Published: 12:00 AM, 14 November 2026
Images Mirrored Like Facsimiles, Silence Shared By Two Strangers
Rifat Munir Eti
It was a sunny morning. The college bell rang as usual for the break. The teachers were busy in the hall room with their regular tasks. Tea served, and the endless chit chatting was going on. Some were even seen as more curious about political issues. Suraiya Ratri, the head of the Chemistry Department was checking her scripts of the test examination. She was famous for her storytelling with an amazing voice. Suddenly she started- Well if you don't mind , can I share a strange incident from my life? You mean your own life? It happened? asked Nusrat, the assistant professor of History. Oh yes - please, I can't wait any more. In fact we can't, added Zahid Hasan, a lecturer in English Department. He knew about Surayia's storytelling power.
Well, it was in the year 2003 or 4, I can't remember the date exactly. I started my job at Ananda Mohan College Mymensingh. Obviously I was young and shy. On the very first day after my joining, I was walking along to see the building. You all know it has a big compound with a green open space in front. I saw a motorcycle parked just outside the main building, and a 35 years old man, maybe, got down from it. Soon he started moving up the stairs and stood in front of me, with a surprised look he started - - well, why did you come here? I told you that I am going to pick you up just at 11 am today and then we both will go to the bank. - I can't understand, I have to speak , when he paused. - oh , I can't understand! Well I am talking to you in Bangla and no other language, right? What I'm saying is that , I told you early in the morning that I have to attend a class at 10.20, and then I am free, I will ask for a short leave and then will go home , pick you up for our banking..,.. , okay? -pardon please. I raised my voice a bit loudly.
I really can't understand who you are.. I am Suraiya Rartri, just joined as a lecturer of Chemistry…my first job here, in this institution. The man stood and curiously observed me for at least 5 minutes. Then with a little smile said. - I am really sorry, Ma'am. My name is Rajiv Hasan, Assistant professor of Mathematics here. If you don't mind, can you please give me at least 25 after college? -May I know why? -Actually I want to introduce a person before you, and after that you may understand the reason behind such behaviour.
He knocked at the door. Suddenly when it opened, both of us were utterly stunned to see each other. It seemed like standing before a mirror. She must be surprised too. I never saw her before, but such similarities in between are really incredible and interesting too, for both of us. You! She fumbled. The man, I mean my colleague, was standing behind with a smile on his face, just to see what actually we are going to do. Reema, he called by her name. My colleague, Suraiya, joined the Chemistry Department today. Oh, please get in, she said. Are you surprised? It was my first question to her. "Obviously! I think the same goes for you" I said. I smiled. Now, Mr. Zahid started, isn't it normal for a person to be puzzled at first sight, when he or she is acquainted with both of you? This morning, he turned to me and said, I asked my wife to stay at home till I return; we have to go to the bank for some urgent transaction. And when I stepped downstairs I saw her roaming! How could I know that both the faces were created with such similarities? How? Suraiya paused. With a lot of questions, her colleagues are waiting. At the same time, they are trying to find out the image of the other Suraiya.
I pondered silently about that day's events while recalling a few words from Nobel Prize winner South African author Nadine Gordimer "Nothing speaks louder than the silence shared by two strangers bound by each other's secrets."
Rifat Munir Eti is an author
and columnist based
in Dhaka.
