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

Chapter 13

“How did you know that I was in the ship?” asked Haroon.

“You were at Debra’s back. I saw you opening the hood and humming around while in the ship” said Iliyas.

“Hmm…. I was at the ship to know where were you guys. When I found out you guys were talking about me, I was impatient to reveal myself to you but I thought I need time to reveal you” said Haroon.

I feel more honored to know about him.  When I was in New York, I was curious to know about the mysterious Dr. Aamir Habib. I shared the depression of my life but this time I may reveal it to the people around me. I said

“My father was a suave businessman. He had a large business empire in New York. Also he’s a New Yorker. When he missed mom, he becomes drunk and neglected me. I thought he would be missing her but before his death, I was fifteen, he revealed to me that at a time he was an amateur photographer. He came to Dhaka for a tour. That was the first time, he saw my mom sketching a picture. As they met, dad introduced himself as a student of Commerce who was in vacation and mom introduced herself as a journalist. When my dad saw the street people, he thought he would open a school along with mom. Therefore, they did- a small school for street children. After they fell in love, they got married but as her parents did not agree about it, she forced him to divorce after I was born. After dad died, I was raised by my grandma (from father’s side. After she died, I was depressed but wanted to be busy until I met Aamir- I mean Haroon-the man of my life in the university. We both were in different departments but we met often. Like Iliyas, Haroon was an introvert but he cared a lot. His parents also permitted him to marry me. Then he did share his long lost friends but he was aware that Iliyas was Maisha’s husband as he saw pictures in Facebook.  But I realized my mom’s alive. Therefore, I should look for her” said I.

We were paused for a while, sitting above the stone of the beach, thinking of mom. Where she is? What my mom really is? I wonder.   Haroon informed me that, we may take a DNA test in Dhaka. I refused as I had a picture of mom along with me as a five year old. It was a Technicolor pic. After that, we went to back to Dhaka. When I called one of my father’s closest employees by phone, he mentioned that my mom’s name was Samina Parveen.

  At dawn, I went to a beautiful place where I photographed so many beautiful things of nature. Suddenly, I heard a middle-aged lady coming towards me.

“Who are you young lady?” asked the middle aged lady.

She came closer to me. She looked at my eyes, her tears were coming down.

“Deba! Is that you? You are a grownup!” exclaimed the middle aged woman.

She hugged me.

“Ma’am would be pleased to see you, my love. My name is Halima- your mom’s maid” said the middle aged lady.

“How’s she now?” asked I.

“She’s retired, doing fine but missed you a lot. Sometimes she loses her sanity while I talk about her divorce” said the middle aged lady Halima. She took me to an apartment. After stepping to the rooftop, I saw the fat lady sitting on a rocky chair. Beside it, there were plants that made the fat lady comfortable. When I saw her face, she looked way beautiful than the picture.

She exclaimed “Is that Debra from my lap?  I am so happy to see you. I wished I would have seen more of you. I wish I could not have that divorce! At times, there are some people who are not wise enough to understand the meaning of blood. Somehow, Debra,  I am sorry for this unwise decision. Your father wouldn’t have been drunk and would have raised you properly. I am sorry Debra! It’s Haroon who told me about you”.

We hugged tightly with each other as we had tears in our eyes of joy. Somebody pat behind my back.

“So, there you are son-in-law. You completed my family. Thank you for your generosity” said mom.

“That’s my pleasure ma’am. Special thanks to Maisha, Adreeta and the boys who completed her journey for identity and our journey to reunion” said Haroon.

They also invited us to the college reunion. I thought it would be fun meeting the vamp, Sheeba. May be she’s changed because everyone has a family of their own. That is why we should forgive her.