Short Story: The Game of Fire by Mahim Hussain

In this short story, Mahim Hussain shares a poignant story that leaves the readers in shock and amusement towards the end.

Around nine in the morning, Khaier mia^[1] is holding a cup of tea, sitting on his rickshaw. A cha wala^[2] has been standing by the rickshaw for him to finish for a while. The three-wheeler is parked outside a restaurant. The restaurant is located in the densely populated neighborhood of Bhashantek in the city of Dhaka. It is a small restaurant made of mostly discarded wood, bamboo, and tin sheets. Outside, above the entrance, there is a rusty signboard which reads: Mayer Dowa Hotel^[3]. The restaurant serves three times meal, including fried snacks like samosa^[4], aloo puri^[5] and some sweets.

While taking small sips with a slurping noise, Khaier Mia keeps glancing toward a man eating inside the restaurant.