| I request all my friends to read the story below with patience; it won't waste more than 5 minutes of your valuable time.
Yesterday, I heard this true story from my elder brother, an FCPS-1 doctor, returning to Dhaka from Naogaon, Dhamurhat- Khelna Medical Subcentre, from his workstation ; who works there as an Assistant surgeon.The story I narrate here is 100% true and I just wrote it in a story form so that you guys don't feel bore.
It was very early in the morning in Arambagh area, first day of the 3rd Phase blockade by the 14 party alliances. He was looking for a rickshaw in the bus stand.It was dawn time.After walking while, he saw a rickshaw puller who just demanded more than 5 taka than the usual rent from Arambagh to Rampura due to the blockade. My brother readily agreed. The rickshaw was on its wheel and the rickshaw puller was paddling in full force. My brother was a bit confused, looking at the first sight of that Rickshaw puller. That guy didn't look like the typical Rickshaw Pullers, with a fare complexion and a reasonably neat and trim shirt on his body and a neat and trim "lungi". Had a not so bad choppol in his feet, and there was no noisome body odor, which is sometimes very common with Rickshaw pullers. His hair style was also very neat tand trim.
After some time my brother started talking about the present political immobility of the country. After some time, with great astonishment my brother found that, that rickshaw puller was sometimes using some very well chosen English words during his conversation.
My brother then decided, to ask the rickshaw puller regarding his educational level and what let him pull rickshaw.
" Up to what level did u study"—My brother asked.
The Rickshaw puller didn't answer.
My brother asked him again.
The rickshaw puller told him the following " I'm a student of XXX university, Studying Zoology in 2nd year."
My brother was thunder stoke!!!
" How come!!!"—My brother cried being immensely surprised.
"Well my father is a poor farmer of Kurigram Zilla, can't send me money for my living, rather, I've to give them money for their survival."—Rickshaw puller answered.
"Why don't you do some other jobs"??—My brother asked??
"Well I do. I do two tuitions which will expire this November. I need money for my own study, my own living and need to send money to my poor parents. Also have a sister, who is well grown and is waiting for her marriage, but needs dowry for her marriage, so no way, have to earn money any way, which is not illegal."
" Didn't your hall mates forbade you to do this?? How do you avoid them?""—My brother was almost whispering.
" Actually I only pull rickshaw on Friday's and now pull rickshaw everyday during blockade since, it pays more than the usual rate. Of course, after first two weeks, some of my room mates asked me where do I go on Friday's wearing lungi and why remain so long time outside??"
"Did you tell them the truth?"—My brother asked??
"Well, I told one of my room mate, who is also from Kurigram. He forbade me to do that, but I've no way"—The poor guy answered.
" How much do you have to the Garage owner at the end of the day" ??—My brother asked.
"The usual rate is 50 taka, but the garage owner, doesn't take a penny from me"—He answered.
" If some of your friends or persons who know you, see you while you are pulling rickshaw ??"—My brother asked.
" Usually I don't pull Rickshaw near XXX University area. But of course, there's always a fear of being caught. But Necessity knows no law, you know" – He answered.
The journey was almost end. My brother gave him 100 taka and also gave his visiting card and asked him to meet him, if he needs any help further. The rickshaw puller took that money, and when my brother was turning back with his luggage, the Rickshaw puller stopped him and put out one ID card from his pocket and showed him his University ID card.
My brother asked him why he did so.
" I thought, you might have thought me a cheater, but I'm not, That's why I wanted to show you this ID"—The Rickshaw Puller answered smartly.
My brother was moved very much and put his hand over the rickshaw pullers shoulder. The last words that the Rickshaw puller told, I quote them in Bangla
: " Dua koiren vaia, amader moto cheleder jeno shopno ta kokhono na morey jai, shopno ta morey geley to r kichuE thaklona "
Last but not the least, after hearing this story, I wanted to know the name of that Rickshaw puller and what is the name of his University. My brother smiled and told me "There are some things, which we don't need to know, think it's also like those" .
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