Raisa has come to the restaurant dressed very beautifully. The girl who forgot to dress up under the pressure of the world, now dresses up to please herself. The dress up is not to show anyone. She dresses up for herself. Now her own satisfaction is more important to her than anything else. When she dresses up, she feels good. For example, today her mind is very good. She repeatedly turns on the front camera of her mobile and wants to see herself.
They entered and saw Adnan who had come earlier and was waiting. Seeing Rehnuma Begum, Adnan stood up and greeted him. Raisa’s father shook hands with Adnan and asked, how are you?
Adnan replied with a smile, Uncle. Very good. How are you?
– We are also fine. But what was the need for all this?
– I wanted to have dinner with you again. So I thought I would ask you to come somewhere nearby. I don’t have a home in this city.
Rehnuma said, then come home. From now on, whenever you feel like sitting and eating with someone, come to my house.
– Thank you aunty.
Adnan looked at Raisa with narrowed eyes. He was trying to understand Raisa’s attitude. Raisa said to herself, “I don’t know all this. You and your aunty will understand this.”
Rehnuma said, “Father Adnan. Don’t listen to Raisa. You and I will understand this. Whether she asks you to come or not, you should come.”
Adnan got up and placed his head on Raisa’s mother’s head and said in a very affectionate manner, “This is not a real aunty. How beautifully you are pampering me. Who will say that I have no one in Dhaka when you see me?”
Hearing Adnan’s affectionate voice, Rehnuma Begum was overwhelmed and said, “Oh, my father. Don’t say that you have no one. We are here. When you feel alone, come to me. Your aunty alone is enough.”
– Thank you aunty. Will you talk to my mother?
Rehnuma Begum could not give an immediate answer. Adnan said quickly, not now. I will send you my mother’s number. And I will also tell my mother about you that you have a sister in Dhaka city. My mother is very much like you. Very simple and very sociable. You will feel very good if you talk to your mother. You will see that she will be very eager to meet you. She will call you every morning and tell you that you have moved to Sirajganj.
Rehnuma Begum smiled. Raisa noticed that her father’s face was also smiling. After how long she had seen her parents smiling like this. Both her parents had simplicity mixed in their faces. Raisa’s heart was starting to feel something. It had been almost eight months since she had come to this house. How long had it been since the divorce. Her parents had not smiled like this for a long time. Raisa had made herself very independent. She always tried to make her parents smile. But in these eight months, she could never make them smile like this. How beautifully they are smiling today! Raisa felt grateful to Adnan.
Adnan said, “We will be given three menus here.” Raisa frowned. The waiter gave her three menus with a smile. Adnan gave one to Raisa and the other two to her parents. He said, “Order whatever you like.” Raisa’s father said, “Hey, how is that possible? You invited us. What will you feed us today, Rehnuma?”
Rehnuma Begum said, “Exactly. Adnan Baba, do whatever you order.”
Adnan looked at Raisa. He asked, “Do you also like that? Or will you help me order?”
“Of course, I will help.”
Raisa looked at the menu and started talking to Adnan about what to order. When the two of them started choosing their food, Rehnuma Begum was very impressed and was watching them. She said to her husband, “Let’s go and have a look around.”
Rehnuma Begum and Raisa’s father got up. After selecting a few dishes, Raisa said, “Wouldn’t these be good?”
“Yes, they would be very good. Give me something special for you?”
“These are all special. I don’t need anything special for me.”
“Shall I select that on my behalf?”
“Then that’s very good. You eat what you like.”
Adnan flipped through the menu and chose a dish and told Raisa, let it be a surprise.
Then without showing Raisa, he called the waiter and ordered the dishes.
Raisa said, Thank you Adnan.
Adnan was surprised. He asked why?
– For everything.
– Oh, okay. Welcome.
Seeing that Raisa was not saying anything, Adnan said, The restaurant is very nice. I have wanted to come for a long time, but I have not come before. Actually, I rarely eat at restaurants alone.
– Why don’t you have a circle of friends?
– Yes. But tell me how many other restaurants do you eat with friends? Sometimes, even if there is a special meeting or occasion. We don’t eat outside without a reason. Maybe someone gave us a treat. Otherwise, when we have to talk outside, we prefer coffee or tea.
Raisa shook her head and said, Oh, okay. I came here twice with my mother. After I got a job, I try to eat out with my parents. Sometimes I take them to a restaurant and treat them. They are very happy.
– You are a very good girl, Raisa.
– How did you understand?
– This is the job you are doing. Independently. Along with taking care of your family. Girls your age become very selfish after taking care of the family and are busy fulfilling their own desires.
– I also fulfill all my desires. For example, I buy a lot of clothes and then buy shoes and makeup items. These are my hobbies. But even then, I don’t end up spending everything like this anymore. I try to do something for my parents.
– I noticed that. The other day I saw you doing shopping. And helping your mother with her work. When you get time, you come to eat at a restaurant with your parents. These are very good things. Very few children these days do this.
