The truth of Cineblast was so unexpected that it took Shafqat several days to digest it. However, it did not fall. Shafqat Alam is not in the mood to read. Apart from Cineblast, he has several successful companies. Multiple problems with multiple successful companies. He has to pay attention to all problems. However, Shafqat could not completely shake the matter of Cineblast from his head.
When Shafqat’s brain was tired to solve the problem, the rabbi’s phone came in the morning with a message of a new problem.
After receiving the phone, Shafqat said with an annoyed face, “What’s the matter, Rabbi?”
The frightened voice of the rabbi was heard from the other end, “Sir. There’s a problem.”
Shafkat was not upset at all. The main job of employees is to solve problems. What is new?
Shafqat said in a serious voice, “What trouble?”
Shafqat has entrusted Rabbi with the responsibility of managing one of his factories in Gazipur for a long time. Maybe he is talking about a worker of that factory.
“A girl from the factory cannot be found, sir,” said the rabbi in a strained voice.
Shafqat reached the peak of annoyance and said, “So what shall I do? Am I the police looking for that missing person?”
“That girl left the house saying she was going to work, sir. But did not return home. The girl’s parents are causing a lot of trouble by coming in front of the factory, sir.”
“What a surprise! Why bother in front of the factory about where the girl has gone or not?”
“Their idea…” said the rabbi with a trembling voice.
“What do they think?” said Shafqat sharply.
“They think we have lost the girl. As I am the supervisor of the factory, all the blame falls on me.”
Shafqat sighed heavily. This is a problem of less educated people. If a terrible disaster occurs in their lives, how can the responsibility be placed on the people of the higher levels of society!
Shafkat frowned and asked, “Do you know anything about the girl?”
The rabbi again said in fear, “No sir! I don’t know anything. I didn’t even know the girl like that. I have seen it at the factory. The girl’s parents are saying that if they don’t find their daughter, they will go to the police.”
Shafqat said in a hard voice, “So find out! If you can’t find it, go to jail. Stop bothering me about small things.”
Shafqat cut the phone after saying the words in one breath. Although the matter is dismissed as ‘small’ on the face, it is strangely tickling inside the chest. Why it seems that this small incident is going to suffer a lot for him and his huge empire.
Shafqat has been attending meetings one after another at the office of ‘Beyond Borders’ since this morning. Finalized deals with some foreign companies. With that, cup after cup of black coffee entered the body. Saba is right, Shafqat has forgotten to take care of himself in the pursuit of work.
During the meeting, the girl called several times. Not that Shafqat doesn’t want to talk. But answering the phone in the middle of such an important meeting is not very polite behavior.
Against the call, he wrote a short message, “I am in a meeting. Backing up later.”
Leaving the phone upside down on the desk, Shafqat dived into the meeting again. He himself can feel this mechanism in him these days. He was a mechanic before. Shafqat started his own business before completing his studies. Who knows if the boy ever understood anything outside of work. This mechanism was once a big part of him. But nowadays I know why this mechanical life seems so unbearable.
Shafqat, who previously could not entertain any trivial thoughts, now sometimes wants to leave everything behind and go to a deserted island in Sabah. Where there will be no worries of work, there will be only tranquility.
Why is this big difference between imagination and reality! In reality, where Shafqat is looking for peace, there is no peace. Rather, the problems are getting worse.
He got a call from Gazipur again. But this time the phone is not Rabbi’s. Another factory worker. He told Shafkat in a frightened manner that the rabbi was taken by the police a while ago!
A hot stream ran down Shafkat’s neck. He has so many employees in each company. If any of them were arrested by the police, Shafkat was more upset than Shafqat was supposed to be.
Because the rabbi is not like his ten ordinary employees. Each time he crossed the line, the rabbi witnessed him. Be it the case of a counter attack on the house of an influential leader who attacked Saba or the case of Fahim being shot in the body and leaving Saba exactly where he was found.
Although the rabbi is quite loyal to him. But one of the bitter truths of the world is that no one is 100% trustworthy except yourself. A boy holding his dark truths must be no use to the police.
Shafkat is looking for the lawyer’s number in the contact list of the work mobile. The rabbi will be taken to court tomorrow morning. If you can bring him out on bail tomorrow!
On the other hand, the ringtone of the personal mobile is ringing continuously. Shafqat was so busy looking for Lauer’s number that he didn’t notice another phone screen. When he read it, he saw that Saba’s name appeared on it.
Who knows if the sudden arrest of the rabbi is due to the stress of the day’s work? Shafqat reached the final peak of irritation due to continuous calls. Forgot who is the person on the other end?
Shafqat received the phone and said with a big scolding, “What’s the matter Saba? When you see that I am not receiving, why are you calling again and again?”
Saba seems to be a bit startled by Shafqat’s sudden behavior. He took a few moments to open his mouth to say something.
