Mr. Afaj shot a teasing smirk at his wife, the corner of his eye twinkling with amusement. "Goodness, my lovely wife! I've been hearing this particular threat of you packing your bags and leaving for your father's house for the last twenty-five years now."
Jahanara Begum didn't miss a beat, her tone as fiery as ever. "It is your boundless good fortune to have found a girl as virtuous and accomplished as me! You should count yourself lucky for seven lifetimes."
Afaj Saheb continued to chuckle, unable to resist one final dig. "We don't get seven lifetimes, my love. Just this one, short life!"
Unbeknownst to them, Nafiz had been observing the entire spectacle from the shadows. With a dramatic flair, he began to clap his hands slowly, a mocking grin on his face. "Wow! Bravo! Now, if the grand love story between the honorable wife and her esteemed expatriate husband has concluded, perhaps we can finally, graciously, have breakfast?"
Afaj Saheb pretended to be annoyed by his son's interruption, muttering under his breath, "Dammit! He just couldn't wait, could he? Always showing up like a third wheel in a relationship."
Nafiz, with his sharp hearing, caught every word and burst into a loud, hearty laugh. Still laughing, he turned to his father. "Pray tell, Afaj Babu, exactly which lifetime's 'dammit' am I to you?"
Caught by his son's witty retaliation, Afaj Saheb decided to retire gracefully. He continued to smile quietly as he made his way toward the breakfast table. Jahanara Begum shot a playful glance at Nafiz. "Like father, like son!" she retorted, turning towards the kitchen to finalize the breakfast spread.
The time was 1:30 PM. The qualifying exams were over, and a wave of relief washed over the students. Nafiz and his tight-knit group of friends had huddled together in a quiet corner of the campus, trying to catch a breath. The afternoon sun was unusually fierce today, beating down with an intensity that seemed personal. The four friends—Faiyaz, Mahir, Ohin, and Nafiz—were all final-year Higher Secondary examinees, carrying the weight of the upcoming results on their shoulders.
Ohin gave Faiyaz a friendly nudge. "I swear, the sun must have had a spectacular argument with his wife today! Look at how the heat is making us sweat bullets."
Mahir interrupted them, his tone unusually serious. "Guys, drop the nonsense and let's focus on solving the questions. Based on how I did, I'm not sure I'll even make the top five list this time."
At this show of modesty, Faiyaz gave him a playful slap on the back, a smile playing on his lips. "Shut up, you rascal! You do this drama every single time, acting all humble, only to hit a home run when the results come out. We know all your tricks, so cut the act!"
Watching his friend getting cornered, Nafiz couldn't resist a sarcastic dig of his own. "Come on, Faiyaz, you can't treat our future 'Buetian' (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology graduate) like that!"
Everyone burst into a round of laughter at this. But Faiyaz quickly shot back, "You shut up! You're on a whole other level, you piece of work!"
Nafiz turned to Faiyaz, a playful glint in his eye. "Don't shame me by calling me that, friend. Besides, your sister is one class my senior. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to marry your sister. Sorry!"
Sensing the atmosphere was about to turn, Nafiz bolted, trying to escape. Faiyaz roared in mock fury behind him, "You worthless scoundrel, stop right there! I'm going to kill you and bury you today!"
As Nafiz sprinted, he didn't notice two girls walking directly in his path. In his haste, he tripped and stumbled, falling flat onto the pavement. The girls gasped in surprise, clearly startled. Nafiz scrambled to his feet, trying to maintain some dignity. One of the girls spoke up immediately, her voice laced with concern. "Brother, you've cut your hand!"
Nafiz had already started to turn away to continue his escape, but something made him pause. He looked at the girl. She had a warm, dusky complexion and wore a simple school uniform, her hair neatly divided into two long braids. She wore a watch, and her overall appearance was tidy and composed. But it was her eyes that truly made Nafiz stop. They were small, yet they held an unexpected depth, a vast, swirling sea that seemed to cast a strange, mesmerizing spell over him.
The girl repeated, a touch more softly, "Brother?"
Nafiz finally snapped out of his reverie. The girl offered, "Would you like some water (Jol), brother?"
The question hit Nafiz like a thunderclap. The smile vanished from his face instantly, replaced by a sudden, chilling frown. A realization crystallized in his mind—this dusky maiden is Hindu.
With a stiff, distant tone, Nafiz replied, "No, thank you."
The other girl, standing slightly behind her, tugged at her arm. "Come on, Mishti! We're going to be late."
As the girls walked past him, Nafiz's three friends watched the entire scene from a distance, their mouths agape. Ohin couldn't wait to start teasing. "What's the matter, Nafiz? Did you just fall in love or something?"
Faiyaz quickly joined in from the side. "Nah, Ohin, all these beautiful girls couldn't melt Nafiz's stone-cold heart and make flowers bloom. And who on earth is this girl?"
Mahir, unable to contain himself, broke into a slightly off-key song:
"At first sight, I fell in love with you...
Now I see darkness everywhere, and sleep eludes my eyes..."
Mahir paused, looking around at his friends. "Come on, you guys, join in! I can't do this alone."
Faiyaz shook his head. "We can't do this either, you rascal."
Ohin quickly chimed in, "Alright, let's all start then:
Ohona, won't you speak to me a little...
Ohona, why don't you look back and see...
Ohona, won't you give me a smile...
Ohona, why don't you love me so..."
Nafiz, distracted, muttered under his breath, "Her name is Mishti, not Ohona."
The group collectively stopped and gasped, a synchronous "Oh, Mishti!" ringing in the air.
Ohin grinned, "Well, Bhabhi's (sister-in-law) name is quite sweet!"
Nafiz shot them a glare, visibly annoyed. "What are you idiots starting now? I'm going home. You guys just stand here and beg for money like street performers; it might actually come in handy."
Faiyaz didn't miss his chance for a final jab. "You just wait! I'm going to throw you in with those street performers!"
~ To be continued ~