Nishiddho Deep-er Abhijan

Kolkata’r ekta chhoto flat-e rat tokhon prai barota. Baire brishti porche, janlar kach-e jol-er daag. Arjun laptop-er screen-er dike takiye boshe chhilo, chokh lal, matha bhorti chinta. Tar adventure vlog channel ek shomoy lokpriyo chhilo, kintu last kichu mash dhore view komte komte ekdom niche neme geche.

“Hm… aro boro kichu korte hobe,” nijer mone mone bollo se.

Thik oi shomoy, mobile-ta vibration-e uthlo.

Unknown Number.

Arjun ektu already irritated chhilo, tao call-ta receive korlo.
— “Hello?”

Opranto theke ekta bojha bojha, boyoshko golar shor.
— “Tumi Arjun Mallick?”

— “Haan. Ke bolchen?”

— “Ami Professor Sen. Ami jani tumi adventure khojo.”

Arjun straight hoye boshe porlo. Professor Sen—ei naam-ta se ageo shuneche. Ekjon historian, jar lekha niye onek conspiracy chole, ar jini 6 mash age mysteriously harie gechilen.

— “Apni… Professor Sen? Kintu apni to—”

— “Harie gechi bolei tomake call korchi,” professor halka hese bollo. “Ami ekta jinish peyechi. Ekta map. Ar eta sudhu tomar moto lok-i bujhbe.”

Line-er opar theke hawa’r shor, jeno samudrer dhar-e dariye kotha bola hocche.

— “Ki map?” Arjun jiggesh korlo, golar shor e excitement dhora porlo.

— “Nishiddho Deep-er map.”

Ei naam-ta shunei Arjun-er shorir diye shiroshiro bohe gelo. Nishiddho Deep—Bay of Bengal-er majhe ekta jayga, jeta niye lokkho golpo. Bole, oi deep-e gele compass kaaj kore na. Radio bondho hoye jay. Ar je gulo ship gechilo… tara ar konodin fire asheni.

— “Eta myth,” Arjun bollo, kintu nijer gola-i nijer kache weak shonalo.

— “Myth na, Arjun,” professor shanto golay bollo. “Eta history, jeta dhaka pore geche. Ar oi deep-e emon kichu ache, ja duniya badle dite pare.”

Call-ta hothat kat-e gelo.

Mobile-er screen-e ekta message eshe porlo—ekta photo attachment.
Ekta purono, pora kagoj-er map. Lal kali diye ekta chinho, ar pashe lekha—

“Once entered, never return.”

Arjun map-er dike takiye thaklo. Brishti’r shor bariye gelo. Tar mathar moddhe ekta-i kotha ghurche—

Ei abhijan sudhu adventure na. Eta tar jiboner shobcheye bhoyankar decision.

Ar se jani—
Se jabe.

Dui din porei Arjun bujhe gelo—ei map ke ignore kora tar pokkhe shombhob na. Raat-e ghum ashe na, chokh bondho korlei oi lal chinho, oi lekha chokher shamne bhese othe—Once entered, never return.

Se prothome Maya-ke phone korlo.

Maya Roy—Delhi University-r archaeology student, jar sathe Arjun-er porichoy hoyechilo ekta heritage exploration vlog-er shomoy. Intelligent, logical, kintu bhoy ke konodin decision-er rastay aste day na.

— “Tumi pagol hoyechho?” Maya bollo, puro kotha shune.
— “Nishiddho Deep bole kichu nei. Eta hoito kono bhul map.”

— “Tao tumi ekbar dekho,” Arjun bollo. “Eta sudhu map na. Professor Sen jorito.”

Professor Sen-er naam shune Maya chup kore gelo.
— “…Ami Kolkata aschi. Map ta age dekhi.”

---

Kolkata theke ora berolo tritiyo din shokale. Destination—Andaman-er ekta chhoto port, jetar naam public map-eo thikthak bhabe paoa jay na.

Oder sathe aro ekjon jog dilo—Rudra.

Rudra ke dekhlei mone hoy, se onek kichu dekheche. Boyosh prai 40-er kachakachi, chokhe ekta constant alertness. Former navy officer, ekhon private security ar odd jobs kore.

