The Lass from Bangladesh - Part Two

It was a long and dusty way they had to change two buses before nightfall. They reached the next morning.

At the bus-stand her father washed her and freshened her up, they had some breakfast and went to the uncle house in a cycle rickshaw.
Her uncle was delighted to see them but sad that he had lost his sister-in-law. He hugged little Mumtaz and took her in. He gave her a doll to play and while she was busy Pasha related what happened in the past week. He then asked his brother if he would keep Mumtaz with him, his brother was very delighted ofcourse. But he was worried would Mumtaz stay without her parents. Pasha stayed with his brother for a few days while Mumtaz got accustomed to living with her uncle and aunty and one fine morning Pasha left back for the village. He was very sad to leave Mumtaz with him but knew that she would be well looked after by his brother. He kissed the little one while she was still asleep and left the little pouch what her mother had given and left.

It was a new day for Mumtaz when she woke up the next morning she never really missed her dad as she was kind of used to him and her uncle going to market. Her aunty gave her some breakfast and she went to play with her doll and the other children in the neighborhood. When evening came she missed not seeing her dad and asked her uncle where he was. He told her that he had gone back to the village but would return soon, she was happy with his answer and went back to her playing. She had a very long day so fell asleep early that night.

Mumtaz was admitted to the nearby government school, she was a very smart girl and stood always first in the class. Many of her friends would ask her where her parents were but she would always tell them that they were in her village and they would come to fetch her once her education was over. Mumtaz was growing up soon and tomorrow would be her thirteenth birthday. She was anxiously waiting for her dad to come.

Next day she woke up early in the morning wore her new dress that her uncle had bought for her and was waiting anxiously by the door for her parents to come. Her uncle had been to the market and on his way back had been to the post office. She saw him coming and ran to him and asked where and when her parents were coming. Her uncle had a slight smile on his face, but he just took her home and sat her down, then he told her that he needed to talk to her. He told her that she was a big girl now and it was time he spoke to her.

She was very confused but sat down impatiently for her uncle and aunty to come and talk to her. Her uncle held her hands in his and her aunty gave her the little pouch that her mother had given when she looked into the little pouch she was very happy to find some jewellery and money she asked them who gave it to her and they said explained to her that when she was 6 years old her mother had passed away, and she had left this pouch for her. She then asked for her dad not moving her eyes fro her uncle, he told her that last year that he too had passed away. She was very sad and sobbed. She asked why she was not told earlier about them. Her uncle explained to her that he had promised to keep it a secret until she was old enough to tell her about them. She sobbed and sobbed. Her uncle and aunty hugged her and let her cry. She then turned to her uncle and aunty and as if in gratitude she gave them a kiss each. They were very delighted and knew what that meant.


Today Mumtaz is 21 years old and beautiful damsel. She had finished her education and done a course on Montessori. Her uncle and aunty too were getting old, she was great help to them and loved them very dearly. That year she went to visit her village and looked back at her childhood. Her grandmother was very old & withered. She(grandmother) could not recognize her (Mumtaz), she just murmured something and smiled at her. Mumtaz felt sad and saw how frail she was, she asked her uncle if she could take her along with her to the city, her uncle agreed and together they all came back to the city.