It was May, and the scorching midday sun felt like it was burning skin to the bone. After twelve long years, the eldest son of the house and his children were returning. In fact, they had already arrived.
The sound of weeping drifted up from the ground floor. In irritation, Nusrat blurted out, "What the hell! Why do they have to cry like this? This is their problem—if someone goes abroad, they cry; if they come back, they cry. Can someone stop them? My head is aching." She uttered a sharp sound of annoyance.
Being an introvert, Ishrat couldn't properly share her thoughts with anyone. She had been fidgeting for a while, wanting to say something but held back by her shyness.
"What happened? I've been watching you squirm for a while now," Nusrat noted.
"Actually..."
"Actually what? Just say what you want to say."
"Aren't you going downstairs? To meet Uncle and Aunt? They've been here for quite a while."
Nusrat glared at her. Ishrat looked back with a pitiful face. Nusrat asked, "Am I older, or are you?"
"You are older. Don't you know that? What a weird question! Did you forget?"
"Then why are you glaring at me?"
"Okay, listen to me," Nusrat said, her voice turning serious.
"What?"
"Stay away from them. They are like poisonous snakes. They won't hesitate to strike if they get the chance—especially Elder Aunt (Boro Fupi)." As Ishrat tried to interrupt, Nusrat added, "Let me finish first, then you can give your speech."
Ishrat nodded.
"And stay away from those 'Black and White Cats' back from England. Stay away from Uncle, too! Don't even talk to that man. He didn't check on us all these years, and now he's here to show 'love.' You'll see it overflowing now. I don't want to see you anywhere near them. Stay away! I don't like Uncle at all."
"But what did they do?"
"You won't understand. Just don't go near them. You're so beautiful, you'll catch their evil eye."
"Oh, stop! What are you saying?" Ishrat said, giving her a light playful slap.
"Turn on the AC!" Nusrat demanded.
"No."
"Then turn on the fan!"
"No, the bill will go up."
"You aren't paying the bill, Dad is."
"Aha, don't you get it? I'm saving for the future!"
"Why are you so lazy? You just don't want to get up from there. And what's the point of saving Dad's money? Who else will spend it but us?"
"If you know that, then why are you pestering me? I'll spend Dad's money later, now keep quiet."
Meanwhile, after the initial greetings, the members of the Syed family were talking among themselves. Helal Saheb called Onika and Arisha to sit beside him. With a gentle smile, he asked, "How are my girls doing?"
"Alhamdulillah, Uncle. How are you?"
"Alhamdulillah."
"How far along are you in your studies?"
"I've finished my HSC, and Arisha is an SSC candidate."
"Good! Study hard. If your results are good, you'll get gifts."
"I get that, but didn't you bring anything for us from France?"
Helal Saheb smiled broadly. "I did, mothers, I did! How could I not bring things for you?"
Onika and Arisha cheered in excitement.
"Where are Ishrat and Nusrat? I haven't seen them since I arrived."
Onika replied, "They are in their room, Uncle."
"Oh."
The conversation was interrupted by a deep, heavy voice. "Dad, it would be better if someone showed me my room."
"Can someone show Zayin to his room?"
"Yes, brother, come! I'll take you," Lutfah Begum rushed over.
As they passed the first bedroom on the right of the second floor, a ringing female voice could be heard: "Aren't you going downstairs? To meet Uncle and Aunt..."
A well-built man in a formal shirt and trousers stood up. In a calm yet grave voice, he said, "You all continue talking, I'm going to my room. Arisha, please show me the way."
"Yes, brother, let's go!"
Upon reaching the second floor, Arash heard someone scolding another in a harsh tone: "Stay away from those 'Black and White Cats' back from England."
"Arisha!" Arash called out while walking toward his room.
"Yes, brother?"
"Who stays in this room?"
"Elder sister and Middle sister (Nusrat)."
"Whose voice was that just now?"
"Middle sister's, brother."
"Oh. Tell her to speak softly. Girls shouldn't talk so loudly. I don't like it when a girl's voice travels outside her room."
"Yes, brother."
Once Arisha left, Arash locked his door. He took a long, held breath and headed to the washroom to freshen up.
3:00 PM
There was a knock on the door. Ishrat opened it to find an unfamiliar face.
"Who are you?"
The facial features seemed somewhat familiar to her.
"Hey, don't you recognize me? I'm Zayan, your cousin," the fair-skinned boy said cheerfully.
"Oh, Zayan Brother! Assalamu Alaikum! How are you?"
"Walaikum Assalam! Alhamdulillah, I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Can I know your name? I can't really recognize you. It's been many years... no, several years since we last met."
"I'm Ishrat. Please, brother, come in."
Zayan entered the room and saw it was very neatly kept. As he went to sit on the bed, his eyes fell on the floor where a head covered in messy hair popped up from the side.
Brushing the hair away from her face, Nusrat said, "What the hell has come into our room at this hour?"
"Nusrat, I told you not to curse, yet you're doing it. Can't you see there's a person here?" Ishrat scolded.
"Where's the person?" Nusrat looked around. She suddenly noticed Zayan. Eyeing him from head to toe, she asked, "And who is this?"