— “Oi deep-er dike jete chaile, amar moto lok dorkar,” Rudra shanto golay bolechilo.
— “Karon oi jayga’r jol shob shomoy shanto thake na.”

Ora ekta chhoto motorboat-e uthlo. Boat-er naam—Matangini. Purono, kintu majbut.

Jokhon port chhere boat samudrer buke dhuke porlo, tokhon akash-e megh jomechilo. Compass ta shuru thekei ajob bhabe narchilo.

— “Eta normal na,” Maya compass-er dike takiye bollo.
— “Magnetic disturbance,” Rudra reply dilo. “Ei area-te ageo dekhechi.”

Shondhya neme ashtei hawa thanda hoye gelo. Jol-er rang aste aste gholate hoye uthlo, jeno samudrer niche kichu norachora korche.

Hothat radio-te shor shuru holo—
shhhhhk… tok… shhhhh…

Tarpor ekta bhanga gola—
— “…fire… fire… back…”

Arjun-er buk kemon kore uthlo.
— “Eta ke?”

Rudra radio bondho kore dilo.
— “Keu na. Purono signal. Bhalo sign na.”

Oi shomoy Maya jol-er dike takiye thomke gelo.
— “Oi dekho…”

Samudrer upor hothat kore ekta chaya bhese uthlo. Boro, dhire dhire narchhe. Jeno kono boro jinish niche ghure berachhe.

Tarpor—
BOOM!

Boat-er niche kono kichu jeno dhakka dilo. Matangini ekbar dulo, tarpor arekbar.

— “Life jacket poro!” Rudra chitkar kore uthlo.

Brishti shuru hoye gelo, akash-e bijli chamkalo. Ekta bijli’r alo-te Arjun dure kichu dekhlo—

Andhokarer moddhe ekta island.
Jongol-e dhaka, pathorer moto ubhe thaka pahar.
Ar tar upor—ekta bhanga lighthouse.

— “Nishiddho Deep,” Maya fushfush kore bollo.

Boat-ta dhire dhire island-er dike agiye gelo, jeno kono drishtohin shokti take tane niye jacche.

Arjun camera ta on korlo, kintu tar haat kapchilo.
Ei prothom bar tar mone holo—

Ei abhijan theke sobai hoyto fire ashte parbe na.

Boat-ta shore-er kachakachi eshe theme gelo. Brishti tokhon ektu komeche, kintu hawa-te ekta ajob gondho—bheja mati ar purono shobuj-er moddhe kono ekta jora gondho, jeno jongol onek diner chup kotha dhore rekheche.

Rudra anchor phele dilo.
— “Ekhanei namte hobe,” se bollo. “Egiye gele pathor-e lagbe.”

Ora tinjon dhire dhire jol-e name. Jol thanda, pa-er niche balir sathe sathe pathor-er sporsho. Shore-e uthtei Arjun mone holo—jol theke beronor por-o kaan-e jeno shosh shosh shor cholche.

Island-ta kach theke aro bhoyankar lage. Gach gulo khub ghan, pata-te pata-te alo dhukte pare na. Pakhider kono shobdo nei. Shudhu dur-e kono kichu jeno nischup-e nischup-e narchhe.

— “Natural ecosystem-er moto lagche na,” Maya bole uthlo. “Too silent.”

Rudra gun-ta ber korlo.
— “Jekhane pran thakar kotha, sekhane jodi nishobdo thake… bujhte hobe pran gulo lukiye ache.”

Ora jongoler moddhe pa baralo. Proti pa-e pata bhanga shobdo beshi jore shona jay. Arjun camera on rekhechilo, kintu screen-e majhe majhe glitch asche.

Hothat Maya thomke gelo.
— “Dekhcho eta?”

Gach-er gura-e khodai kora chinho. Spiral-er moto, majhe ekta chokher chobi. Maya haat buliye bollo—
— “Eta kono local tribe-er na. Eta onek purono. Possibly pre-Aryan.”

Arjun ekta chobi tullo.
— “Professor Sen jodi ekhane thake…”

Kotha-ta sesh hote na hotei, jongoler bhitor theke ekta shor.

