A Long Way To Go: A Travelling Story (2015)

Chapter 9

We went back to Coxes Bazaar. After 7 hours of bed rest, we directly went to the ferry. It was so huge that we spent time watching TV. When I went out of the cruise, I saw the people, standing around and taking photographs. I too started to take photographs with my DSLR Camera. In those pictures, the birds were flying above the sky as the sun was about to set down. Maisha and Adreeta were playing cards inside the ferry. They also asked me to join them. I was pleased. After all, we played cards as the boys were watching their favorite film- Dead Poets Society. It was so pleasant weather that it was cold as an ice- cream.

After a while, when I was taking a photograph, I saw the same hooded man, sitting in the railing. When I just about to say it to Maisha, I looked back and he was vanished. Then, Saiful interrupted.

 “I smell Haroon’s presence” said Saiful.

It was a smell that I also felt familiar. My doctor used to wear his regular Hugo Boss perfume. The whisperer also had the same smell as my doctor and Haroon. Somehow, I have a really strange feeling about it. Anyways, after we reached Saint Martin, in the distance it looked like a large island but in reality it’s a small, a one hour journey island. There were coconut trees surrounded at the end of the island.

The natural beauty of the Saint Martin enhanced my vision that I could make the photograph better or may be the best of all. Iliyas took all of us to a guest house beside the beach. It was not cold until the evening. The breeze was so high that I felt freezing. Maisha, Adreeta and I had a barbecue party as the boys were dancing with the classic baul song. Therefore, we played carom. Suddenly, a man with a squared frame glasses came towards us.

“Hello, Iliyas, Saiful and Sameen” said the man with a square frame glasses.

“Oh Ali, my man!” said All three boys. They took a group hug.

We ladies whispered “school teacher!”

That Ali was more of a comedian than a school teacher. The three others asked about the good and the bad.

He revealed “Few days back, Haroon came to our house. Due to that he told me that you guys are coming”.

All three of the boys were shocked.  

Ali further revealed “he left two days ago but I found some shocking news that it was a lie that he went to America but no one knows where he was”.

A suspense! A greater suspense of calamity would happen! I don’t know what to do! Anyways, the guys were left shocked about the presence of Haroon. I feel his creepy voice saying my name with the cold breeze of Saint Martin.

Next day, we went to Ali’s school where most of the needy students were listening to his sweet lectures. Until when he fart, students started to laugh. Some of the people around Saint Martin were staring at me and few of them criticized “Bloody foreigners!”

But when Ali stopped the criticizers he said

“Bloody idiots! Why do you stare our guests like that? They are like you. Everyone has their own perspectives but if you don’t understand blood, blood is everywhere. We all are people but never be an extremist.  Lack of open mindedness creates the thorn to the society. Don’t judge her clothes or her looks or her nationality” said Ali.

All of them left. We got a sigh of relief. Therefore, we enjoyed his lectures but suddenly, I saw the same hooded man from the ship, staring at me. But when I was about to explain it to the others, he vanished. After that, we roamed through the island. It was sandy but lots of small markets at the back of the sandy area. The coconut water was tasty as cool that I would never forget that taste. Some of the hooligans, probably 20 years of age were trying to harass me but Maisha slapped.

One of the guys said “do you know who I am; I am the son of this village’s chairman!”

“Fuck your chairman!” said I.

After that, we avoided him and went straight to the guest house.