Md. Nomaan Sarker

(Translated by Nuren Noorain)

It was a sunny day. Princess Linda wakes up in the morning and looked through the window. The flowers were blowing, birds were singing. She decided to go to the hills and play.

Princess Linda went to the king and asked that if she could go. The king agreed but he said that she must stay around the soldiers. She promised so. Then she started for the hills with Ringo, her favorite horse.

When she reached there, she saw a boy crying. All of a sudden, she heard a voice, ‘Hey, how are you?’ She turned back and saw Neno was standing there.

Linda was so happy to see her. Linda said, ‘it’s great that you are here. Now let’s play with my ball.’

Neno said, Wait! Do you know why the little boy is crying?’

Princess Linda said, No, I know nothing about this. I just arrived here.’

Neno said,’ Okay then. Let me see.’

Neno close her eyes and went back on the time and saw that the boy was playing with his ball and it fell down the hill. After that, the little boy was crying.

Neno opens her eyes and shared the whole story with Linda.

 She said, ‘Don’t you think you should share your ball with him?’

Princess said, ‘But I don’t wanna share my ball. I got it as a present.’

Neno said, ‘Don’t you remember about that day?’

Princess said, ‘What day?’

Neno said, ‘Close your eyes, I will help you remember that day.’

Princess said, Ok, I am gonna close my eyes. I love it when you take me back on time. You are amazing!’

Princess closed her eyes and she went back on time.

Neno said, ‘That day, when your balloons had flowed in the sky and you were crying for that. Look at sky princess and feel what your feelings were then.

Princess went back on that day. A strong wind blew her balloons off high in the sky.  She felt sorry for the boy.

Princess opened her eyes.Neno said, ‘That day you felt too bad. Right? So why are doing the same thing? Always spread happiness than you will get happy within the return.

Princess went to the boy and give him a ball.

The boy felt wonder. He laughed; he was really happy. No one would believe that sometimes back he was crying. He thanked her.

That day, she learned a great lesson that is spread happiness whenever you get a chance. Then you will get happiness in return.

Md. Nomaan Sarkar

(Translate by Rabab Alam)

Once there lived a rabbit. He was the friend of every animal in the jungle where he used to live. He always used help everyone. One night a huge storm passed over the jungle. The next day after the storm ended rabbit went to see the condition of the jungle. While roaming around the jungle, he saw a gigantic hole. The hole was filled with water. He took a closer look. He was surprised to see that the water was purple! He never saw anything such as this before. He said mumbling, it’s really strange. He started to have an urge to touch the water and see. Just as he touched the water, he noticed his hand has turned purple. He was petrified. He tried to remove the color with his other hand and feet. But the more he tried, it seems more the color spread towards his body until he became totally purple. As he kept attempting to remove the color he didn’t realize he has stepped inside the hole. Then he saw he was right in the middle of the hole.

Within morning the news had been spread. All the animals in the jungle came to see him. He explained to everyone how he got stuck here. Hearing that all of them took a few steps away from him. Everybody got frantic to see him. No one came near. He kept asking for help.

But nothing worked, no one came forward to help. As if everyone is a stranger to him.

Rabbit said to the elephant, “You can save me with your trunk, can’t you?” The elephant replied with a mild smile, “Look if my trunk gets colored then the animals in the jungle will throw me out of the society. Do you want that?”

Rabbit said, “Have I not came in any help of yours? I’ll die if I’m unable to come out of here! Please someone step ahead.”

Elephant said, “Rabbit don’t mind. Every one of us will die. So dying is easier but for surviving in society, we can’t do whatever we want.”

The rabbit replied in a downcast voice, “What are you saying?” Looking at other rabbit said, “Is there anyone who can save me? If I stay here, like this then I’ll die. Am I not your friend?”

Everyone only heard his words. And they spent the time talking within each other. But none came ahead. Then one by one all left. Like nothing happened anywhere. Rabbit stared at everyone leaving one by one.He felt like a forlorn.

Morning faded into noon. Noon also started to fade. And fear nestled in the rabbit’s mind.

In came hyena’s group. They laughed and said, “We can save you, a bit of color is the matter, isn’t it? We don’t have the worries about society. Let us be colored as much as it is. Give your hand. Come on give your hand let’s see.”

Rabbit said, “You all will save for sure but you all will devour me as you’ll save me. It’s better to stay here instead.”

The eldest.. hyena said, “Ghosts will devour you at night. Ghosts come here at night; do you know that?”

The rabbit replied in a sorrowful tone, “You are worse than those ghosts! Go away you all; go away.”

Again that cruel laughter. A group of hyena started to circle the surroundings. Rabbit stared at how the surrounding becomes difficult during danger. He is getting scared, it’s like real fear.` Yummy the yummy smell of fear!’