Crack… crack…

Rudra signal-e haat tule daralo.
— “Keu noro na.”

Chaya-er moddhe kichu narchhe. Dhire dhire samne elo—ekta manush.

Kaporer obostha kharap, chul lomba, chokh duita ajob bhabe jole uthche. Se kotha bolche, kintu golata jeno bhanga radio signal-er moto.

— “…fire jao… ekhane thakle shob shesh…”

Maya ek pa egiye gelo.
— “Apni ke?”

Lokta hashlo. Hashi-te kono anondo nei.
— “Ami oi lok… je fire ashte pareni.”

Arjun-er buk dhak dhak korte laglo.
— “Professor Sen?”

Lokta matha narlalo.
— “Na… ami tar age esechilam.”

Tarpor hothat se jongol-er moddhe dhuke gelo, jeno chaya hoye.

Rudra chitkar kore uthlo—
— “Torch off koro!”

Torch-er alo off hotei charidik andhokar. Arjun mone holo—chokh bondho kore ache.

Tokhon-i shuru holo shor—
pata nara, pa-er awaj, shash proshash.

Andhokarer moddhe Maya fushfush kore bollo—
— “Amra ekta circle-er moddhe achhi.”

Compass-ta Arjun-er haat-e ghure ghure thomke gelo.
Sudhu ekta dike kaanta atke roilo—
Lighthouse-er dike.

Dur-e ekta bhanga lighthouse-er silhouette dekha jacche, bijli chamkar-e chamkar-e.

Rudra dhire bollo—
— “Jodi ei deep theke berote chai… tahole oi jayga thekei shuru korte hobe.”

Arjun camera ta dhore rakhlo.
Ei muhurte se bujhte parlo—

Nishiddho Deep sudhu ekta jayga na.
Eta ekta fanda.

Bijli chamkatei lighthouse-ta sposto hoye uthlo. Pathor-er dewal-er upor shobuj shobuj shalik-er moto moss dhore geche. Tar matha bhanga, jeno keu onek bochor age bhitore dhuke ar berote pareni.

Ora tinjon nishobdo-te egiye chollo. Jongol-er modhye dhuke porle shob kichu aro ghon hoye gelo. Alo jeno gile ney jongol. Torch jaliye rakha jachchhe na—Rudra bar bar bolche alo jaliye rakhle ora target hoye jabe.

— “Ora?” Arjun fushfush kore jiggesh korlo.

Rudra pichone takalo na.
— “Jara ekhane thake.”

Hothat gacher upor theke kichu pore elo—
Thup.

Maya chitkar ta chapte gelo. Eta ekta manusher juto. Purono, chera, bhitor-e kichu nei.

— “Eta warning,” Maya bollo, gola kemon jeno shukiye esheche.
— “Psychological intimidation.”

Arjun chokh tule takalo. Gach-er dal-e dal-e ajob chinho khodai kora. Oi spiral, chokh-er chobi—ekdom ekoi.

— “Eta kono cult-er moto,” se bollo.
— “Ba kono prison.”

Tokhon-i hawa boye gelo. Ekta thanda, bhije hawa. Ar tar sathe ekta gola—

— “Arjun…”

Arjun thomke gelo.
— “Tumi shunle?”

Maya matha narlalo.
— “Keu kichu boleni.”

— “Arjun…”
Ebar aro kache.

Ei gola tar nijer gola. Exact tar moto.

Rudra ghure daralo.
— “Cholo. Ekhane dariye thaka mane more jawa.”

Ora chhute chollo. Gach-er dal mukh-e lagche, pata pa-er niche phatche. Lighthouse-er kachakachi ashtei jongol hothat shesh hoye gelo, jeno keu chaku diye kete diyeche.

Lighthouse-er dorja khola. Bhitor-e andhokar, shanto, ar kono hawa nei.

— “Bhitore jabo?” Maya jiggesh korlo.

Rudra ek muhurto chup kore thaklo. Tarpor bollo—
— “Ei deep-er kono jayga safe na. Kintu lighthouse mane—information.”

Ora bhitore dhuklo.

Bhitor-ta onek boro. Spiral staircase niche neme geche. Dewal-e khodai kora lekha, kono ta Bangla, kono ta English, kono ta bujha jai na.

