'Well, there's nothing much to do today.. '
'Not really...' Priya brightened. 'Wanna go Mirrors?'

Mirrors, I later learned, was a beauty salon somewhere in Banjara/Jubilee Hills (I think). And it was a pretty high fly place: a unisex salon, with separate quarters for men and women.

'You could get a protein pack done..'

I brightened, in turn. Display products/services describing them with the words 'fruity,' 'natural,' 'aromatic and soothing,' 'nutrient packed' and the like and I'll fall for it. It's nicer when people use words like 'tea tree oil' and 'strawberries.'

So we called and made an appointment for two (never went to a big shot salon where we made appointments and all) and left. It was a very posh looking place and the receptionist greeted us politely.

'Appointment for two? Oil massage, protein pack and a haircut? You'll be wanting Pradip, yes?'

Pradip turned out to be the expert in hair care at that place. He did the following things:

a) gave me an oil massage
b) applied a protein pack
c) gave me a haircut

Strangely enough, contrary to what I expected, Pradip was extremely gentle and good with everything he did. The massage put me to sleep (the idiot woke me up to ask me how it was), the protein pack was ever so cooling, and the haircut was gently done. Much more gentle than any woman who has handled my hair before.

I think I'll go back shortly. This time for a full body massage. (But I think its as much to scandalise my mother who was horrified by the very thought of some guy giving me a haircut. Should be fun to let her know that I had a full body massage too).