Short Story: Family Ties (Part 1)

Syeda Samara Mortada takes us through the dusty lanes of Sylhet in a poignant two-part story about the many lives women tend to live behind the closed doors of a house.

“Why do I have to wear a dupatta?’’ Amala asked her Amma. “Because I said so!’’ came the stern reply. Amala, her Bhai, Amma, and Baba stayed in Moulvi Bazar, Sylhet- a part of Bangladesh known for its natural beauty and conservative lifestyles. 

Amala’s forefathers were well-known in the region since they were believed to be the true descendants of a long line of Iraqis who had come and settled in Sylhet. “We are blue-blooded,” said Bhai, often to Amala. Legend had it that Amala’s great-great-grandfather was called Sher Savaar Chabukmar, formerly known as Chanu Mia. As the story goes, there was once a king who found a tiger sitting on his throne. No one dared to go near the tiger, let alone move it from the king’s spot. The king offered a large reward to anyone who helped restore his throne.  At that time, Amala’s great-great-grandfather was in prison for a petty crime that he had committed. It was known around town that if anyone could move the tiger, it was him. The king used his influence to free Chanu Mia from prison and assured him he wouldn’t return if he could complete this almost impossible task.