Arjun torch jaliye ekta lekha porlo—
“Jara dekhche, tara ar keu thakbe na.”

Maya matha ghuriye bollo—
— “Eta warning na. Eta confession.”

Tokhon niche theke ekta awaj elo—
Dhup… dhup… dhup…

Jeno keu aste aste upore uthche.

Rudra gun ta ready korlo.
— “Keu jodi manush hoy… tahole age bolbe.”

Awaj ta theme gelo.

Tarpor andhokarer moddhe ekta awaj—
— “Professor Sen ekhanei chilo.”

Maya chokh boro kore takalo.
— “Ke bollo?”

Arjun torch ta niche namalo.

Staircase-er niche ekta chobi—
ekta manush, dewal-er sathe meche geche jeno. Chokh khola, kintu pran nei.

Tar mathar pashe khodai kora—
“Amra shobai ekhon deep-er ongsho.”

Arjun-er haat theke camera pore gelo.
Ei muhurte se bujhte parlo—

Jongol-er chaya sudhu bahire na.
Eta bhitor-eo dhuke poreche.

Lighthouse-er bhitor theke berote berote Arjun-er matha bhari hoye aschilo. Oi dewal-e meche thaka lash, oi lekha—shob kichu tar chokher shamne ghurche. Maya du’bar take daaklo, tarpor haat dhore tanlo.

— “Focus koro,” se bollo. “Amra ekhono beche achhi.”

Rudra charidik khutiye dekhchilo. Lighthouse-er pichone pathor-er moddhe ekta chhoto dhora pora chinho. Pata ar moss-e dhaka, kintu careful chokhe dekha jay—eta kono natural crack na.

— “Ekhane,” Rudra bollo. “Eta age khola hoyechilo.”

Tinjon mile pathor-ta soriye dilo. Niche andhokar neme geche, thanda hawa uthe aschilo.

— “Underground structure,” Maya fushfush kore bollo. “Possibly ritual site.”

Ora niche namlo. Paa portei Arjun bujhte parlo—ei jayga jongol thekeo purono. Pathor-er dewal-e ajob murti, manush ar janowar-er mishron. Karo matha-te shing, karo chokh-e tinte pupil.

— “Eta Hindu na,” Maya bollo. “Buddhist o na. Eta… aro purono.”

Ekta boro hall-er moddhe ora pouchholo. Majhkhane ekta pathor-er bedi. Bedi-r upor khodai kora ekta chokher chinho—oi spiral chokh.

Arjun-er camera abar glitch korte laglo.

— “Oi chinho-ta shob jaygay,” se bollo. “Eta ki dekhe?”

Maya bedi-te haat rekhe chokh bondho korlo.
— “Eta dekhena,” se bollo dhire. “Eta mone rakhe.”

Hothat pathor-er dewal theke ekta shor holo. Dhire dhire andhokar theke ekta manush beriye elo.

Professor Sen.

Tar chul shada hoye geche, mukh shukna, chokh duita kintu ekhono tej. Se haslo—ekta bhanga, klanto hashi।

— “Ami jantam tumi ashbe, Arjun.”

Arjun chokh theke jol berote chai chilo, kintu gola bondho hoye gelo.
— “Apni ekhane ki korchen? Ei jayga ki?”

Professor Sen bedi-r dike ghure daralo.
— “Ei jayga ekta bondhon. Ekta shokti, jeta manusher bhoy diye boro hoy.”

Rudra gun tule dhorlo.
— “Apni amader ekhane tene anlen.”

Professor matha narlalo.
— “Na. Deep nijer khidey tomader eneche.”

Maya hothat bollo—
— “Ei mandir ke banie chilo?”

Professor chokh bondho kore bollo—
— “Agey ekta jatigoshthi chilo, jara bhoy ke pujo korto. Tara janto—manush-er mone shobcheye boro shokti holo bhoy.”

Bedi-ta halkabhabe kampte laglo.

— “Jara ekhane dhuke pore,” Professor bollo, “tara dhire dhire nijer bhoy-er sathe mile jay.”

Hothat Rudra chilla dilo—
— “Maya!”

