Hair Cut

Dated 23^rd September 2008

Hi its being a boring day so thought to write something, not sure what I am gonna write, but something that can fill a page. I used to get comments that whenever I write something it’s so big that people sometimes find boring to read and loose interest. Okay the story starts at 9 AM in the morning and Raju the assistant of ‘Handsome Hair Saloon’ opened the shutter of the shop along with the owner Amar. It was a small shop and they were the two people managing the same. Raju’s duty apart from hair cut, shave includes cleaning the shop, sweeping and making the list of the items required for the shop before it gets over. It was a Sunday morning and the shop timings were from morning 9 till afternoon 2. at around 12 noon a person came in for a hair cut and shave. Raju greeted the person. The guy was 5’8”, fair with curly hairs and a light shade beard. By his first look Raju guessed that the person is 27-28 years. Raju greeted him with welcome and arranged the seat and asked him to sit. He was a new customer for Raju and to start his work, he asked to the customer ‘Sir what you would like to have? Shave? Hair cut or both?’ The guy replied ‘both’ and Raju started preparing for the hair cut first. The owner Amar was busy on phone talking his wife and planning for Sunday evening. Raju got a white cloth from the top of the shelf of the shop and wrapped around the person and knot the cloth at the back of his neck. He then took his scissor and comb and started spraying water on his hairs. Raju while doing that asked ‘Sir, what is your name?’ the person replied, ‘Salmaan’. Raju in a comic way replied again ‘Wow your name resembles quite like our superstar Sallu Bhai’. Salmaan smiled and then looked at the front mirror to see what Raju was doing.

Raju then asked, ‘Sir are you new to this place? Never seen you before?’

Salmaan replied, ‘Yes, I came 15 days back, actually from Lucknow, but got a new job here in Delhi so…’

Raju said, ‘Ohh so you Sir is a big shot guy?’

Salmaan told, ‘Not like that, no big shot I am, just that because of work and good money I am here as I have a family at my place to support. We have to compromise on many things to earn each paisa bhai (brother)’

Raju said, ‘yes Sir you are correct, everyone here is living for money and trying to get more and more as and when they get a chance. Today’s world is selfish, no room for feelings, respect, etc etc what else I can say, Kalyug hai Sir’

Raju was done trimming the back of Salmaan’s head and came on the right side to cut the sides and asked, ‘Sir is that fine? Or you want to trim a bit more?’

Salmaan said: ‘No that is fine’

After a pause of 2 mins, Salmaan asked, ‘What is your name?’

Raju replied, ‘Sir my name is Raju and I am working here along with my owner Amar Bhaiji. We are the only two people managing this shop and its 2 years I am working here.’

Salmaan then, ‘So you are from Delhi?’

Raju replied, ‘Nahi Sahaab (No sir) I am from Bihar, but the reason you came in here is the same for me, but I came for a different purpose and it all screwed up 3 years back’, a desperate expression came on Raju’s face.

Salmaan looked at him closely and then asked, What happened?

Raju then told, ‘Sir I am not an illiterate but not graduate also, I completed my 12^th from an English school in Patna and I was the eldest son with two younger sisters. My father works as a postman in Patna and you must be aware of what salary you can get in that job. But my father worked very hard and so as my mother making Tiffin. After my 12^th I got selected in an Engineering college as my dream was to become a Computer Engineer. Also if I can make that I thought that I can make the life of my parents good and can take the responsibility of my sisters and their marriage. I was not that aware of good colleges and I got a letter from one college in Delhi asking me that I can join the college. It was a new college and was offering a lower fees and good facilities. That time I thought that I should go in as I can save money and with that money I can stay in Delhi.’

Raju Paused, he turned the other side of Salmaan and asked ‘Sir is that fine or shall I trim more’

Salmaan didn’t even look at his face on mirror properly and said, ‘yes perfect, so what happened then? You must be happy that you went to the college?’

Raju continued, ‘yes Sir I was very happy that I took my first step in achieving my dream. I went to Delhi and the time I left I can clearly see the emotions and expectations on my parents face. When I came in college, it was in a small building with few class rooms and few rooms have converted into the labs. I have already paid the fees for my first year. My father took the load for that and he knew that once I will complete my engineering I can repay everything back. Since it was a new college our was the first batch and there were only computers and electronics people were there. In my class we were 50 students which include 15 girls. The first two years went fine with not much to learn and it was only the theoretical knowledge we get. We also get to know that our college is autonomous and doesn’t have a very good reputation so by the end of second year we were getting a bit worried about our future. It was time we were preparing for our fourth semester exam and suddenly a news came that Delhi government is planning to disregard any college that doesn’t fall in any reputed University or not eligible to a minimum standards defined by the All India Technical Community something the name was. The next day we rushed to our principal with the news and he convinced all of us that your future is safe and its all rumors. Our exam got postponed and it was that day till today I am waiting for that Sir’

Salmaan can see the eyes of Raju, filled with tears but he is fighting with them not letting them go out of his eyes. Then Raju asked, ‘Sir you want to shave also?’

Salmaan replied yes just fixing his eyes on Raju and expecting more from him to say, but Raju then started to get the shaving gel and started rubbing on Salmaan’s cheek.

Salmaan asked, ‘I am sorry, but what happened next and how you landed up here?’

Raju looked Salmaan and replied, ‘Sir as we were waiting for our exams, one day we came to know that our college no more exists on Government papers and the future of nearly 200 people went in dark. Since we were already late for the exams and net session admission already started, there was no chance anyone can take us in the college. I tried my best, begged the college to take me, but no success. I thought to tell my parents, but didn’t dare to open my mouth as they had so much expectation and it was not me but my fate ditched me. Now it was getting difficult to sit at home all day and I tried to look for some job, I did a lot of work Sir which includes throwing newspaper in the morning then working as a waiter in hotel in the day and night making envelopes in a garage along with my friends. Then I came to Amar bhaiji and he asked me to join him as it was new saloon and I was desperate in need for a good job. That time I didn’t know, but gradually in a month I learnt and then here I am working and managing the shop and earning quite well to sustain myself and my family. I won’t say I am happy as this is not what I expected, but sometimes you can’t fight with fate if you have someone behind you that can be exposed to this cruel world.’

Raju said, ‘Sir your shave is done’

He brought the mirror and showed the back of my head to enquire if its proper, Salmaan didn’t had anything to say and just asked, how much Raju?

Raju told fifty rupees Sir. Salmaan gave the money and put his hands on the shoulder of Raju and said, ‘nice meeting you Raju, I will come frequently I hope you don’t mind?’

Raju told, ‘Never Sir, you are always welcome’

Salmaan gave his address and invited him to his house anytime and left, Raju looked at the exit gate till Salmaan was off from that gate. He continued to look until a voice broke his concentration…