At night the bell rang. I opened the door. I saw Zara standing with two big bags. She smiled at me so gorgeously that anyone would go crazy.
Zara: Why are you looking like that?Hridoy: Looking.Zara: Looking at what?Hridoy: At my future wife.Zara: That's enough looking. Move now.
Hridi: Hey Zara, come here.
They appeared to have been friends for a lifetime. Mom came too.
Mom: Hridi, take Zara to her room.Hridi: Coming, Mom.Hridi: You don't have to carry those bags yourself. Hridoy, take her two bags.Hridoy: Why me? You take one.Hridi: I'm taking her—can't you see?Mom: Alright, Hridoy, take them.Hridoy: Mom, you support her too.
We carried the two bags upstairs. I was still furious at Zara. Why did she have to have such heavy bags? Nobody had died in them—what was so heavy in the world? Struggling, I was carrying one bag on my shoulder and one in my hand when all of a sudden both bags felt lighter. I looked at Zara; she was smiling mischievously. So she'd put some kind of magic on them. Anyway, grumbling, I lifted both bags.
Hridi: Hey, were those bags heavy? How did you manage to bring them so comfortably?Hridoy: Heavy bag lifting is kid's play for me.Hridi: Show me then. How did you manage to carry such heavy bags?Hridoy: You should know who I am by now. You can't do this.Hridi: Okay, okay, no need to show off.Hridoy: Where am I showing off?Hridi: Why are you following us then?Hridoy: What do you mean? I'm not following you.Hridi: Yes you are. You're finished with your work. Now go to your own room. Zara and I will take over this room from today.Hridoy: What, and I'll sleep alone?Hridi: Not alone. We'll be in the next room to yours, right?Hridoy: Okay. I'll bring a male friend to stay with me then.Hridi: Hey, you've got such a pretty sister at home. Don't you know you can't bring a guy to the house?Hridoy: Are you crazy? You've got such a good-looking brother at home, and you're bringing your boyfriend over?Hridi (whispering): I'll date whoever I want. And listen, you just don't even think about Zara.
Zara was watching our quarrel and smiling. Nothing, we have many more disputes. In rage, I closed my bedroom door and collapsed on the bed. When I am angry, I feel like doing a lot of things, including playing guitar. I picked it up and started playing.
Why did you get so weird, why did I hurt you sad...
Singing calms me down to some degree — maybe more than some degree. This guitar is one of my favorite things. Hridi got it for my birthday in seventh grade. No matter how many times we fight, there are some things that make everything all right immediately. I opened the door.
Hridi (to Zara): See? I said — once she starts singing, my brother will come out on his own.Zara: Wow, you sing so beautifully.Hridi: Mmm, I taught her. You know she also plays the guitar very well.Zara: Mmm, I can see.
The three of us chatted all evening. What else to do — tonight I must sleep alone. After dinner everyone went to their rooms. I went back to mine and lay down. I fell asleep.
At around midnight I felt someone calling me. I opened my eyes and found Zara calling.
Zara: You're sleeping so much. How long have I been calling?Hridoy: What are you doing here so late?Zara: Oh, never mind. Don't worry.Hridoy: Say it low, somebody will hear.Zara: Nobody will hear. Everybody's snoring and sleeping.Hridoy: So what brings you here at this time?Zara: You had to sleep alone tonight, so I came to give you company for a while.Hridoy: You mean—Zara: Shh, enough of the "you mean" — just shut up.
Zara hugged me tightly.
Zara: If only I had the wings of a sky fairy, I would fly with you over the entire sky right now.Hridoy: But you don't.Zara: Is there any pond nearby? Let's go for a walk, just the two of us.Hridoy: Oh no. Just stay curled up in my chest like this. You don't have to go anywhere today.Zara: Why? You don't feel like going out?Hridoy: Not that. I just want to talk to you.Zara: Ohhh. Then talk.Hridoy: How did you manage to get so many clothes in a single night?Zara: That shopping mall close to your college. I went there. And I took all the clothes I liked.Hridoy: Did you pay for them?Zara: What do you mean?Hridoy: You mean you stole all of them.Zara: Why would I steal? I'm a princess.Hridoy: Then why did you bring back so many clothes for what?Zara: Why would taking them for nothing be stealing?Hridoy: Yes. Here, that would be stealing.Zara: Sorry.Hridoy: You won't go to college tomorrow.Zara: Why?Hridoy: Didn't you see how the boys at college are looking at you? I don't like that.Zara: Oh come on. You're acting like you're burning up.Hridoy: Yes, I am. You're not going to college from tomorrow.Zara: They can only look. They can't do anything. Let them see; if you end up with me, you'll be mine still, won't you?Hridoy: Even then, I don't like it.Zara: Okay, shut up. Let me sleep. I'll sleep on your chest.
I hugged Zara tightly and we slept. We both slept the whole night. When I woke up, Zara was not present—she must have left before sunrise. Anyway, she left for Hridi.
I prepared myself and went downstairs for breakfast. I saw Zara and Hridi sitting and eating breakfast in their college uniforms. Zara looked prettier today. I knew why—Hridi must have done her makeup.
Mom: Zara, you look so beautiful.Hridi: See? I've dressed her up.Hridoy: Sure you did—you've made a real bride of her.Zara (angrily): What?!
The girl was attempting to speak to me, yet I wasn't giving her any chance. Numerous young ladies try to captivate me; Hridi generally deals with them, yet today she's alone and I need to manage her. I rushed to college, paid the fare, and went straight to class.
I saw Hridi and Zara talking with two boys, laughing a lot. The two guys were trying to make Hridi and Zara laugh, and both of them were smiling. I'm really angry at Zara. She's cast a spell on my sister. My sister has never talked to any boy without me around, and today she's laughing and chatting with two boys. Zara's talking too. I am so furious, but I can't do anything.
I didn't leave the class; I kept quiet during the class. Zara and Hridi ended their discussion with those boys. The two boys realized I'm Hridi's brother because we look alike, so they went away and went back to their seats.
We have a new teacher who has joined our class.
Teacher: I mainly teach literature in this college. I don't have a class at present, but Kamal sir won't be coming today, so I have to take it. We'll start the class with a song. Who will sing?
No one raised their hand. I felt irritated—actually I was desperate to sing. Hridi and Zara could understand I was really upset.
Teacher: What's your name?Hridoy: Hridoy Bappi.Teacher: Okay, Hridoy, you can sing.
I got up from my bench and went to the front. Shanta came into the classroom.
Teacher: Yes, come in.
Shanta took a seat on a bench.
Teacher: So, Hridoy, do you like singing?Hridoy: No, sir. I sing when I'm angry.Teacher: Then are you angry now?Hridoy: Yes, sir.Teacher: Wow, I've never known anyone who sings when they're angry. Start the song, and then we will commence the lesson.Hridoy: Yes, sir.