Short Story
Ashiki --- the tale of a family
Tuesday morning. Mohabbat Ali is relaxing in his easy chair. Ashik goes up to his father and says, 'Abba, I have made up my mind to get married.'
"What!" screams his father in anger. "This is nonsense; you have no idea what you are saying. How could you think any girl will be ready to marry you?"
"No Abba, you need not be worried, Jenana is ready for marriage."
"Jenana? What Jenana?â€
"Jenana is a Persian word. It means woman, lady." "I have told you many times not to mention any uncommon words in front of me. I have an allergy to such words." "Okay, Abba. Jennifer is ready to be my bride," Ashik says unemotionally, which leaves Mohabbat Ali quite astonished because he was very anxious during his own marriage. But he decides not to pursue this further. "Does your mother know about it?â€
"No, she is busy at work. So I told you first.â€
"Okay, call her." Ashik goes to his mother to bring her. On seeing her, Mohabbat Ali greets her passionately, "Hello, my darling. How are you?" Sobura Khatun is a middle aged woman, mother of two sons and three daughters. She has no time for affections or affectations. "I have told you many times not to use obscene language before my children. They become spoilt because of you." " Okay, my dear, do not mind your old partner. Remember I am your only hope at this age. By the way, do you know about the latest decision of your meritorious son? "No, what happened?â€
"Tell your mother in detail, my dear son.â€
Ashik looks a bit gloomy and uncomfortable but says, "Amma, I have decided to get married next Tuesday. I know that you do not mind." Sobura Khatun cannot believe her ears. "Ashik, would you please repeat what you said?" "Sure, I will get married next Tuesday and for this I need your blessings and some money.â€
"What is the name of the bride?â€
"Jennifer.â€
"What? You are going to marry a Christian girl?â€
"Oh no, Mother, she is a modern Muslim girl. You can call her Jenny." Speechless, Sobura now stares at Mohabbat Ali. "You have spoiled my child." She cries. "What!" Mohabbat Ali exclaims, astonished and frightened at the same time.
“How can I responsible for the misdeeds of your child?†“Your mother named him Ashik. I told you then not to give him such a name, which seems dreamy. But you did not pay any attention to me. Can you explain to me one thing? Why are your family names are so romantic?
“Oh, thank you darling.†Mohabbat Ali blushes.
“I do not praise you. Why are you so callous? You are not even aware about your type. "Okay, I am insensitive. But are you conscious? You always interrogate me, never question your children. Every time you disturb me. Why this? Why that? It seems in my life you are a big 'why this kolaveri di'.†Mohabbat Ali is fierce in his reaction. “What! You, you, you…old guy! I wish I could kill you. I won't spare you!â€. When Sobura khatun becomes angry, she hurls such epithets at Mohabbat Ali. “Oh, Amma will you please stop your everlasting quarrel?†Ashik tries to bring the quarrel to an end. “Yes, of course. So, my dear son, I beg your pardon. I am proud of you.†Sobura is in her state of fury. “Don't embarrass me, Amma. I know you are proud of me!†“How stupid you are! Like father, like son. Just a pure dumb headed. I am rebuking you, idiot, over your foolish decision. How can you take such a peculiar step without discussing it with us? Sobura growls. “I felt no need to discuss it with you. Her father is a very rich man. He has told me that he will give me two of his four garment factories as dowry if I marry his divorcee girl.†“She is a divorcee?†Mohabbat Ali is in a state of absolute shock. “Actually, two years ago she got married to a wealthy young merchant, who lives in the USA. After a few months they came to know that that young man was an AIDS patient. In the meantime Jenny became pregnant. So things became very critical. Last month she divorced him. Now her father wants to arrange his daughter's second marriage as quickly as possible.†Ashik narrates everything very calmly, which seems like a horror film scene to his parents. It seems he is a man from a different planet. “ For this reason, her father wants to give such a lucrative dowry.†Sobura khatun doesn't understand what to say now. She mumbles, “Your father-in-law is a businessman.†“No, he is a drug smuggler. He is the owner of the biggest brothel in Dhaka.†Mohabbat Ali sinks into the easy chair. He cannot even think. He stops talking and asking anything.
