Even on Sunday, Rai had to wait for almost an hour before the barber, Chandrika Thakur , called his name. His face beamed with happiness as he sat on the chair. "It might sound weird but I felt lucky. I feel irritated when my hair is long and rough. I had been feeling awkward for weeks now, said Rai.
His barber, 38-year-old Thakur, kept his hands busy without speaking a word. Three other service seekers occupied the chairs in the salons they waited eagerly for their turn. Everyone bore a fearful expression in the silent anticipation of after shocks."The compound of Mahalaxmithan temple was overrun with people seeking to get their hair done. There were more than 40 people. Many kept coming and going, asking for their turn, until the ground started shaking," said Bikash Khadka.
Since the tremor of April 25, Thakur hasn't had a moment's rest during the daytime. For more than two weeks, he has been attending to customer from eight in the morning till seven in the evening. A day after the mega tremor, three of his helpers left Nepal to be with their families in India. Thakur had failed to persuade them to stay.
"This shop is the only source of income for my family. If I hutter it down my family will have nothing to eat. First of all, I will not be able to pay the rent. Rather than fleeing like others, I chose to work," said Thakur.
People in Kathmandu are having a hard time having their hair cut done as most of the locals salons have shut down after the quake. Many salon workers, including barbers, left Kathmandu for their respective home villages.
According to Pradeep Thakur, owner of hair salon at Bishal Chowk, he has been serving more than 25 customers a day when he used to get 7-10 customers on normal days.
"Since the mega earthquake, I have been working alone. All my workers have left after the quake. I don't know how long I will be able to keep up with the physical demanding toil," said Thakur.
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