Maya bedi-r chokher chinho-r dike takiye thomke geche. Tar chokh wide open, kintu jeno se ekhane nei.

Arjun daaklo—
— “Maya!”

Professor shanto golay bollo—
— “Der hoye geche.”

Bedi-r chokh-er moddhe andhokar ghurche. Jongol-er shor, lighthouse-er shor, shob kichu mile ekta-i awaj hoye gelo।

Arjun bujhte parlo—
Ei mandir sudhu harano na.
Eta ekhono khub boro bhabe beche ache.

Maya bedi-r shamne dariye nishchup hoye chhilo. Tar chokh duita khola, kintu drishti faka, jeno kono onno jayga dekhe berachhe. Arjun tar kach-e giye haat dhorlo—thanda, pran nei emon thanda.

— “Maya, amake dekho,” Arjun bollo. “Tumi ekhanei acho.”

Professor Sen pichone dariye shanto golay bollo—
— “Tumi oke force korle, deep oke puro niye nibe.”

Rudra gun-ta namalo, kintu tar chokh ebar Professor-er dike na. Se Arjun-er dike takalo.

— “Ami shotti bolle, tomake kichu lukiyechhi,” Rudra bollo.

Arjun matha ghuriye takalo.
— “Ekhon?”

— “Ekhon-i,” Rudra bollo. “Karon ekhane mithye bole keu bachte pare na.”

Se tar bag theke ekta purono file ber korlo. Plastic-e dhaka, bhitor-e chhera kagoj.

— “Ami ei deep-e ageo esechhi.”

Arjun-er buk jeno theme gelo.
— “Ki?”

— “10 bochor age,” Rudra bollo. “Indian Navy-r ekta classified mission-e. Amader kaaj chhilo—ei deep-ke map theke tule dewa.”

Professor halka haslo.
— “Kintu deep tomader tule diyechilo.”

Rudra chokh bondho kore bollo—
— “Amra 12 jon esechilam. Fire gechhi 3 jon.”

File-er bhitor ekta photo—uniform pora jawan-ra, pichone lighthouse. Chhobi-r ekta kona-e spiral chokh-er chinho.

— “Amra bhablam eta kono secret base,” Rudra chaliye gelo. “Kintu raat-e ekjon kore manush gulo palte jete laglo. Tara nijer bhoy-er shathe kotha bolto.”

Maya hothat dhire bollo—
— “Rudra…”

Tinjon thomke gelo.

Maya matha ghuriye takalo. Tar chokh ebar normal, kintu chokher moddhe ekta ojana chaya.

— “Tumi ekhane age eshechhile,” se bollo. “Tai deep tomake chene.”

Professor Sen matha narlalo.
— “Deep purono smriti bhalo-bashe.”

Rudra shorir kampte laglo.
— “Ami phire esechhilam, kintu deep amar pichhu chhareni. Tai ami abar esechhi… shesh korte.”

Arjun bujhte parlo—eta rescue mission na. Eta closure.

Tokhon-i mandir-er dewal-e khodai gulo jole uthlo. Spiral chokh gulo ekta ekta kore ghurতে laglo.

Professor chitkar kore uthlo—
— “Beriye jao! Ekhon-i!”

Hothat Maya bedi-r upor haat rekhe bollo—
— “Deep kichu chay.”

— “Ki?” Arjun jiggesh korlo.

Maya tar dike takalo.
— “Biswas.”

Tar chokh-er chaya ghon hoye gelo.
— “Ekjon ke ekhane thakte hobe.”

Nishobdo chapiye elo.
Karo chokh karo chokh-e.

Rudra dhire gun-ta namalo.

— “Ami thakbo.”

Arjun chitkar kore uthlo—
— “Na!”

Rudra halka haslo.
— “Ei deep amar golpo shesh korar jayga.”

Professor Sen chokh bondho kore bollo—
— “Eita ekmatro upay.”

Mandir kapte laglo. Pathor-er chhat theke dhulo porche.

Rudra Maya-r dike takalo—
— “Tomake fire jete hobe.”

Tarpor Arjun-er dike—
— “Story ta bolbe. Jate keu abar na ashe.”

