Star Diary

THE REGISTRATION

Writing had always been a passion for me. While browsing for some publishing sites, I came across this Australian website that was giving a free publishing offer. Eagerly, I looked into it. There was a registration form which asked for my name, country, e-mail address and contact number. The idea of free publishing had blinded me from any second thought. Moreover, it was just a regular form. So, I filled it with all the required details. While looking for publishing sites, I must have filled many forms like this. Therefore, I had even forgotten about this by the next morning. However, at about 12 noon the next day, I got a call. I was shocked to know that the man on the other line was an employee of the company that I had registered with. He informed that he was my personal publishing consultant. When we were about to talk about the whole process, the connection got cut off. I was too surprised to call the man back. I had not written any book at that point and was just experimenting with the various registration sites; I never expected things to get so serious. A few days later, I checked my email to find his mail confirming the transaction. I mailed him back to inform him that I had still not written anything, and to stop calling me constantly, as it could raise many questions. However, the next morning, at about 5, my mom entered the room with the phone in her hand and an agitated look on her face. I answered the phone to realise that it was the same man who had a very Australian accent. I cut the line in anger. Something made me look at the number and to my surprise; it was a Bangladeshi number, unlike the previous time. It was impossible for anyone else to know about the registration and use it as a prank. I was really frightened by the fact that someone was calling from a local number at 5 in the morning, pretending to be from the Australian publishing company. At that moment, I realised what a grave mistake I had made by giving my number on that registration form.
Alvira Main
Chittagong Grammar school
Chittagong

UNNECESSARY BICKERING 

It has been quite common nowadays for people to engage in quarrels with rickshaw pullers over the trifle issue of fares. On my way to New Market recently, a young boy got so infuriated with the rickshaw puller that it seemed like the boy would hit the poor man. The boy went on to call the rickshawallah names, but the rickshaw puller kept his mouth shut, fear evident on his face. If you follow some simple rules, you can avoid unnecessary quarrels with rickshaw pullers. Just fix the fare before you get in a rickshaw. Please do remember, pulling a rickshaw is a rigorous job, try to be civil with the rickshaw pullers as they don't owe you anything; this is their job and you are a customer. Have some respect.
Md Zonaed Emran
Janata Bank Ltd