A
Self-Rightous Evangelist
I
was on my way home from Jigatola at about 10:00 p.m. From the
bus, I saw a man sitting by the road with a microphone in his
hand. He was loudly preaching to the people that had gathered
around him. He said, “Don't go to bed at night without saying
your prayers. Fast during the month of Ramadan.” Seeing a middle-aged
lady pass by, he made a harsh comment about her not being properly
dressed and for not veiling herself in public. He severely reprimanded
the people in the footpaths who were smoking. I was quite amused
at the indifference of the people around him who were throwing
amusing remarks and jeering at him. But he was deeply grieved
at his treatment of a very sensitive issue in such an unbecoming
way.
Md.
Firoj Mahmud, Surjasen Hall, Dhaka University
Train
Jitters
I
was stuck in a traffic jam near Karwan Bazaar rail crossing
in the torrential rain. There was not an inch of space to move.
What was more disgusting was the fact that it was 7 in the morning.
Suddenly, I heard a few rickshaw pullers screaming “Shalar
beta gari shora train aitase” (Move the rickshaw jerk,
there is a train coming.) I was terrified as I heard this because
I was one of the unfortunate passenger whose rickshaw was right
on the train tracks. I was nervously looking for a way to move
off the track when I realised that the rickshaw pullers had
started a quarreling session amongst themselves. They were shouting
and cursing but in a few seconds, the whole jam (on the rail
lines) disappeared. To this day, I still don't know what happened
to the jam and how the whole mess cleared up so fast but I am
glad that it did.
Khaleda
Jahan Dalia, Tejkunipara
Higher
Justice
It
was raining heavily and I was standing at the basement of Mouchak
Market. I noticed a pretty girl pass by on a rickshaw. She was
getting wet. Because of my helpful nature, I offered her my
umbrella. But instead of thanking me, she gave me a dirty look
and said, “Rubbish.” I was hurt by this rude reply. Perhaps
God felt my pain too because as the girl was getting down from
the rickshaw, she tripped and fell. She immediately tried to
get up but lost her balance and fell again. By now she was completely
drenched in obnoxious water and mud. It was a sight to see.
There were people around but no one came forward to offer assistance.
Finally, overlooking the past humiliation, I approached to help
her. Dear friends, this a story that happened ten years back.
That girl is now the mother of our newborn infant Emi.
Dipu,
Shipahibagh
