Her father went into a pensive expression. He looked at her mother. "Let down your hair Manju." Manju couldn't believe this was happening to her. All of 45, she looked not a day older than 30. All of this due to meticulous diet plan and regular exercise. She had the figure and the hair of a woman almost 20 years younger than her. And it was going to be chopped off. She began to cry. But she was too well schooled in following her husband to argue with him now. Quietly she opened her bun, turning around to let him have a better look at it, and also to hide her tears. "Yes Reena, you are absolutely right. You aren't the only burden in the family. It seems your mother with her hair reaching her thighs is also a burden on us. Thanks for pointing it out. As soon as your hair is gone, Ravi will cut your mother's hair too." Reena could see her last ploy going down the drain. She was going to get a haircut no matter what. And now so was her mother. She felt a little sorry for dragging her into the mess. Now they were both screwed.
Reena accepted her defeat with a heavy heart and sat down on the stool. Immediately she was covered and caped. Then Ravi asked her father. "Sir, if you don't mind, may I comb her hair out first. It would be easier for me to process it later." Reena's father nodded, explaining to her "In return for cutting your hair for free, Ravi will get all the hair he cuts today. He will use it to make wigs for the needy. You should be happy that your hair is going to be used for a good cause." Reena, who had already resigned herself to her fate hardly heard him. Her mind had shut down. Ravi gathered up all her hair into a ponytail at the back and began to comb it out. Slowly, meticulously, using deft brush strokes, Ravi brushed her hair until it lay in all its smooth and voluminous splendour. Then he bent her head and began to wet her hair with water from the bucket. He massaged the water into her scalp. The massage felt very relaxing. Reena, by now exhausted fell into a semi sleepy state, letting Ravi manipulate her as he would. He would pull her hair this way and that in order to create the best angle for himself.
