Loneliness on e-mail
Z.A.M. Khairuzzaman recommends a collection of short stories to readers
Lost in Void
Nazmun Nahar Dipty
Kakoli Prokashoni
Lost In Void is the first work of fiction from Nazmun Nahar Dipty, a young writer. The book accommodates altogether five short stories. Being a teacher in an English medium school, Dipty has written the stories in English. She has depicted various aspects of life in the stories.
In Lost In Void one comes across a pen picture of the loneliness of a woman whose husband remains busy in his own work. She resorts to e-mail to get free of her lonely condition. She shares her daily experience with her husband's friend, covering such subjects as politics, economics, weather, indeed nearly everything under the sun. At one stage, Reema, the lonely woman, tends to get drawn towards Maher, her husband's friend, her e-mail pal. She loves to think that one day Maher will come to Dhaka, that more substance will come into the developing relationship. But suddenly Maher informs her from London about his marriage in the near future. On receipt of the news, Reema feels that the hopes and aspirations she has nurtured of late have suddenly been dashed into pieces. Not wanting pity, nor in a mood for self-pity, she gives Maher the false information that she now has a new boyfriend. She also tells him that most probably this is her last e-mail to him. It is then to the old loneliness that Reema returns. It is to a dull and drab life she goes back to. The lives of Reema and Maher thus run parallel, like railway tracks, never to converge, indeed away from each other.
The first story of Lost In Void is Surma. Five friends go on a visit to the tea gardens in Sylhet. In a lonely, isolated atmosphere, all of them unlock their minds, release their emotions as it were. They spend time on themselves, forgetting the family and social life they have so long been accustomed to. They discover themselves anew, a revelation of a truth which has been unknown to them during their entire period of friendship. They come to know about their joys and sorrows. All of them seem to be happy outwardly but in reality they find an endless void inside themselves, until the trip to the tea gardens comes along.
Dipty's stories have been published in an English language newspaper. Following an overwhelming response from readers, she compiled the stories in the form in which they now appear. Besides, the writer is aware that Bangladeshi young men and women living abroad are desirous of reading stories of their own land. 'Keeping them in mind, I published the book', says Dipty. Although the book is in English, it is easy to read because it comes in simple and lucid language. The book has the potential of earning wide popularity among readers with a working knowledge of English.
Z.A.M. Khairuzzaman is senior sub-editor, The Daily Star.
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