Heart Does Go On

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(1)2

She has just opened the door with keys. She feels perhaps she has opened the door of freedom just now for her. Flood of sunshine and fragranced air are ready to welcome her in this new community. Her heart just leaps up to see such a wonderful rare sight. This apartment is perhaps one of the greatest buildings of Bandarban area. She still now cannot believe that she has finally succeeded to come to this place. Her parents were always against her decision of coming to such a remote place of Bangladesh. Though they have always given her the freedom to take her own decisions and to choose her paths 3

in her own ways, this time they have strictly said “ No” to this decision. But she insisted that as a doctor it is her duty and earnest desire to serve the people, who need that most. And finally she is here. Though she knows that it would not be easy for her to cope up and she will definitely feel the absence of her beloved parents, she has decided to accept 4

this challenge. Not to say her first day at hospital were just unbelievable. It was more than she expected. Her colleagues welcomed and accepted her very cordially. And after the office hours she has just come to her new apartment furnished and recruited by the hospital. She is quite impressed with the arrangements. Actually the thing is no reputed doctor wants to come here. So the one who comes gets the top priority and facilities. She is wandering in her new kingdom. Suddenly a portrait attracts her attention. Perhaps she has just seen the picture of a handsome young man behind the curtain just now. She walks towards the photo with keen interest. She stands in front of the photo. This man is staring at her with a look, which she fails to explain, fails to ignore. Kheyali feels 5

embarrassed to accept that this man has taken her breath away. She blushes. She is standing in front of the photo of a stranger with the most beautiful smile in her lips. 6

(2)7

Today Kheyali has met with so many children, who are suffering from diarrhea. As there was a severe flood in this area people are suffering from so many diseases. She had really a busy day. She had so many obstacles in her way while coming to this place. But after coming here she feels proud that she has come here just at the right time. She feels this is the time when these people need help from a doctor. And being a child specialist she is doing her best to serve the sick children of Bandarban. Today she is feeling an attraction for going home. Though she knows she must stay here till evening she has made up her mind to go home now at 4:30 pm. She has found something interesting at her new apartment. There is a photograph of an extremely handsome young man and there is his mysterious diary. She was hesitating last night to open that diary. At first she kept that diary out of her sight. But then she decided to find the address of that man from that diary to return it to him and finally opened that diary. There was a line that was dazzling at it’s first page, which compelled her to read that diary further. At the first page of that diary she saw the truth of someone’s life that startled her-8

“ The most sweetest pleasure of life lies in seeing your dreams in someone other’s eyes.”9

(3)10

Kheyali has returned to her new kingdom just a while ago. After being freshened up and eating she just has rushed towards that diary. This is how the diary starts-11

“ This is my first day both at Dhaka city and at Bangladesh. But I don’t know the reason of having such a lump at my throat while stepping here. This is perhaps called eternal sweet bond of love with one’s motherland. I don’t know whether it would be right to call it my motherland or not. Because my mom was not a Bangladeshi by birth. But she is a Bangladeshi by her spirit. As far as I can recall I can consider my mom nothing but a Bangladeshi. She adopted all those bangali cultures and Bangla language very perfectly. Though she was far away from Bangladesh and her love, she captured Bangladesh in her 12

heart.”13

After reading this much Kheyali understood that this is the diary of a man, who has come to this country in search of his roots. His father was a Bangladeshi., who married her mom here at Bangladesh. His mom Linda and his pa Orup met with each other at Paris. At that time his pa was traveling for the purpose of a world music tour. His mom became crazy hearing his pa singing( at that time his pa was a renowned singer not only in Bangladesh but also outside Bangladesh.) At first it was simply friendship but it didn’t take so long for this friendship to turn to love. After some initial dating his parents fallen in deep love with each other. His pa asked his mom whether she is ready to come to Bangladesh or not. His mom agreed and finally they got married after coming to Bangladesh. After two honeymoon years of their married life a cute tiny human toy came to there family whom they named Jion. Jion means a magical stick that can make everything possible. To Orup and Linda Jion was that magical stick that bound two people from two different countries in an eternal bond of love. 14

