Coincidence!!

Yesterday, I had my hair cut in a barber shop nearby my house..
That shop has seen me since my childhood..
The barber, close friend of my dad, is one of those rarest of shopkeepers, I've seen, who are very kind towards others and respect everyone..
I used to call him "Annachi"- word considered respectful in our social class..
Visit to his shop has become a part of my life, as I go there at least once in a month all these years..

Yesterday, when I entered his shop, he was hairdressing an 8-year old boy with his younger brother next in the queue..
As usual, I politely told him, "Annachi, I have an important work. So finish me first."..
"Okay Thorai(meaning landlord - his way of addressing others)!", he acknowledged!!

After he finished styling the boy, I sat on the barber chair and he started haircutting..
Then came the mother of the boy..
She, seeing her kid, said, in an annoyed tone of voice, "Thatha, Neenga eppavume chinna pasangala ukkara vachittu periavangalukku seekirama mudivettureenga. En paiyan evlo nerama wait pannittu irukkan. Idhu niyaayame illa (You are always keep the children waiting and dress the elders first. My kid is waiting for a longtime. This is not fair)!"
He replied, "Your child kept on crying. Else I would have finished him first. Ask him ma!"
The gal(mother) warned her child to obey and turned to the barber, "After that sir(me), do him. We are going out today. It's getting very late." and left.

I, the silent observer of the conversation, noticed two things..
One, "I have grown up".. She referred to me as "Sir".. "Thank god!! Strangely, I am wearing pants, instead of usual shorts, today"..

Two, "the world has also changed".. To my surprise, She called the barber "Thatha"- meaning grandpa. "He does not look like the one I saw some 15 years back - the fact that I haven't noticed all these days. He is well into his 50s.. He has all signs of old age - bald head, white hair, skin wrinkles........"

My heart duly accepted the revelations of the evening..
In the meantime, he continued cutting and voiced his opinions on the upcoming local body elections..
Simultaneously sms-ing one of my friends, I gently nodded every time he expected a word from me..
And eventually he finished cutting and shaving..

As usual, I took 25 rupees out of my purse and gave it to him..
He collected it and, with a smile, said, "Thorai, You have grown up. The world has also changed. But you are still in the same 25 rupees!"..
Dumbfounded by those unexpected words, I silently handed him a 10 rupees note and gracefully signed him off..

It may just be a coincidence but I figured it'd be worth letting everyone know!!