The library was steeped in silence. Friends hid their faces behind books, all waiting eagerly for the new episode of Jon and Neela’s story. Neela’s friends waited in anticipation—if Jon touched Neela, she would lose and, as per her challenge, would have to treat all her friends to a lavish dinner worth fifteen hundred dollars. On the other hand, Jon’s friends were on edge because, contrary to his usual nature, Jon was not doing anything today.
For instance, he had picked up a girl in his car, but unlike usual, he did nothing with her. Strangely enough, there wasn’t even a hint of frustration or dissatisfaction on his face. Instead, he seemed to be in a lighthearted mood, discussing academic topics with Neela all the way back to campus. Something was off. Something didn’t add up. The carefree Jon, who saw no meaning in academics and attended classes only to fulfill his father’s conditions for inheritance—the Jon who was hopelessly addicted to women, who didn’t understand the first thing about love but sought intimacy with a new girl every day just to pass the time—was suddenly behaving out of character.
Today, he came to class fully prepared, even impressing the professor. He didn’t pick up random girls in his car but instead sat with a studious girl like Neela, discussing coursework. Even after spending considerable time together in the car, he didn’t even try to touch her. And now, keeping his word, he had come to study with her in the library! Could this really be Jon? His friends whispered among themselves, sensing an eerie calm before the storm. Everything felt oddly heavy, like the suffocating air before a hurricane.
Jon slowly approached Neela’s table and politely asked, “May I sit here?”
Despite Abraham’s repeated warnings, Audry couldn’t resist the urge to whistle at the theatrics unfolding before them. On any other day, Jon might have slapped him hard, but today, he didn’t seem to notice. His gaze remained fixed on Neela. This Jon was unfamiliar to everyone.
Seeing Jon actually show up at the library left Neela somewhat flustered. Her throat suddenly felt dry, and as she reached into her bag for a water bottle, she ended up in a messy hiccuping fit. Rushing to help, Jon quickly fetched her a napkin. The act was so out of character for him that his friends sat with their mouths agape, unable to close them.
So, what ultimately happened was that Jon truly transformed into a new version of himself. He found joy in academics. Although, at first, it was merely an attempt to impress Neela, over time, in trying to impress her, he genuinely began to enjoy studying. He started challenging himself academically, developing an interest in new subjects, and immersing himself in his studies. At the same time, he encouraged Neela in her pursuit of journalism, and together, they embarked on various projects. Success followed quickly. Their joint efforts in university and across the city earned them immense praise, making them beloved among students and professors alike.
But happiness is never eternal. Just as one train of joy sets off from one direction, another train of sorrow starts from the opposite track, and eventually, they collide so violently that all traces of happiness vanish, leaving only pain.
As time passed, Jon’s friends saw less and less of him. Outside of class and the library, he seemed to have no other life. The two studied together in the library, ordered food via Uber Eats when hungry, and had dinner together before Jon dropped Neela home at night. This routine continued day after day. His friends no longer found him in bars, pubs, or discos, nor could they access his credit card as they used to. Jon no longer needed anyone to do his assignments—he completed them himself and even helped Neela with hers. They became inseparable, walking side by side in life.
But, as I said, no happiness lasts forever. No matter how much Jon tried to restrain himself, he was still a man, and at the end of the day, he had his desires. One day, in the car, he touched Neela, and she felt an electric jolt course through her body. She took Jon to her apartment and gave herself to him completely. Passionate, reckless love followed, continuing day after day.
But happiness didn’t stop there—like a powerful storm, it swept Neela away along with her love. Slowly, the two drifted apart. In the wild waves of their passionate love, Neela hadn’t even realized when she had become pregnant. And that was where the real problem began.
When she told Jon, his first reaction was to blame her for being so careless. Gradually, he became irritated—annoyed by her lack of enthusiasm for intimacy, by her frequent bouts of sickness, by her throwing up everywhere. Jon started growing distant.
Meanwhile, Neela, like any traditional Bengali woman, had dreamed of a happy ending at this stage in her life. But instead, she faced Jon’s indifference, negligence, complaints, avoidance, and lack of support. It broke her. Back home, her parents sensed something was wrong. Though they knew nothing about Jon or her pregnancy, they suspected trouble when Neela’s brother, Nabil, returned home without her and refused to speak about her situation. Eventually, one day, her mother called and insisted that she visit home soon.
A mother’s instincts are sharp—how could she hide the truth? No matter how much Neela tried to make excuses about exams and other commitments, her mother refused to relent. In the end, seeing no other way, Neela cut off all contact with her family. Her parents were distraught. They assumed she had had a fight with her husband and that’s why neither she nor Nabil was saying anything.
As days passed, Neela endured her pain in silence. And then, one day, her life was illuminated—her daughter, Naira, was born.
Holding Naira gave Neela an unexplainable strength. With the help of a social worker, she arranged childcare for Naira, allowing her to work during part of the day while spending the rest with her daughter. Those hours together were pure bliss—a little piece of heaven on earth.
As Naira grew, Neela’s worries deepened. Two years passed, but Naira didn’t speak. She wasn’t growing like other children her age. Eventually, after numerous medical tests, the family doctor diagnosed her with developmental delay.
Neela couldn’t afford private treatment. She applied for government funding, only to learn that the process could take up to four years. After all the battles she had already fought, she didn’t have the patience for another struggle.
So, she made up her mind—she would return home, to the land where she had once been a princess in her father’s house. This was her reality.
Scarborough, Canada
