A Dream and A Truth

Based on an incident of life

A DREAM AND A TRUTH

 Those with who my friendship was build up and still remains are Golan Mostafa, Mufassir Rahman Mango, Belal Hussain, Nowsher Ali, Abdus Sattar, Provat Kumar Roy, Jamal Hussain, Nurul Alom, Maksuma Khatun Molina and Tahmina Alter.
For past several years we have no personal contact except phone call and social Medias.
We all are from the same place but now living in different places in the country and outside of the country.
I am now at a different place far from my village home; go through five days of a week being in office or doing office work outside. But in off times or off days all the days of long twenty or twenty five years ago appear before me.
We all studied in the same school and in the same classes. We were the life of our school. 
We contributed like pioneer in every area such as arranging annual sports, cultural programs and Football competition and so on.
In off days we used to get together sometimes at Bhutto's tea stall in our Bazar (Local Market), sometimes in play ground in front of our school and sometimes under Neem or Banian tree in front Government Primary School.
We discussed about our studies, our future, we made plan to do something especially recreational. 
According to our plan we did so many things. 
We established a Club named Banso Antorongo Club, we played dramas a number of times, we arranged football tournaments and so on.
I wrote a one act drama "Akti Bonduk Chai (A Gun is Wanted), by name for one of our school cultural programs.  After being played it got so much popularity that a group of students from another school met me one day, requested to give them the manuscript and allow them to play in one of their programs. That was really a pleasant moment for me. They did it.
Our separation started only after passing Secondary School Certificate (S Sc) exam. In fact, we scattered almost all over North Bengal-Dinajpur, Rangpur, Saidpur, Talora, Santahar, Natore, Joypurhat and Naogoan.
I was in Bogra.
Still we met at least thrice in a month. For the selection of venue we selected Santahar most of the times. Reason behind our selection of Santahar was its railway connectivity with almost all towns or cities of this reason. 
Santahar is a railway junction. We could reach there by train from wherever we were. 
We reached there traveling by train, spent hours after hours, ate Singara or Somusa with banana sometimes. We never felt hungry, never felt weak, never fallen sick. 
Then at afternoon or late afternoon we departed and returned traveling again by train. I cannot remember the time I paid the train fare.
Physically we separated but mentally we remained close. Nothing was hidden; everything of our life was open to all of us.
Provat, Provat Kumar Roy, was staying in Naogaon after having admitted into government college. There he met Minoti Hebrom and sometime later fell in love with her. 
Minoti was Christian and belonged to Santal ( Aborigine tribe) community. 
I met her once. 
In my whole life I saw a lot of girls who are more beautiful than her but I didn't see even a single one who is better than her.
They loved each other and determined to remain in love all throughout life. They both told me sometime later.
Though the religion was the wall of an obstacle standing between them they started dreaming of becoming husband and wife, making a happy family.
They started running after the wheels of happiness but they did not know the wheels of happiness were running opposite to them.
Like thunderbolt one day Minoti was diagnosed as a patient of having a tumor in her brain. When detected her tumor gave birth to another deadly disease Cancer.
Her middle class family started her medical treatment locally. But the local doctors failed and suggested her family to take her to a hospital in any foreign country at least to Vellore Christian Mission Hospital in India.
Lastly a missionary organization came forward in her help. With its help she was taken to Vellore Christian Mission Hospital. But in a week she succumbed to her cancer. She went there with life, returned without life.
Minoti was buried at her village in Badalgaci Upazilla of Naogoan district.
I met Provat the other day. I knew he visited Minoti's graveyard only two days ago. He was hurt, shocked. 
I was prepared to tell few words of encouragement that he might get peace in his mind. 
But before me telling my words he told, "We all know in our friend circle you are the person able to explain the things seem to us harder. Tell me the meaning of dream that I dreamed last night".
I told OK and kept waiting to hear from from him.
He started telling, "Minoti met me and told while asked why she has gone away "But I did not forsake you. I left only the world everyone has to leave someday. Now I am in such a world where I will never die rather will lead an eternal life."
"Take me there Minoti".  I pleaded.
"I want you to be here. But Provat only those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior putting their faith in Him can come".
He stopped for a while. Then he asked telling "What should I understand from this dream?"
I was listening to him carefully and with much attention but could not explain his dream as one of the main reasons Jesus was unknown to me at that time. 
I made an apology to him begging sometime and departed. 
After that I could not meet him even for a single time. 
A lot of changes made in life. 
I left many. I left my religion, my family, relatives, friends, my village, town and the country.
During my more than four years stay in one of South Indian states Kerala I toured on many occasions many times through Madras presently Chennai.
I traveled by train Most of the time either from Kolkata or Maldah town of West Bengal to go to the city of Quilon district of Kerala.
It was a long journey nearly for four days.
Whenever I arrived at Chennai I remembered Minoti. 
Vellore is not far from here. One of the best and biggest Christian Mission Hospitals in Asia is situated there. Monti died of cancer in this hospital. 
I forgot today how many times I erased my eyes with handkerchief.
I was in Bogra at the time when one of my nephews called me and informed a letter in my name arrived at my village address. I told him to bring.
He brought me the letter the next day.
Provat wrote, in a full page letter, many words in many sentences.
Lastly he asked a question "Have you forgotten me?"
No, I have not forgotten. In fact, I have kept all of those old friends of mine in mind to carry up to the grave.
I took a piece of paper and started writing a brief reply.
"Provat,
I am very glad to receive your letter. I remember you all Provat. I will never forget you. Believe me I remember you frequently, probably more frequently than anyone else.
I still remember you asked me an explanation of a dream. I could not say any word explaining your dream on that day. Because I did not know who Jesus was.
But now I can because I got to know Jesus and put my faith in him.
Let me explain your dream briefly. In the Bible John 14:6 Jesus himself said,  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. " 
This is what Minoti told you in the dream. Minoti now is with father in heaven where anyone can go through putting faith in Jesus. You also can do it and if you do so you will meet Minoti in heaven. This is the only truth.
One more thing I like to tell. Presently I am not so well physically. I do not know how many diseases are residing in my body. But I am sick.
I am really longing to meet you. But it would not be possible in this world if I die soon.
But Provat you love me so dearly. This is what I suggest you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, put your faith in him. I am certain you will meet me too in heaven.
Be always in peace ."