"No, no, no, I can't, I just can't. I cannot bear false accusations, no matter what. Please forgive me, brother. I'm quite happy here. I want to lose my life in service, forget all the old days. I simply cannot destroy myself bit by bit. Please forgive me."
"I came to you with such hope. Will you disappoint me like this?" Joynul says in a heavy voice.
"Truly, brother, I'm so sorry to send you away. I came here after much thought. You don't know how low that household has sunk. Mother can't stand me at all. And I can't stand her either."
"But all the family property belongs only to you. Aunt won't get anything. Because you're gone, we don't visit your house. When we meet Tulu, he cries talking about you. He says if we came to you, you might return home. He doesn't dare come to you because of his mother."
"Yes, about a month ago I saw Tulu wandering around the front road. I'll call him over once I'm established, brother. I stayed in that house only for his sake. He got scolded by Mother because of me. You'd be shocked if you heard why I left that house. If you heard it, you might never ask me to return home. You go now, brother. I'll tell you everything later."
Faridpur. Some houses stand peacefully by the Kumar River. The small town wakes to the dawn chorus. It sleeps silently in evening's weariness.
Siraj Khan belonged to a middle-class family. He had just passed his law degree. With his new household, he rented a small place in Faridpur. Having just graduated, his practice was modest. Still, the small family managed well enough. Gradually he became known in all circles. When a daughter was born to their household, the beauty of their home increased manifold. From morning till evening he stayed at the office. The rest of his time was spent with little Rahela. Days flowed by in happiness.
Suddenly the tide turned. Siraj Saheb's wife Lovely Akhtar departed for the next world, leaving behind her few-months-old daughter. Chaos entered the household. Under pressure from his parents, Siraj Saheb remarried. Days began to revolve around his domestic affairs.
Little Rahela is no longer little. She's seven now. A younger brother has joined her as companion—his name is Tulu. The two siblings are inseparable. Rahela knows nothing about her real mother. She knows her stepmother as her own mother. But the stepmother doesn't look kindly upon the girl. She keeps her under strict discipline always. Days pass with the current's pull. Now Siraj Saheb has become a renowned lawyer in Faridpur. There's no one who doesn't know him.
Gradually the girl grows up. Leaving school life behind, she enters college. In ever-changing circumstances she learned that her mother's love was for show. Though mistreated, she lacked the courage to protest even slightly. Days passed somehow. But who can defy fate's decree! Due to excessive blood pressure, Siraj Saheb suddenly died of a stroke. After losing her father, her stepmother's cruelty knew no bounds. She began to humiliate her in front of everyone at all hours.
One day when Rahela returned from college and entered the room, Tulu immediately said, "Sister, have you heard? You're getting married. They're coming to see you today. But promise me you won't agree to this marriage no matter what." Surprised, Rahela said angrily, "Who told you that? What nonsense!"
"Really, sister, believe me. It's all true." Rahela said with some mystery, "I understand about the marriage, but who's the prince?"
"Really, I'm not joking with you. You know that two-story house? The man who lives there. He's been married before. He married showing lots of gold and money, but he's so cruel that no one wants to stay with him. The first wife—who knows why—even died!"
"Who arranged the marriage?" Rahela's voice was grave.
"Mother. I fall at your feet. Sister, don't agree to this marriage. That man is a devil. Promise me you won't agree."
"All right, you go now." Rahela went and stood by the window. True enough, after her father's death, Mother scolds her with or without reason. She's marrying her off quickly out of greed for money. Oh, this is unbelievable! Suddenly hearing footsteps, Rahela turns around. "Stay home this evening. Some gentlemen will come. And arrange some refreshments, I'm going out for a while. I might be late returning."
Mother left after giving strict orders. At dinner that night she brought up the marriage. "Rahi, you've grown up now. Besides, your cousin Joynul comes to this house, and there's been a lot of talk in the neighborhood about that. So I want to arrange your marriage. Those who came to see you might give a date soon. Make a list of your friends to invite."
Tulu protested her words. "But Mother, that Jafar Saheb isn't a good man." "Be quiet! I don't need to hear anything from you." Mother left the room.
That night sleep departed from Rahela's eyes. Quietly she came to the window and heard from the next room her mother's brother advising, "Once you send her away, you'll get the house and all the property. She'll never agree otherwise, so you'll have to give her false accusations and force the marriage." This much she heard. She had no patience to hear more.
Today, out of greed for money, her stepmother was giving her false accusations. Impossible, this couldn't happen! She would leave this place. She couldn't destroy herself like this. Fine, she would sell whatever jewelry she had and manage her own expenses. Unbearable, the torment of this house! She would have to go to her friend Minu's house and make some arrangement.
The next day at noon. Today was the moment to determine her fate. Crossing the garden gate, she steps onto the road. Turning back, she looks at the house once more. Her lifelong nurturing ground, with its flower-filled garden and swaying coconut fronds, how beautiful the house looks. In the privacy of this house, in a room's council, her trial is proceeding today. In the evening she will be socially bound in marriage chains to a barbarous stranger. Thinking all this, Rahela sighs. The pet dog follows her a long way, whimpering, then gets scolded and heads back toward the house.
Is Rahela truly destitute? No, she has no financial assets, but she has a heart wrapped in Tulu's love, and a strength called determination as her shield. If the inner Rahela cries alone and dies, no one will know. No one at all.