Out of context

O N E

2028

Shuvro

           In the late hour of the evening, a fine young man around the age of twenty could be easily noticed skipping down the uneven footpaths of Sahabag afterall not many people ran through the busy footpath of Sahabag like a madman. That would be Shuvro Tahsan, sun burned oval face, a pair of black specs and a head full of unruly dark hair. 

Screaming a bunch of "Sorry" to anyone he collided with, he bypassed the dirty sidewalk. Not to mention the curses that he received.  In his defense, he has a bus to catch, a bet to win and losing it wasn't an option. He was stubborn like that. The next bus wouldn't be leaving for another good hour. 

"Shit!" He hissed as the bus slipped out of his grasp; he still had a chance at the overbridge. If he went to the other side... 
Fortunate for him, the traffic jam worked in his favor. He was inches away. 

"Oi, Mama!"
The bus slowed to a minimum speed as the bus conductor ushered him to get in, the man no older than he. 

"Careful!" 

"Thanks." 
Shuvro politely thanked the other man who has already busied himself nudging another passenger for the fare.
Wiping the beads of sweat trickling down the side of his face, He fannes himself with his hand. It didn't help that Star Wars invader tee that he wore beneath his shirt was sticking to him like a second skin. 

He could still feel the rush of adrenaline through his system. It didn't help either that he would need to stand the rest of the way; getting a vacant seat at this hour would be a daydream. Not when there were women his mother's age struggling along the road. 

As he settled down, squeezing himself into the little space it offered in the sea of mingling bodies, he recalled a bet with Nahid, one of his batchmates. It was not exactly a bet; it was just a... what do you say, a challenge? The deal was simple: they would both make a go for the next bus from Sahabag, a good distance from the institute. Whoever makes it takes the cash. Speaking of the devil, his sharp eyes scanned the area, looking for one person, and he did find him.

Outside the bus, right at the bus stand, he was getting sandwiched between two old uncles. It was a sight to behold; it should be put up in a museum. Being the responsible citizen he was, Shuvro pulled out his phone only to snap a quick shot. Not a second later, his phone lit up with a notification from the said person.

Shuvro 

Pay up loser

Wtf!? I was before you.
I want a refund, there's deep conspiracy in it.

It's all about timing mate.
Allah has his personal favourites.

...

Someone's supposed to pay 500.
Not me. So who's it?

Shuvro.
Look, little bro.
It's the middle of the month.

I know its the 16th.

Please dude, I got no cash right now.

Digital money is doable.
I've a bikash number.

Ya Allah!
It was just a joke.

When the other line goes offline, Shuvro swiftly reaches out for the volume key. His instinct told him it was about time Nahid tried a direct call. He just knew it. It didn't work, though; the very second his phone literally leaped out of his grasp like a dying fish. the shrill blue bird-themed tune managed to shake up the area of three radios' feet around him. Pulling off the volume key successfully, sheepishly he tippes his head apologetically to the people around.

Though it didn't help the youngest offended, a small baby of one to two. As the mother bounced him up and down to calm him, the angry wails grew louder. Shuvro was behind him, just inches away from the baby.

Leaving the phone call unanswered, he shoved the phone into his pant pocket. The baby boy though wailed louder, staring right at Shuvro.  Unhinged as he was, he pulled his iris to the middle, and the old trick worked; those wide baby eyes were now curiously staring at him. It wasn't that hard; he just needed to focus his vision on the bridge of his nose.

That's how he spent the bus trip throughout, atoning for his offense, as the baby gleefully gurgled, flapping his palm excitedly.

It was another hour later when he reached the familiar neighbour. An area he rarely stepped on those days.

It's been like what? 20 days since I last updated, maybe. God, writing is so exhausting! I keep writing the same scene in thousand ways, only to delet it later. All of them turned out shitty:/

So I just decided to go with the flaw. How long will I keep circling the same page. At this rate by the time this series will end my hairs would be greyed , skin wrinkled. I will probably need another assistant to type it out for me.

21. 10. 2024