Unforgettable Encounters
I went for a hair cut this evening. I went to the same shop--the New Star Hairdressing at Serangoon Road--where I have been going for the last 15 years, except for just a few occasions, maybe less than six, when I did stray from the beaten path. And over the years, I have developed a kind of relationship with the owner of this shop, an old, happy guy. I usually chit chat with him about only one topic: his vacations. When is he going for the next vacation and where? That's my usual question and then our discussion erupts. It turns out he has been to all the major tourist destinations in the world -- London, Switzerland, US, Paris, Australia, etc. And being a Tamil-Indian, he goes to India at least once a year.
Today's visit was no different. He started cutting my hair, and, for a while, I was wondering why cutting hair doesn't cause pain. After all, hair are part of the body and as long as they are on the body, they grow, which means they, too, have life. And yet, hair don't give you any pain while they get slaughtered. After this little digression into the life of hair, I came to our usual topic of discussion: his next vacation. He smiled and informed me that he was off to India in two weeks time, but this time he was going for a medical check up. That settled my curiosity, and soon he settled my hair.
As I paid him the money and was about to leave the shop, he gave me a small white packet. Slightly taken aback, I asked him, "What's this?" He replied, "This is a souvenir for you--a key-ring. We have completed 50 years!" You've been cutting hair in this shop for the last 50 years? Completely relaxed and smiling, he said, "I started when I was only 20. Now I am 70." I shook his hand and could only utter one word: Great!
What draws me to this shop though it is bit far from my home? I guess, it's this kind of interesting encounters that I look forward to. But more than that, it is this guy himself--always relaxed, smiling and watching a Tamil film on the overhead TV-- and always with a plan...for his next vacation!
Today's visit was no different. He started cutting my hair, and, for a while, I was wondering why cutting hair doesn't cause pain. After all, hair are part of the body and as long as they are on the body, they grow, which means they, too, have life. And yet, hair don't give you any pain while they get slaughtered. After this little digression into the life of hair, I came to our usual topic of discussion: his next vacation. He smiled and informed me that he was off to India in two weeks time, but this time he was going for a medical check up. That settled my curiosity, and soon he settled my hair.
As I paid him the money and was about to leave the shop, he gave me a small white packet. Slightly taken aback, I asked him, "What's this?" He replied, "This is a souvenir for you--a key-ring. We have completed 50 years!" You've been cutting hair in this shop for the last 50 years? Completely relaxed and smiling, he said, "I started when I was only 20. Now I am 70." I shook his hand and could only utter one word: Great!
What draws me to this shop though it is bit far from my home? I guess, it's this kind of interesting encounters that I look forward to. But more than that, it is this guy himself--always relaxed, smiling and watching a Tamil film on the overhead TV-- and always with a plan...for his next vacation!
posted by Atul Mathur | 11:08 PM
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