One day's journey, a lifetime of memories.

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

Sometimes, certain trips happen without any plan. And sometimes, we travel not for fun or leisure, but out of duty. Even then, amidst all the work, some special moments quietly get tied into the strings of our memory. Today, I’m sharing one such short journey with you — a sudden trip to Cox’s Bazar for office work.

It happened a few months ago. I was looking at some photos on my phone when the memories came rushing back. Due to an urgent office assignment, a few of us were asked to travel to Cox’s Bazar. Led by two senior officials, we set out at night. Time was short, plans were even shorter. But it was work — so without overthinking, I packed my bag and left.

I sat by the window of the bus, watching the play of light and darkness on the road. The calm night, the occasional beam of headlights, and the passing villages and towns slowly drew me into deep thoughts.

We reached Cox’s Bazar in the morning and began work right away. From a distance, we could hear the roar of the sea, but our minds were occupied with meetings, documents, and client handling. Hours passed, completely consumed by our tasks. Despite being in a beautiful place, there was no time to explore or relax.

During lunch break, we had a short moment to breathe. I knew I couldn’t take much time for myself, so I thought of my daughter. She didn’t know about this trip, and even if she did, she wouldn’t understand. But as a father, I always feel that pull in my heart. So, I quickly bought some pickles and chocolates from a nearby shop for her. Just a small thing — but it felt like I was carrying a big bundle of love back home.

Of course, I could have bought more — dried fish, handmade souvenirs, or stone crafts from Cox’s Bazar. But time was pressing. As soon as the work was done in the evening, we boarded the bus back to Dhaka. While returning, it felt like the sea was calling out to me, "Stay a little longer." But reality doesn’t always give space for such romance. Tired and half-asleep on the bus, I kept seeing my daughter’s face in my mind — imagining how she would smile when I handed her the chocolates.

We reached Dhaka the next morning and went straight to the office. My body was exhausted, but my heart was at peace. I knew I had fulfilled both my duties — as an employee and as a father. That small packet of chocolates and pickles felt like the biggest reward of all.

The trip was short, and incomplete in terms of travel or sightseeing. But within that short journey lived a quiet beauty of life. Remembering family even in the busiest times, and bringing back a little gift of love — maybe not a big story, but for a father like me, these are life’s most precious achievements.