Asif is lying on the bed with sleepless eyes. His eyes are drawing at the bundle of money again and again. He had never seen this much money at once let alone holding it. The greed of keeping all of it and then fleeing crossed his mind before he dismissed them-
'they will hunt me down to the hell for sure, but also my sis...'
Regret and helplessness fill Asif's heart, but the calm face of his sister gives him ease.
"Tomorrow I've to give him back 10k, so I'll only be left with 600 Tk."
He thinks about fleeing, but the creepy face of that man flashes through his mind, making him shiver in fear.
"I'll return the money and quit it for sure. It's not for me."
Holding his long hands, Ayra is sleeping with comfort. She has suffered a great wound today, but the companion of her brother made it wash away.
____
At noon the next day, Asif is working tirelessly on a construction site. He is a bit distracted because of the incident earlier this day—how simply he just handed over the money and was ordered to meet again tonight.
Suddenly, he stumbles on a brick and falls. Though he avoids hitting his head with his hand, he gets some bruises. Most importantly, the cement...
From afar, a voice is coming—
"You blind piece of shit. Do you have any idea how much this costs? Your life itself isn't worth a bag of cement.
I've had enough of you. For the next two months, you won't get a salary. Don't you ever dare to ask for pay!"
Asif also has enough suffering in this hellish workplace. He stands toe to toe with his boss and says—
"I quit. You don't have to endure me anymore."
Asif leaves the place with bruises on his hand. His boss just smirks thinking this little lamb will come here back anyway.
Just like that, a new chapter of his life begins.
________
Asif returns back to home with chocolate in his hand. Whatever happened before doesn't matter much, his sister's happiness is all that matters.
"What happened to you brother? Did you get hurt?'
"It's nothing. You know little accidents happen all the time on construction work"
Asif says while trying to hide his wounds.
"Please, be careful okay? If it's hard just shift to another job. YOu dont have to worry about money, I'll get a job and help you out if I have to"
Asif pats his soldier- "YOu don't have to worry about me. Just focus on your study. I'm sure you'll get a dream job with a huge salary in the future. Then, I'll live off at your expense.
'I've to sell my soul to the demon at least for my sister.'
He looks far away at the dark smoke coming out of the factory.
_____
Asif waits in a secluded place with a face that says — "Fuck off, morality; life sucks anyway."
"So you came, boy. I thought you'd chicken out and only come again when you run out of money."- Mr. Rajjak wears a sly smile on his face.
Asif takes the packet and leaves the place saying—
"Alas! I don't have the luxury."
"This weekend, there's a party hosted by the big boss at nightclub. Make sure not to miss"
Rajjak says from afar whether he hears it or not doesn't matter.
_______
"Didn't you sell me a gram for 800 yesterday? Why is it a thousand today?"
An addict snorts with a hazy expression.
"Boss's doing. Buy or leave."
"Ok," — with annoyance, he leaves while taking the substance. A single breath, and he's energetic again.
"People are idiots for sure."
Asif comments looking at those foolish souls taking white powder as if it's a fruit bestowed from heaven. They dont know themselves but turned from human beings to just poltry livestocks unable to live without drugs.
_____
"Why are you late again today, brother?" Ayra asks curiously.
"Well... I've been taking night shifts recently. Don't worry. Soon we'll be able to rent a nice house."
Asif gives a believable explanation.
Ayra hugs him — "Don't push yourself hard, please, I'm comfortable living here anyway."
"Soon you'll get into a high school — I can't home-school you forever. Then you'll have many friends, probably a lover. You can't possibly bring them here."
Ayra pouted — "Speaking of lover — you're hitting on a girl, right? Did she accept your proposal?"
Ayra's tease brings back the humiliating memory.
"Don't interrogate me. I've given you some homework. Did you finish it?"
"I'm going." She leaves with a pout.
_______
Several days pass. Asif now goes to college regularly but sleeps the entire class time. No one bothers to wake him up. He has always been not too attentive student in class. He comes here just to get a degree to get more paying jobs. Study is not his thing.
Tonight he has a meeting with other gang members. Rajjak, his boss, invited him.
_____
Late at night, inside a bar, Asif is sitting with some weird boys of his age. They have all worn torn jeans and T-shirts with weird designs, their hair dyed with colors like blue, yellow.
"Do girls actually like this type of boys? Dunno, but they have bad taste in men for sure."
"Hey boy, why aren't you drinking? Chik, bring some whiskey here. It's on me, drink as much as you want!"- The big boss offered him a drink as a matter of eloquence.
Asif doesn't refuse the generous offer. He doesn't like alcohol, but who would dare to refuse a gangster boss?
"Here it is, sir. Do you prefer some ice?"
"I'd love to," Asif embarrassingly replied to the young girl, possibly his age.
"How come a gorgeous girl ends up working here?"
"So what's your name, newbie?"
"It's Asif, boss." Asif replied with the most humble expression he could put on his face.
"Good, good. I heard you live in that slum. I also lived there in my childhood,"
he says while focusing entirely on the woman beside him. She might not be young but has some great assets.
____
The night is going on it's usual pace. Laughter and dirty jokes of drunkers filled the air.
Suddenly everyone's attention is caught by some commotion.
The gorgeous girl who poured his drink is being hit by some guys. After hearing whispers, he realizes they are trying to mess up with the girl or something like that.
None actually bothers about small things.
Asif is in a daze, he can't handle alcohol for sure.
"Yo... you gu..ys. Lea...ve d gal alo...ne."
"Don't act like a hero, kid. Mind your own business." — They're laughing.
Asif's head is in chaos, but he can't stand the insult.
He tries to punch the guy in the face but lands it on the abdomen. Still, it's a strong punch.
Asif worked manual labor since he was eight, so his muscles are unknowingly pumped up.
The punch was solid enough to make the guy vomit.
Suddenly the crowd bursts with cheer. Hitting on a girl is a common thing. But a bar fight — that's great free entertainment.
Two other guys also attacked him simultaneously, but in front of Asif, they weren't strong enough. Several punches are exchanged between them in a matter of time. Asif got several hits on his face, abdomen, and shoulder but compared to the tireless work of the construction site it felt like nothing to him. Soon they are taken care of. Two of them carry away their friend who hit hard.
Asif is in a daze. His body can't handle the whiskey, he needs to puke for sure. The young girl unexpectedly gives him a hand and helps him get out of the bar.
"Look how he scored a chick acting like a hero. Don't know if he can be a mafia, but he's going to be a ladykiller for sure."
The boss laughs while cuddling the breast of his woman.
_____
After puking outside, Asif is returning home — but the home is not his.
His mind is not working properly but realizes the girl is actually bringing him to her home!
"Isn't this how things work out in the movie? Am I going to graduate from being a virgin today?"