100 Rupee Haircut Part 1

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I squint at the sun looking up at the sound of an airplane taking off. The smell of melting hot tar,
the sound of blaring horns in traffic wasn’t so new to me anymore. Gusts of blowing wind
collecting dust on crevices of my face, sun bleached messy hair, it’s sort of like a costume to this
role I play as a beggar child. I’ve been hustling the street for about a year now.
Amma used to call me “sudu putha”. I’m not so “sudu” anymore, I think as I watch my reflection
on the shutter of a BMW car stuck in traffic. My hair had grown out to my shoulders. It's never
been this long. Last year for new years appachchi was so keen on getting all the kids new
haircuts. 100 rupees per head. Those were the times. New hair cut for the new year, new books,
new clothes and shoes for the new school year. Funny how things can change in one year. And
now no new nothing and no more appachchi, just the hard hot tar street and me.
I place my greasy, sweaty palm on the BMW car. It looked like it had just been serviced. The
man inside frowned at me. I like to do that. Touch these newly serviced luxury cars with my dirty
dusty hands. I like to see these rich folks frown at me and never directly tell me off. Because my
pathetic state pleases them. They are glad people like us exist so they can appreciate their
status.The more pathetic I look the more number of notes. One time a lady gave me 1000
rupees. That week I had caught a cold and didn’t have the luxury of cleaning my runny snotty
nose.
I stand there looking at this man in his car, tears filled in my eyes, a little game I play. It has
become second nature to me now, tears on queue and sad face. The man heaves a sigh and
starts shuffling in his pockets. Pulls out a 100 rupee note from his leather wallet and rolls the
shutter down. Hands over the note to me and grunts to take my hands off his car. I watch him
drive away as the traffic lights turn green. I pocket the 100 rupee note making sure I put it in the
pocket without the hole in it. I’ve lost a few rupees a few times because at that darn hole. I’m
going to get my haircut today. I haven’t been able to shower for a while now and the lice in my
head is keeping me up all night.

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