He orders Sobura not to ask any more questions.
“He is totally out of control, Sobura.†His voice sounds grim, like the cloud. But Sobura does not give up.
“Why you are doing this, Ashik??
“For you.â€
“For us?†“Yes, for you and Abba. What have you done for us? Boro Bhaiya committed suicide because he could not manage the money for his admission to Dhaka University. Boro Apa was divorced for dowry. Nitu and Ritu are still unmarried. They could not complete their studies. Why Abba? Can you tell me? Only for your so-called honesty and the kindness of relatives. You know why I could not pass my SSC in the first two terms? Because I had no money for filling up the form. The money I earned by tuition, I had to give it for Dadijan's chemotherapy. Why? Where were my uncles then? No one came then. They cheated us all the time, and you always praise them. Now we have no house of our own. But you were a government employee. Those who were of your rank have five storied buildings in Dhaka. I cannot show my face among my friends. They are now in high positions in different government and multinational companies. But I am still unemployed. But you know me from my childhood. I was no less a good student than any others. Boro Apa often weeps. I am often afraid of her doing something bad! All these things happened only because of you, Abba.†“How dare you talk to your father like this?†Sobura Khatun is indignant. “I didn't come here to talk. I just wanted to tell you about the marriage. I needed some money for another reason. But let it be. By the way, you are not invited to this marriage. I won't have anything to do with losers any more. You have made my life hell. And I have no regrets about my decision.†Ashik stalks out of the house like a gale. It is late afternoon, with the sun setting in the west. Everything turns calm and quiet. 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. That is how it seems to Mohabbat Ali. Suddenly he feels very lonely, as if he has no one in the world --- no friends, relatives, no children and no wife. Everything seems so unfamiliar to him. He feels an urge to go to the veranda. But the very next moment he loses his enthusiasm. The sky is turning gloomy. He sighs. Mohabbat Ali feels a touch on his shoulder. It is his elder daughter. She comes close and sits beside him.
He gives her a very melancholy look. “Sorry, Abbu.†She says it very softly, but passionately. Tears roll down Mohabbat Ali's cheeks.
"Jenana? What Jenana?â€
"Jenana is a Persian word. It means woman, lady." "I have told you many times not to mention any uncommon words in front of me. I have an allergy to such words." "Okay, Abba. Jennifer is ready to be my bride," Ashik says unemotionally, which leaves Mohabbat Ali quite astonished because he was very anxious during his own marriage. But he decides not to pursue this further. "Does your mother know about it?â€
"No, she is busy at work. So I told you first.â€
"Okay, call her." Ashik goes to his mother to bring her. On seeing her, Mohabbat Ali greets her passionately, "Hello, my darling. How are you?" Sobura Khatun is a middle aged woman, mother of two sons and three daughters. She has no time for affections or affectations. "I have told you many times not to use obscene language before my children. They become spoilt because of you." " Okay, my dear, do not mind your old partner. Remember I am your only hope at this age. By the way, do you know about the latest decision of your meritorious son? "No, what happened?â€
"Tell your mother in detail, my dear son.â€
Ashik looks a bit gloomy and uncomfortable but says, "Amma, I have decided to get married next Tuesday. I know that you do not mind." Sobura Khatun cannot believe her ears. "Ashik, would you please repeat what you said?" "Sure, I will get married next Tuesday and for this I need your blessings and some money.â€
"What is the name of the bride?â€
"Jennifer.â€
"What? You are going to marry a Christian girl?â€
"Oh no, Mother, she is a modern Muslim girl. You can call her Jenny." Speechless, Sobura now stares at Mohabbat Ali. "You have spoiled my child." She cries. "What!" Mohabbat Ali exclaims, astonished and frightened at the same time.
“How can I responsible for the misdeeds of your child?†“Your mother named him Ashik. I told you then not to give him such a name, which seems dreamy. But you did not pay any attention to me. Can you explain to me one thing? Why are your family names are so romantic?
