১৮৯১ সালে থিও এর মৃত্যুর একশত বছর পর ১৯৯১ সালে আমার বয়স যখন আঠারো, তখন আমার সামনে বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ভর্তিপরীক্ষা। এক্সেপ্টেন্স লেটার আসছে আলীগড় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে। এটাই কি চেয়েছিলাম? এইসব চিন্তা মাথায় জট পাকায়। ভবিষ্যত কোথায়। তরমুজ বুয়েটে, বিয়াস ও আলীগড় যাচ্ছে।
বয়স আঠারো অনুশাসন মানেনা কারো। মন চায়:
Title: “The Last Puff”
Scene: A Quiet Afternoon in the Backyard
*It’s a lazy afternoon in a small neighborhood in Bangladesh. A group of friends, all around 18, are sitting in a circle in the backyard of one of their homes, playing the card game ’29’. The atmosphere is filled with laughter and friendly competition. Among them is *Rafi*, *Tariq*, *Sajib*, *Aman*, and *Nayeem. In the corner, some of the boys, having recently learned how to puff a cigarette, are awkwardly taking turns passing it around.
Tariq (laughing): “Rafi, you lost again! What’s up with you today? Can’t focus?”
Rafi (distracted): “Maybe it’s because of this…” He motions to the cigarette, awkwardly holding it between his fingers.
Sajib: “You don’t even know how to hold it properly! Look, you’re still burning half the thing.”
Nayeem chuckles, taking the cigarette from Rafi.
Nayeem (exhaling a cloud of smoke): “You have to inhale and hold it. See? Like this.” He passes it back to Rafi.
Aman (teasing): “Yeah, and now you look like a dragon, smoke coming out of your nose.”
*They all laugh, continuing their game. Suddenly, the gate creaks open, and *Uncle Faruq, Nayeem’s father, appears at the entrance. He stops in his tracks as his eyes widen in disbelief.
Uncle Faruq (shocked): “Nayeem?! What is this? What are you all doing?!”
The group freezes. Nayeem, eyes wide with panic, hurriedly hides the cigarette behind his back. But the smoke keeps rising from his mouth and nose, betraying him.
Uncle Faruq (narrowing his eyes): “Where is Nayeem? I saw him in this gang!”
The others try to stifle their laughter as Nayeem, still trying to play it cool, stands up with smoke billowing from his mouth.
Nayeem (nervously): “Uh… I’m right here, Abbu… Just… just playing cards.”
Uncle Faruq (pointing): “Playing cards?! What’s that coming out of your mouth? Are you on fire?!”
The others burst out laughing, unable to hold it in anymore.
Uncle Faruq (serious): “You think this is funny? Do you even realize what you’re doing? Smoking at your age! Nayeem, you were admitted to Aligor University… but guess what? I just canceled your acceptance. You’re staying here in Bangladesh. Home university for you!”
Nayeem’s eyes widen in shock.
Nayeem (desperate): “What?! Abbu, no! You can’t be serious!”
Uncle Faruq (stern): “Oh, I’m very serious. You want to act like an adult? Then you can stay home and be one! No more Aligor for you!”
Tariq (whispering to Sajib): “This took a turn real fast…”
Nayeem looks devastated as Uncle Faruq turns to leave, but suddenly stops. His expression softens slightly.
Uncle Faruq (turning back): “On one condition… if you can quit smoking and stop hanging out with these puffing dragons, maybe… just maybe, I’ll reconsider Aligor.”
The group laughs again, the tension breaking as they realize Uncle Faruq isn’t completely serious.
Nayeem (grinning sheepishly): “Okay, Abbu, no more cigarettes. I promise.”
Uncle Faruq (smiling): “Good. Now get rid of that thing before you set yourself on fire.”
Nayeem hurriedly stubs out the cigarette as the group bursts into laughter again, relieved that the situation didn’t escalate further.
Tariq (teasing): “Well, guess we all learned something today.”
Rafi: “Yeah… don’t try to hide a cigarette when you don’t know how to smoke it!”
The friends laugh and resume their card game, with Nayeem vowing to quit smoking for good. The mood is lighter, and as they play on, the lesson lingers: there’s no need to pretend to be something you’re not, and making the right choices now will pay off later.