A Brave Warrior

Life is a Battle Field

A Brave Warrior

Ethan (21), a hard working boy who was living with his father, mother and old grandma in a village of Bangladesh which was situated few yards away from the ‘No Man’s Land’. Ethan’s father and mother were killed few days back and their cattle were snatched by the border guard of another side when they were grazing their cattle on the open field near the border. The villagers witnessed that apprehensive killing and it was against the human rights.

After this unpleasant incident Ethan and his grandma lost the sources of leaving and except begging door to door they had no other way. At that time they were the slave of gloominess and scarcity. After a month Ethan was hired by the chairman of that village who was pretty much famous for his insolence. Ethan began to work on the chairman’s fields in low wage. His collaborator with whom he was working was not good at all. They gave him lots of work and if the works remain unfinished they used to bit him very often. Even they used to snatch his wage on the way of returning home. The income of Ethan was insufficient and just. He can feed his grandma only once in a day.

The days were getting harder and harder. Meanwhile, grandma lost her strength due to sickness and left all the works which she was doing for a better living. The ailing condition of grandma increases the tension of Ethan. He began to work harder to increase his wage which he will spend on grandma’s medication but, it was useless. The chairman was against the increment of wage. One night Ethan and his grandma were shearing their sorrows to each other.  Ethan was talking about his late father and mother to his grandma. A silent tear was flowing from their eyes. It seems like they were the prey, and poverty and misery were the predator. The most important thing which Ethan was thinking at that moment was about his grandma. At any cost he doesn’t want to lose his grandma who was suffering from sickness. He wants to do proper treatments to make her cure. He lost his parents once, he don’t want to lose his grandma. The thoughts like this were seeping through his mind and he had nowhere to go.

One day grandma became too much sick and Ethan visited to chairman’s place to seek some help. The wicked chairman was ready to help him with money as loan for the treatment but with a condition. The condition was, Ethan has to keep deposit his house to the chairman and until he repays the loan within given time by the chairman will claim the house. Ethan agreed and received the loan by thinking that he will repay it by doing work on his field. With a sign of relief Ethan came to the town and admitted his grandma in a hospital with anticipation and the treatment began. After a month of apposite treatment grandma survived and it was the happiest day for Ethan after his parents were killed. He had no word to express his elation. It was like he was just step in into a new life. Meanwhile, he discharged grandma and they started their way to the village. Grandma was very happy by watching Ethan happiness. But, who knows what was in their fate. When they reached to their home they noticed that few members of the chairman were sitting in front of their house. Then a matter clicks in Ethan’s mind and that is ‘loan’. The members were there to remind him about the duration which was not so far. The house of Ethan was the only memory of his parents and the only place where his grandma can stay till her death. To rescue the house again Ethan went to the chairman’s place and expecting some sympathy from him. But, the impious chairman was not in favor to extent time.

Again a great tension rose in front of him. Now he can’t share these things with his grandma as she is old and not capable to hear all this. Ethan became totally weak and ready to do anything. On the very next day he again went to the chairman’s place and offers him that he is ready to do anything to rescue the last memory of his parents and his grandma. Then the devil mind spoke to him about a matter to settle his debt. Their conversation was like this:

Chairman: “So, you are ready to do anything!”

Ethan: “Yes, anything.”

Chairman: “Okay. What you can do?”

Ethan: “Whatever you say.”

Chairman: “Can you go somewhere else for work where I will choose for you?”

Ethan was in confusion, he was unclear from the chairman’s intention. He again asked:

“What place? I am already working here for you to pay the debt.”

Chairman replied softly: “If you work here you will not be able to pay my debt in time because, your income is not sufficient to pay my debt. I will send you a place where you can earn more and can pay the debt within limited time. Don’t you want your house back? Don’t you want to see your grandma happy?”

Ethan was silent and steady. In his mind lots of thoughts was rolling, his last memory, his grandma, her medicines, a better life, a debt free life.

Ethan was messed up in all those thinking. He had no other choices except accepting the proposal. Then he replied, “What I have to do?”

Chairman: “That’s my boy. Don’t think much, I will take care of your grandma until you come. Go, pack your bags. Tomorrow night my men will come to take you. You have to cross the river to reach your working destination. By morning you will be there. Not to worry.”

At that moment Ethan had no idea where he was going, what will be his work and when he will return. The only thing was in his mind was to pay the debt. But, he don’t knew that by accepting the proposal of the chairman be became the victim of ‘Human Trafficking’. The chairman was selling him to the traffickers to settle the debt. Finally the night arrived; Ethan told to his grandma that, he is going to a new city for few days where he can earn more money and a better life for both of them. They both walked towards the river and the dialogue took place between them.

“Grandma, don’t forget to send your blessings every day, I love you a so much” said Ethan to his grandma at the bank of a river with his tearful voice. They were holding each other’s hands, their eyes were full of emotions and tears, and their voices were shaky. “No, I will not forget you my son, I will always pray to Lord for you. Take care of yourself and please come back soon to me before my eyes get closed”, like this way grandma replied with full of emotions.

Then Ethan took his place in the boat with two men and the light was switched off. All the views became vague. It was the last time Ethan and grandma saw each other’s face. They were greeting good bye to each other with the drop of tears from the eyes. It was the last moment where they were together for the last time, after that Ethan never returned. Nobody knows what happened to him. Couple of month’s later grandma became sick in the waiting of Ethan and finally the death stopped her waiting.

The End