"This is Zayan Brother, our cousin."
"Zayan? Who's that? I've never heard the name. Anyway, how are you? I know you're fine, so don't bother saying it. You're fine enough to come here."
"You seem to talk more than I do," Zayan remarked. "I thought I was the only talkative one, but I see you're a match. I like you a lot."
"If you're done talking, you can leave."
"What?" Zayan said, scrunching his nose.
"I'm saying go to your own room now. How long do you plan on staying in ours?"
Zayan stared at the dusky-complexioned girl.
"Nusrat, what kind of rudeness is this?" Ishrat interjected.
"Alright, I'll leave then, Ishrat," Zayan said.
"Yes, yes, please do," Nusrat added.
Zayan left. Meanwhile, Nazmin came in to tell them to come down for lunch. Nusrat sat there as if even a bomb wouldn't move her. Ten minutes later, there was another call for lunch. As Ishrat tried to drag her, Nusrat said, "Wait, sister! Let me take my scarf (orna)!"
Inside the room, she wrapped the scarf properly around her head and went downstairs.
"Assalamu Alaikum, Uncle, Aunt. Are you well?"
"Walaikum Assalam, Alhamdulillah, dear. How are you?"
"I am fine."
Nusrat stepped out from behind Ishrat. She gave her Salam and stood quietly. Helal replied and looked at both of them. Turning to Meherun Nesa, he asked, "Which one is Ishrat and which is Nusrat? It's been years, and they never spoke whenever we video called."
"Which one of you is the eldest?"
Pointing at Nusrat, she said, "That is Nasir's eldest daughter," and pointing at Ishrat, "and she is the younger one."
"Wait, that's the younger one," someone corrected, pointing at Ishrat, "and that is the elder one."
"I thought Nusrat was Ishrat; she's taller than Ishrat, that's why. Have you met Zayin and Arash?"
"No," they replied.
Meherun Nesa added, "Everyone mistakes the older for the younger and vice versa."
Nazmin came to serve food and saw Nusrat wearing baggy jeans, a crop top, hair tied in a messy bun, and a scarf wrapped around her head. She looked like she hadn't eaten in months.
"You're going to get a beating, Nusrat. What are you wearing? You haven't even showered! How could you come before people looking like a beggar? If I don't burn these tomboy clothes of yours, change my name." Nazmin hissed into Nusrat's ear before leaving. She didn't forget to give Ishrat a warning look either—meaning, you're next!
"Where are the brothers?" Ishrat asked.
"They ate a little and went to their rooms to rest."
"Oh."
Lipi Begum said, pointing at Nusrat, "She seems to talk less."
"Yes, daughter-in-law, she talks very little. Look how quiet she is, like a boy," Meherun Nesa teased.
"Okay, I'm leaving, I have some work. You all talk to Ishrat," Nusrat said.
As Arash was coming downstairs buttoning his shirt, Nusrat was going up. She was fixing her hair bun as it had come loose. In the middle of the stairs, Nusrat slightly collided with Arash's arm. Without paying any attention, she continued upstairs. Arash turned back to see who had bumped into him. A tall, slender girl was hurrying up the stairs. It seemed the collision was a non-issue to her.
"Didn't even feel the need to say sorry. Impudent girl," Arash muttered and went downstairs.
Downstairs, he met Ishrat. After a brief greeting, he said, "Mom, I'm going to meet Mahadi, I'll be late. Bye Mom, bye Dad." He left the house.
"Hey, sisters-in-law! Where have you been all this time?"
"We were in our room, brother-in-law (Dula Bhai). When did you arrive?"
"With everyone else. Ishrat was downstairs, she didn't tell you?"
"Yes, she did, I just forgot! Come on, let's go for a walk outside."
"Let's go."
In the garden, they met Sajida and Momo. Momo was playing with Shuvro. Sajida was scrolling her phone nearby. After greeting them, the two sisters started playing with Shuvro.
In May, it's hard to tell when it will rain or when the sun will shine. Since this was the Sylhet region, rain happens all year round. One moment the sun was burning the skin, the next the sky turned cloudy.
"So Momo, have you met the 'foreigners'?"
"Yeah. Have you?"
"No, not yet. We'll meet at night anyway."
"You know, Zayin and Zayan look exactly the same."
"You dummy! They are twins, that's why they look the same."
Momo rubbed her head. "Uff, why do you hit me?"
"If you talk like an idiot, you'll get hit."
"What is this weather? Sun in the morning, rain in the evening," Sajida said with annoyance.
Suddenly, a strong wind picked up. Raindrops began to fall. Sajida took her son and went inside. Momo and Shuvo followed, chatting.
"Ishrat, take my shoes inside. I'm going to the back of the house."
"Where are you going now?"
"I'll be right back, I have some work in the garden," Nusrat said and left.
It started raining heavily. Ishrat was about to run inside but stopped. Someone had grabbed her hand from behind. She slowly turned around to see a boy holding her hand. Ishrat frowned. Just as she was about to ask something, the man asked in a deep, booming voice:
"Why are you getting wet in the rain?"
To be continued...
Would you like me to adjust any of the family titles (like Boro Abbu, Dula Bhai) or continue with the next scene?