Kheyali always thought that love actually does not run blind. It sees all but never mind.And after reading this diary her belief becomes even stronger. Love really doesn’t want to see the fault of the beloved. Jion’s mom loves his pa so dearly that in spite of knowing that her husband could not defend her in front of his family she never complained. She never cried, never cursed his pa. She just went away from her love silently for the well being of her love with her son. From Jion’s diary Kheyali has come to know that his mother was actually so intensely in love with his pa that she didn’t even married again. She always told him that his pa is no more in this world. But at her deathbed she told him that his pa is still alive. His grand parents actually didn’t accept his parent’s marriage. Both Linda and Orup thought that things would change after Jion’s arrival. But Jion’s magic even couldn’t persuade his grandparents. And finally his grand ma compelled his pa to leave his family. So Linda had to go back to Paris.15

Kheyali doesn’t know whether it is right to read this diary or not. But she is just getting trapped with the magical spell of this story. She is now keen to know about this man’s 16

emotions about his father, his grand parents and most importantly she needs to know about his purpose for coming in this country more elaborately. So she needs to read this 17

diary further. But no more tonight. It is already too late. She has to make some preparations for tomorrow’s meal and also needs to study the case file of her kid patients.18

(4)19

It is perhaps midnight now. Kheyali looks at the clock. The small hand of the clock has just touched the number 3, which means it is 3’o clock now. She was reading that diary 20

of Jion so attentively that she didn’t even come to know about time. Now she feels hungry. So she rushes towards freeze to see whether there is something to eat or not. She 21

opens the freeze and takes a breath of comfort that there is at least something to eat. She takes the bowl of sweets and moves towards the dining table. She thinks while eating that Jion is such a nice man. After coming to this country he 22

didn’t face much difficulty to find his pa out. Though Kheyali thinks Jion’s pa was unfair to him she cannot hate this man. Because Jion has glorified him so much in his diary that she is compelled to honor his pa. Join has not written even one word of hatred towards his pa. And this is perhaps the influence of his mom. Because Kheyali read at one place 23

of Jion’s diary that his mom said, “ Never hate your pa, Jion. We cannot hate him. We can only love him.” Kheyali thinks surprisingly about Jion’s mom. How can one be so 24

immensely in love with another! She was so deeply in love with Jion’s pa that she couldn’t see anything beyond him. Kheyali has started to love this woman because of her 25

loving nature. She has made his son a doctor only in order to fulfill the dream of her husband. None actually knows about future. Neither Jion nor his pa ever thought that he will find his pa at the final stage of his life. Actually Jion didn’t get much time to give perfect treatment to his pa. Because he was already beyond all the treatments. But Jion 26

tried his best to give even little comfort to his pa. If his diary tells the truth he didn’t ask a single question to his pa about their past. He lived those few days with his father and tried to give him all the happiness that a father wants from his son. According to the last wish of his pa he is now at Bandarban to serve the poor people of this area, who need better treatment from better doctors.27

“ Naah…..I need to meet this man. He took my breath away at the first glance when I looked at him through the photo frame. And now he has made me crazy by his nature, 28

devotion towards his parents and last but not the least he is from my profession. And what the hell!!!!! He is now at Bandarban. Oh my God!! I will definitely meet Jion.” 29

Kheyali thinks all these things and becomes very restless to meet a man, yes a man for the first time in her life.30

(5)31

Kheyali is now sitting at her office. She is feeling very restless. She is trying her best to concentrate on the case study of that child whom she is going to meet this evening. But she is out of control perhaps. From her very childhood she had the dream of becoming a doctor. And she didn’t let anything come into the way of fulfilling this dream of her 32

childhood. People have always looked towards her as an all rounder. She was always a brilliant student, a very good singer and not to mention an amateur writer too. She could 33

concentrate on her studies at any circumstances. Whatever the situation may be she always tried to be regular in her studies and other works. But now at this mature age she 34

is feeling restless thinking of a man. What will baba and ma think if they come to know this situation of mine? Kheyali smiles by thinking this and she doesn’t know the reason 35

but she is blushing also. 36

“ I must talk with ma”, Kheyali thinks. So now she is dialing the number of her home at Dhaka. “ Hello, ma!!!!!! This is kheya. You haven’t forgot your daughter by this time I 37

hope,” she laughs by saying these things. “ No. I haven’t forgot my baby. But you tell me why are you sounding so restless? I hope every thing is fine there. Is there any problem, kheya?” ma asks with a very concerned and loving voice. Kheyali replies, “ Oh ma! This is what I love about you. How do you always come to know about my feelings so clearly before my telling? However I have something to tell you, something to ask you and I need your suggestion too.” Ma smiles at the other side of the phone by hearing all these 38

and she asks a question to her daughter. “ Are you in love, baba?” “Ma I have no answer to this question. But I have seen the photo of a man. I’ve read his diary. I want to meet 39

him. But I don’t know his here abouts. What should I do ma?” Kheyali feels comfort by telling all this to her ma. “ Do whatever you like. And I know my daughter will never 40

take any wrong decision. Me and your baba have complete faith on you,” this is the suggestion of her ma. “ Ok. Thanks ma. I will call you up later. Give my love to baba.” 41