“Oh, thank you darling.†Mohabbat Ali blushes.
“I do not praise you. Why are you so callous? You are not even aware about your type. "Okay, I am insensitive. But are you conscious? You always interrogate me, never question your children. Every time you disturb me. Why this? Why that? It seems in my life you are a big 'why this kolaveri di'.†Mohabbat Ali is fierce in his reaction. “What! You, you, you…old guy! I wish I could kill you. I won't spare you!â€. When Sobura khatun becomes angry, she hurls such epithets at Mohabbat Ali. “Oh, Amma will you please stop your everlasting quarrel?†Ashik tries to bring the quarrel to an end. “Yes, of course. So, my dear son, I beg your pardon. I am proud of you.†Sobura is in her state of fury. “Don't embarrass me, Amma. I know you are proud of me!†“How stupid you are! Like father, like son. Just a pure dumb headed. I am rebuking you, idiot, over your foolish decision. How can you take such a peculiar step without discussing it with us? Sobura growls. “I felt no need to discuss it with you. Her father is a very rich man. He has told me that he will give me two of his four garment factories as dowry if I marry his divorcee girl.†“She is a divorcee?†Mohabbat Ali is in a state of absolute shock. “Actually, two years ago she got married to a wealthy young merchant, who lives in the USA. After a few months they came to know that that young man was an AIDS patient. In the meantime Jenny became pregnant. So things became very critical. Last month she divorced him. Now her father wants to arrange his daughter's second marriage as quickly as possible.†Ashik narrates everything very calmly, which seems like a horror film scene to his parents. It seems he is a man from a different planet. “ For this reason, her father wants to give such a lucrative dowry.†Sobura khatun doesn't understand what to say now. She mumbles, “Your father-in-law is a businessman.†“No, he is a drug smuggler. He is the owner of the biggest brothel in Dhaka.†Mohabbat Ali sinks into the easy chair. He cannot even think. He stops talking and asking anything.
He orders Sobura not to ask any more questions.
“He is totally out of control, Sobura.†His voice sounds grim, like the cloud. But Sobura does not give up.
“Why you are doing this, Ashik??
“For you.â€
“For us?†“Yes, for you and Abba. What have you done for us? Boro Bhaiya committed suicide because he could not manage the money for his admission to Dhaka University. Boro Apa was divorced for dowry. Nitu and Ritu are still unmarried. They could not complete their studies. Why Abba? Can you tell me? Only for your so-called honesty and the kindness of relatives. You know why I could not pass my SSC in the first two terms? Because I had no money for filling up the form. The money I earned by tuition, I had to give it for Dadijan's chemotherapy. Why? Where were my uncles then? No one came then. They cheated us all the time, and you always praise them. Now we have no house of our own. But you were a government employee. Those who were of your rank have five storied buildings in Dhaka. I cannot show my face among my friends. They are now in high positions in different government and multinational companies. But I am still unemployed. But you know me from my childhood. I was no less a good student than any others. Boro Apa often weeps. I am often afraid of her doing something bad! All these things happened only because of you, Abba.†“How dare you talk to your father like this?†Sobura Khatun is indignant. “I didn't come here to talk. I just wanted to tell you about the marriage. I needed some money for another reason. But let it be. By the way, you are not invited to this marriage. I won't have anything to do with losers any more. You have made my life hell. And I have no regrets about my decision.†Ashik stalks out of the house like a gale. It is late afternoon, with the sun setting in the west. Everything turns calm and quiet. 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. That is how it seems to Mohabbat Ali. Suddenly he feels very lonely, as if he has no one in the world --- no friends, relatives, no children and no wife. Everything seems so unfamiliar to him. He feels an urge to go to the veranda. But the very next moment he loses his enthusiasm. The sky is turning gloomy. He sighs. Mohabbat Ali feels a touch on his shoulder. It is his elder daughter. She comes close and sits beside him.
He gives her a very melancholy look. “Sorry, Abbu.†She says it very softly, but passionately. Tears roll down Mohabbat Ali's cheeks.
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