Asif and Ruba were batchmates in college but studied in different departments. Their paths crossed when they were both contributing to a magazine published for the Bengali New Year. Asif, a talented poet, left a deep impression on Ruba. She wondered if he still wrote.
After their initial meeting, they quickly grew closer. But now, a vast chasm separates them.
Time, she thought, flew by so quickly.
When they weren’t in class, they’d often rent a rickshaw for hours and explore the city. Every day, their rickshaw journey would take them to a different part of town. Whenever they passed a tea stall, they’d stop to have tea and snacks. They’d even invite the rickshaw puller to join them. At the end of their excursions, many rickshaw pullers would give Asif their phone numbers, asking him to call if they wanted to go out again. Asif, being the friendly soul he was, would often call them.
Before completing their master’s, they got married. They dreamed of a life filled with love and freedom. But reality soon caught up with them. They realized that love alone couldn’t sustain them. They both took up part-time jobs to support themselves. Ruba taught at a kindergarten, and Asif gave tuitions. After completing their master’s, Ruba landed a job at a private bank, while Asif explored various business ventures. They soon had a child. Asif eventually found success in outsourcing. With their combined income, they booked a mid-sized apartment and bought a used car. Their weekends were filled with trips. Life seemed perfect, but it didn’t last.
Rebecca, a young woman, was captivated by Asif from the very first day of their course. His voice, his words, and his overall demeanor had a profound effect on her. They formed a group together, working on various projects like design and marketing. She often interacted with Asif’s daughter, Roudsi, who was remarkably similar to her father. Rebecca also developed a fondness for Asif’s wife, whom she interacted with frequently on video calls. Their family seemed so perfect and harmonious.
Drawn by this ideal image, Rebecca confessed her feelings to Asif. Initially, he rejected her, citing his family commitments and deep bond with his daughter. He described the tender moments he shared with Roudsi, like her nightly habit of hugging him and saying she loved the scent of his skin.
When Rebecca realized her mistake and tried to retreat, Asif encouraged her to continue. She found herself unable to resist him.
Meanwhile, Ruba, Asif’s wife, felt a growing sense of unease. She noticed changes in Asif’s behavior, such as spending more time away from home and returning with unfamiliar scents. When she confronted him, he denied her suspicions.
Ruba, a strong and resilient woman, refused to let Asif’s betrayal consume her. She encouraged Rebecca to leave Asif, but to her shock, Asif himself eventually left.
Rebecca, coming from a wealthy family, had a green card and eventually moved to the US. Asif, too, moved on, realizing the error of his ways.
Ruba, with the support of her family and even Asif’s relatives, managed to rebuild her life. She focused on her work and her daughter’s upbringing.
This tale is a poignant exploration of love, betrayal, and resilience. It highlights the complexities of human relationships and the strength it takes to overcome adversity.
Asif realized he had ruined his life with his own hands. He returned to his country a few days later.
He hadn’t seen his daughter for nearly two and a half years! She must be ten or eleven now; how had she changed? Asif didn’t know. Sometimes, he would wake up in the middle of the night, his heart pounding. He called Ruba one day and told her about it.
Asif wanted to see Roudsy. Ruba reacted strongly, saying he had lost that right. She argued that she had gone through a lot to make their daughter feel normal again; Roudsy used to secretly hug her father’s shirt and cry many nights. After all this time, she had finally adjusted a little. Ruba didn’t want Asif to upset their mother-daughter world again.
Had everyone in town recognized Asif? Did everyone know he was a useless man, a cheating husband, and an irresponsible father? Why did people look at him that way?
Desperate, Asif went to Ruba’s office one day. How hollow Ruba’s eyes looked! Yet, once, those eyes had been filled with so much love. Where had it gone?
Once again, he failed to see his daughter. Ruba said that when Roudsy turned eighteen, she would tell her everything and let her decide if she wanted to see her father.
Asif would stand on the streets, looking at girls Roudsy’s age. A girl walking hand in hand with her father, crossing the road—it was perhaps the most beautiful sight on earth.
One afternoon, Asif secretly went to Roudsy’s school gate. From a distance, his daughter looked right at him! She must have recognized him. She looked at him once more, then averted her gaze.
That night, Asif felt suffocated. He couldn’t take it anymore. There were two crumpled pages in his drawer.
Was it raining so much in Ashwin? So much storm? The clouds must be heartbroken. A lone sparrow perched on an electric wire, its feathers wet, a piece of straw in its beak.
In the afternoon, Ruba took Roudsy to Asif’s old house. The scent of incense filled the air. A few burnt ashes had fallen on the pure white shroud. Ruba picked up the ashes. A few madrasa students were chanting the Quran in a steady, calm voice.
In a steady and calm voice, Roudsy told Ruba that she wanted to touch her father once.
