The love of my life was being dragged away by the police. He kept pleading his innocence in a trembling voice, but the police didn’t listen. They took him away.
The atmosphere in the house was calm, eerily silent. Everyone was left wondering—how did things take such a turn? Just a few hours ago, the boy came home. Then suddenly, the police came and took him away.
About two hours earlier—
Choyon returned home, panting and disheveled. Seeing him, Grandpa became furious and was about to throw him out when Choyon clutched Grandma and cried out, “Ma!” Everyone was stunned. They looked at him in disbelief. Grandma tried to calm Choyon down, but he couldn’t stop crying. While we were all trying to pacify him, the police arrived.
“Who here is Choyon Sikder?” they asked.
Grandpa replied, “Why? Why are you looking for Choyon all of a sudden?”
“Choyon Sikder has committed a murder and fled,” one officer stated.
Their eyes quickly found Choyon. They caught hold of him. Amid all this, Choyon said only once, “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t commit any murder.”
The police didn’t listen. They took him away. The entire family remained in shock. After five years, Choyon suddenly came back, only to be taken away by police. It was all so unexpected. As everyone sat in silence, I said, “I’m going to the station. Is anyone coming with me?”
Everyone looked at me in surprise. I didn’t wait for a response—I grabbed my purse and headed out. My father, Grandpa, and Grandma hurried after me.
“We’re coming too,” they said.
Leaving Mom at home, we all left for the police station. As soon as Grandma saw Choyon there, she broke down in tears. Choyon kept repeating, “Ma, I didn’t do anything.”
Dad and Grandpa spoke with the police. They told us that Choyon would be sent to Dhaka. The case was based there. The only information they had was that Choyon had murdered the housemaid and fled.
Everyone met Choyon before he was taken. The police from Dhaka were already there to escort him. I went last and stood in front of him. Choyon looked at me with calm eyes and said in a soft voice,
“You should’ve just forced me to marry you that day, Phool. Then I wouldn’t be in this mess today.”
I stared at him, stunned. Then I said coldly,
“Didn’t you say that if you married me, you’d spend the rest of your life in regret?”
Choyon didn’t reply. He just looked at me helplessly. The police hurried him along. He left. I stood still. Grandma came and pulled me away. Sitting in the car, I realized my eyes were wet with tears. But I wasn’t supposed to cry. I should’ve been happy. The man I loved was now regretting not choosing me. I should’ve been happy knowing that.
Then why couldn’t I be?
—
Back at home, I found Tonoya had arrived. She hugged Grandma tightly and cried,
“Where did it all go wrong, Ma? My happy life is ruined. Everything is over.”
Grandma didn’t respond. But Grandpa did.
“My son tried to live happily with you. Then why are you both so miserable now? Couldn’t you keep my son happy?”
Tonoya didn’t answer. She just kept crying. And for some reason, her tears annoyed me. Nothing felt right. I went to my room, shut the door, and lay down, diving into memories of the past.
How beautiful those days were…
In the past—
I was reading a novel when Choyon snatched it from my hand. Annoyed, I said,
“Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me? Why did you take my book?”
Choyon replied with a serious face,
“There’s something more important than reading a novel right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re my cousin, but more importantly, you’re my friend, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m in big trouble, friend. I need your help. You’re the only one who can save me.”
“What kind of trouble? You seem perfectly fine to me.”
Choyon sat beside me and held my right hand. I shivered from his touch. That shiver had started happening recently—ever since I realized I had special feelings for Choyon. Sometimes, I even blushed.
“Where’d you go, Shefa?”
His voice snapped me back to reality.
“Yes, I’m listening. Tell me.”
“You’ll help me, right?”
“I need to know what the problem is before I agree.”
Choyon blushed. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”
Now I was intrigued. “What’s so embarrassing?”
“I’ve fallen in love, Shefa.”
“With whom?”
I was shocked. Who had Choyon fallen in love with?
“You won’t believe it—I’ve fallen for that city girl visiting Rani’s house.”
My heart trembled. I looked at Choyon—he was smiling.
“I really like her. Believe me, I’ve never felt this way before.”
A storm raged inside me. Still, I composed myself and asked,
“So what do you want me to do?”
“You know you’re my only real friend. We’re more friends than cousins. I share everything with you.”