Rudra bedi-r dike egiye gelo.

Arjun-er gola theke kono shor berolo na.
Ei muhurte se bujhte parlo—

Biswasghatok shobshomoy baire theke ashe na.
Kokhono nijer modhye thekei ashe.

Rudra bedi-r upor uthtei pathor-er chokh-ta jeno jibonto hoye uthlo. Spiral-er moddhe andhokar ghurche, ekta bhari shash proshash-er moto awaj chharachhe. Mandir-er dewal kape uthlo, upar theke pathor khoshe porche.

— “Ekhon-i cholo!” Professor Sen chitkar kore uthলেন।

Maya Arjun-er haat dhore tanlo.
— “Amar dike takio na,” se bollo, gola bhari. “Jodi takao, tumi phire jabe na.”

Arjun cheshta korlo pichone takate, kintu dewal-er bhangon, dhulo ar shor-er moddhe Rudra dhire dhire chhaya-te mile jacchilo. Tar chokh-e kono bhoy chhilo na—shudhu shanti.

Mandir-er floor fente gelo. Ekta lomba crack, jeno prithibi mukh khulche. Professor age age douralo, ora dujon tar pichone.

Tunnel-er moddhe dhuktei hawa joralo. Path-er duto pashe purono khodai—manush-er mukh, chitkar, chokh bondho.

— “Eta ki escape tunnel?” Arjun jiggesh korlo.

— “Na,” Professor bollo. “Eta memory passage. Deep nijer golpo ekhane rekheche.”

Pichone ekta bhoyankar gorjon holo. Mandir bhenge porche.

Hothat tunnel du’bhage bhag hoye gelo.

Professor theme gelo.
— “Bam dik ta dhoro!”

Ora bam dike douralo. Pichone andhokar jeno taratari egiye asche. Arjun mone holo—oi andhokar bhitor-e onek gola, onek bhoy.

Hothat Maya hoche hoche theme gelo.
— “Ami pari na…”

Arjun tar matha dhore bollo—
— “Parbe. Ekhon tumi ekai na.”

Maya chokh tule takalo.
— “Deep ekhono amar bhitore.”

Professor thomke gelo.
— “Tumi jodi thako, dujon-i mara jabe.”

Arjun bina chinta-e Maya ke tule nilo.
— “Tahole ami-o thakbo.”

Tunnel-er shesh-e alo dekha gelo. Jol-er shor. Samudrer.

Ekta shesh dhakka—ora beach-e chhitke porlo.

Nishiddho Deep-er akash ebar lal. Jongol-er bhitor theke chitkar-er moto shor asche. Lighthouse dur-e dhire dhire dhoshe porche.

Professor shorir kampte kampte uthe daralo.
— “Deep bondho hocche.”

Samudrer jol pichone tane niye jacche. Wave-er por wave.

Boat—Matangini—ekhono shore-e bandha.

— “Utho!” Arjun chitkar korlo.

Ora boat-e uthlo. Engine start holo—ekbar, du’bar—tarpor jore.

Boat shore chhere berotei island-er majhkhane ekta bhoyankar awaj holo. Jeno kono jinish bhenge gelo.

Maya chokh bondho kore fushfush kore bollo—
— “Rudra…”

Samudrer moddhe hothat ekta boro whirlpool holo. Nishiddho Deep dhire dhire nijeke gile nite laglo.

Arjun pichone takalo—
jongol, mandir, lighthouse—
shob kichu jol-er niche chole gelo.

Shudhu ekta shor thaklo—
ekta shash chharar moto.

Nishobdo.

Boat dhire dhire andhokar samudrer dike chole gelo.

Arjun bujhte parlo—
Ora beriye esheche.
Kintu deep ki shob chhere diyeche?

Samudrer upor raat neme esheche. Akash-e tara nei, chad nei—shudhu ekta bhari andhokar. Matangini boat-ta dheere dheere jol-er upor bhashchilo, jeno jol-o klanto hoye poreche.

Maya boat-er pichone boshe chhilo. Tar chokh bondho, thot norchhe—kintu kono shobdo berocche na.

Arjun tar pashe boshe bollo—
— “Tumi safe. Ekhon shob shesh.”

