A tale of love in Andaman Sea
by ATM Haidar Khan
On 15th January 2015, in a dense foggy morning, 19 men set sail on a voyage from Teknaf harbor-Bangladesh. Their destination was Malaysia where they were illegally migrating. Among them one man named Jahangir; he had no physical, psychological or intentional similarity to his fellow journey mates. All others voyagers apart from Jahangir were migrating for economic reason, they believed that migration would open a magical door by virtue of which they will lead their family to establish economic life.
However, Jahangir was not migrating for economic reasons. The 6 feet tall Jahangir was unique in his outlook with back skin and long rounded face with small beard all around the lower portion of his face, he was mighty man with strong muscles, his exceptionally long forehead made him look ugly and his overall look was ghastly with curly small hair, mighty body shape and grimy costume. He was at 44 years old which reflected in his skin, but his powerful and confident stance makes the observer to consider him as a man of 25 years old. Jahangir had something in his eyes, he hardly talk but his eyes always speak, he never smile but his eyes do.
Jahangir came from a reputed wealthy family settled in Noakhali district, his father was a freedom fighter who lost two legs in liberation war but was never certified for his contribution. Jahangir obtained his bachelor degree in 1998 from Noakhali University College and was doing agricultural farming with his father; he was married off at the age of 27 in same year of his graduation. After 6 months of his marriage Jahanghirs father passed away, Jahanghir had three elder brothers but there was no brotherhood between brothers for the clash with their father property, the brothers literally became enemy of each other with several ongoing disputes in the court in regards to their fathers possessions.
After the death of his father Jahangirs only companion was his beautiful wife, who died in 2000 while giving birth of a son. Jahangir then was living on his own with his son, at the age of 13 while returning from school Jahangirs son was killed in a clash leaving Jahangir in a life grave misery.
However, Jahangir was the unlikable member of nineteen men team, he was unpleasant because of his manner, he was unfriendly, doesnt help other and not even expect help from other, he hardly speaks and doesnt listen to others. But Jahangir was generous, he had bags of costly cigarettes with him, he never smoked without offering the same to the persons next to him in the boat. After two momentous nights, their boat reached to a port in Burma where they stayed one night for refueling purpose.
One Rohingya family joined Jahanjhir team from Burma, all headed to destination but on different reason of migration, the family consists of 5 members, two men, two women and one children. Kyaw was the oldest member of the family, along him his wife, his 35 years old son Kyi and Kyis wife Thiri and their daughter Yadanar. They wanted to migrant to Malaysia because they did not have any political identity and citizen right in the Burma; they believed that the other side of the sea would accept them with refugee status where they would lead life with peace. Thiri was 32 years old with black innocent eyes which was shining beauty without any makeup. Soft face with rounded cheek bones, proportionally thin nose, high trimmed brows, soft light pink lips, and rounded chin is complimented by her easy, timid smile. Phenomenal oceans of gray gaze out in lighthearted inquisitiveness as she smiles; though, there is a hint of a wild spark lingering behind those lids. Thiri doesnt decorate polychromatic platinum blonde hair with groomed like other women but her hair naturally shines luminously, which crops her gentle face; the main shines down towards her shoulders where it ends.
However, soon after their boat crossed Sittwe cost of Burma, they met another large boat in the sea that was when they first realized that they were in hands of the men traffickers, they had no control over themselves and all they have to do is to follow command of traffickers. From Sittwe cost traffickers divided the team into two boats, Jahangir, Thiri and other 7 Bengali young men was ordered to remain in their boat. They categorized the people with physical strength; Jahangirs team consisted of young energetic people, comparatively weaker and older people were taken to the new boat. Kyaw, his wife and 7 years old Yadanar were shot dead and thrown into water.
Boat which was carrying Jahanghirs new team sailed for Thailand, where these young men and women will be sold as slave and other boat were continue to head to Malaysia where all of them will be taken hostage and will be demanded ransom, unable to provide with ransom will be resulted the execution of hostages in Malaysian jangle.
As boat rushing towards unknown tension raised among the hostage in jahanghirs boat, Thiri is now alone with no family member. With fear, anxiety and for horrific loss of daughter she started to cry loudly. Jahanghir felt her ache and provided offered every shelter like her family member, they couldnt communicate verbally but they communicated psychologically, this psychological communication between them made Jahanghir to fall in Thiris love. As the boat reached Dawei cost the civilization became visible in approximately 2 Mile.
Unknown to the traffickers, Bangladeshi hostages decided to jump into the water and swim to the cost. Jahanghir asked if they are still in Bangladeshi border, his fellow journey mate replied positive . Then jahanghir stopped himself from jumping into water. He attempted to migrate because he didnt want to live in Bangladesh, before starting this journey he served in jail for 4 months for entering India illegally and was sent back to Bangladesh. For several tragic events in his life a disgust raised in his mind against is motherland for which his father fought. However, 7 Bangladeshi jumped into water leaving Jahanghir and Thiri as only reaming hostages.
In next two days, through care, fondness and psychological communication Jahanghirs love for Thiri increased to a desperate level. Soon after the boat crossed Mawlamyine Cost in Andaman Sea the civilization came into view once again, Jahanjhir is now convinced that he left Bangladeshi border and this was the opportunity he was waiting for. It was early morning, all the traffickers were sleeping after heavy night drinks, which was a perfect time for skipping, they will have to swim approximately 1 mile to reach to the civilization, he pointed Thiri to prepare to jump, but Thiri pointed back that she couldnt swim. For the second time Jahanghir stopped him from skipping.
14 days later, Jahanghir and Thiri were taken to a dense Thai jangle where they will be sold, Jahanghir was sold to fishing company but Thiri remained unsold because her merchantmen was absent that day. Jahanghir was separated from Thiri and kept lock in a wooden hut in the jangle, it was excruciating for Jahanghir to leave Thiri alone. His heart was broken into several pieces and fading for his immature love. Next day short before sunrise Jahanghir managed to skip from his jail and was rushing towards the place where he last saw Thiri. He could have skipped toward jangle but he was heading for a place where there are several traffickers camps. He was searching Trihi and eventually saw her in a hut. Then a trafficker guard stopped Jahanghir from reaching to Thiri, Jahanghir fought with gourd and won and was running towards Thiri. But before reaching to Thiri a bullet ripped though his chest and following one in his head, Jahanghir died from 5 yards from Thiris jail hut. On that day Thiri was sold as a sex slave to an Arabian merchant.
