Motherhood Review of Bangladesh Culture and Society
18
moustache. There was a twinkle in his eyes and a smile lurked on his lips. The slats dropped with a snap. Heart pounding, Halima moved away from the
window. She waited a minute or two, but all was quite. The house slept. Halima arranged her sari so that it covered not only her head but most of her face, and
tiptoed back to the window. Cautiously she slanted the slats to their original position pointing downwards. A fraction at a time, she angled the slats till the cart
was once more visible. Even more slowly she worked the slats so that his body opened up to her: the red and white safari shirt, the mat of black chest hair
swirling up where the top button had come undone, the thick sinewy neck
– Halima stopped. She brought he hand up to check that her ghumta still covered
her face and only her dark, kohl outlined eyes showed
p. 123. After her first action in order to look outside, the man who sells chai wants
to give her chai through a little boy. She is so brave to let someone enters her room.
“Ehm Ehm An imitation of adult throat clearing – perhaps a couple of notes higher.
“May I come in?” “Yes, come in.”
“Bhabi, the Chai Bhaia said to give this to you.” He stood cradling the clay cup between his small hands.
“What is it?” Halima sat in a flat tone. The stitches needed her full attention. “It’s a drink… sherbet.”
“What?” “It’s called chai.”
“Well?” “He’s giving it to everyone.” Ahsan looked at her, a little puzzked at her attitude.
“But what is it?” “He called in chai.”
Halima still made no move to relieve him of the bowl. “It’s really good. It’s something new they’re trying out. As the bearer of the
exotic drink Ahsan felt bound to defend the concoction. “How much?” Halima finnaly ventured in a low voice.
Ahsan’s face cleared, “It’s free, Bhabi It’s free”
pp. 124-125. Halima does not make any move until the boy already gone. Because of
her bravery, she can get the chai that she really wanted to have. Starts from that day, because her bravery, she can get chai and also see the man every day. Beside
of her daily activities, now looking outside also becomes her daily activities. As days goes by, she is not brave anymore but braver. Now she can compare her
husband to the bioscope-man.