Week 20 - Intersection Week
( This has been my entry for Week 20 of Lj Idol where 4 prompts was given to us for intersection with a participating writer. I chose Shibusa and was honoured to partner with the creative and wonderful Eternal_ot. Her entry on InterSubjectivity ,which forms the second part of our Intersection Effort can be found here - http://eternal-ot.livejournal.com/6644.html. Concrits as usual is always appreciated as are the votes. )
SCRABULOUS IMPRESSION
The day was one like just another. Not to be confused with an ordinary day. My days are anything but ordinary. I am Charley, personal stylist and owner of - Tress Pass, Unisex Spa and Saloon. My love for the mane grew up with me. As much as I loved my mother’s weekly massages that she assured, would give me bountiful growth of hair on head , I also loved listening to her talk with aunts, cousins and anyone who passed by as we sat by our verandah for the weekly routine. People and their problems and the possible solutions that came up during such spontaneous conversations intrigued me to great lengths. And somehow the love for conversations ,my interest in being a good listener , my mind’s ability to come up with suggestions that seemed like plausible solutions to people’s problems , the magic that my hands seemed to create on peoples head, all conspired together for the formation of Tress Pass. It has been 10 years and I would be very very modest if I said the business is booming.
And so on this very ordinary day in walks Aleesha Menon. The very typical indpendant, uber chic, single, working woman. She had moved from being driven and passionate at the beginning of her career to increasingly bitter and unforgiving as the demanding team manager - Unduly hard on her team, to meet her exceptional high demands and standards. The Bitch in High Heels was what they called her behind her back. But nothing stopped her or deterred her ambitions. She was proud of her work ethic and determined to go places as far as work was concerned. An unfortunate accident had given her a forced break from work and along with it breathing space for her team mates. Her last visit to the saloon was a month back. During that visit she was in total despair after a forced look at her life - empty, friendless and with no real interests outside work.
So how do I know so much about her? Hush… that is a secret. The moment I touch someone’s head , I can read their inner thoughts, their troubles and their worries, matters on their mind , what is making them happy , what are they looking forward to that day , what they have lost. And what do I do with the information I so gather …. I just offer solace and suggestions which in most cases have helped calm and relax them. Coming from my seemingly impartial and non-judgmental mouth - they are grateful and relieved for having made the visit to Tress Pass. My trespass into their head remains my secret.
Moving on to Aleesha Menon … today she carried with her a sober demeanor.
As I walked towards her to greet her , she rushed in to give me a air hug and some air kisses.
“ Charley , It seems like forever , since I have been here.”
“ It has been sweetie”, I replied taking her long beautiful wavy hair into my hands. “These need to be pampered today and their ends are craving for a snip. “
She laughed gently , the sound of her laugh melodious and soothing like those wooden wind chimes on the balcony of the saloon. She seemed more beautiful than before , there was something about her that had changed , a twinkle in her eye and a dance in her walk. I couldn’t wait to get my hands into her hair and her thoughts into my head. She settled comfortably into the grey chair after changing into the eggplant purple coloured saloon gown. She looked around as she always did. The interiors had been greatly influenced by the East Asian design elements. There is nothing more comforting than when you have assured that the yin and yang of the premises are perfectly balanced and in harmony with each other. The decor was done mostly in earthy shades with Golden Yellows, Grass Green , and Orange being the highlights of the palette. My visits abroad had given me curios with a lot of texture and irregular forms that was simple in spite of its complexities. The decor grew on you as you got accustomed to it. Just like A. R. Rehman’s music. I knew what she wanted and dug my hands into her luscious mane, washing it as her thoughts poured out …..
That vase is so beautiful , subtle and yet intoxicating. I must ask Charley where he got it from. I need to get something similar for my home too.
Looking at the clock she sighed. Its my game time. Am sure Rahul must be wondering where I disappeared off to.
Aah … So there is finally a guy spicing up her life. I smiled as I dried her hair. I was subtly eager for more. I took the crème and started applying it carefully onto each of her strands and Aleesha was soon transported into her magical world … enjoying the trip and the massage.
Life was so drab without Rahul in it. “ She then remembered the first time they met - online. The accident had kept her indoors and she picked up on her favourite word game Scrabble. The world of internet was fast growing and she realized there was an online version of the game where she - a faceless thing in pajamas feeding on junk food and otherwise lounging in front of the television could enter into a war of words with other faceless things across the globe. And on one such day she Word Junkie engaged in a faceless conversation with another faceless thing on her screen named Word Warrior. She didn’t normally engage in such casualness. She was challenged to a war of words in the chat box.
