After so many years, Abir looked around his room with astonished eyes. The familiar scent still lingered in the place where he had spent 12 years of his life. The room that was once his most private space—remained exactly the same. Not a single item had been moved, thanks to his mother, Maliha Khan. She had kept the room locked for years, entering only when she missed her son dearly, silently crying so no one would notice.
Abir entered the room, opened his luggage, and took out a T-shirt before heading for a shower. After freshening up, he stepped out wearing a coffee-colored T-shirt and trousers, drying his hair with a towel in hand. Tanvir was sitting on the bed, waiting quietly with the luggage beside him.
Abir asked upon seeing Tanvir,
"What happened? Got something to say?"
Tanvir smiled slightly and replied,
"Why didn't you let me carry that luggage? What's in it?"
Concern flickered in Abir's eyes as he clenched his jaw and said,
"There are some personal things in there."
Tanvir laughed and said,
"But my innocent mind really wants to see those personal things. What can I do?"
In his usual serious tone, Abir replied,
"Anything meant to be shown to others shouldn't be called personal, right?"
Understanding his brother's resistance, Tanvir didn't push further and simply asked,
"Will you go out this evening?"
Abir nodded in agreement.
Without another word, Tanvir left the room. Abir sat in a corner of the bed, busy checking something important on his phone.
★★★
Megh entered her room, opened her shopping bags, and took out three dresses—each more beautiful than the other: two elegant gowns and a gorgeous, embroidered three-piece outfit. She also opened her laptop and saw all necessary apps and browsers had already been set up.
Her eyes fell on a wrapped box. Upon unwrapping, she found three novels with a small note on top:
"Read after admission."
Alongside was a small box filled with colorful stones, something Megh had loved since childhood. And then, there was an iPhone 13 Pro Max box. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She had silently wished for an iPhone for a long time but never had the courage to ask anyone. Now, receiving it unexpectedly filled her with joy.
Back in her second year of college, while she was juggling college, private tuitions, and coaching classes, Tanvir had given her an old phone of his. The SIM card was his too, and apart from three or four close friends, no one else had her number. He had even strictly forbidden her from giving the number to teachers. Tanvir had always been overly serious about Megh. While it's common for brothers to be protective, Tanvir was excessively strict.
During her HSC exams, Megh had mustered the courage to ask:
"Brother, after exams, will you buy me a new phone?"
Tanvir had stared at her like she had committed a grave sin. She had completely let go of that hope since. But today, without even asking, she got an iPhone and a laptop. It felt like a miracle. She wondered absentmindedly,
"Tanvir bhaiya must have told someone to buy the phone and laptop, otherwise how would they know I don't have one?"
Meanwhile, Abir had been engrossed in his phone for over an hour. Suddenly, Adi came running to the door:
Adi: "Bhaiya, they're calling you for dinner."
Abir: "Alright, I'm coming."
Within ten minutes, Abir changed into a white shirt and came downstairs. It was around 4 PM; most people had already finished eating. Maliha Khan sat waiting for her son. Seeing him all dressed, she asked:
"Are you going somewhere?"
Abir: "Yes, I've got some work."
He began eating quietly. Everything he had loved as a child had been cooked today, but he couldn't finish it all. He ate as much as he could and stood up. Just then, Tanvir arrived.
Tanvir: "Bhaiya, I'm ready. Shall we go now or later?"
Abir: "Let's go now."
Maliha Khan (from the kitchen): "Aren't you taking the car? Take the keys."
Abir: "No need for the car, Amma."
The two brothers left the house.
★
Evenings in joint families are often the liveliest—everyone gathers, eats snacks, watches TV, plays games, and chats. The only problem was Tanvir. He always kept a strict eye on Megh—what she was doing, eating, whether she was studying. It seemed like monitoring Megh was his full-time job. But he never scolded Mim or Adi, not even once. Such a double standard.
Megh was free only when Tanvir was out of the house. Since he wasn't home today, the three siblings were running around the house. Megh had gone to her room after coaching and got busy with her gifts. She came downstairs just recently. On the other hand, Abir had left the house two hours ago. Megh and Abir still hadn't met.
Their play ended when their grandfather, Mr. Ali Ahmad Khan, returned home. Entering, he asked his wife Maliha:
"Where is Abir?"
Maliha: "He left with Tanvir, said he had work."
Ali Ahmad Khan sat on the sofa and turned to Megh,
"How's your study going, dear?"
Megh: "Alhamdulillah, it's going well, Grandpa. But…"
Grandpa: "But what?"
Megh: "I'm struggling a bit with Physics and Math. I'm finding it hard to keep up with coaching and private tuition. They've gone ahead quite a bit."
Grandpa: "Alright, I'll arrange a private tutor for you within a day or two. Don't worry, just focus on your studies. Your brother Tanvir never listens to me or even to your father. He's obsessed with politics instead of his studies. But you must do well—get into medical or Dhaka University."
Megh: "Yes, Grandpa, I'll try."
Grandpa: "Have you all eaten?"
Mim: "Yes, Grandpa, we've eaten."
Grandpa: "Good. Now go to your rooms and study."
Without a word, the three siblings went off to their rooms.
★★★★
At 9 PM, Abir and Tanvir returned home. The three brothers and Adi sat at the dining table. Mim and Megh weren't there—they were helping in the kitchen. Abir's white shirt had small bloodstains on two or three spots, and three bandages were wrapped around his hand. Iqbal Khan noticed this.
Iqbal: "What happened, Abir? What's with your hand? And those stains?"
Hearing this, Maliha Khan rushed in.
Maliha: "What happened to you, Abir?"
Her heart sank. She couldn't bear even a scratch on her only son.
Abir: "Nothing serious, just a small cut. It'll be fine. Don't worry."
Without saying more, he headed toward the stairs.
Ali Ahmad Khan: "Aren't you going to eat?"
Abir: "No, Dad. I ate earlier, not hungry now."
Saying this, he went to his room. Hearing Abir's voice, Megh quickly came out of her room—after all those gifts, she had to at least thank him. She hadn't even seen his face in seven years. But by the time she came out, Abir had already gone into his room. Her face fell. She quietly joined the others at the dinner table. Tanvir came after washing up.
Iqbal Khan (to Tanvir): "You were with Abir. What happened?"
Tanvir: "Uncle, I was with him at first, but then I went to the party office. So I don't know exactly."
Megh seemed confused. It had been over 7–8 hours since Abir arrived, and she still hadn't seen him. And now this?
She kept looking back and forth at her uncle and Tanvir.
Ali Ahmad Khan, in a serious tone, said to Tanvir:
"He's your brother, but more of a friend, it seems. Tell him not to get involved in any fights or politics. I've lived through his age—I didn't bring him back here for violence but to take over the family business."
Tanvir: "Actually Grandpa, it's just a minor cut on his hand."
Ali Ahmad Khan: "No need to explain. I can tell the difference between a fight wound and a random cut. You've already chosen your path; at least make sure he doesn't get dragged into this."
Tanvir: "Yes, Grandpa."
Suddenly, Megh asked:
"What happened?"
Tanvir glared at her and said,
"You just eat quietly."
Iqbal Khan: "Why would Abir get into a fight? He's been away for years. Who could be his enemy here?"
Silence fell over the house. No one spoke.
Megh thought to herself,
"Did Abir bhaiya really get into a fight? But why? All these years I thought it was my brother Tanvir who was the bad one—bossy and political. But now it seems Abir bhai is the real 'Hitler'!"