A different sunset

Speaking as one of the many who saw the live telecast of the entire evening, it was heart wrenching! Initially, when I had read about the plane crash, I only sighed as most would have done when they read about mishaps. Then I was back to business as if nothing had happened. An inexplicable excitement was working within me keeping the 31st in focus. We planned dinning out, being the rather subtle celebrators of 31st! As the evening of 31st commenced my mother kept pasturing us to see BTV as it would telecast the arrival of the dead bodies live. BTV was the last thing we wanted to see on 31st when other satellite channels had flamboyant programmes lined up to celebrate the evening. But mom is the boss, so follow her rules! As the programme began my disinterested siblings found a way to leave the TV room. I sat with her in front of the TV thinking anything would be better than studying for MCAT (medical college admission test) on 31st!

Strangely enough, as the programme progressed, I found myself getting interested in what was being said and showed. The martyrs' families, waiting in that bitter cold for the dead bodies of their loved ones to arrive, was a sight that overwhelmed my conscience. I started to think about the people who gave up their lives serving a country that's not even theirs ! No matter what great honour the country show to the departed souls, it can never make amends for the losses their families suffered. A child who has lost her father will always be known as an orphan or the wife who lost her husband will always be known as the widow of a martyr. Thinking how they would ever conjure the courage to move on with their lives without the member who matters most in life, the Man of the family, I began to shed tears.

For the first time in my entire life, I realised that people who die mean a lot to others even if they are a complete stranger to us. I earnestly wished people in this civilised world would find a way to settle disagreement with words rather than weapons. May be physical force work faster than peace talks but in the long run so much is lost that the eventual success leaves behind only nightmares for the victims.

I began my new year not being angry at my father who couldn't keep the promise for the perfect new year's eve party but rather happy that he devoted his time in paying tribute to these exceptional Bangladeshis, who have put Bangladesh on the world map with an entire new image at the cost of their noble lives.

I know I can't do anything for their families like most, due to our limitations as teenagers. But on behalf of all those I would like to tell them, "You are not the only ones mourning for your loved ones, we share your grief and hope and pray that the Almighty gives you enough strength to endure this great tragedy... we are really proud of you."