By Nina Miller
Steam wafted through Sunil’s ethereal form. He watched Bharat fixating on his pimpled face. His son’s phone balanced precariously above a sink of hot water as a video talked him through his first solo shave.
Sunil recalled Bharat’s mundan ceremony, applying turmeric paste to his one-year-old’s shaved scalp. Twelve years later, he witnessed Bharat’s shorn head at his funeral, declaring his son head of the household.
Bharat lathered foam on sparse black hairs beneath his chin and covered the whisper of whiskers above his lips. Goosebumps raised along Bharat’s arms as Sunil touched his cheek, left smooth in the razor’s wake.
Bit ambiguous. Couldn’t understand the story .
Sorry to hear that, Beena. Thank you for reading and leaving your thoughts. Hopefully the comment below helps clarify.
I disagree with Beena. I understood the story just fine and found it rather touching. It is certainly nice to imagine that those we can’t see any more are still with us.
Thank you! That is exactly the reaction I was hoping to have. That hope that they are near and able to watch special moments with us.
Nicely empathetic – enjoyed this! 🙂
Thank you so much, Alastair!
Sweet story of cultural ritual and a ‘visit’ from one who has passed. Very moving!
Thank you, I am glad it moved you!
I love this touching story, Nina! The comforting notion that those who are gone are still very much with us!
Thank you! That is exactly what I was going for!
That was a beautiful story. It was such a personal moment. And when he couldn’t resist touching his son’s face – so touching.
Thank you, Deborah! Glad you enjoyed!
Nina, what a beautifully-written story. Perhaps, if someone had explained the cultural aspects to Beena. At first, the second paragraph baffled me. I thought mandan was a typo. But since I found paragraphs one and three so compelling, I researched the traditions of your culture and then it made perfect sense. And the title: The word
“closeness” and its double meaning. You nailed every detail in this
powerful story.
Lastly, are there any YouTube videos of you fencing?
Thank you so much for you comments! I am glad it led to a further exploration of shaving traditions. I like stories that enrich.
I have no fencing videos to watch online at this time. Haven’t even written about fencing… yet!
It was a touching story. I wondered how to teach my sons to shave as their father passed before they both started. Now I wonder if he was there when my new husband taught them.