Maya chokh khullo. Tar chokh ebar alada—ekta ojana shanti, kintu tar niche kono ekta gehon chaya.

— “Na,” se bollo. “Shob shesh hoyni.”

Professor Sen samne dariye samudrer dike takiye chhilen. Tar mukh-e digho klanti.

— “Deep mara jay na,” tini bolলেন। “Eta shudhu ghumai.”

Arjun confused hoye jiggesh korlo—
— “Tahole oi sacrifice?”

Professor matha narlalo.
— “Rudra deep-ke bondho koreni. Se deep-er sathe ekta deal koreche.”

Maya dhire bollo—
— “Deep bhoy diye khabar pai. Kintu bhoy jodi bujhe jao… tokhon bhoy ar shashon korte pare na.”

Arjun Maya-r dike takalo.
— “Tumi ki bolchho?”

Maya tar haat-e spiral chinho-ta dekhlo. Chokher moto, halkabhabe jole uthchilo.

— “Ei chinho amar moddhe ache,” se bollo. “Kintu eta amar control-e.”

Professor Sen chokh bondho kore shash nilo.
— “Tumi deep-er gate hoye gecho, Maya.”

Boat-er radio hothat on hoye gelo.

Shhhhh…

Tarpor ekta porichito gola—
— “Arjun…”

Arjun-er shorir jure thanda boye gelo.
— “Rudra?”

— “Bhoy peyo na,” gola bollo. “Deep-e ami achhi. Kintu ami bandi na.”

Samudrer upor hothat ekta alo dekha gelo. Ekta chokher moto shape.

Maya uthে daralo.
— “Gate bondho rakhte hole, amake bujhte hobe deep-ke.”

Arjun tar haat dhore bollo—
— “Tar mane tumi abar jabe?”

Maya halka haslo.
— “Na. Deep ebar ashbe na.”

Alo-ta dheere dheere miliye gelo. Radio chup hoye gelo.

Professor Sen fushfush kore bolলেন—
— “Shap-er rahossho holo eta—bhoy jodi tumi niyontron koro, tokhon bhoy tomar bondi hoy.”

Boat dur-e alo dekhe—land.

Arjun bujhte parlo—
Ei golpo ekhane shesh na.
Eta shudhu shuru.

Tin mash pore.

Kolkata abar nijer moto cholche—tram-er ghonta, footpath-er bhir, Hooghly-r jol-e shondhya-r alo. Arjun nijer chena chhoto studio-te boshe camera-r shamne dariye.

Red light on.

— “Ei vlog-ta ami upload korbo kina, ami jani na,” se dhire bollo. “Karon kichu golpo share kora jay na. Kichu golpo bachte chay.”

Screen-e cut shot—samudrer jol, purono map, spiral chokh-er chinho blur kore dekhano.

— “Nishiddho Deep bole kono jayga official map-e nei,” Arjun bollo. “Kintu bhoy thakle, deep thakbe.”

Camera off.

Arjun pichone ghure takalo. Maya janlar kach-e dariye. Tar haat-e ekta notebook, bhorti drawing—spiral, chokh, mandir-er naksha.

— “Tumi Delhi phircho?” Arjun jiggesh korlo.

Maya matha narlalo.
— “Na. Ami field-e jabo. Jekhane ei rokom myth ache.”

— “Gate?”

Maya halka haslo.
— “Balance.”

Professor Sen ekhon ekta university-te lecture den. Officially tini “missing for research” chhilen. Nishiddho Deep-er naam tini konodin mention koren na.

Kintu ekdin, Arjun ekta envelope pelo.

Bhitor-e ekta chhoto kagoj. Rudra-r haat-er lekha.

“Gate bondho. Kintu chokh ekhono khola.”

Shesh line-e ekta drawing—spiral chokh.

Raat-e Arjun ghumote jay. Ghum ashar age mobile check kore.

Notification—
Unknown Location tagged you in a photo.

Chobi-te shudhu ekta shanto samudrer jol. Kintu jol-er niche—ekta chaya.

Arjun phone-ta off kore dilo.

Janlar baire hawa boye gelo.
Dur-e kono jayga-te kono deep ghum bhangchhe.