PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

           Arnab Banerjee is sixty-five years old. He lives alone in Burichong, Comilla. He has much wealth including gold and properties. His son Rabon is in Dhaka with for the last four years. Rabon’s wife Suborna has gone back to her mother’s house after fiercely quarrelling with him.

            Arnab does not like Rabon whatsoever. Even though he is the only son. In fact, Rabon’s stubbornness and indecent behaviour are the two vital causes that have made the father rather bitter. Another activity of Rabon has added insult to injury! Arnab wished earlier that Rabon would stay in Burichong and take care of his father. Besides, he could easily and effectively manage and protect the wealth and properties here. He even promised his father before the marriage that he would continue living in Burichong. But, within a few months of marriage, Rabon started changing as a lizard transforms its colour!

Arnab is a little bit upset with Suborna as well. He thinks that she has made Rabon settle in Dhaka. As a result, Arnab is all alone now. Sometimes, he feels like the Old Mariner of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”!

However, there is a little boy who constantly looks after Arnab. His name is Jamal. Once Arnab was returning from Dhaka by train after visiting his son’s house. When the train is about to stop at Comilla rail station, Arnab saw a boy crying; he was sitting next to the toilet with his head towards the floor and his hands grasping the legs.

Arnab got prepared to get off the train; he even moved towards the gate; suddenly he returned to that boy. By now the bogey was almost empty; the awaiting passengers, who were outside, began to move in. The train was about to leave the station within three minutes.

Arnab felt sorry for the boy. When he asked him his name, no reply came. When he asked again, the boy felt irritated and got off the train. Arnab reached the floor and started looking for the boy all over the place. All of a sudden, he noticed the boy beside a tea stall.

From far away, Arnab observed him from top to bottom. He wore a torn t-shirt and dirty shorts; there were no slippers on. The boy looked much hungry. Wiping off the teardrops, he looked at the hanging bananas and the bread of that stall. He stared at them in such a way as if he were eating them through the eyes!

Arnab went closer to the boy. Seeing him, the boy was about to run away again but at that time Arnab grabs his stick-like hand. He asked,

- Do you want to eat?

- No.

- Are you hungry?

- No. Leave my hand!

- Are you afraid of me? Please don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you. I’m a good man.

- Leave me!

- I can help you boy!

            Arnab bought him some chocolates, bread and bananas. Getting all these foods, he sat at the nearby seat and began to swallow them like an anaconda takes its food inside! Arnab was content watching the little boy eat with much delight. He felt heavenly bliss after helping a hungry boy. In the meantime, the boy told his name.

            Before Arnab got ready to reach home, a thought appeared in his brain abruptly like a bird emerges suddenly and sits on the branch of a tree! He thought about taking Jamal with him if he agreed. Jamal’s fate brought him to Arnab’s household and he became a part of it since then.

            Jamal is like Arnab’s shadow. Wherever he goes, the boy accompanies him. Arnab is much affectionate towards the boy. His big eyes remind Arnab of his late wife Snigdha. When she was alive, Arnab was tension free. Now, depression has overpowered him; it is ever there as an unseen spirit!

            Arnab knows it well that he can become an inhabitant of the afterlife any moment. Even if he is quite disappointed with Rabon, every now and then, he calls him on the phone. He feels a sort of divine solace after talking to him. After all, he is his own blood!

            Arnab’s time passes by telling stories to Jamal. The boy also shares many strange events that he has experienced in his life especially on the train. He says that once a coconut seller has sold a coconut to a passenger but he has forgotten to provide the straw. Before the passenger asks for the straw, the train starts moving ahead. At that time, the passenger looks utterly helpless since his hands are inside the bogey and the coconut is outside the tiny window! Jamal has enjoyed that moment a lot. Arnab wants to know what happens next; Jamal tells that the passenger holds the coconut for a long time but has to throw it away eventually. Saying this, Jamal starts to laugh loudly. Arnab smiles with him too.

            At times, Arnab feels jealous of the boy. He wishes to be a child again; to roam around like the careless wind; to steal mangoes from neighbours’ trees, to run, to hide. Above all, he wishes to enjoy childhood once again!

            But, if life is a gift, it cannot be given twice. Even though the Hindus believe in reincarnation, Arnab thinks otherwise. He thinks that life is to be lived once only. As Tithonus was bestowed the gift of remaining immortal, even after his request to be mortal again, God did not pay heed to him. Such is the condition of human life on earth. Even if most of us have numerous wishes, the Almighty does not grant all of them.

            One day, Arnab falls in the bathroom. With the help of others, he is taken to the nearby hospital immediately. His left leg is fractured. It has swollen like a balloon! Since the pain is intolerable, the doctor has caused him to sleep.

            On the next day, Arnab calls Rabon on the phone. He lets him know of the accident. Rabon feels sorry for it. Arnab has firm belief that his son and daughter-in-law will come to see the bedridden old man but it does not happen.

            It seems to Arnab that his life, at this point in time, is totally meaningless. None cares for him; none gives a damn whether he lives or dies! He feels like a used and dirty piece of cloth that is meant to be thrown away! He feels that people are becoming unemotional robots with the progress of the civilisation.

            Arnab is in his house now. Jamal is taking care of him so nicely. Arnab wishes if Jamal were his son! A boy from the street has sympathy for the old man but his own biological son does not.

            Arnab can walk without any support now. He has stopped taking medicines too. For the last few days, a thought has been poking him like a pin. He thinks of his properties and wealth. He makes a crucial decision in the end.

            After a few days, Arnab passes away. Hearing the sad news, Rabon and Suborna reach Burichong soon. Surprisingly, they are not crying; the situation reminds us of Meursault of “The Stranger” who does not cry after his mother’s death! The advocate Mr. Rakib Haider approaches Rabon to discuss something important. Rakib informs him that the late Arnab has bestowed all his wealth and properties to Jamal.

            Now, both Rabon and Suborna start crying like two little children who have been beaten by the father!