My Mother headshave story part 3

 Hi everyone, I am your Ravi. Today I want to share my Amma’s 3rd gundu (head shaving) story with you all. For those who are new, my Amma has had her head shaved a total of 5 times. I didn't see the first time, but I witnessed the next 4 times. So, I am writing those 4 stories, and this is the 3rd story among them (actually, it was Amma’s 4th gundu). There are 4 members in our family: me (22), Amma (46), Nanna (55), and my younger sister (14).

Let’s get into the main story. It was May 2023, and I was at home for my summer break. One morning, Amma, Nanna, and I were at home while my sister had gone to school. We were all discussing an upcoming family function.

Nanna (D): "When is that function?"

Amma (A): "It’s in August."

D: "I see. When are we going to Urukunda (the family temple)?"

A: "After the function."

D: "Ah, okay. Good. I thought you might be going before the function."

A: "We planned to go earlier, but your elder sister said we should go after the function since I have to give my hair at Urukunda."

D: "Right. I asked because I didn't want you to be with a shaved head at the function."

The moment I heard the word "Gundu," I felt a strange sense of excitement.

N (Me): "Who is getting a gundu, Nanna?"

D: "Who else? Your Amma."

N: "Again, Amma?"

A: "Yes, I have a vow (mokku) to fulfill."

D: "When was the last time?"

A: "In 2019."

D: "It’s been 4 years then."

A: "Yes, exactly."

After that, the topic changed. I went back to my hostel. I didn't take holidays for the function but went directly in August. I found out that only my aunt (Atta) would be coming with us to Urukunda. A day after the function, Amma and Atta planned the temple trip for August 22nd. I told Amma I had leave until the 26th, and she asked me to come along to help them. I was very happy.

On the 22nd, early in the morning, we took a separate auto and reached the temple. As soon as we arrived, Amma and Atta started preparing food and offerings for the deity. Since someone had to stay with the food, they sent me for darshan (worship) first.

Atta: "Ravi, you go for darshan first. While coming back, bring special darshan tokens for us too."

N: "Okay, Atta."

A: "Ravi, don't forget to bring a gundu token as well."

N: "Okay."

A: "Don't forget!"

N: "I won't" (I thought to myself: How can I forget your gundu, Amma?).

After darshan, I went to get the tokens. There were separate lines for men and women. I got a token, a blade, and two rubber bands. I went back to where Amma and Atta were; the food was almost ready.

A: "Vadhina (Atta), I’m going now."

Atta: "Where to, Bharathi?"

A: "For the gundu."

Atta: "Oh right, I forgot. Go ahead."

A: "Ravi, did you bring the token?"

N: "Yes."

A: "Let’s go."

As we walked towards the Kalyana Katta (shaving area), Amma noticed the crowd.

A: "Ravi, look how crowded it is."

N: "Yes, it’s full. I saw it while coming."

Just then, a barber (M) approached us.

M: "Is it for a gundu, brother?"

N: "Yes."

M: "Give me the token."

I gave him the token and the blade. He looked at Amma and then asked for the rubber bands. I gave them to him, and he quickly went inside. We followed him.

Amma sat on the bench. She untied her hair. Her long, black hair, grown over 4 years, covered her entire back. The barber took the razor, fitted the new blade, and began pouring water over Amma’s head. He massaged her scalp firmly for about 5 minutes until the hair was soft and ready for the blade. Amma sat silently with her eyes closed.

He partitioned her hair in the center and tied two tight ponytails (pilakalu) with the rubber bands. He then held Amma’s head firmly, tilted it down, and placed the razor on her forehead. With a loud "Geeeeekkkk... Geeeeekkkk" sound, he made the first stroke. A bright white path appeared in the middle of the black hair.

"Turn that way, sister," he said, turning her face to the right. He sprayed water and took long strokes down the left side. Large chunks of hair began falling to the ground. He skillfully shaved the areas around the ears and temples until they were smooth. He did the same for the right side.

"Now turn around," he instructed. As Amma turned, he pulled the two ponytails toward him. Starting from the nape of the neck, he shaved upwards in quick strokes. By now, her head was 80% bald. The remaining hair in the rubber bands fell away under the razor.

Once the main shaving was done, he poured more water and felt her head with his hand to check for any missed spots. He quickly ran the razor over any stubble until her head was as smooth as a mirror. "It’s finished, sister," he said, putting the razor aside. Amma took her saree pallu and wiped the water and stray hairs from her head. Her bald head now looked very white and shiny.

We walked out. I walked behind her, my eyes fixed on her head. The hair she had grown for 4 years was gone in minutes, replaced by a smooth, reflective surface. Outside, Amma turned to me.

A: "Ravi, look if there are any small bits of hair left."

I went close and checked thoroughly. Her head was perfectly smooth, not a single hair in sight.

N: "Nothing left, Amma."

Amma rubbed her hand over her smooth head once. We then went to the river, where she took a bath, and then we joined Atta. After darshan, we returned home.

If you liked this story, please share your feedback in the comments or send it to my email. Your feedback encourages me to write many more such stories. Thank you for reading!

Email ID: 69ravi69kumat@gmail.com