"What are you doing? Is this a suicide case?"
Shanto called out when he saw a girl standing on a small bridge by the roadside, staring down at the water. Startled by the sudden voice, she turned her head slightly but said nothing, then turned away again.
Shanto was taken aback. What a strange girl—ignoring him like that.
He asked again, "Can't you speak?"
The girl frowned, clearly irritated. "You're not someone I know. So why should I talk to you?" she replied sharply.
Shanto observed her carefully. She had a childlike face, deep kohl-lined enchanting eyes, and a soft wheatish complexion. She wore a black gown with a neatly wrapped black hijab. She looked completely graceful, almost angelic. Yet despite her appearance, her words were rude.
"Why are you standing like this? Do you feel like jumping and dying?" Shanto asked bluntly.
She answered calmly, "If suicide were not a grave sin, I would have tried."
Annoyed, Shanto replied, "Okay, your wish," and walked toward his destination.
---
September 18, 2022.
Ayan Shanto Chowdhury, known as Shanto, was on his way to Dhaka University, where he worked as a professor. That was when he had noticed the girl standing on the bridge, staring at the water. He had seen her before with Rodd at college. That was why he had spoken to her. Now he regretted starting the conversation.
Lost in thought, he reached the university campus.
As soon as he arrived, several girls stared at him wide-eyed. Shanto never understood why they had to look at him like that. From the way they stared, one would think he was not a professor but a senior "bhaiya." He had grown used to it and no longer paid attention. He went straight to his office.
---
Third floor. End of the corridor. Room 201.
This classroom was assigned to first-year LLB students. On the right side at the back, a group of friends—Aru, Jui, Akhi, Rohan, Russell, and Sohan—were chatting.
Aru said, "Hey, I heard Shanto Sir will take our class today. Mohona Ma'am won't teach us anymore."
Russell sighed dramatically. "Oh no, my crush won't take our class anymore."
Rohan mocked him playfully, and everyone burst into laughter. Only Akhi showed no reaction; she was busy eating chips.
Just then, someone knocked on the classroom door. Mohona Ma'am entered with a gentle smile. No one would guess that her daughter was already in her third year of Honors. Everyone stood up to show respect.
"How are you all?" she asked warmly.
"Alhamdulillah, we are fine, Ma'am. How are you?" they replied in unison.
"Alhamdulillah, I am fine too. Do you know that from today another sir will take your class?"
"Yes, Ma'am. But we will miss you, Ma'am."
"I will miss you too. Attend your classes properly. Allah Hafiz."
With a soft smile, she left the classroom.
---
Class was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. It was 9:25. Checking his wristwatch, Shanto climbed the stairs.
As he stepped onto the third-floor corridor, he noticed a girl standing only a few feet away, staring at him blankly.
Frowning, Shanto said, "What?"
"How are you, Sir?" she asked.
"If you have nothing to say, move aside," he replied sternly.
As she tried to step aside, her foot tangled, and she almost fell onto him. Shanto quickly stepped back, and she fell to the floor instead. With teary eyes, she looked up at him. Without caring, Shanto walked away.
The students nearby burst into loud laughter.
A boy stepped forward and said mockingly, "So, rich father's pampered daughter, Miss Maya—how did it feel to fall?"
Maya glared at him angrily. The boy laughed and walked away.
---
Shanto entered Room 201. Seeing him, everyone stood up and greeted him. He responded in a serious tone and introduced himself. After scanning the class, he turned on the projector and began his lecture.
In the middle of the lecture, there was a knock on the door.
"May I come in?"
Shanto looked toward the door. A girl wearing a light pink gown was standing there. Seeing her, his eyebrows tightened.
He approached her and said, "What happened, Rodd? Do you want to say something?"
"Sir, I am a student of this class. Sorry for being late."
"Does your father know about this?" he asked.
"Yes, he knows. Now please let me enter the class."
Without saying anything further, Shanto stepped aside. The two girls entered the classroom.