Heart of Bhatiary

MAHMUDUL HASAN HEMAL
 
This is a place that must be visited and re-visited to savour the flavour it provides, to be lost in the whirlpool of the breeze and the last drop of sunlight at the end of day. The zigzag Bhatiary Lake is surrounded by lush green hills on every side, with spectacular views of the distant shipyard. Golfers can take special interest in visiting the place as it has a wonderful green golf course, Bhatiary Golf and Country Club, which stands on the scenic area of small hills and valleys between Chittagong Cantonment and Bangladesh Military Academy. There are fishing boats, boat rides, café and sightseeing for everyone to enjoy.
This road through Bhatiary is actually a link road between Dhaka-Chittagong highway and Hathazari-Chittagong road. Those who intend to go to Rangamati or Khagrachari can take this shortcut road. From Hathazari, two different roads go towards the two hill districts.
I am inspired by the medieval Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta whenever I travel. I consider the place I am visiting as my home. It is very important that you maintain a sort of harmony and ease with the place while visiting. Never feel that you are an alien or just a traveller. Try to feel you are at your home. The world is your home. Anyway, I always take a lungi and gaamcha as my foremost companions during my travels.
I like to swim wherever there is a source of water. But I have deep-water phobia. Whenever I get into a water body comprehensibly deep, like ponds, lake, river or sea, an overwhelming fear of being carried away by some unknown and undiscovered imaginary aquatic monster troubles my mind. But with these little exceptions, I’m a brave man, an enthusiastic swimmer and an inquisitive traveller. I tried to convince one of my fellow traveller, Habib, to join me in swimming, but he wouldn’t do it. “You are a Masters student and about to leave Chittagong soon. I suppose you will never get a chance of swimming here before or after you die,” I told him as I dived into the crystal clear lake water. He seemed to be moved by my remark, but couldn’t really overcome the inhibition of getting into the water. Logical calculations and inhibitions are dangerous things!   
‘Return ticket haate loiya, aisachi ei duniyay/ Time hoile jaite hobe, Jaoa chaara nai upay…’ (I have come to this world with a return ticket/ When the time comes, I have to leave, there is no other way) _ a popular folk song goes like that. Sometimes, music reminds us that we are waiting. A wait at the station to board a train heading somewhere we don’t know. So, before I go back, I need to see what goes around the station. I need to see the craftsmanship of the Almighty. Travelling gives you the opportunity of a metaphysical exploration through physical perception. Places you like have a magnetic effect on you. Wherever and whenever you recall them in the mirror of your mind, they create a magnetic field around you and fetch you there again.
At the end of our trip to Bhatiary, we got into a chander gaari  (a jeep used as public transport) when the fast fading red sun hurried to light other parts of the universe. Some homebound birds were chirping somewhere around the darken, evening sky as the engine roared along our way. In spite of being so ephemeral, life is sometimes marvelous, if you behold that marvel in your eye.     

The end.

The writer is a postgraduate student of English at University of Chittagong.

Photos: Writer.