Taru is the name of a dark-complexioned and sweet girl. Taru is the name of a slender, graceful girl. Her strangely beautiful eyes, the black mole near her chin, the sweet charm of her face—all draw everyone's attention, but Taru's most captivating feature is her waist-length, wavy cascade of black hair. Many people have long hair. Black curly hair isn't uncommon either; but hair as beautiful as Taru's—perhaps no one else possesses such a gift. Even her way of walking is so beautiful that when she passes by, one can't help but watch from behind until she disappears from sight. Her long, lovely braid only enhances that beauty further. In a word, she is blessed with divine grace.
Hearing praise from everyone, Taru is not without pride in herself; yet she cannot be accused of arrogance. Her gentle manner makes her beloved by all. However, Taru is terribly strict when it comes to boys. Just as she never speaks to any boy, no boy has ever mustered the courage to approach her, though everyone harbors a secret wish to strike up a conversation with her, and perhaps grow closer. Whether understanding this or simply due to her sense of self-respect, Taru always maintains a certain gravity about herself. This causes her to endure much mockery, and the boys, in private, become quite annoyed with Taru. This annoyance and mischief one day reached its peak before Taru, costing her the treasure of a lifetime's devotion—that precious cascade of black hair. The incident was as unthinkable as it was astonishing.
The incident began this way: one day, while sitting in class and listening attentively to the lesson, Taru suddenly felt a slight tug at her hair behind her. When this happened twice in succession, she grew annoyed and pulled her hair forward. The boys behind her broke into muffled laughter. She couldn't figure out who was responsible.
The next day. The teacher hadn't arrived in class yet. Taru sat talking with her friends. Just then, she felt another gentle tug at her hair. Turning around, she saw Nasim holding her hair cupped in both his hands. What his intention was, who knows! The friends nearby were giggling. Talking in gestures. Seeing this scene, all of Taru's blood seemed to rush to her head. Her face turned red with shame, humiliation, and disgust. What was this! How could the boy dare to do such a thing in front of all these students? Where did he find such audacity? Suddenly Taru flared up like a matchstick! "Who gave you such nerve? By what right have you touched my hair? Why did you put your hands on my hair?" No one had ever seen Taru in such a state. Everyone fell completely silent. Friends gathered around them.
Nasim didn't remain silent. In a calm, steady voice he said, "Since you're asking by what right, then before I answer that, tell me whether you'll grant me that right or not?" Taru blazed up even more and said, "What did you say? Weren't you ashamed to say such a thing?" Nasim's expression didn't change. In the same tone as before, he said again, "No, I'm saying this without any shame—I love you. And I love your black hair even more than that." The moment he finished speaking, a sharp slap landed on Nasim's cheek.
The eternally calm and composed girl couldn't control herself today. Taru trembled with rage. Her friends tried to calm her down. Some made snide remarks about her show of courage, while the boys, incensed by their friend's humiliation, started a terrible commotion. But Nasim, without saying anything, quietly left the classroom. And when the teacher arrived, the matter was buried there for the day.
A few days passed peacefully. Classes continued as usual, with the usual pranks, laughter, jokes, and gossip, but the tension between Nasim and Taru remained. And it reached its climax on another day.
The teacher was giving a lecture in class. The teacher was new; in Taru's words, "the handsome teacher." He had just started the job after graduation. Everyone talked about him constantly. No one paid attention to his lessons. Everyone either made jokes about his mannerisms and teaching style or chatted among themselves. However, a few attentive students in the front benches didn't belong to this group. That day too, Taru was quietly listening to the lesson as usual when suddenly there was a sharp snipping sound, making her turn around. Everyone nearby followed her gaze.
Taru's face suddenly turned pale. She looked utterly helpless. Her hands and feet went numb, but only for a moment. She leaped up in a rage. Taru was beside herself with anger and agitation. The teacher had noticed their inattention, impropriety, and muffled whispers; now seeing Taru stand up, he asked, "Do you have something to say?" "Sir, Nasim has..." She couldn't say more. Suddenly she burst into tears.
Taru's friend sitting beside her picked up half of her braid that had fallen to the floor and showed it, saying, "Sir, Nasim has cut off her hair." Seeing the half-braid in her hand, many students started laughing. But the teacher seemed stunned by the suddenness of the incident. Suddenly he roared, "Who is that nonsense boy?" Nasim slowly stood up like a defendant in court. "You? Amazing! How could you act so foolishly when you came here to study, to acquire knowledge? This girl is your classmate, your friend, or like a sister! What did you gain by causing her such damage? You're not little children anymore. You all have intelligence, sense, and judgment. Fine, I have nothing more to say—give me your roll number."
Taking Nasim's roll number, the teacher left. Classes didn't continue that day. A little later, the college principal summoned both Nasim and Taru. Taru was still crying profusely. Her friend took her along to the principal's office. The principal asked Nasim, who stood before him, in a grave voice, "Is what I've heard about you true? Can you deny what your teacher, Mr. Ilias, who is sitting in front of you, is saying?"
Nasim glanced once at the teacher with embarrassed eyes and lowered his head. "Why did you do this? Tell me, what harm had she done to you?" He looked at the teacher once more. This time it wasn't from shame—tears began flowing down his cheeks.
"Why I did it, sir, I don't know myself; nor can I explain it. I can only say this much—I didn't want to do such a thing. I did it suddenly in a moment of impulse."
"Fine, you don't need to say more. For your misconduct, I'm giving you a transfer certificate. Don't come to college anymore."
"Very well, sir. As-salamu alaikum," he said, taking one long look at Taru before leaving.
And Taru? After she went home that day, wiping her disobedient tears, she never returned to college; because once everyone learned about the incident, there was quite a commotion at the college. So it became impossible for the beautiful, graceful Taru, the heroine of this incident, to come to college anymore.
Some time later, everyone heard that Taru had gotten married—to that handsome Mr. Ilias, who had been the principal witness to that hair-cutting incident.