– Those who have such a mentality always do it. There must be people with such a mentality in this era too.
– There is, like you. Where did uncle and aunt go? Are you going there too or not?
– You can go.
– I asked to serve welcome drinks for everyone. Maybe drinks will come any time.
– So if parents don’t come by then, we’ll go get drinks for them.
– That’s good.
After that, both of them were silent for a while. Not knowing what to do, Raisa started looking at the menu card. Adnan suddenly broke the silence and said, “May I ask you a personal question?”
Raisa was surprised. Was Adnan going to ask her if she was married or not? Suddenly, Raisa became depressed. An unknown fear settled in her.
Adnan said, “I heard from Aunty that you have a brother. He doesn’t come home. Although it becomes a very personal question. Still, I really want to know the reason. If I can give you a solution.”
Raisa took a small breath and said, “After knowing the truth, you might not like eating the food today.”
– Why? Does it have anything to do with the food?
– When we have a heart attack or shock for some reason, we can no longer eat.
– What do you mean your words will shock me so much?
– Of course.
– Okay. Then I won’t listen now. Not because of whether I can eat the food or not. Rather, the fact that I will be so shocked that I can’t eat is definitely a very heavy thing for you to say. You will definitely feel bad for saying that. I don’t want to ruin such a beautiful moment. I’m sorry.
– It’s okay.
– If there is ever a chance, maybe you will say it yourself that day.
– Maybe. But the possibility of that chance is low.
– Why?
– Your habit of disappearing. It doesn’t seem like we will have a chance to share very personal conversations.
While saying that, Raisa laughed out loud. Adnan didn’t laugh. Instead, he said with a stern face, I don’t know how you will see the matter? But to be honest, I didn’t knock you down on purpose.
Raisa was surprised and said why?
– What do you think? I told you that day. You might think I’m trying to flirt. You might think I’m trying to get closer after such a short acquaintance. Or etc. etc. I didn’t really want to prove myself cheap.
Raisa looked away and smiled. Then she said, “You did well not to give it to me. Then maybe your words would have really come true. We wouldn’t have had dinner together here today.”
Adnan didn’t say anything. At that time, the welcome drinks arrived. Adnan said, “They haven’t come yet.”
– You sit down. I’ll find them.
Raisa came up to look for her parents. She glanced at Adnan from a distance. Adnan was sitting with his head down. He was a very humble, polite person. Raisa didn’t know why she suddenly met this man. And why did he come here today..
She called her parents and they had juice together. Rehenuma Begum said, Dad, Adnan, save your number in my phone.
She handed the phone to Adnan. Raisa’s eyes widened and she started watching their behavior. Adnan ignored Raisa’s gaze at all. She took the phone from her aunty without hesitation, dialed her number and said, “I’ll give you a call.”
As usual, Adnan started telling stories to the elders. The kind of stories that can be told to the elders. The current situation in the country, politics, sports were not left out. Raisa was quietly listening to their conversation. In the meantime, the food arrived. After the food arrived, the chat became a little resigned.
The food that Adnan had ordered without Raisa’s knowledge was placed in front of Raisa. Raisa smiled. The presentation was very beautiful. Adnan himself had chosen it for her. Raisa started eating the food. A smile of gratitude remained on her face.
At one point, Adnan took a few selfies with everyone’s permission. And jokingly said, “Uncle, you look younger than me in the picture.”
Raisa’s father said, “I am still young. I am not very old.”
They continued their jokes like this. The meal was finished amidst laughter and jokes. After eating, Raisa’s father said, “Was the food very good today?”
Although the question was aimed at Raisa and Rehnuma Begum, Adnan immediately said, “Yes, yes, it was very tasty.”
– Thank you Adnan. For such a beautiful arrangement.
– I didn’t arrange it, uncle.
– You invited us. If you hadn’t invited us, we wouldn’t have come today. And the food menu selection was great. Thank you, both Raisa and Adnan.
Raisa smiled. Her parents blended in very nicely with Adnan. It really seems like Adnan is a close relative of theirs. While Raisa sat quietly, they were chatting very nicely with Adnan. Stories about various topics. Raisa took Rehnuma Begum and looked around a bit. She also took some pictures with her mother at a few places. Then she came and saw that her father and Adnan were still chatting.
Raisa said, “Shouldn’t we go home?” It was getting late.
Raisa’s father said, “Yes, yes. I’ll get up now.” Then they started talking again. Raisa came and sat on the chair next to her. Once, I made eye contact with Adnan. Adnan smiled. He was listening attentively to his father. Elders like listeners who listen attentively.
Finally, everyone got up to say goodbye. At that time, Adnan said, “I’ll call an Uber. When the car arrives, you can leave.”
Everyone sat down. After the car arrived, when everyone went out on the road, Adnan softly told Raisa, “Be careful.”
Raisa didn’t say anything. She just stared at him for a long time.
Raisa got into the car and sent a text to Adnan, “Thanks for everything.”
