Chapter-1
Mr. Shaheed is a retired forest officer, for about three years from now. In the solitude of his forest life he had a habit: his colleagues would say a bad one, and it was to be an eager waiting for a clear cloud-free night. He would be watching the sky after putting off all the lights in such a pitch-black night. For hours. His mind would mingle with the roaming of the known and not so known denizens of the deep forest, transformed in the darkness, virtually in the equally limitless expanse of his mind.
Mr. Shaheed has already seen sixty winters. His hairs are yet to be thinned, but it is already grey. A regular clean shaver, he would be considered healthier than the most. He passes his retirement time by either reading or looking after studies of Peuli. He himself was a student of science. Reading is his old habit. He his having a personal collection of more than two thousand. He would engross himself in reading books for hours and would wonder: if it was to be born at all, why is it to such a late stage of human understanding of nature, why not early? Others may consider such thinking would visit to one beside his minds. But such thoughts tormented his mind nevertheless. Mr. Shaheed ponders: what is the mechanism by which such thoughts scintillates in the mind?
Of all, light is his love: light that radiates from the sun in enormous cascades of invisible waves, dispelling traces of darkness with glittering electromagnetic radiation. That darkness is put asunder, be it in one`s room or in the mind. That the winters could not whither him is due to this quest for light and more light, and it could be discerned from the lively conversations that would frequently take place between the Grand Pa and the young grand son Shadman. Mr.Shaheed, despite his age, is having an untiring and unquenchable thirst about how and why of things in life and nature and perhaps because of that he was though retired but not tired of life. It was his belief that if the reason would once shine, the superstition must dispel. No wonder, Shadman would proclaim that his grand Pa was not just like any other, he was unique.
In what way Mr. Shaheed was unique? True, there was nothing special about the family. Things that would happen in others family do happen with Mr. Shaheed`s family also. Many things. But what makes the difference is the way the things or events are considered, explained in this family and that makes position of Mr. Shaheed unique.
Today Shadman has come unto Katabon near Shah bag by bus and disembarked under scorching sun. Not a rickshaw is in sight. It is one hours walk and when he reached home, the shirt and vest were all wet in sweltering sweat.
As soon as he entered the room, Peuli out stretched her hand and said: Uncle, take me in your arms”.
Peuli is only three years f old and her utterings are like honey to one`s ears. Perhaps children like to be hold in arms of any one coming from out side. But Shadman was in no mode to lift her in his lap being drenched with sweat. Shadman said, “O.K. come on, may pain on my shoulder.
No sooner had Shadman approached the frigidier with Peuli in his arms and took a bottle of cold water, she gave a bite in his hand. Shadman cried out: Oh mom, I`m gone.
The cold water bottle fell on the ground to smithereens. Of all common house hold things, people are most scared of broken glasses. Shadman shut his eyes in fear and slapdashed a slap at her cheek; though not with the force he raised his hands. But the disaster was committed. Peuli has raised her voice to the falsetto with all the energy she can master, perhaps with ten times the force that a child under such condition would like to marshal for the amount of pain actually inflicted.
U. .u ..U
Really got hurt from the smack?
U..U..UU…
Shaheed rushed out of his study and enquired: 'Hurt her. Did you?
Shamans face is all disgust and he did not reply.
'Why keeping mum? Answer, did you smack her?
Shadman replied gravely: No, I did n`t.
Then why she is weeping?
Peuli has bitten me.
Do you think that is enough to justify smacking?
Grand Pa, I did n`t slap, only touched her slightly.
Mr. Shaheed took Peuli in his arms and said, Shadman, come with me in my room.
Dadu, I need to drink water.
Then go and fetch it and then come on in.
Shadman is in the room of Mr. Shaheed. He in a serious tone said,Now listen carefully to what I say.
Yes, go on.
Why you are making a long face with all the annoyance in the world? Get normal.
O.K. go ahead.
Listen, of all the creatures, its only the human child that can bite and, that too are of three categories:
One: experimental biter
Two: frustrated biter and
Three: threatened biter
Have you ever observed the growing of a child?
No.
Growing up of a baby means growth of its muscles of different organs. It has inquisitiveness about every thing and happenings around and wants to experiment with them. But, needless to say, you dont get everything that you may desire. That unfulment begets frustration, fear and out of those a child may bite. Understand?
Yeah.
There was a simmering suggestion of smile on Shadman`s face,I`m not doing a fun talk.
Shadman added meekly,Dadu, there are three more type of biters.
Mr. Shaheed scowled and narrowed his eyes and said,
For example?
Shadmand replied, For example, back biters, one. love biter is another.” Mr. Shaheed was getting angry. He sternly looked sat Shadman and said, Well, young man, and what is your third type?
Dadu and the third is Power biter.
Shadman ventured to elaborate. Dadu, once a kid bites some one because of the reasons you have elucidated, and if it works according to its expectation, then it switches to power bite stage. What Peuli is striving is to have control over people around her through power bite. I hope I need not to explain to you about the first two types.
That put back Mr. Shaheed to normalcy. His face contour relaxed and he smiled silently.
Shadman, control through power bite is the characteristic trait of animal beings, Mr. Shaheed added smilingly, And you have exhibited it more in your child hood.
Shadman replied, But I was a very quiet boy.