After staying for a long time the group of hyena left. In came a fox. The afternoon light was starting to flee away. Fox with a polite voice said, “Oh my, what you are in such sorrow. I can’t tolerate it. I’m feeling very sad for you. No one came forward, albeit you have done so much for the animals of the jungle. I just got the news. Look at me? I came running.”

Seems like the rabbit softens at his words. He extended one of his violet hand. Fox himself also extended his hand slightly for sure. But he didn’t grab the hand. Fox said in a polite tone, “My friend, I have a bad reputation in this jungle, if I save you, in that case, you have to do a work in my favor. Won’t you? Don’t be so surprised, I won’t ask too much from my friend.”

Rabbit stared at the fox with a stunning look.

Fox was still keeping up his talking, “I have a great bad reputation. From now on you have to praise me. I usually do wrong works and make mistakes, you have to cover them up. What? Can’t you do this much for me?”

The rabbit replied with astonishment, “What if I don’t do it? If I don’t promise that, then you will not save me. Isn’t it?”

Fox said with a calm tone, “Have I said that? I’m only asking for a promise from my friend. If you stay here you will die, rather than that it is a usual matter. Isn’t it, pal? Isn’t it?”

Rabbit remained silent. As the rabbit wasn’t saying anything for a long time, the fox said, “Look when someone falls in danger at that time in this he has nothing but his life. That means whatever you have is now yours and mine. But what is mine, not yours? Friend, are you understanding what I’m saying?”

The rabbit replied, “Mischievous friend always increases the danger. You go away.”

Fox tried to make him understand. But the rabbit didn’t talk to him anymore. At last, the fox went away with a sad mood. Before going he said, “Friend it would have been if you had a bigger heart.”

The afternoon was fading and turning into dusk. Right at that time rabbit saw that a monkey and a group of ant quarreling were coming this way. What an argument! As if no one going to spare each other.

At one-point rabbit ceased their argument by scolding. Being scolded everyone became quiet. Then seeing the violet-colored rabbit, the queen ant became very surprised and said, “Who are you, son?”

As the rabbit told everything, the monkey and the group of ant said in chorus, “You are that rabbit friend of ours. And no one came to help you.” “Wait a bit, wait a bit” the monkey said as he went right, the group of ant went left. For a long time, there was no sound. On the other, the darkness came in all of a sudden and swallowed the place in darkness. It was so much dark that rabbit couldn’t even see himself. Sudden in the dark rabbit realized something was pouring one by one on him. It isn’t a snake, is it? Rabbit tried to jump. And at that moment from the right monkey and from left group of ant screamed, “Catch, catch the rope, catch.”

Rabbit understood one from the right and from left one after one vine ropes are falling on him. As he grabbed the rope two team from two sides started to pull him. He came out of the water in darkness. Rabbit being beyond happy thanked the creator. At that time he remembered, alas what have he done! Now the monkey and the ants will turn violet. But for darkness, no one can see that. Alas, alas what has he did! He hadn’t told any of them about the story of being violet. He said, about it in a high pitch tone. Then the monkey and group of ant gave him solace by repeatedly saying, “We have heard a lot about you helping others. Think about that can’t we do this small thing. It’s the least we could do. If our body color changes then let it be, we are able to save that’s the main thing and we are happy with it.”

The next day at dawn when the rabbit woke up he saw that monkey and the group of ant were sleeping. But their body color didn’t change. It didn’t turn to violet. He started to scream with joy. With that monkey and ants woke up. Then the rabbit started to scream, “You all are my friend, you all are my friend.” And hearing that everyone started to cheer and started to dance.

MD.Nomaan Sarker

(Translated by Rabab Alam)

Megha told Mini, “Go out of my room; I’m studying.” Mini either didn’t hear or pretend not to hear as she always does. She laid a bit away from her reading table.

Megha shouted and said, “Do not disturb me. Go I said.” She raised her pencil and pointed the way to the door.

 Mini protested by yowling and left the room. She went towards the kitchen. Mother gestured with her finger that not to come here.

Ah, where would she go? Mini asked herself. The mischievous boy of this house Robin is always at her hunt. Today morning he brought a dangerous brown bushy dog. Since then she can not go out. The dog is tied near the gate. Once it saw her and ran towards her in an attacking stance. The dog is more dangerous than Robin. It will devour her any moment if it gets her. Robin hurts her by throwing up stuffs. But the dog won’t leave her alone. There is no other way to get out.

She can’t go to this room; she can’t go to that room. Robin’s room is not even an option! Robin keeps watching TV all day long in the living room. Only the time he stays at school, the house seems like heaven. When he stays at home it’s just the opposite.

