfied with what i see my eyes slowly move back into position and the mind takes over from there.
Questions Galore,
Have i not earned each strand of grey?
Is it not a symbol of my victory against odds?
Is it not a prize for gaining experience and looking at life from close quarters?
Sunny was still waiting for my reply which he though was odd cause a simple yes or a no should not take time. I answered to his disappointment that he would have to make with just an hair cut. I could not fathom the idea of not showing off my victory trophies . After all trophies are supposed to be shown off in the living room and my head is the living room of my body and no amount of advertising of Godrej, Garnier would make me do away with it.
I look around and see a couple of people getting the hair dyed or coloured as it is now called ,not to look down upon anyone but generally trying to find a reason to it, has this got to do something with our society where exterior is more important than interior or is it a case of pseudo macho ism. .The shop assumes the shape a car workshop where "Age Dents" are being coloured off .
How we look, and what people should look, has become so important that whether we do it cause we want to or just because we like to be seen that ways has become a big question.
