Gone Kesh

Enakshi Dasgupta grows up in a middle-class home in Siliguri, where her father, Mr. Dasgupta, runs a wristwatch shop at the local Hong Kong market and her mother tends the house. From school days, Enakshi begins to lose hair in patches, and the situation gradually worsens. The bald patches draw unwanted attention from classmates, who tease her and nickname her brown island, a cruel image that cuts deep. Her father tries to shield her by drawing a line of ink over the patches, but the marks fade and the hair keeps thinning.

Seeing their daughter’s distress, the family seeks medical help. A trichologist prescribes medicines that don’t work, and a dermatologist’s regimen yields no relief either. In a bid to control the situation at home, her father experiments with a drastic diet change—carrots only, cutting out oils and meat—yet the hair loss continues. To avoid public embarrassment, Enakshi begins wearing a dupatta to school, but the stigma only grows. The taunts deepen, and she is labeled Gone Kesh—a nickname that she bears with growing heartbreak.

A neighbor’s tale of travel by air rekindles Enakshi’s father’s long-held dream to visit the Taj Mahal with his wife. Motivated by this hope, he resolves to fund a major private hospital treatment for his daughter, even as the family wrestles with how to balance love, money, and pride. After tests, Enakshi is diagnosed with alopecia. The doctor explains that steroid injections on the scalp could restore hair, but the treatment is costly and carries potential side effects. Determined to see her smile again, her father commits to the plan. The treatment succeeds in restoring her hair and confidence, and Enakshi even stops wearing the veil, excelling academically and achieving a first-division score in her 12th boards.

Yet the relief is short-lived. Side effects from the steroids cause hair to grow on her face, forcing them to halt the therapy. Without treatment, Enakshi’s hair thins again, leaving her completely bald. The doctor suggests wigs as a practical alternative, and she begins wearing a synthetic wig daily. After college, she works as a salesgirl at a makeup brand outlet in the Siliguri Mall. During Durga Puja, a mall dance competition becomes a source of renewed hope, but she is told that mall employees are not allowed to participate, so she resigns herself to disappointment and returns to pursuing her art in other ways.

Srijesh visits their home. He has loved Enakshi since college days but never found the right moment to speak up. He works as a manager in a shoe shop within the same mall and often asks her to share a momo date; she has refused before, wary of how her appearance might be judged. When she finally reveals her baldness, he reassures her that his feelings have never wavered. He proposes marriage, and she accepts with her parents’ full blessing.

Together, they attend the mall’s dance competition with Enakshi’s family by their side. A child accidentally pulls her wig, exposing her bald head to the crowd. Crushed, she rushes to the restroom and weeps, deciding not to perform. But her parents’ encouragement and Srijesh’s steadfast support persuade her to dance without the wig. The moment becomes a turning point: the audience responds with warmth and applause, and her parents’ tears mingle with the crowd’s cheers.

Eventually, Enakshi marries [Srijesh]. A year later, she has built a new path for herself—she starts a dance academy and enrolls students, no longer relying on a wig. She has learned to channel her passion and resilience, proving that differences are not something to be ashamed of.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:04