In the daily course of the life, so many minor incidences we encounter. And, we take a notice of them at cursory level, meant we don’t count them as
significant one. Whilst, if we observe them intently. It emerges up that these minor incidences, in most of the cases expatiate the human nature and psychology profoundly. Likely, a minor incidence, I chanced to notice at the barber shop where I am getting done my hair cut for last thirty years.
The old time barber shop
Here I am emphasizing about the term “barber shop” and not using “hair dresser’s shop.” For, I stay in a medium class ( once a small city) city. There “hair dresser’s shop” is regarded of some above level shop of hair cut. Further more, “hair salon” is in the upper most bracket. The barber shop, I am referring is of old city type shop, and there only working staff is my barber, for last so many years. Leaving apart some years, when at the initial period of time, his business flourished well in those old bygone years. But nowadays, with the introduction of various gadgets and other accessory services like facial, massage etc in this profession, he couldn’t ably cope with.
So, the only old customers like me or needy customers, who prefer to get their hair cut done at reasonable rate, happen to visit the shop. Otherwise also, in India barber shop is also the time pass place, where often people visit with the sheer purpose to have some chit chat. I often visit this shop as “sitting place,” in the capacity of “do nothing.” If, I am asked to say something about this barber shop from the angle of showcasing. It,s an old fashioned one and in fact now is, in a deplorable condition. Since I have got old acquaintance with the owner of the shop (barber), besides I also count myself rather belong to a needy class of customers. Hence, I visit this place in a routine.
Funny incidence
So, it occasioned that one day I was chatting with him, meanwhile, an old woman in her late sixties appeared in the main door. From there only, she craned her neck inside and queried in a familiar tone, ” having spare time for hair cut?” Barber responded affirmatively, upon which she declared, “I come back in a jiffy. Just I need my husband to accompany me here during hair cut, so am going to take him.”
The old woman was short in height, lean and thin in structure with all her bones in ostensible condition. Her face was too so skinny, hair faded rather mottled grey. As often happens when you dye your hair once in a blue moon, and then forget to dye them again. My barber told me about the lady that she was a retired principal teacher from some government Intermediate collage. As a retired person, was drawing a handsome “pension” from the department.
Unfortunately, this couple was issue less, and that had turned up lady into a stubborn, eccentric one. Besides, old lady being a retired principal teacher of a school, had been in the habit to command others. It’s a known fact, old habits die hard and the utmost miserable victim of her this habit was her poor husband. After sometime, she appeared in person along with her old, fragile husband. Her husband, too in a less or more was in a “pitiable’ condition. Ostensibly, no distinct in bony structure than the lady, added with a suggestion , “handle with care” type. Though, looked genteel apparently.
Lady occupied the customer”s chair, before the big front mirror. Barber proceeded with his sincere attention and did the hair cut properly. In between the hair cut, lady too passed the commands intermittently about the hair cut, as, cut in this way or that way etc. On hair cut done, her husband asked about the hair cutting charges and made the payment. Lady after dislodging from the customer chair, now inspected herself intently first in the front mirror. Then she keenly threw glance in the backside mirror, and at once began to carp about the hair cut.
She began resenting, ” hair are not properly set; my face has not just come up brightly after the hair cut. You don’t seem to cut hair with proper attention etc.” The barber made all efforts to assuage all her complaints, from every angle. A long debate pursued out of this hair cutting session, but, she by nature was not that kind of creature whose grievances could be pacified. Rather, it all inflamed her stubbornness. Even her husband flattered her , ” Sweety! you look so nice to me now,” On this flattering comment she even reprimanded her husband .
The narcissistic inclination
I watched this entire episode with an amusement. The lady was reaching to her seventy years of age. Any way, she didn’t get satisfied and left the venue, cursing the barber and his professional skill. The amazing fact (though it,s a phenomenon natural to all women), I found in her demeanor was, her sense of “narcissism” about herself. On her getting lost from the sight, barber gave a full throat laugh and said, “she has got enough money and easily can afford some beauty salon. But she needs a cheap cost charging barber with highly skilled hair cutting…..”
Just can you suggest me the answer to my query. She was near about seventy years old skeleton with jaded features. No any other person in common, would even think of to throw a glance at her face. For, there was no any such attraction. The answer I think is, she was assailed by the feverish narcissism. This bout of narcissism nowadays we all experience in social media when we scroll down the screen with Facebook or Instagram etc. Just try to pin point those account holders, who are in their fifties, sixties or seventies. You would find them sharing their photographs taken from special angle, so, may their profile give an expression of fresh and young look. Keep apart the trendy selfie drive of the youth.
You think of some festivity or social function or gathering, every one is trying to pose him/herself as most smarty one. Along with, the old generation is too now badly entangled in this phenomenon. This old generation, who is projecting themselves as young and fresh, when asked to climb a double storied house stair case, they are out of the breathing. This narcissism via social media is capturing even kids. They too, innocently are imitating the elder generation without knowing, why they are doing all this. No doubt, the modernity added with amenities indubitably provides us an opportunity to live an another kind of life in a comfort zone. But we know not, how and when it turns up into some vice subconsciously. Penned By–Vinay Pharasi…..
