Short Story || Happy Tears

Marzan Begum had been feeling unwell since morning when she woke up from bed to do Fazar prayer. Every day she used to sleep for a while after Fazar prayer. Though today she tried to sleep but could not fall asleep as she was feeling unwell. She could not understand why she was feeling unwell. No! This was not her physical condition issue. Then, what was the reason of this discomfort! She could not find out actually any reason. Once she thought that he would call her husband Mr. Moti, a retired person, who was in deep sleep that time, to discuss. Suddenly the cell phone rang. Perhaps Mamun is calling. Marzan Begum thought that his only son called from abroad. Receiving the call she said, Hello! Who is there?

-Khalamma this is Pakhi. Pakhi was the only servant of her.

-Where are you? Have you arrived? Marzan Begum though that, Pakhi was waiting outside the door and she missed the sound of calling bell.

-There is a serious problem, Khalamma! I can’t come today.

-Why? What happened? Marzan Begum got serious tensed as without Pakhi how she, an about sixty year’s old woman, could manage all household works!

-Last night one corona patient was found beside our house. Police declared lock down total area. That’s why I can’t come.

Marzan Begum left a long breath and said to Pakhi, Ok. Take care.

A sixty plus old couple is not capable of doing all types of work. We have lost our usual stamina both mentally and physically. Most of the days Mr. Moti told these speech to her only life partner Marzan Begum at home, especially when she asked her husband to do any work, house hold or not house hold, Mr. Moti expressed his feeling such similar way. Marzan Begum became confused she would tell her man to bring bread for breakfast or not, as Pakhi would not be available today. She thought sometimes. She had pain on both wrists, so making thin wheat bread at home by her, was not possible. As a result there was no alternative of waking her husband to go to any confectionary shop though he would be angry or not.

-Hey Moti shaheb! Get up. Get up. It’s already eight o’clock morning. Generally Marzan Begum used the word ‘shaheb’ to her man as salutation. Hello…

-What happened? Mr. Moti got up in a hurry.

-How long will you sleep! Pakhi will not come. Go outside and buy bread. Otherwise no breakfast today!

Mr. Moti went to washroom and after refreshment when he came to know the cause of leave of Pakhi felt sorry.

-Pakhi is a good girl. She is taking care of us very well. Alas! How ill fated we are as our own child does not take care of us. The idiot lives abroad enjoying with his family! And we are nothing to him now! Marzan, can you remember how struggle we did for that black sheep!  

-Ohho! Why are you starting rebuking Mamun very fast time of today morning! He is working there. Marzan Begum tried to control the anxiety of her man.

-Yes I know. Actually we did a great mistake. We would not let him too much educated. That’s our biggest wrong decision of our life. He is not a human being now …. Just, being careerist only.  

Marzan Begum didn’t tell anything but was hearing her man’s unease feelings. The old angry man was continuing rebuking his only son, I told that rascal several times! Baba … Baba reee… I and your mother are very much old now. Please come to us. We are sick. Anytime anything bad can be happened. We are helpless. How can you spend time abroad without us! We cannot think our life without you. Rebuking voice turned to crying voice. But Mr. Moti did not stop. We did struggle round the life for that only idiot. What did we get as reward! Nothing ….. Nothing!

-Why are you expecting from him? It was our duty to take care him. We feed him. We educated him. We made him got married! Our duty is over. Let’s him carry his life. Marzan Begum replied in a cool tone.

-Well said! But I am not so much generous as like you. It was my dream to spend quality time with grandchild at this last stage of life when my son will take care of us! But alas! Where is son! He was uploading his family trip photos in facebook and told us to like them! How nonsense!  And now at early morning an old hopeless old ill father will go to shop to buy bread otherwise …… no breakfast! On the other hand the rascal son is enjoying dinner with his child & wife at abroad! How pathetic!

-Ok. Please go now otherwise after sometimes you will not get any bread at shop.

-Yes …. Yes! I am going. A poor old father will arrange breakfast himself though he has strong young son!

Mr. Moti was walking to door scolding his son and when he opened the door he could not imagine that his today would be started with such a big surprise!  

-Hello dada bhai! How are you! We have arrived for you.

 Mamun with his full family was standing at the door.

Being statue for a while Mr. Moti came to reality with eyeful of happy tears.

-Mohon! Dadu bhai! Welcome! My heart!