“You think the new style is suiting you,think again…have you lost your mind or has the age starting catching up?”her late husband’s elder brother snarled at her.
She simply smiled and walked slowly,making her way to the first floor where she stayed with her son ,daughter in law n two adorable grand children.
She stopped half way through the stairs…looked at herself in the mirror hanging on the wall…
Those beautiful silvery white threads of silk which used to be tied in a neat bun or a plat had gone…a cropped bob cut had totally changed her personality…she looked great still but nothing in comparison to her former graceful self…she ran her fingers through her cropped hair…certainly she felt the pinch…how her fingers will go on and on running through her hip long tresses…but she smiled..n turned to either side to check her out in a totally new avatar..
“Ma……what have you done to your hair….”her daughter in law shrieked out of shock….
“You cut your hair..why ma…it looked so lovely ..you…you looked so graceful…I mean you still do but those hair….goodness why ma”
In the meanwhile her son came out of washroom wiping his face with a towel …
His reaction (as anticipated)was equally dramatic…
“What prompted you to cut your hair at this age ma….you could have asked us once…perhaps cut a little but why a silly bob cut….it’s not suiting you at all”he announced while being in a state of utter shock n disbelief..
Slowly her daughter in law ..came closer n wrapped her arms around her ..n said…
“No ma I guess you are looking chic…a change is always nice…you have had long hair all your life…it’s ok if you decided to alter it…it’s your life and you have the free will to take any decision..it’s just that we are not used to seeing you like this…it will take some time but everyone will adjust…
But I will still miss making your plat or bun……those were enviable lovely locks ma….”she smiled and hugged her mom in law tight ….a hug that was actually an assurance n comfort that she needed the most after such a major decision…
Next morning…..she saw her daughter in law sitting in sun…sipping tea n having her sandwich..reading the headlines of the paper….
She was all set to leave for work…dressed in a smart business suit ..kids and hubby had been packed off their school and office respectively…
“Ma your breakfast is laid on the table….lunch is set in the microwave…why don’t you join me for a cup of tea….”she asked her affectionately.,,
“Am in middle of a pooja,,,you carry on n leave on time”she shouted from inside,,,,
She was hiding behind the door…looking at her daughter in law…suddenly two big tears rolled down her cheeks…and a warm smile engulfed her lips…her while face lit up with motherly affection….she sighed and thought to herself…
“I too miss my hair my dear child…I loved those long locks ..but cutting them is a very small price I paid to see this joy-the joy of seeing you sitting for the first time…having your breakfast in peace….I do not see you having any time for yourself…you have been such a dutiful daughter in law….,mother n a wife…after doing all the chores in the morning…you never failed to comb my long hair before leaving for work…you could have spent those ten minutes on yourself but you chose the other way around knowing well that the weak muscles of my arms and a frozen shoulder have disabled me to do the basic chores…….you have no idea how happy I feel seeing you sitting n having your breakfast instead of running around…..if this is the small price for such a dear joy…then I am ready to pay this price over and over again…bless you my child”she closed her eyes and released those heavy tears to roll down while she still hid behind the door looking at her daughter in law with love n eternal joy….”-shailja January 19’2018
Love sure is a two way lane……love begets love.