“And?”
“Can you give her the proposal for me? I know you can.”
I stayed silent.
“What happened? You’ll do it, right?”
“I’ll do it.”
“That’s more like my friend!”
He pulled my cheek and smiled. I gave a faint smile back.
“Now go. I’ll tell her at the right time.”
“Okay!”
And with that, Choyon left—leaving behind an ache as vast as the sky in my chest.
—
Choyon followed me around for the next few days, eager for me to talk to Tonoya. Tonoya was Rani’s cousin from Dhaka, here for a short visit.
Finally, I gave in and told Tonoya everything. She replied,
“I’d rather hear it from Choyon himself. Tell him to come speak to me.”
I passed the message to Choyon. For two days, he practiced with me how to confess. Finally, he told Tonoya—and they started dating.
Choyon would tell me everything—how things were going, what they talked about. I couldn’t escape it. One day, fed up, I said,
“Why do you keep telling me all this? Do whatever you want with her—but don’t bring it to me!”
Choyon looked puzzled.
“Why are you reacting like this? I always tell you everything.”
I just said, “Sorry,” and walked away.
After that, he didn’t talk to me about Tonoya anymore.
Time passed. One day, he said,
“Tonoya is going back to the city today. I’m really sad.”
I saw the love for Tonoya in his eyes, and gave him a faint smile. The man I loved… loved someone else.
—
Even after Tonoya left, their relationship continued over the phone. They were happy. Seeing Choyon happy made me happy too. Yet somewhere deep inside, a dull ache remained.
Meanwhile, my father and Grandpa arranged our marriage. Choyon was shocked. He came to me and asked,
“Shefa, what is the family saying? We’re just friends. How can we marry?”
“Can’t friends marry?”
My question startled him. Then I said,
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell them we won’t marry. Besides, you love Tonoya.”
“Yes.”
We informed the family that we didn’t want to marry. But they disagreed, saying they had made this decision when we were kids. So the marriage must happen.
Just as Choyon was about to confess his love for Tonoya, Grandma interrupted,
“Shefa, why are you suddenly against this marriage? You love Choyon.”
Choyon looked at me in surprise. Clearly shocked.
I didn’t respond. Later, he asked his mother,
“What does she mean Shefa loves me? There’s nothing like that between us.”
“Who said there isn’t? Shefa was overjoyed when we confirmed your marriage. She said she loves you. We just never got around to telling you.”
Choyon wasn’t prepared for this. He couldn’t bring himself to talk about Tonoya after that.
He came to me angry, saying,
“You love me? Since when? Where did this come from?”
He said a lot. I just let my silent tears fall.
Later, Choyon told Grandpa that he loved Tonoya and wanted to marry her. But Grandpa refused. The whole family tried to convince him otherwise. To pull him away from Tonoya, they rushed the wedding preparations.
—
I tried to explain, but no one listened. They said Choyon was young and confused. That he didn’t know what love was. That he actually loved me.
Somewhere, this idea took root in my mind too. So I stopped resisting.
Meanwhile, Choyon couldn’t reach Tonoya. And our wedding day arrived amidst all the chaos.
—
Just before the wedding, Choyon barged into my room—where I sat dressed as a bride. Furious, he grabbed my arm and said,
“What kind of girl are you? You didn’t even hesitate to steal another woman’s love. Selfish!”
I gave a weak smile.
“I wanted to be selfish. But I couldn’t. I saw your love for Tonoya and just couldn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
Still confused, he asked. I smiled and said,
“Tonoya is behind the house with Rani. Go to her. Build that dream life you both wanted.”
Choyon couldn’t believe it. I urged him to go. He hugged me and said,
“Thank you. I can’t explain how happy I am. But believe me, if I had known how you felt, maybe Tonoya wouldn’t have entered my life. I would’ve tried to feel something for you. I never wanted to hurt you, Shefa.”
With a smile, I sent him off.
The family was furious with me. I couldn’t explain why I did what I did. But I knew—if the person I love is happy, that’s enough for me.
Grandpa was the angriest. He declared Choyon was never to return to this house. When Choyon came twice afterward, they didn’t let him in.
So, Choyon was forced to start a new life with Tonoya in Dhaka.
