Love in the Coffin Chapter Fourteen It was next Thursday afternoon. Buli was in a hurry. From the office she walked straight to the bus stand. It was drizzling but she did not mind. Even she liked the rain dust that was soaking her face, her dress like fog in the winter night. She got on the bus for New Market. Tengku had changed her whole world with just one single gaze, the gaze that made her love door shiver with numbing sensation as if it was ready to let him go in, any time. Never had it been to her before. She could not sleep that night. She was burning, burning, burning. Her mind was obsessed with one image and with some careless whispers. She must win. She must not let him go. When the bus reached Savar, she looked out of the window. Her innocent, illogical eyes were searching for the most handsome face in the crowd, if she could have a look at him. He might be here for some reason she thought but the cruel bus kept moving. She never had been to Nilkhet before. Buli got off the bus and squeezed through the people to the book shops. When she saw the ‘You Can Win’ along with Shiv Khera’s smiling face, she was overwhelmed with joy. Her heart was beating fast. She took the book in her trembling hand. She heard Tengku’s whisper, ‘You Can Win!’ Yes, she must win. She must. She bought both Bangla and English version. She bought some other books. Then she went to Uttara, Alufa Apa’s house as usual. As soon as she entered into the drawing room, Rahul and Ratul rushed to her, clinging and jumping in excitement. ‘Buli auntie, Buli auntie.’ ‘I’ll fall down. Let me sit. I’ve something for you. Come on’ They went to the guest room. Buli unzipped her handbag and fished out story books she had bought for them. ‘Ghost stories! Real ghosts!’ Her voice was scaring. ‘Help! Help!’ Ratul feigned to be afraid and started skipping. Buli hugged him laughingly. Rahul was a big boy for his age. He started to turn over the pages to see the ghost pictures. ‘And what is this?’ Buli was holding chocolates that they liked so much. ‘Choco Choco!’ Ratul kissed his auntie and started eating voluptuously while fumbling through the colorful pictures of the ghost. He was very happy. Majestic Alufa Apa came down from her royal bower. Buli was not that much free with her. What she could share with Arju Apa so easily, she could not share with her, but today she became a teen age girl again. ‘I thought you wouldn’t come today.’ Alufa Apa stated. ‘I’m late because I went to Nilkhet to buy books. I’ve never been there before. I felt dizzy seeing books, books and books. Books are every where.’ Buli paused to take a breath. ‘I lost my way while I was in the book market. I had to ask a girl to show me the way out, my god!’ Alufa Afa was stunned to see her younger sister so excited. She was speaking like a teen age girl. ‘I went to buy especially for this.’ She showed her ‘You Can Win’. ‘It’s a great book. It can change your life. Tengku had suggested me to read it. Apa, you remember Tengku, Beggar Tengku? He used to beg with his grand father. His parents were crashed to death by the branch of the tree in the deadly storm. Can you remember now?’ It seemed Alufa Apa had heard this name before but never seen who he was. ‘He has passed his M.A, and is doing job in the Korean company. Executive officer. He is such a brilliant, such a handsome, such a nice young man!’ Her eyes sparked with sudden happy excitement. ‘I never dreamt it would happen but it happened He went to me one evening just to say he cares for me. He offers me to go to Savar, if I’m sad. What does this mean? This means he is in love with me, and I’ve decided to marry him.’ ‘What! You’ll marry a beggar?’ ‘He’s not a beggar, he’s educated, he’s smart, he’s handsome, he’s…..’ ‘Shut up! Don’t even mention his name. Ratul’s father will kill you.’ She went to the TV room and started to watch B4U. Bipasha Bose was raising storm with her dance. Buli’s heart sank in despair. That’s why she did not want to tell her first. Arju Apa will understand her. ‘Buli auntie, you will get married?’ Young Ratul asked as if he was whispering, afraid of his mother. Buli nodded. ‘You love him?’ It was Rahul. Buli nodded again. ‘What is his name?’ ‘Tengku.’ ‘Tengku, Tengku.’ ‘sssssh, Tengku uncle.’ ‘Tengku uncle will give me choco choco?’ ‘Yes, as many as you want.’ ‘Rahul vaia, we’re on which side?’ ‘Buli auntie.’ And Buli auntie started to tell them stories of her childhood where Hatem and Tengku were her ‘never come to talk to me’ friends and lovers.’ When Labu heard he did not believe it. ‘Tengku was a good student. Now he is doing a smart job. No, he can’t marry Buli.’ At dinner table the matter went to Rumel dulavai’s ears. He was Chowdhury, and he was conscious of his status and dignity. He only said calmly, ‘I must stop going to my in law’s house. A beggar cannot be my brother in law.’ Buli had to weep that night. Next day when Arju Apa came before lunch, Buli was optimistic, but Rumel dulavai agreed on one condition Tengku must pass his test. He must prove he had left behind his begging mind when he had bathed in the sacred water of education. His heart must be purified. At last Buli was happy. She was looking forward to Eid vacation. In the mean time, she was taking her preparation. She started to take care of her body; she had never done it before. At their next encounter, she must burn his eyes with her dazzling beauty.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 16:19:15 +0000
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