Quiet boy, did you really?
YES.
Well, Shadman, that`s what everybody thinks or like to think about one self.
Example, please.
How many hundreds of examples you would listen?
Let me recall examples of just one day.
Proceed
Heaven knows from where you got a used ten ml. syringe. with the intention of sucking in water and spray it.”
Well, kids love to play with water and its sound. They are enchanted by its sound as it streams. Dadu, do you know the reason?
Mr. Shaheed shook his head and said, No, I don`t. But I sense that you are trying to change the topic.
Dadu, if human beings emerged through gradual evolution, then in all probability, the final stage of evolution was staged stay at the interface of land and water. Otherwise, the land-bound human kids or for that matter, human beings are not supposed to have so much fascination for the sound of water.
Shadmans words made Mr. Shaheed to roar into laughter.
Well, you may be correct. But may I recall that, off all the places in this world, you pushed the water inside may ear. Shadman was flabbergasted in surprise and managed to mutter,
W..What did you say/
Yes. My dear boy. Truth is stranger than fiction. There was only one thing in your mouth; Give me your ear and I will pour water inside. Give me.
What are you saying?
Your mother fulminating in anger: Are we all beholden to his whims? Snatch the syringe from his hand slap the two cheeks squarely. Your scream and haute-voix has turned not only this house but the whole neighborhood to a hell. Shadman said in an abashed voice, Then what happened? I whispered permission and said, O.K. Pour your water in my ear and stop screaming, you little devil and lets have some respite from the scream. And verily and merrily you pushed six ml water inside my ear, Mr. Shaheed continued. And what happened to your ear?
Mr. Shaheed smilingly added, I wonder if any body else in this country have had to undergo a similar experience. In whichever direction I look at, the houses, furniture, trees, people all seem to be in a merry go round. The fan was at top speed but appeared to me revolving slowly. It is me who established the of Relativity of motion in action physiologically.
Why do you giggle: young man? There are so many funny stories about you.
Shadman was crest fallen in guilt and said, “So sorry, Dadu. Be assured that never shall this hand strike her person.
Shadman, dear, dont you think that there should have been a big mirror up on the sky where ones past could be seen by others. In that case man could have lesser imperfection and attain perfection. Did n`t I say right?
Shadman laughed a misdemeanors laugh, with head down cast. Mr. Shaheed switched to another topic:
Youve returned rather early today. Why?
We had a tutorial examination today for which I had to burn mid night oil last night.
How was the exam?
Wastage of class period only to hear that there is a strike. What to do? Came back with a bad taste in the mouth. As if that was not enough, there was not a rickshaw in sight. So walk down home under the scorching sun. And then the
Coup de grace of a royal jalali gnaws from her Excellency Peuli. Tell me, how long you can preserve your compos mentis?
Mr. Shaheed leaned forward, asked shrugging his shoulder: : Whats your position in the class?
Shadman replied in a fatigued fagged face, Two.
That is the real thing. Preserve that position. Now, go have a bite and take rest. Shadman left the room of his Dadu . Shadman`s are just one brother and one sister: Shamin. Peuli is daughter of Shamin.
Peuli is residing in the house of her maternal grand Pa since two and a half year years of age. Peuli`s favoourate abode is this two-storied building of Mr.Shahid at West Rajabazar near Dhanmondi. Peuls most favorite persons are three: Shahid Shaheb, her Bara Abbu, Sharifa Begum Spouse of Mr.Shaheed, Uncle Shadman Nazib: her Shamman Mama! Shadman lost her mother only at age two. Mr. Shahid got his son Sharfudowla bethroted for the second time with the hope that Shadman would have some body to call mother. But that was not going to him. Shadman used to call his grand mother Mum and though he has attained the prime age of twenty four, still addresses her as mother.
Shadman and Peuli reside at the ground floor along with Mr. Shahid. Sharfuddin, sub-inspector of Police, resides with his second wife Nafisa Khanom at the first floor. Nafisa Khanom is bereft of any issue of her own. And this is the joint family association of Mr. Shahid. Dining is at the first place, mostly not in a joint session rather separately.
Who did not have the unenviable experience of griping by Peuli in this house? From the master of the house down to the maid Kushna, every one had its share. Her little translucent teeth are incisive enough: wherever the griping is made, it cuts deep. Hardly anyone in this house can take it easily. But Shahid Shahib does. Even when he moans and groans form pain of her
Canine incision, he would only say: Ah! What are you doing? Don`t bite. It damages your teeth. Understand my dear. Peuli would dis-engage her teeth and say: OK, I won`t bite you anymore Grand Pa.” Mr. Shaheed would say to all in the house: Never bite back a child for biting,It is no good if you back bite a child, what emerges in their mind is that violence is an appropriate way to handle emotion. And he remembers and uses that experience for the rest of life. Mr. Shahid would say: Lead the child to the path of light. He would climb forward up and illuminate you and me by troding in the light. His S.I of police son would say, These are all of yester years, obsolete and what is in currency, father would not follow those precepts. But whatever opinion Mr. Sharfudowla may have, it is all within himself. Hardly dares to bring out of his bosom. While whatever Shadman has to say, he would say it right on the face of his grand Pa. And yet, love of Mr. Shahid flows towards his only grand son.

------- to be continued.