But that day was well different and destined maybe.
Word Warrior put in their first word MIND. Aleesha would never forget those first casual moments. She had got the gut feeling that Word Junkie was a definite XY Chromosome. She countered his challenge with ZONE. She typed - “ Be prepared to be annihilated. “
“ Whoa that’s a formidable challenge issued to the warrior ….” Came the reply with a scared smiley before playing FROWN on the board.
And so had begun their relationship. Scrabble fanatics trying to playfully out do each other at first. Then it turned into playfully getting to know each other as they played the game and multi tasked by chatting. It had been less than two months since he tumbled into her life as an adversary and less than a fortnight since they realized how integral they were to each others life.
She fished out a chocolate bar from her bag and munched on it as I finished the hair strands and worked on her scalp.
She smiled as her thoughts of him swept in and wiped everything else away.
He loved coffee as much as I loved chocolates. It’s a classic combo just as him and me. I need to find something that brews a good marriage of these two in the kitchen. An interplay of smokey and sweet with bitter and rich.
Her phone buzzed - Rahul TCS the display indicated. She ignored it and continued her reverie.
I could not help but gasp at the name. It was so familiar. I could not immediately place it but it was so eerily familiar.
I finished Aleesha’s massage and placed her head under the steamer. I hear the chime at the door announce the arrival of another client. I turn around to see Surbhi Mehta one of my favourite client breeze in.
I decide to attend to her while Aleesha had her hair steamed. Surbhi wanted a full facial for a special evening tomorrow. She opted for a Radiant Glow Facial using my special oxygen capsules. I set her up with the basics before I returned to Aleesha and led her to the basin.
Aleesha adjusted her neck to fit the dip of the wash bowl as I ran the warm water. As I began working the shampoo into her hair her thoughts began playing in my head as it formed in her hers.
Charley seems to have taken it upon himself to do everything for me himself today. Good for me . I need not worry about the quality of service. The girl in the next room had a chirpy voice with a great smelling perfume. I must ask her what it is without sounding over intrusive.
“ Hello, I am sitting in the chair next to yours. The perfume you are wearing … Umm its lovely … “ Aleesha trailed. I smiled at her curiosity, her thoroughness and her search for perfection. She was a natural with spontaneity being an added asset to overall beauty. Her rough edges in her professional outlook was a cover for her softness in her personal life. A real shibui if you could call her that.
“ Its Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier.” The faceless soft voice replied.
“ Thank you. “ Aleesha replied courteously.
I must get one for myself before I meet Rahul tomorrow. Not that I would need it to entice him but a sweet smelling lover would no harm. Aleesha blushed as the thought of the meeting crossed her mind.
“ Aleesha there has been so much changes in your life the last two months. Would you let me try something different for your hair ? “ I asked expectantly.
Aleesha smiled, “Sure. Why not ? Change is always good isn't it ? What do you have in mind ? “, she quipped.
I took two ends of Aleesha’s hair and held them against her jaw. “ We start with the length ….” I began. The razor flew. Darting. Teasing. Snipping. Straight lines.
I just know tomorrow is going to be special. Rahul hinted it would be. I will finally see the Word Warrior's face after being exposed to his mind and heart for the last two months. And a special day warranties looking good. Doesn't it ?
When it was finally done , I dusted bits of hair off her and let her look at herself. Aleesha smiled. She liked the woman she saw in the mirror.
“ Thank you Charley. I loved it “, she cried jumping off the seat before giving me a air hug.
Aleesha paid the dues and tossed the extra long bang curving onto her right cheek as she turned to walk towards the door.
“ Charley , Do you know from where I can get a vase just like this one here ? “ , she asked pointing to the chocolate and coffee coloured vase at the door. It had a tinge of grey to it.
“ Right here Aleesha .” I replied picking up the vase and handing it over to her. ” It’s a good blend of the elements of Shibusa. Simple, Modest, Everyday normal, and elegant perfect with its imperfections. Just like you my dear. “
“Thank you Charley. That was so sweet. The next time I come, I may share some happiness with you. Fingers crossed.” She said before walking out the door.
I wish Aleesha manages to find her balance with this guy. What was his name by the way ? Playing with my chin somehow helps me remember and doing so I turn and walk towards the sweet voiced face of of Surbhi Mehta.