Kheyali hangs the phone up.42

“Ok I will search for him. As far as I came to know from his diary he works at Life care Hospital right now,” Kheyali looks at her watch after thinking this. This is 4’o clock now. She can go and meet Jion. Then she will come back before evening after returning his diary to him. She takes that diary and rushes towards Life care Hospital immediately. 43

Kheyali was quite normal till now. But after reaching the hospital she is failing to stop the loud racing of her heart. The nurse told that Dr. Jion Chowdury sits at the 3rd floor at room no 408. She is moving slowly towards that room. She has reached at the door of his room. Yes, she can see him through the crystal clear glass of his room. He is perhaps studying something. She is experiencing a rare beautiful sight of a mediating man. She would stop time at this point if she could. But time can never be stopped. So she knocks 44

at the door asking, “ may I come in?” One pair of beautiful brown eyes has just now looked at her. “ Oh my God! Am I really in love with him?” Kheyali asks herself.45

(6)46

Six months have been passed after that first meeting of Kheyali and Jion. Kheyali still doesn’t understand the reason of the loud racing of her heart in front of Jion. She cannot 47

see anything beyond this man. She gets surprised at his every work. On their first meeting when he said to her, “ Boshun, ami apnar jonno ki korte pari?” she was just thundered to 48

hear him talking in pure Bangla. Still now it is a matter of astonishment to her that Jion talks Bangla just like his mother tongue in spite of the fact that he is not a native speaker of this language. Sometimes he even speaks Bangla better than her. Seeing her astonishment join says, “ This is all magic of love. If there is love in your heart for 49

something you can do anything for that thing. Same thing has happened to me.” This is what Kheyali actually loves about him. He loves and speaks from his heart. At the starting of their relationship Jion was very shy. Even it was Kheyali, who proposed first. She herself cannot believe it still now that a Bangladeshi girl like her has proposed first to 50

a boy. She still wonders about this. It is something beyond her imagination. She knows that it is not an easy thing for her parents to stand. But they didn’t react. They have rather 51

supported her at every step from their first dating to their marriage. Yes, she has got married to Jion three months back. She knows it sounds like a magical spare. But it has 52

actually happened to her. She is not at fault with the fact that she has found her dream man in a person, who looks like a foreigner but acts like more than a bangali. She doesn’t 53

care about other’s opinions. Because she knows deep in inside her that she is very happy with this man and none could make her happier than this.54

The doorbell is ringing. She knows who it is! She comes to the door running. Jion is standing at the door with a million dollar smile in his lips. “ Guess what!!!!!”, he holds 55

Kheyali tightly. Kheyali says, “ Let me guess. Have you got that offer to complete your FCPS at abroad?” Jion smiles again and seeing this smile Kheyali becomes sure of the 56

fact that she has guessed the right thing. She goes to call up ma. She wants to share this happiness with her best friend.57

After six years-58

Jion and Kheyali is returning to their beloved country after long six years with their only two years old daughter, Spondon, which means beats. This is because she is the beat of 59

the hearts of her parents. By this time both of them has completed their FCPS. They are very happy that they are returning though both of them got better job opportunities there they decided to come back home. Because Jion’s parent’s dream was to see him serving his own country as a doctor. And the same dream he saw in the eyes of Kheyali’s parents. 60

And he thinks that the greatest pleasure of life is to see your own dreams in other’s eyes. And when he told this to Kheyali she agreed with him because this is the truth of their 61

relation she believes. And she was attracted towards Jion because of this cool thought of him written on the page of his diary. Their friends and near relatives are very concerned 62

about the citizenship of their child. But they really don’t bother much about this. Because they don’t want to bind their child with any sort of bond to any country at this moment. 63

They have put it on the hands of Spondon. She can consider herself Bangladeshi or she can also consider herself French. But that really doesn’t matter at all. All that matters are 64

love, emotion and relations. No matter wherever one stays, no matter whatever his religion or nationality is heart really does go on. Feelings and emotions can keep people near in spite of being far away. That is why they are returning to their roots and the decision of next generation…..that can be left to them. May be that story will start somewhere else with some other characters at a new age.65