^{@arjinarahman ©}

A Cold Morning in 1971

December, 1971. It was a cold morning . Hajiganj is a small island situated one side of the Shitalakshya River in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. The war for Bangladesh’s independence is going on.

The sun has not risen yet in the east. Fog and the cold make the rivers water appear misty. A old wooden boat is floating on the shitalakshya river. Total three people an old man, a young boy, and a wounded freedom fighter are sitting in it.

The aged man’s name was Abdul Khalek Mia. Once he was a school teacher. When the call foriberation war came, he forgot everything and helped freedom fighters by giving them place to stay and food. His little grandson Rifat is kneeling next to him. He is only 12 years old, but in his eyes there is a strange fire . He is shivering in cold. He is holding grandfather’s hand tightly as if that hand is the one and only support in his life.

In another corner Saleh Bhai, a wounded freedom fighter lies down. He was shot in the left side of his chest in the war. A heavy blanket is draped under his shoulder. His eyes are full of pain and half-closed between sleep and consciousness.

Just the night before, the Pakistani army made a surprise attack. They had burned the entire village. It was Khalek Mia himself who picked Rifat and Saleh Bhai up and put them on this boat. He hoping to ferry them to safety across the river. But the wind has stopped blowing, and the boat is presently stranded in the middle of the river.

Rifat crying and says,
— "Grandpa, will we go home? This is a bad idea… Mom is waiting… she doesn’t know we’re in the river…"

Khalek Mia puts one hand on the boat’s edge and tries to stand, but he cannot. His eyes fill with tears, but he speaksstrongly
— "Even Shitalakshya’s water is crying, my child… but after this crying there will be light. Victory is very near…"

Slowly opening his eyes, Saleh Bhai says.
— "Khalek Bhai… will you listen to me? If I don’t make it, please rescue Rifat. Let him grow up, and see what his country was like…"

The fog is slowly getting thinner. Light is beginning to kiss the tops of trees on the other side. Khalek Mia puts his hand on Rifat’s head—his eyes now not just with waiting, with a sense of responsibility. The responsibility to protect a whole generation.

I invite following users for the contest
@strong56
@jenniferm
@mayzapata2010

Here is: Contest Link .
Organized by @solperez Ma'am.