Absolutely ravenous, Mafiz walked so fast that his three comrades could barely keep pace. Rashid said, “Why are you in such a hurry? Can’t you slow down a bit?”
Manir agreed, “My legs are giving way, we haven’t eaten all day, and now you make us run.”
Mafiz barked back, “That’s precisely why we need to run. If you rest now, you will not move. We must reach home somehow, dump ourselves on the verandah – no more worries then. Have some steaming rice, dal, hot spicy fish, or maybe some tasty vegetables...”

Ashek cut him short, laughing, “Mafiz, you only think of food.”
“Why shouldn’t I? If an engine isn’t fuelled, does it work?”
Laughing and chatting, they finally reached home to find the main door wide open. It was very dark inside. Something was wrong. Why was there no light? All four of them shuddered. Mafiz cried out in a broken voice, “Oh God! Have they killed my sister?” He was about to enter the house when Manir tugged at his shirt, “Stop! You never know who could be waiting inside to ambush us. Take your positions.”
The four comrades took up their arms. Manir fired a shot in the air, but there was no response. After a brief pause, Manir shouted, “Chhabi! Chhabiran! Kalar Ma! Where are you?