The morning sun rose gently over the temple steps, bathing the stone in golden light. Meinal Shekhar walked slowly, her red embroidered kurta brushing against her ankles with every step. Her heart was calm but steady, beating in rhythm with the mantra that had been echoing in her mind for days: "Let go. Begin again."
For months, Meinal had been carrying invisible burdens—expectations from others, fears of change, and the silent weight of memories that no longer served her. She wanted a fresh beginning, not just in the outside world but within herself.
That was when she made her decision: she would shave her head.
The Ritual of Letting Go
Sitting down on the stone platform of the sacred site, she folded her hands in a namaste. The barber approached, his scissors gleaming in the morning light. With each snip of her hair, strands fell like autumn leaves—years of attachment, pride, and identity slipping away silently.
When the razor finally touched her scalp, she felt the cool air against her skin. Instead of sadness, there was lightness. Each stroke of the blade carved out space for renewal, a reminder that beauty did not rest in appearances but in courage and authenticity.