Finally he said in a dry voice, “You were not answering the phone since morning so I thought…”
Shafqat said in a shaky voice, “I am not receiving because I am busy. I sent you a text too. Didn’t send it?”
Who knows how much Saba was shocked? “Huh, sorry,” he said in a deadpan voice.
Without waiting for a moment, Saba cut the call immediately. Shafkat regained his composure as soon as he heard the sound of the call being cut off. Realized, he made a mistake again. Shafkat was very angry with himself. Repeatedly vowing to himself, he will not trouble Saba even a single bit more. Again he freely broke that promise.
Shafqat should call back and apologize to Saba right now. But the problem needs a solution first. So decided to call the lawyer.
Briefly explaining the incident, he assured that he would leave for Gazipur shortly to speak with the rabbi. He is one of the best criminal lawyers in the city. Since there is no evidence against the rabbi, it will not be too difficult for him to bail him out.
The evening passed as the conversation with Lauer progressed. There was one more meeting left. But Shafqat canceled it and left for home. In order to solve the problems of the outside world, I understand that I have brought the problem to my own world.
After returning home, Shafkat went straight to his house. But Saber was nowhere to be seen. But Atiya Alam said, he returned home in the afternoon. Sighing, Shafkat left the room and stepped towards the stairs. Saba must be on the roof. If the girl is upset, she goes there and sits quietly.
Shafqat’s idea came true. Saba sits on the corner of the roof with her favorite tubs. Eyes fixed on the ground. Every tub around him has a lemon tree. A few days ago, the lemon trees gave Shafqat a gift to his lemon. Every time he comes to take care of these trees, he remembers Shafqat. But Shafqat never thought that Saba would have to sit near the trees upset because of that.
Shafkat slowly approached Saba. Sensing his presence, Saba looked up for a few moments. When the two meet at the end of a usually tiring day, Saba’s eyes immediately sparkle with excitement. Hugging Shafqat cheerfully, she says, “Do you know what happened today?”
None of that happened today. Today, instead of cheerfulness, Saba’s eyes are cold. He lowered his eyes from the direction of Shafqat and looked at the ground again.
Shafqat silently sat next to him and hugged him in his chest. Saba did not move in pride. He closed his eyes and put his head on Shafkat’s chest.
Shafqat ran his hand through Saba’s hair and said, “Haven’t I lost it with too much trouble?”
Saba forced a smile and said dryly, “No.”
“I’m sorry Saba. I…”
Shafkat could not say anything else. It seemed to stop. Again and again he is making the girl suffer without his knowledge. A strong wind of repentance swept over him. It is not that his suffering is new. Since the beginning of the marriage, Saba has been suffering in various ways. Even then, the girl used to argue with fiery voice several times in protest of the trouble she gave. But one does not. Contempt carries quietly in itself.
Shafqat said tiredly, “I have become a habit of apologizing for every mistake, haven’t I?”
Saba said with a dirty smile, “It’s done.”
Shafqat said in a repentant tone, “You might think that I am taking advantage of you because you forgive again and again. Repeatedly making mistakes. But believe me Saba, I never want to hurt you.”
Saba raised his head from Shafqat’s chest and looked into his eyes and said, “Shafqat, why are you giving so much forgiveness? I want to know so much?”
Shafqat gave a small sigh and said, “You have suffered.”
Saba smiled that dirty smile again and said, “I didn’t get it!” I know your job is very stressful. I should not have disturbed you unnecessarily.”
“I never get bored of your calls Lemon, never. Today…”
“What happened today?”
Today was already a troublesome day. Shafqat did not want to get into trouble once again by discussing the problem.
So he said in a dismissive manner, “Drop it.”
Saba removed herself from Shafqat’s arms and sat up straight, looking at his face and said, “Well, I gave up. But will you make me a promise?”
“I will,” said Shafqat firmly.
Saba laughed in spite of the coldness and said, “What kind of promise will you do if you tell me without knowing?”
“Yes, I said. Now tell me what promise?”
Saba remained silent for a long time. He knows what he wants to say, but he doesn’t know how to say it. It took so much time to think things through. Shafqat also gave him time to prepare.
Finally breaking the silence, Saba said in a wistful voice, “Never go away from me, Shafqat.”
Shafkat said loudly, “What do you say! Where shall I go?”
Saba said in a dry voice, “Why do you have to go anywhere? Sometimes people even move away from being under one roof.”
Shafkat’s chest twisted strangely. But what is his busyness away from them? Saba looks like they’re moving away, even if they don’t move away. Will Shafkat blame himself, his busyness or the situation? I could not understand it myself.
Saba paused and said, “After suffering a lot in life, I found you Shafqat. For a long time I forgot to smile. I lost my reason for living. I used to live like a mass of matter. I was waiting for the last day of my life. You Shafqat removed all the pains from my painful life. You are the reason for my smile, the means of survival. I can never lose you.”
Shafqat said reassuringly,
“You will never lose me, Lemon. I will always be by your side like this. I promised.”
