Go Shorter - Part 2 by jaym

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Arjun noticed him before Arhaan noticed him.
He was standing near the refrigerated shelves with another man, comparing two brands of iced coffee without paying much attention to either. The haircut had settled exactly as Arjun expected. Removing the excess weight had allowed the waves to form naturally, and the shorter back exposed the line of Arhaan's neck instead of burying it beneath an untidy curtain of hair. It was better than before.
It still wasn't right.
His eyes followed Arhaan as he crossed the aisle. The front remained too long. Way too long for his handsome face. Arjun wanted to see him in a shorter style. If only he could get a chance top convince him..
Arhaan looked up and froze for a moment before recognition spread across his face.
"Arjun."
"You've settled into the haircut," Arjun said, his gaze lingering on the uneven hair resting against Arhaan's collar. "It grew out well. Though, like I said. You would look even hotter if it's short" Arjun winked at him.
"Wow, openly flirting, huh?" The other man looked between them. "You know each other?"
"He's the new barber I went two weeks ago," Arhaan replied.
"The one you told me was sexy?" The stranger said, making Arhaan blush rapidly. "So, you're the guy responsible for finally making Arhaan cut his hair shorter, huh?. I'm Vivaan."
"Arjun. Believe me, I tried convincing him to go shorter but he wouldn't budge. He'd look really great with short hair."
Vivaan pushed his own hair back with one hand. He had an overgrown mullet. The hair on the sides spilled over his ears. The back gathered into a heavy tail that reached way past his neck.
Arjun assessed it instinctively.
"You've been putting off a haircut."
"For months, maybe."
"I can tell."
Vivaan grinned.
"That obvious?"
Arjun nodded once.
"You've got excellent hair. It's just carrying too much weight."
Vivaan's expression shifted from amusement to curiosity.
"What would you do with it?"
Arjun answered without hesitation.
"I wouldn't keep the mullet."
"No?"
"It might suit you. But with hair like yours, there are other cuts. Bold ones."
Vivaan ran a hand through the back again.
"I've actually been thinking of changing it."
"You should."
"I've never really known what suits me."
"I do."
"Well then. Are you free now? I'd like to get it done before I change my mind.
Arjun smiled.
"I am."
"Good luck with the haircut," Arhaan said. "I'll come to the barbershop after I'm finished with the shopping."

The shop was quiet when they entered.
Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the front windows, throwing long reflections across the polished floor. The familiar scent of shampoo, talc and clean steel hung in the air. Arjun unlocked his station, unfolded the chair and draped the cape across Vivaan's shoulders with practiced precision.
Arjun did not begin cutting immediately. He circled the chair once, studying Vivaan from every angle before lifting sections of hair between his fingers.
"You've got enough length for almost anything," Arjun said. "The question is whether you're ready to let it go."
Vivaan looked at himself in the mirror one last time before nodding. He was a bit afraid. But he would embrace the change.
"Do it."
Arjun combed the hair smooth and gathered the heavy length at the back into one hand. He adjusted his grip once before picking up the scissors.
Arjun picked up the clippers.
"I'll start with a 6 all around the back and the sides. Then, you can decide if you want to go shorter."
"Understood," Vivaan said.
Arjun started with the sides. The clippers sheared the thick mop of hair around the ears. The lumps fell onto Vivaan's shoulders. He did the same to his other side as well.
Vivaan now had a sharp mullet, with the sides all short and the back overgrown along with the top.
"Now comes the hard part. Are you ready?" Arjun asked.
"Absolutely," Vivaan grinned.
The buzz of the clippers filled the room. Arjun placed it at the base of Vivaan's neck. And with a smooth motion, he moved the clippers up. Heaps of brown hair fell all around the floor and into Vivaan's lap. He repeated the motion a few more times until there was no long length left.
"How do you feel?"
"Lighter," Vivaan said, taking his hand out from the cape to touch the back of his head. "Holy s**t, that feels awesome. I had forgotten how short hair felt."
"Now, it's upto you to decide whether you want to keep the length or go shorter."
Vivaan now had what they called a disconnected undercut. The hair on the top spilled out to the sides and back.
"I'm honestly happy with this undercut," he said.
Arjun arched bis eyebrow.
"But I came in here for a change. And I will do it. I want to go short. Very short. What options do I have?"
"Let's see. Bold change huh? Obviously, we have the buzzcut and crew cut for that. Though since you like the undercut, I'll suggest keeping it. But making it bolder."
"What does that mean?" Vivaan asked, curiously.
"Well, I'm gonna have to shave your sides and back completely. The top will remain untouched. It is very long, you can tie it and have a short pony tail."
"Woah, you mean, a razor shave?"
"Yup. Are you up to that? It certainly is bold."
Vivaan thought for a second.
"F*** it, let's do it."
"Think about it, dude. Are you sure?" Arhaan asked.
"One hundred percent. I love trying out new things. Besides, hair grows back."
"Well, let's do it then." Arjun announced.
He wet Vivaan's hair with a spray bottle. Making every strand wet.
He combed them to one side until he had a clean partition. Then the clipped the hair above so it won't disturb with the shaving process. He did the same with the other side.
When finally, all the hair on top was in place. He picked up the razor.
He started with the left side. Scraping every inch of hair. It left a pale mark down as he shaved. Arjun took his time shaving the hair off. He couldn't rush it.
When he was finished with the left, he did the same on the back as well as the right.
When it was done, he removed the hair clips from the top and combed the hair again before tying a rubber band around them to create a ponytail.
It looked amazing. The hair on the top was about ten inches long, so making a tail wasn't a problem.
He picked up a hand mirror and held it to show Vivaan how the back looked.
"Woah," he said. "That looks sexy as f***. Thanks a lot, man. I think this might be the best haircut I've had."
Just then, the doors opened and Arhaan entered.

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