One day monday, after supper, he announces he will go to war. Sonabhan shrieks in surprise. You want to leave me alone? It won't take long, ma, he assures here. I'il be back soon after the training. That night Sonabhan can not sleep. After sun-up, she opens the duck coop. the flock stream out, streches and quacks around her for their morning meal. She kalker takes longer than usual. She mixes water with rice husks in an earthen bowl and puts it down. They gobble it up in five minutes and head for the po
a) How old was Ameen when the war, broke out? (i) fifteen (ii) sixteen (iii) seventeen (iv) eighteen. b) What was shonabhan doing when the story began? (i) Cooking food (ii) taking supper
Saikat Islam lives with his parents in a flat in Bogra. His father Mr. Rashidul Islam is a banker. But in his free time Mr. Islam writes stories and listens to music. Saikat’s mother is Mrs. Monowara Islam. She is a housewife. In her free time she enjoys sewing. She makes dresses. She often gets orders from her friends and neighbours. Saikat is in class 5. He is a good student. He wants to improve his English, so he watches cartoons on TV everyday. He also reads English books. He likes books about animals, especially tigers and lions.
A warning comes from old Chowkidar’s young wife. Watch your rooster, she threatens. I don’t want him in my house again. If someone touches my boy, Sonabhan responds, they’ll see the consequences. She grounds Moti for an entire day. It makes him sad. His forlorn captivity crucifies her. She sets him loose the following morning. Some boys come and ask Sonabhan to lend them Moti for cockfighting at a fair. They are happy to pay. Never, she tells them. He is my son. Monday dawns without Moti’s crowing. His cold body is resting on its right side. lying against the basket. eyes closed. His kingly head down. With Moti’s basket in her lap, Sonabhan is motionless. She puts Moti to rest beside her husband’s grave. She sighs, plods across the empty yard, steps onto an empty veranda, crawls into an empty home and sits on the edge of an empty bed. Another morning breaks....Noon and afternoon come and go....The birds in the coops quack and crow .... No one lets them out. For the first time, Sonabhan’s doors do not open.