Rahat left home early in the morning as he had duty at the examination hall. Since it was a holiday, there were almost no rickshaws on the road. A thick fog had enveloped the surroundings, and it was quite cold. Impatiently waiting for a rickshaw, Rahat was feeling very uncomfortable standing in the cold. After waiting for a long time, he finally saw a rickshaw. “Going to the bus stand?” Rahat asked. The rickshaw puller replied, “It will cost 60 taka.” Rahat realized that the rickshaw puller was demanding a higher fare because he didn’t want to go. Seeing no other option, Rahat agreed to the fare. The old rickshaw puller, shivering from the cold, drove slowly. Not long after, Rahat noticed a girl standing by the roadside from a distance. She was constantly looking at her watch. Rahat realized that the girl was probably also waiting for a rickshaw. As he approached the girl, she asked Rahat, “Brother, is there no rickshaw on the other side? I didn’t see any. I think I won’t be able to take the exam. Where are you going? College. If you don’t mind, you can come with me. I’m going that way.” “No, thank you, brother,” Rahat replied.
They were in the middle of a conversation when the rickshaw came to a sudden stop. The girl didn’t want to go on, so he started again. After a few yards, Rahat stopped the rickshaw. After paying the fare, he told the rickshaw puller to take the girl. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to take her exam. Getting off the rickshaw, Rahat told the girl, ‘I’ve paid the rickshaw puller. You can go now. I’ll take another rickshaw and follow you.’ With a shy look, the girl moved towards the rickshaw. And Rahat started walking ahead. Getting into the rickshaw, the girl pulled up the hood. Gratitude and embarrassment seemed to merge. As she crossed Rahat, she even forgot to thank him. After going a little distance, the rickshaw suddenly stopped. Calling out to Rahat, the girl said, ‘Come with me.’ ‘No, no. Please go. Don’t hesitate. I won’t have any problem.’ ‘I’m telling you to come. If you don’t come, I won’t go either.’
Rahat was reluctantly forced to get into the rickshaw, yielding to the girl’s request. They sat as far apart as possible on the rickshaw seat, their bodies barely touching. The silence between them was palpable as they began their journey. For Rahat, this was his first time sharing a rickshaw with an unknown girl.
“What’s the exam for, on a holiday?” Rahat asked, breaking the silence.
“It’s for a job,” she replied.
“Oh, I see. When does it start?”
“At 9.”
“No problem. You have plenty of time.”
The conversation trailed off, and they continued in silence. The gentle swaying of the rickshaw brought them closer, their bodies occasionally brushing against each other, creating a strange sensation. Curiosity about Rahat began to stir within the girl, but she was too shy to ask.
Rahat felt the same. A few strands of her hair, soft and fragrant, kept brushing against his cheek, transporting him to another world. Suddenly, she broke the silence. “Uncle, please stop here. I’ll get down here to avoid being seen by anyone I know.”
Even after she insisted on paying the fare, Rahat refused to take the money.
It was as if the girl had become trapped in an invisible snare of Rahat’s affection. Though he didn’t know her name or address, Rahat couldn’t shake off the fleeting encounter. The girl’s image had become permanently etched in his mind. Her words echoed in his heart like a melody. Even after that day, Rahat walked that path countless times, but never saw her again. Many are captivated by the beautiful sight of morning dew, but once lost, it can never be found. Similarly, Rahat might never find that girl again. Yet, whenever he walked that path, the memories of that day would resurface vividly in his mind.
