The Friend

(8 A.M. Modhuganj Park)

*It was like any typical day in the park. The children were playing with the slides and swings of the park, and their parents were looking after them. The physically cautious and the senior citizens were doing exercise just a little far away. On a bench, Tareq Mirza was observing all of these. It's been three days since he was discharged from the hospital. His left arm was still in a sling after the beatdown done by Blue Anarchy just a week ago. While he was admitted to the hospital, his team tried their hardest to find any lead on the killer. But they couldn't find anything too relevant. The pieces of equipment left by the killer were all found to be either second-handed or stolen. So, Tareq was undoubtedly stressed. While thinking of a way to find any lead on the killer, he suddenly heard a sound from behind. When he turned around, he saw a man digging a hole beside a tree with a shove.*

--(Tareq) Excuse me, I don't think...

*Before Tareq could finish his sentence, a polythene bag beside the man caught his attention. It looked like something like meat was inside it. But when he looked closer, he became shocked to see what was inside.*

--(Tareq, thinking) Cat paws?

*The man had finished digging by then. He took the lump of flesh out of the bag and placed it in the hole. He then put the soil back in its place, took a flower out of his pocket, and kept it on top. He sat right next to Tareq afterward, took out a handkerchief, and started to wipe his sweat. After that, he turned his face towards Tareq. He was a handsome-looking man. He had light brown eyes, raven hair and a stubble beard on his face. He was wearing a pair of glasses that were big enough to cover half his face.*

--(Man) Did you call me?

--(Tareq) Um, yeah. What were you doing there...?

--Oh, I was digging a grave.

--A grave?

--Yep, for a kitten. Poor thing got run over on the main street. I guess no one even noticed. Its appearance got so bad that I couldn't guess what it was if not for its paws.

--Why did you need to dig a grave for it? Like, you could ignore it.

--Imagine I got run over by a car. I'm bleeding out horribly. And then a road roller stars coming my way. What would you do?

--Well, of course, I would save you.

--Why? You don't know me or anything.

--Dude, isn't it common sense? If anyone else saw you were dying, they would do the same.

--Really? Then why did the poor kitten get treated differently?

--Well, it's just a cat...

--Exactly, just a cat. When a man gets run over, you try to help him. But when a kitten goes through the same faith, you do nothing? Well, that's not my style. I treat all creations of god equally. So if a man deserves a funeral after his death, a cat also does.

--I don't know what to say, but I think it's pretty noble thinking.

--It isn't. It is that 'common sense' for me.

--(Laughs) Anyways, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Tareq Mirza.

--Mohammad Abrar Chowdhury.

--Nice name...

--Ibne Saiful.

--Oka...

--Ibne Yaseen.

--Anything else?

--No, that's about it.

--Thank god. What a long name you got there, brother.

--Blame my parents for it, not me.

*Both share a laugh.*

--(Abrar) By the way, what happened to your hand?

--(Tareq) Ah, nothing much. I got hurt a few days ago.

--You look like a person trashed by somebody if I'm honest.

--(Stays silent)

--Well, you also look like a guy who can improve and defend himself if he gets in trouble again.

--(Smiles) I never said I got beaten up still, thanks.

--Pleasure. Anyways, I shall take your leave. Hope to see you again soon. Ciao.

--Yeah, bye.

*Abrar starts to walk out of the park and soon gets out of the sights of Tareq*

--(Tareq) Yes, I will improve. And I will find Blue Anarchy.

*Tareq had found the confidence to fight and beat Blue Anarchy. He might have lost their first battle, but haven't lost the war. And he knew that if he worked hard, he would be the one to get the last laugh.*