Advanced Essay Writing, Spring 2013

The sun was about to rise in any minute. It had been few hours since April 14 ended for a year. The silence of the night took over mine. I could still see the fall of night into day and feel the wind breaking the silence of the night. I was  in a waiting room surrounded by heavy thick glasses watching my friends and family look at me with misty eyes. I never wanted to see them cry, however, then I was the reason what they were crying for. Those eyes like arrows literally pierced through my chest, causing a pain in my heart. I was hurt; my heart was bleeding.

 

My day on 14^th April 2009 had started with so many plans: attending parade, being at Romna Botomul¹ as soon as I could, meeting my friends and then having Panta- Ilish ( watery rice with Hilsha fish) together at Dhaka University campus. Eating Panta-Ilish is a traditional way of celebrating Bangla new year and the Dhaka University is the source of all functions to embrace the Pohela Boishakh- the Bangla new year. It was on 14^th April.

 

The University of Dhaka was used to be called the Oxford of The East. Ever since I was in high school I had a dream of being a student at The University of Dhaka. I finally made it. That was the best thing ever happened to my life. I am indebted to the Dhaka University for who I am. It unchained and liberated me in thoughts. I learned words can be strong enough to move the mountains. It taught me to be responsible for my own actions and take the responsibility for the weaker people. I realized my two little shoulders could carry a little hope for everyone. I ran day after day, night after night from hospital to hospital with the bags of blood for the patients. When I got sick doing this my friends took care of me since I lived in a dormitory and my parents lived in my hometown. They fed me by their hands when I was too sick to feed myself, helped me with the study when I missed so many classes. Little by little they joined me doing that. They turned out to be the most reliable persons for the needy people. We all are tied with the relation of blood. They are the noblest and most responsible men I have ever met.

 

I became politically aware while I was in DU². I took great interest in our local as well as international politics. I still remember reading March 17^th 2009 newspaper about Madagascar’s president Marc Ravalomanana being forced to step down off the power and handed it over to the military. I wasn’t surprised at all seeing military take over the power in Madagascar as we already had had military coup 3 times after our independence in 1971. It is a very common scenario for Military to seize  the power in a politically unrest region.

 

An announcement suddenly brought me again into the reality of waiting room from my nostalgia. It was time for me to go. I was walking away from my family and friends, and after 18 hours fly I would be in another part of the world, in USA. As I was disappearing from the sight of those eyes, I whispered myself,” bye my favorite Bangladesh, friends and family. Forgive me for leaving you, and pardon me for being selfish.” My flight would be leaving shortly to USA.