Bicycle

Who can say that I've never seen a bicycle?

Bicycle is very popular bike and available all over the world. No one, I think, would be found anywhereall throughout the globe who is not familiar with bicycle.

It benefits three ways.

1. Almost all even village people of low income can buy as it is cheap
2. It offers comparatively easier and more safe travel saving a good junk of time
3. Riding bicycle is a good exercise. Therefore, it offers those who ride it a good heath

Bicycle is available everywhere in Bangladesh. It is popular here to the same extent as it is in other countries of the world.

In Bangladesh bicycle is used or can be used by people of all age groups. Recently many girls and women will be found using this vehicle for easy communication everyday.

But only 10 or 12 year ago riding bicycle was something shameful and disgraceful to girls or women of Bangladesh. The thing was more complicated in rural areas.

Rubina was 13 year old at that time. She was a girl of a remote village and a daughter of a poor farmer.

Rubina born to a poor parents, lived in a poor family, led a low standard life but cherished a sky like high and broad ambition.

Though the village was remote but luckily there were a primary school and a high school.

She was always a good student both in primary and high school level.

She passed SSC one day with a brilliant result. Heavenly happiness came over her parents from above. But that happiness was only for few days. Only in few days happiness flew away like vapor.

Her father had no ability to send her to town for higher study. But he wanted it and tried his best to find any means.

Without finding any means or alternative he with heavy heart decided to stop her study and give her to a marriage.

Rubina was disappointed. But her high ambition and indomitable interest in study made her thinking different.

She got to know from one of her school friends about a college. The college was not in town but at such a distance not possible to go and return by walk in a day. That was really another problem.

But she saw in her visionary eyes that a bicycle, only a bicycle can be right solution to this problem.

She requested her father to buy a bicycle anyway for her.

Her father thought twice. But one day like a good father bought a bicycle for her daughter.

Rubina started going to college by riding bicycle everyday. The villagers saw her, spoke ill of her terming her a slur to society, disgrace to her family. But Rubina never minded, never took their ill speaking as stumbling block to her way.

I am from the same remote village Rubina lives. But I have left that village and been away since my early life. Now the whole area not alone the village has become much developed.

The other day after several years I went to that village for a brief visit. Luckily I met some of my old friends. We gathered in a tea stall, talking, order for tea has already been placed and served.

I lift my cup up to the lips and about to have the first sip but before that a sound of motor cycle came to my ear. I turned to a wayside and saw a lady on a motor cycle riding on her way.

“Who’s she?” I asked my friends.

One of them told, “She is Rubina Madam.”

“A high government official, still lives here but only for her parents’ sake,” Informed another friend.

The other one sitting to my left said, “Now she is quite able to lead a decent life along with parents even in town. She may leave any time”.

I listened carefully.

I have never seen her face. But in my inner sight I saw a picture of present Rubina, a young, vibrant, educated, bold, ambitious and visionary lady. She is such a lady everything awaits for.

Now she is riding motor cycle but someday will drive motor car and some other day will fly from country to countries, I thought to myself.