1 Chapter: 01, "Acting strange."

"Pain is the signal of letting go."

(Collected from somewhere)

Esha's Point of view:

My name is Esha. I am a fourth-year student in the law department of Dhaka University. From a young age, I wanted to study law and become a lawyer in the future. After getting promoted in the final year, we were allowed to practice in the district court under the supervision of a professional lawyer as an intern. It is covered under "Co-Curricular Activities" and students who participate in that will get full marks in the final examination at the end of the year. Although it is a co-curricular activity, it is compulsory for all students and those who do not take part in it, will not be allowed to take part in the final exam. There is only one way to get good results in this internship. No matter how good you are as a law student, you have to butter up the person you are working under. Because the whole number is in their hands.

It has been raining heavily since this morning. It is difficult to get a rickshaw in the heavy rain. Even after that, I have to go to class today. Because today there will be group selection in our class. Each particular group will have to practice in the district court for four months under the supervision of a specific professional lawyer, as an assistant to that lawyer. Each group will have five mates and that group will have a leader who will be selected by our faculty professor.

I came out of the house with an umbrella. The pace of the rain is low but the strong wind is flashing with it. I didn't get a rickshaw. So I went to the bus stand on foot. The bus stand is quite far from my home. The bus seems pretty empty today. Today is Saturday. That is the main reason. Most offices, courts, and institutions remain closed on Saturdays. However, many institutions for special reasons keep them open on Saturdays. My classes are never on Saturdays. But today it's happening because today is selection day.

I was the first one to arrive at the class. Mahdin entered just right after I entered. Mahdin and I are very close friends from the beginning of our university life. Mahdin is a very funny guy. Although there is a huge problem in his character but it is his personal matter. I want to be friends with them no matter what who will treat me well with respect and are in my league. That's it. This is my way of thinking. Unless he is a huge criminal. Mahdin has got this only one problem. Well, it's like ugh..'A player?' The mainstream calls it 'Playboy' or hell yeah, 'Fu*kboy'. But one of the good things about him is that he never dates his friends, not even girls from his faculty. He has dated almost all the girls from the rest of the faculties of our university. His motto is 'I am studying at the law so that I can be a professional in cheating'.

Mahdin entered the class and said to me, 'Oh, Esha, you've come already!'

I said, "Yeah. I always come first in the class. I'm surprised to see you come so early today. You're always late."

Mahdin said, "Obviously, I gotta come first! Because today is selection Day. And I want to be in your group. Dude, you're a damn ass brilliant student!! The faculty chairman likes you so much and I'm sure he's gonna make you the group leader."

I said, "Shut up! Why would he make me?? Only he knows it better who he is gonna make the group leader."

"Have you seen all of your last exams marks? You've cracked all the previous records of the highest marks in our faculty."

I became oblivious and didn't care about what Mahdin was ranting anymore.

I looked at the front door. Neha has arrived. Neha belongs to a very rich family. But no one can figure this out from her behavior. She's so humble and gentle like down to earth. Excluding all the poshness from her public life or when she's around her friends, it looks like she's a girl from a middle-class family just like us. Neha is very happy and lively. She is not that complicated at all. She's very naive. All her activities are either dorky or clumsy ass fu*k and intensely ridiculous. Her biggest weakness is- 'studies.' But she is very good at sports. She always feels comfortable when she dress like boys. Her hair cut is also very short like boys. Even though Neha couldn't make it good in all the previous examinations, she still managed to come this far because her uncle is the head of our faculty. And her father is the secretary of the ministry of home affairs.

Neha seemed a little embarrassed after seeing me. Although we looked at each other in the eyes, she immediately turned around and started talking to Mahdin.

Thus one by one the students entered the classroom and it became such a chaos.

The professor entered the classroom. All the students sat on their benches. I went to sit next to Neha. Neha ignored me and sat next to Mahdin. So I sat next to the other side of Mahdin. Two of our friends sat next to us. Sadia and Tonmoy. Sadia and Tonmoy are called "Love Bird" by everyone in the class. They have been in love since their high-school. They have been in love for seven years. I have decided in my mind that I, Neha, Mahdin, Sadia, and Tonmoy will be in our group.

