ON BEING MY FATHER’S BARBER

ON BEING MY FATHER’S BARBER

Till his 70th year, my father regularly visited barber’s shop once in every 20 days for haircut. Being a policeman, he had not only followed the police discipline in hair styling, but taught us the need to have a disciplined hair style. For majority of his life, my father had Mr. Narasimha as his barber. He knew my father’s preference. Having a good barber is not a joke. One can change anything in life, but not a barber. It is almost impossible to find a good replacement barber. After Narasimha’s demise, my father had a tough time with barbers. He tired many barbers, even offered to double the fee… but nothing worked.

Due to old age my father developed many complications which made mobility difficult. There are times when my father paid Rs. 1000/- for barber’s home visit! This is nothing but looting and he was dissatisfied with the barber’s services. Hair cutting became an unsurmountable challenge every month. The barbers never arrived at the promised time, and father used to wait patiently for them!

In 2017, after my return to India, I purchased a Valera hair trimmer (electric, Swiss made), a scissors and a comb. They were purchased from Amazon at Rs. 3000/-. They were of good quality and served well the intended purpose. I undertook to become my father’s barber. Every 20 days once he used to ask me to cut his hair. The haircut must be done in the morning before 8 am or evening after 5 pm. In both cases, he could have his bath, and hence those timings. I used to retort: ‘Reddy Saab! Why are you asking me for a haircut? Please order sir’. Cleaning his bed, taking soiled clothes for washing before the arrival of the domestic help became my daily routine. You may ask why this must be done before the arrival of domestic help? I remember what my father said “This is the only way I can maintain my dignity & respect before all. What would the domestic help think of me when the soiled clothes are seen?”. Thus, the hair trimming once in every 20 days became a part of that religious routine. As his eldest son I enjoyed performing these small services for my father, my creator.

Performing these services was a blessing and my joy is simply indescribable. During these hair cutting sessions, we used to have lots of fun. After every haircut I demanded “Sir when are you paying Rs. 500/- towards barber charges?” For this the stock reply used to be “Please write it in my account. We shall settle at a later date”. Father’s hair cutting became my sacred duty. I did everything possible to make him look young, healthy and attractive. Having a smart and good-looking father became my pride. My children used to wonder as to why I feel happy and delighted to perform this menial work? Could you not have booked barber services at Urban Clap?  I never answered them, but always prayed that my children too will learn the sacredness of this duty. The services I enjoyed performing for my father, if my children could do 1% of that during my need, then I shall face my death as a successful father. Many things were discussed during the haircut. Due to old age and deteriorating health, he began to sleep during the haircut. The last haircut I gave for father was on 15th March, 2023. 24th March 2023, was his last day on this planet earth. In death he looked smarter.

In fact, this is exactly what my father wanted. Having built his own style, smartness, charm and appearance, he was particular about his appearance. He shaved everyday like a gentleman. He cut his hair once in every 20 days. There is no compromise. He told me that he should be ready shaved, combed, dressed and smart even in death. People should remember as he was even after his demise. That is why he never wanted to go to ICU and die there with all pipes inserted in every part of his body. He lived to his word. His hair was trimmed 9 days earlier, shaved a day earlier and was ready to receive his last visitor – death. Even the death was happy to meet a dashing and smart looking handsome man in Muthiam Reddy. I shall remember him that way for life.

Needless to say, I follow my father in this unsettling thought. I trim hair once in every 20 days & shave every day. I do not think my family has ever seen me with a day-old stubble or with overgrown hair. My family saw me shaved and well groomed. Like father, I too should exit planet earth shaved, showered and well dressed. I am eternally indebted to my father for teaching the concept and meaning of smartness and the importance of its maintenance.

Finally, Sir, I wrote all barber charges in my account. And allow me to state – We shall settle at a later date, for certain in your next visit.

About the Author

Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional.

What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.

Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com

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