Human beings just don’t understand the matter that animals also has feelings. Sometimes they seem very close. Fondle while embracing unremittingly. Sometimes completely different behavior. Completely opposite, as if she has done a crime. Albeit the food they give; she doesn’t steal any food rather than that.

There are three houses besides, she goes there for stealing. She doesn’t steal from this house. But no one sees that!

The door of the father’s room is open. It is dark inside. She entered the room slowly. No, dad is not here. She looked around her properly. And then she saw a stranger who was sitting under the bed.

The boy was around Robin’s age sitting under the bed. Mini freaked out. Her heart is saying, this boy is not someone of the house.

Danger might prevail. She gazed around her. A steel jug always stays on dad’s table in this room. She screamed out loud and pounced on the jug causing it to fall. She has no other way to alert others rather than this. As the jug fell the person under the bed freaked and bumped with the bed. The sound came out really loud. Father ran out of the bathroom quickly. Megha ran out of her room and mom came running into the room screaming mice. Few fat mice started to come to the house that’s why mother screamed mice; Mini thought so. Last week when the cat found mice the same incident happened. Her expensive glass jug was broken that day.

Father flickered the light on. Mini sitting at one corner of the room. But then the sound came from under the bed again. Everyone together looked under the bed and saw a boy around Robin’s age. Everyone screamed as if they saw a ghost! So, at the end of the Mini was the hero of the house.

From that day everyone cared about Mini. After that, if someone sees Mini no one says anything. Instead, when mother sees her she gives her foods from the kitchen. Megha doesn’t feel disturbed like before when she goes to her room. Fondles her, made a special arrangement to sleep. Father often brings this or that for Mini. Only Robin gives her the cold shoulder. He would throw whatever he has near him when no one was near. But after throwing he looks around him, whether someone saw that or not.

Md. Nomaan Sarkar

(Translate by Rabab Alam)

The thief entered a house for stealing and did up and down while holding his ears two times observing his surroundings. He murmured to himself, “It’s the last theft of my life, I won’t do it anymore.”

Saying that he entered through the back door of the house. Doing so it seemed that, no one’s home. Through the little light from outside, he saw the house is empty. Alas! The last theft of his life and what a scene.

He went to the adjacent room. Only a bed. There is no pillow or mattress. A pillow would have sufficed. If he had taken that it would have been a solace. Such a miser!

From the suffocating smell, it seems the house had been empty for a long time. The place where no human stays is the places were snakes and rats play around. Remembering the snake made him frozen in his place. Few minutes. Then with some courage, he peeked under the bed. He thought whether to lit up his small torch or not as he looked around himself. He took the decision to lit the torch reminding about snakes. As he lit the torch he found nothing under its dim light. He placed his hand over his head in dread. Just then he thought there is something. Something really small. It can be earring that can be of golden, can’t it be? Of course, it can be. Thinking of it he jumped for it.

Pulling it out in the light of the torch he realized it’s a spoon. He became sad. After a while, he thought the last theft of his life is a spoon. That is no less than anything. He had sold all the stolen items; this time he would use it. Saying that he rubbed the spoon with the towel around his neck. Then there was a sound. The sound came from the spoon. He quickly threw it and got out of the room jumping,

He’s sweating. He couldn’t understand what’s happening. But he had clearly seen blue light on the spoon and the sound, like someone was talking.

That is an old house. No one probably doesn’t stay near. After a long time, he again peeked into the room. There is no light anywhere. It might be he was afraid. Because of snakes fear his mind was jumbled. The sound may be coming from somewhere else and he assumed it was from the spoon. Can it happen? No, it can’t happen. Saying it he entered the room and lit the room. Yes, the spoon was on the ground. He picked up the spoon and heard it talking.

‘Thank you. I’ve been locked here for many days. A human used to live in this room alone for a long time, he never peeked under the bed. Thus he never saw me. You found me. I’m happy with you.’

The thief is listening to the spoon’s words speechlessly. A spoon is talking with him, a spoon. He had never heard of such in a dream. The spoon is standing on his hand. He wouldn’t move a hair or didn’t want to. He thought he will spend many years standing like this.

The spoon is still blabbering. Said, ‘Tell what do you have to ask?’

The thief will laugh or cry. He was confused. He steals for the sake of the pain of hunger. And today someone says, what do you have to ask? In life, none had said anything this sort or near that. No one has ever talked to him with kindness, with affection in this life. He never heard such. Felt like as if mother is talking. He recollected his mother. He remembered his mother used to feed him with her own hand.

The spoon said, ‘You’ll ask such things that your ancestors used to own. You certainly know all the humans starting from the first human till you; all are in you. You have their attitude, their wishes and wants, you have everything of them in you.’

