Summer heat makes me want to chop my hair, but I am a woman and log kya kahenge...

Duh! If I do get my hair cut short, will people not be able to tell that I am a woman? Photo Courtesy: YouTube/ ShowbizBollywood

Ugh! It's hot! Seriously, what the hell is happening to our planet? It almost feels like I am stepping into a furnace, every time I dare to go outside. And since I can't carry an air conditioner with me all the time, I always end up looking like I have just stepped out of the shower--all thanks to my hyperactive sweat glands. Honestly, I really don't care much about tanning, anymore. I would rather wear shorts and ganjees and let my skin breathe. At least, that brings me some respite.

And while I have found the solution to my summer woes by avoiding layers of fabrics--there's one dilemma that I facing at the moment and it is just driving me insane. You see, I have waist-length hair. And my mom has spent years grooming them. However, with the heat outside, it's become almost unbearable to carry the burden on my head anymore.

Honestly, at times it feels like I am carrying a sack full of bricks. Now, before you accuse me of being over dramatic, ask a friend who has long tresses. She would tell you how distressing it is, to manage long hair during summer. Leaving them open is equivalent to inviting trouble, but sweat-soaked hair don't look very appealing when tied in a top-knot bun or a tight ponytail.

So, about a month back, I decided to get my hair cut--pixie cut, to be exact. The mere thought of short hair and freedom from an irritating ponytail filled me with happiness--until I discussed it with my mother. When I suggested to her that I would love to get a pixie cut, she almost choked.

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Her reaction made me feel as if I had asked her permission to loot a bank or even worse--kill someone. She reminded me that I was newly married and my in-laws, relatives, and the extended family would be very happy if I let go of my lady-like hair. In other words, I would not like a woman anymore.

Duh! If I do get my hair cut short, will people get confused about my gender? I most definitely don't think so. However, I am not naïve. I do know that long, billowing tresses are seen as an emblem of a woman's beauty. Haven't we seen enough OTT shampoo ads on television with women sporting hair as long as river Nile? Also, I was told that getting my hair cut right after the wedding would be seen as a mark of disrespect to my new family.

Well, the concept though is twisted, but it's not mere fiction. It's my hair. It rests on top of my head. But, I have to seek permission of other people to get them cut. Moreover, I am a little petrified myself with the reactions that will come my way.

It might look like a trivial issue, but if you do think about it, it's not as inconspicuous as it seems. The fear of log kya kahenge continues to plague the lives of us women, deterring us from taking decisions that have nothing to do with anyone else, but us.

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