Rahima posed a question to herself and quickly placed Parul’s ear against her chest. To her horror, Parul’s heart wasn’t beating. She was lifeless, unresponsive. Overwhelmed by shock, Rahima started to behave erratically. By this time, Ashraf and Maruf had awakened and were staring wide-eyed at their lifeless sister. Rahima called out to Parul repeatedly, her voice filled with sorrow, “Oh my daughter, speak to me. Why won’t you open your eyes? Oh Allah, my daughter! Why isn’t she responding?”
Hearing Rahima’s cries, Nishu, Dulal Mia, and their neighbors rushed to their aid. As Ashraf opened the door, everyone crowded into the room. Dulal Mia took Parul’s tiny hand and checked her pulse. After a moment, he placed her hand back and looked at Nishu, who was filled with fear and grief. Dulal Mia took a deep breath and delivered the heartbreaking news to Rahima and Nishu, “Parul is gone.”
Rahima fainted upon hearing the news, and Nishu wept uncontrollably as she held Parul in her arms. The entire family was enveloped in a deep sorrow. The atmosphere was heavy with grief, and the intensity of their crying grew louder. Rahima continued to faint intermittently. In the midst of the sorrow, Maruf asked his mother, “Ma, won’t Paru play with me tomorrow morning?
Hearing her son’s words, Rahima fainted again, overwhelmed by sorrow.
The surroundings were desolate and silent. There was not a single sound. Somewhere, a pair of owls seemed to be calling incessantly. Every now and then, the sound of mournful crying drifted from inside the house. Parul was buried in the Dulal Mia family grave. Since the last time she held Parul, Rahima had changed. She didn’t cry, didn’t talk to anyone, didn’t look at anyone. Like an inanimate object, she sat huddled in a corner of the room. She seemed lifeless, as if her soul had departed. Nishu and Farzana looked at Rahima. Farzana wept continuously. Nishu called out in a trembling voice, “Rahima Bu.”
Seeing that she didn’t respond, Nishu called out again and Rahima looked at her. Her eyes were incredibly swollen, and looking at her devastated face, Nishu burst into tears. No one could accept the sudden death of the little girl. Wasn’t it just the other day that Parul was lying in Nishu’s lap, playing with her hair? Hadn’t Nishu threatened to scold her severely for playing with water? What happened to the girl so suddenly? Seeing Nishu crying so loudly, Rahima said, “Why are you crying so much? What’s the point of crying so much? Go to your room.”
Hearing Rahima’s words, Nishu’s crying seemed to intensify. She clung to Rahima and cried, saying, “Rahima Bu, please cry. Don’t be like a stone! Cry and let out your sorrow.
Rahima stared blankly at Nishur for a moment, lost in thought. Then, her gaze shifted back to the room’s door.
Aziz Sheikh had rushed over as soon as he heard about his daughter’s death. After a period of weeping, he turned his anger on Rahima, accusing her of murdering his daughter. Dulal Mia, though he had his flaws, was not as cruel. He had always cherished his children, Ashraful, Maruf, and Parul. Enraged by Aziz Sheikh’s harsh words, Rahima’s temper flared. She shouted at him, “Are you here to cause a scene after drinking? Where were you all this time, acting like a father? Can any mother be so heartless as to kill her own child?”
Aziz Sheikh continued his tirade as he stormed off. Watching him go, Dulal Mia remarked, “So, that’s the kind of father he is!