The thief thought, ‘What gibberish the spoon is saying. Okay, he said what do I have to ask? Okay, what do I have to ask?’ He started to wonder. There are so so so many things to ask. Good clothes, good shoes, a car would do, a house. Then he remembered his wife, son-daughter. He had to ask for them. Their clothes, shoes, utensils, and so much more.

The spoon said, ‘Your father is a school teacher, but how did you choose such a bad profession?’

The thief was surprised, ‘It knows I’m a thief. Even knows my father was a school teacher.’ It looks like a great thing has been found. The thief said on top of his lung, ‘I don’t want anything, I only want you. There is no one to talk with about me. I like hearing you talk. Now let’s go to my house.’

The spoon said, ‘First you have to ask something.’

‘Ask? Okay I’m hungry. Arrange a feast then. I’ll be happy seeing food.’

The thief watched in astonishment, a huge table beside him, the table is filled with only food and food. What an extraordinary smell!

The thief ran. He started eating. Then he said, ‘Make me a rich man.’

The spoon said, ‘Your grandfather was a rich man so you are given that much.’

Within the blink of his eyes, he saw there were two thick gold chains wrapped around his neck. Expensive clothes. The house changed. He is standing in a big house. A huge horse carriage standing in the veranda.

Then he heard someone screaming there was a robbery. He saw through the window; few stout is coming towards this house with big torches in their hand. He saw someone has set huge boats on fire. People were screaming around the place. And the boat was sinking slowly. He screamed, ‘I don’t want to be rich.’

The thief saw he was in the previous house. The spoon in his hand.

Md. Nomaan Sarkar

(Translate by Rabab Alam)

Today is Taha’s birthday. He will be seven years old. That’s why he went to his grandma in search of seven candles. Grandma is reading the newspaper. Taha said, “Grandma, grandma you wanted to give seven candles for my birthday!” Grandma raised her head and said in a surprised tone, “Oh no I forgot, my dear!”

Grandma saw Taha’s smile turned into a frown, she’ll start to cry now. Seeing that she felt bad.

Grandma said, “Come here, dear. I’ll bring them before evening fades away.”

Taha turned on his heels with his head hanging down. Grandma only saw Taha go out of the room. She called him out in a soft tone. But he didn’t look back. He sprints out of the room. Just then he heard a sound. Sound of a bell! He startled and turned around. Then he ran towards the door and stood there, saw that there were a bell and many colorful candles in grandma’s hand! Taha stared in astonishment. It seemed like he is stuck on the ground out of joy. There are really seven candles in grandma’s hand! Taha extended his hand towards her hand.

She laughed and said, “If you want to get those then you have to give me a big hug.”

Taha started to laugh at grandma’s tantrum.  

Nomaan Sarker

(Translate by Rabab Alam)

`Tuly

Tuly startled a bit. Mother is calling. Mother calls her ‘Tul’ when she’s angry. She noticed that she had been sitting like that with the book for a long time. But she wasn’t reading.

As Tuly entered her mother’s room, her mother said, “Dear there were 12 pieces of fish on the table. 2 pieces are missing. Check if they have jumped and fallen on the ground.’ And mother gestured under the table. Tuly stood there in silence with her eyes shut. And started to revise the time’s table. She thought if she stood there in silence with her eyes closed, her mother won’t say anything else. And if she revised the time’s table, she couldn’t listen to what the mother was saying.

Mother said, “I’ve decided that I’ll get rid of Mini . Do you have any objection to it?”

Though Tuly was revising times table loudly in mind, she heard what mother had said.Mini is her pet cat.

Mother can do anything. Mother can really get rid of Mini . For the crime of giving 2 pieces of fish to Mini would result in mother to throw Mini out of the house, that never came to her mind.

Tuly opened her eyes and stared at her mother with wide eyes then said, “Mother Mini will never eat your fish from onwards. I’ll tell her not to.”

Mother said, “Hmm Mini cat has learned to eat fish by getting on the table, we can’t let her stay.”

Tuly said in a crying tone, “Mother gave Mini the fish. Mini didn’t eat climbing up the table. It won’t happen again.”

Mother soften a bit. Mother said, “Your father will arrive now, the guest will come alongside. Now I think we’ll have a shortage of fish. Already I felt there was less in amount. Now what?”

Tuly didn’t let extend the word and trudged out of the room and sprint to her own room. She looked under her bed, Mini has finished eating. Tuly sighed in relief.

Mini meowed in pleasure seeing Tuly. With that Tuly thought, Mini is saying, I want another.

Tuly said in an angry tone, “No. Ugh… no. No more. Not another one.”

She chased Mini and said, “Mini you have to go away. Mother is angry. If she sees you today no one knows what will happen. You run.” Tuly opened the door of the balcony and said, “No more fish Mini. No more fish. please go away.”