Kill You, Sure (5)
Nidhu
Bhusan Das
The retreat enhances romance.
Anis and Reba, in their late forties, are thrilled. A prelude to making love.
They fondle each other. The Italian tiles on the walls reflect the couple
exchanging emotions.” We may stay here a week,” suggests Anis.
“No,
we should leave tomorrow morning,” says Reba.
“Why,
can’t you enjoy the seclusion?” Anis doubts.
“Not
that. I really enjoy. But Bithi’s a programme to attend in Dhaka.”
“What
programme?”
“Prof.Zafar
Iqbal invited her to the birthday party of his wife Yasmeen
at his house.”
“Is
it?” he asks smiling and enquires,” How has she come to know the professor?”
“Through
his science fictions and other novels. She’s an avid reader of his writings.”
“But
how did she get to know him personally. He’s a great man, a top scientist and
scholar.”
“It’s
in Boston itself, last year. He’s on a lecture tour. She met
the couple there. They called her Beti (daughter).She’s now their
admirer and disciple.”
“Our
daughter’s going to be great; they must have found in her the quality.”
“She
tells me he’s an award-winning author, a great scientist, but very simple in
life and attitude.”
“He’s
now a professor of Computer Science & Engineering and also Head of the Department
of Electrical & Electronics Engineering at Shahjalal University of Science
and Technology. His wife’s currently the Dean of
the Life Science Department and Head of the Department of Physics at the university.
His elder brother Humayun Ahmed was a writer and filmmaker. It’s a
great family.” Anis adds.
“Bithi
told he also serves as the Vice-President of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee.
He played a leading role in founding the Olympiad and popularized mathematics among
Bangladeshi youths at local and international level.”
“He’s a luminary in the galaxy of scholars,” Anis remarks
as he remembers his days at Harvard.
“Bithi tells he’s lost his father during the Liberation War.Collaborators of
Pakistan Army killed the honest police officer who supported the cause of
liberation.”
“I know. It’s alleged a Jamaat leader now undergoing trial
at International War Crimes Tribunal
killed his father. Iqbal upholds the values of the Liberation War.”
“Then we’re leaving
tomorrow morning,” Reba whispers,his right ear near her lips.
“We must,or Bithi will lose the company of the great couple
and other great people to be present there.”
The cell phone of Reba buzzes.She has to unentangle herself from Anis to
receive the call from Bithi.
“Hello dear,what’re you up to?”
“Contemplating,mom.”
“Is it? What’re you contemplating,dear?”
“The birthday party.When will we return to Dhaka,mom?”
“Tomorrow morning.Will have lunch at home.”
“So nice,exciting.”
“Have you thought of the gift?”
“Not yet. We may discuss it on the way back.”
“That’s right. But think. It must be a sterling gift,a
memorablia,I should say. Your papa wants something like this.”
“Papa’s so good, you’re so nice,mom.I’ll never be able to
leave you,I feel,”Bithi’s emotional.
All the three are mulling over the gift.Reba
ponders on the efforts of the magi to decide on the gifts they carried to the
baby christ at Bethelhem.The issue gets settled at the dinner table.After thorough
discussion it’s been decided a heart shaped bouquet,a chocolate cake of
the same shape and a laminated life-size photo of the professor couple will be
the gifts. Bithi dances to the great idea.The night glides by in dreams for
Bithi who’s so excited about the birthday party tomorrow.
”Sir and Ma’am call and I’m running to be in their warm
embrace.They’re beckoning,and I’m riding a white horse which gallops to take me
to them as soon as possible,”Bithi dreams.
“I’m on wings,and my feather-weight body’s being carried to
the flying couple waiting for a mid-air embrace with their loving daughter,” she
continues to imagine.
“Yes,they call me little Beti ,they’re,as it were,my foster
parents,” smiles Bithi as she thinks of the gathering of the intellectuals
where great thoughts will be exchanged.She likes thinking great and listening
to great thinkers,be it live or between the pages of books.
Bithi arrives
at the Beily Road bungalow of the couple just before sundown.She’s there with
the couple to receive the guests.They’ll begin to pour in by 8 p.m. She wears
vernal dress for the occasion because birth,to her, is synonymous with the
spring.So,on arrival, she wishes,”May you see many many springs,ma’am.” She
could well replace ‘springs’ with ‘summers’, but won’t.Birth and birthday’s a
great event,every birth and birthday signifies the spring to her.The gifts
Bithi’s brought charms the couple. They’ve kissed and blessed her profusely.The
photo’s kept at the reception hall on a large table where bouquets are to find place.The
guests have started to trickle in.Bithi’s with the professor couple to receive
them.The smart girl endowed with an intellectual aura and a Picasso face
attracts the attention of the affable guests.Her tranquil green eyes contribute
to the serenity of the celebration which reaches it’s high point with the usual
wish:”Happy birthday to you!”.Her American accent gives it an unusual tonal quality.( continued on 30th July 2015)
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