Saying Goodbye

So far, this year has brought upon me a spell of anxious waits, linking one event after another. Amidst all the turmoil, I failed to keep any journal lately. Now that all the waiting is over, finally the time has come to sally forward into the glorious uncertainty. The last goodbyes have been said, the parting tears have been shed, now I am on the verge of starting my voyage.

It all started with freaking out why I hadn't received my DV interview letter at the start of the year. Then, waiting for the dreaded visa interview with a quiet tension. After the interview, it seemed like an eternity before I finally got the phone-call affirming my immigration. Everyone was happy. I visited BUET and informed my honors and masters thesis advisers, both bade me farewell happily. Finally, it came to talking to Ellis, my boss.

I was queasy about letting my Managing Director/Team Lead/Programming Mentor know that I'll be leaving the country. Not only was I breaching my 3 year contract, but I was feeling low for breaking his trust and not keeping my own words. After Ellis returned from his Thailand vacation, I mailed him last Sunday asking to talk and since our cutover (production cycle end date) has been shifted, he managed some time to talk to me after lunch. Even before I got into explaining things, he had said he knew about my diversity lottery and happilly let me go with no strings attached. The way Ellis talked to me on that day (probably 10th March) made our friendship even stronger than before.

The couple of months after that went into a frenzy. Every morning I'd get up early and then start for my swimming or driving lesson, then a hurried breakfast at some restaurant and going to office through the late moring traffic jam. The evenings were spent either on meeting old friends or shopping. In no time, I faced May 21st, my last working day in CodeCrafters. I felt mixed with all kind of emotions on that day. Like many time before, I attempted to express myself with a song for this occasion.

After I had quit office, I finally managed to take Mom and Dad to Cox's Bazar for one last vacation in Bangladesh. We got the chance to watch hurricane 'Aila' from the balcony of hotel Sea Crown. It felt very great to finally have travelled with my family.

The last few days were all spent in attending various invitations and farewell parties. Ellis' last words on Thursday (June 4th) left me choking almost to the verge of tears. While departing I received an uncharacteristic and warm hug from my ex-boss and now dear friend. On Friday (5th June), I exchanged goodbyes with a lot of my dear freinds and family members. The hardest of these all were to say bye to Nashad, Nijhu and Emin. In fact Emin and I could not help our tears that evening at all. The long 14 year friendship, of never getting detached from one another, of relying on the other on any need at any time actually came to abeyance that day. Nijhu, like his typical Floydian style, sent a simple text message packaged with all his good wishes- Shine on you crazy diamond.

I forbade Mom to cry in front of me, yet she couldn't help it when I left her with a meager amount from the remnant of my last salary, thinking how I was feeling to go apart from her for the first time in my life. Consequently, I broke down also. I feel so much ashamed thinking how much I had misbehaved with my Dad in the final days in Dhaka, yet he always stood there as the pillar, always smiling and encouraging and never faltering to show a tinge of emotion, for this and all the love and support, I am deeply grateful.

Finally it was 5pm on Sunday (6th June). I was getting ready to board on the microbus we rented for my airport trip. All on a sudden, Abir and Shiplu arrived to see me for one last time. I can never forget that last embrace from my two friends. Tears were glistening in my eyes as I said the last goodbye and left 24. B. K. Das Road, my home.