Haircut…

In my time, when we used to go for a haircut, it was simple, with no questions, no complexities, and it was easier and faster.

In Sainik (military) school days, you would wear a beret, and any hair outside the beret was gone. Within the beret, everything was completely trimmed. Five minutes, and you were done. The barber was happy, and you were happier.

When I came out of school, in college, or a job. It was still easy. You’d go into a barber shop, wait in a queue, and when your turn came, you’d sit on a chair-not too comfortable, but good enough to sit for 10–15 minutes.

You’d tell the barber “short” or “medium” (just a word or two)—no eye contact, no smiles, no courtesies-just a couple of words. And as soon as those words came out, the barber would start. For the next 10–15 minutes, you could close your eyes, listen to the songs, and when you opened them, your haircut would be done.

Today, it’s scary. You book an appointment, sit on a very comfortable double sofa, and yet, you’re not comfortable. The scariest part is still to come - the barber.

The barber comes in smiling, and you have to smile back, make eye contact, and then the interview process begins. First, you need to explain what you want: haircut, shaving, or some other trimming service I don’t even know about.