Meena was known in her Mumbai chawl for her big bindis, infectious laughter, and an even bigger heart. She brought life to every celebration—be it Ganpati visarjan or a chai break at 4 PM sharp. But life took a sharp turn when her daughter-in-law, Pooja, was diagnosed with cancer.
Meena stood by Pooja through every chemo session, every anxious night, and every silent cry. The hardest moment came when Pooja’s hair began to fall. She stopped meeting people. She avoided mirrors. “I don’t feel like myself anymore,” she whispered one night.
The next morning, Meena walked straight into the neighbourhood salon. “Machine lagao,” she said calmly. “Sab nikaal do.” The stylist looked up, surprised, but Meena’s expression was steady.
She returned home, wearing a bright yellow kurti and her usual bangles, her head clean-shaven and held high.
Pooja opened the door—and froze.
"Tu akeli nahi hai, beta," Meena said, softly but firmly. “Main tere saath hoon—sirf dil se nahi, poori tarah se.”
Pooja broke down, but this time it wasn’t out of sadness. It was love. It was belonging.
From that day, when anyone asked Meena about her bald head, she just smiled and said, “Style hai. Pyaar ka style.”
And indeed, there was no style more beautiful.