The professor entered the class and cleared his throat and said, "Listen, students. Today is your group selection day. I hope you all already know why your group will be fixed. There will be a total of 5 members in a group. Decide among yourselves that who you want to be in your group, then come to me when your group is ready. I will select your group leader. The group leader will then be provided with the address of a professional lawyer. He or she will then take you all to their chambers and you all will contact your lawyer today."

As soon as the professor finished speaking, Mahdin turned to us and whispered, "I have decided. Me, Esha, Neha, and Sadia-Tonmoy will be in our group."

I whispered, "I thought so too."

Sadia and Tonmoy said together, "We too."

Neha didn't say anything, just shook her head and agreed.

Lately, Neha acts very weirdly when she's around me. She ignores me when I go to talk to her. Even if all of us sit together and chat, she doesn't sit next to me. She never looks at me in the eyes anymore. It's as if she's depressed, and she does it only when she sees me. It means she's trying to hide something from me. But what is it? I really can't figure out any clue for her sudden strange behavior.

After our group was formed we went to the professor. Mahdin said, "Sir, I think Esha should be elected as the group leader."

The professor said, "This has been the policy for many years. The group leader who the professor chooses will be elected. I think this policy should be changed. I'll do the lottery this year. Come and pick one by one the chits from the jars of your group. The one whose name appears more than once will be the elected leader. I want them to write their names in the chits who want to nominate themselves in the position of a leader and put it down on the jars in front."

Mahdin whispered, "Esha, you must give your name for it. And Neha, you should give your name to it too. You are less qualified to be a leader, but I think it will increase your intelligence a little bit."

According to Mahdin, we wrote our names and left them in the jar.

Neha came and sat quietly. I also came and sat on the bench next to her. The other three will go and pick up 3 names from the 6 pieces of chits from the jar.

Thus the lottery part is over.

Neha is elected as the leader of group ten.

The professor handed over the name of our lawyer to Neha. Their address is also written there. The lawyer's name is Rokhsana Hafeez. It means she's a female lawyer. She is currently working in the High Court. However, she also worked on various cases in the district court.

In the afternoon we all went to her chamber and appeared. She was very happy to see us all. She got to know the names of all of us in the introduction phase. Ma'am said, "Your professor has sent me the results of your last exam and other academic papers. Neha seems to be your group's leader. But Neha, don't forget that you will have a lot of responsibilities. Along with me, y'all too have a lot of work to do too. But as y'all already know that she has to do a little more work as a group leader."

We all looked at Neha. Neha is feeling a little embarrassed.

Ma'am said, "Anyways. I think I left your group leader in disarray by saying so many difficult things that I didn't want to do. Checking all of your academic files, I got to know that Esha's result is extraordinary out of all of you. You look very intelligent, girl! I am impressed with the brilliance of yours. "

I said shyly, "Thank you, ma'am."

"So as you all have to work with me from now on, how about I give all the responsibility of the leader to Esha? As of, frankly speaking, y'all are just like my kids. We all have to work together for the next four months."

We all said together, "No problem, ma'am. We're rather happy."

Ma'am said, "By the way, let's say something about me this time. I am a widow. My husband died of cancer many years ago. My only son lives in America outside the country. He might be 2 years older than all of you. But my niece is the same age as all of you. She is a fourth-year student of Applied Chemistry at Dhaka University. She stays with me at my house. Her parents died in a car accident when she was very young. She has been with me in my home ever since."

All of us said in unison, "We're sorry to hear that, ma'am."

"You are the eighth batch who are going to work with me. Seven more batches have already worked with me before. If you listen to their experience, you will understand that they had to spend nights after nights at my house to solve many cases. You may have to do the same."

We all looked at each other in surprise when we heard Ma'am's words.

Ma'am said, "Anyways, the harder y'all will work, the more numbers I'll give you. Hahaha."

Then we were in her chamber for a while more. Ma'am told us all to get to work from tomorrow. We all said goodbye to her and left for home.

After leaving the chamber, Mahdin wanted to give us all a lift. Everyone agreed except Neha. We all found her behavior strange. I hold one of her hands and said, "Neha, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like that?"

Neha said, "No matter what you will never understand." Saying this, Neha left.

After Neha left, I hesitated and said to Mahdin, "Sorry, I can't go either. I thought I would go alone today because I have to take another road to buy something important for my mom on the way home. Bye, dude."

In this way, I got rid of Mahdin by telling a random lie.