Hairy conversations

At 6
Mum: Its ok dear, the hair will grow back in a month.

She: (Bawling) But I dont want to cut my hair. Pooja's hair is so long. I want it like that.

Mum: (At what she does best, negotiations. Wonder why she isn't with international relations!) Its getting unmanagable, sweetheart. Lets cut it this one time and then we'll let it grow next time, ok? Now be a good girl when you go to the hairdresser's with Aunt G.

She: (Bawling even louder)

At 14
She: Oww!! Ma! That hurts!

Mum: (trying to cope with the disentangled blob of hair while getting her ready to school) Get a hair cut, dear. Just a trim of an inch.

She: No Ma! Everyone in school sports long hair. Besides, its in vogue. And ma, why dont you just let my hair loose today with small clips holding them back from the sides (gestures) like this. Sonia says it looks good and the other day.....

Mum: (In resigned silence, thinking of a marathon session of hair pulling the next day morning) *sigh*.

At 20:
She: (Her weekly calls from the hostel) Guess what! I got a haircut.

Mum: Oh my god! What did you get done?

She: Oh! I was quite bored of my appearance and so wanted a new look. Its called a razor cut. All the hostel girls totally love it and are getting it done too. You know, the hairdresser ran razor on the front side of my hair so that the hair looks uneven and.......

Mum: (Not quite liking the sound of Razor cut, but not wanting to sound too ignorant at the same time) I hope its not too short. What will people say?

She: Its not, Ma!!

At 25:
Mum: (Hugging her at the airport) Good lord! Why did you do this to yourself? Your hair is a mess. Doesn't all that hair falling on your face irritate you? Thatha-Paati* are not going to be pleased with that.

She: Ma! Its the most haute cut right now. And all my friends think it looks cool and hip.

Mum: (Scorning with arched wrinkles forming on her forehead) You must stop experimenting with your hair for a while now. We have to get you married soon. What would the prospective in-laws think when they come to see you?

She: Ma! *$&#$!# *

At 27:

Mum: (In her firmest voice possible - she was probably rehearsing it in front of the mirror before the confrontation) Now that your wedding is around the corner, you must stop your visits to the hairdressers until your wedding is over.

She: But why ma?? Wedding is good 8 months away. My hair would be crawling on the floor by then, and I would have tripped on them 7 times already. Moreover, its not like the in-laws don't know. I see them more often than I see you.

Mum: (Bordering on hysteria) Not a chance. The answer is no cut. How'll your head sustain all those flowers during your wedding? What will the in-law's family think if they saw the bride with a pony tail at the wedding? Get married and then do whatever you like. You can go bald for all I care.

At 30 and with a baby making an entry soon:
Mum: What is it this time?

She: (Admiring her hair in front of the mirror) Umm.. Its kinda short.

Mum: Ohmygawd! (nearly fainting - imagining her like a friend of hers with a boyish crop) Dont tell me its like Tina's.

She: No ma. Its until my shoulders. And moreover you had given me the rights to go bald, remember?

Mum: (conveniently ignoring the last bit) Are you able to, at least, tie a pony tail?

She: Umm.. well, I can, but it holds only 10% of my hair. And looks more like a rabbit tail or errr pig tail.. Umm cant decide which!

Mum: *sigh* At least, if you are able to tie it up during festivals or when in-laws come visiting, its alright. You know you shouldn't do namaskaram** to them with untied hair. They are so religious and....

She: Ya! I know, Mom! Chill.

Oh and in case you were wondering what this was about, its just some mundane musings in an evolving tam-bram household, again of random existence. Just merging with the season where everyone is on a clarifying spree, much like my friend, Ms.Soup :-)

* Grandparents

** Form of salutation one does to God or the elderly in the family when you bend down to touch their feet.