^{@arjinarahman ©
#Bangladesh 🇧🇩}

The Carnival - Gerda Wegener

It was a sweet winter night. The 'Masquerade Ball' was being held in an old mansion in Narayanganj, Bangladesh . There has never been such an event in the town. That place was like the good old days of Bengal, the glow of clay and oil lamps shining. The people made a lot of noise and music filled the air.

Raisa a sweet girl, who was wearing a white saree with red border and heart patterns. Her face was kind, but though her eyes were sad. She had come to the festival with friends and but her heart wasn’t at peace.

A strange young man appeared before her in the middle of a dance hall. A black panjabi and a white and black scarf wrapped itself around his neck. A black mask was stitched across his face. He held a red rose in his hand, and said softly, 'May I invite you to dance, miss?

Raisa did hesitate at first, but she took his hand eventually. While they danced they forgot what time it was. They stopped and everyone around them watched. Raisa felt something strange at the depth of the man’s eyes. Her eyes had enough recognition that it seemed like she had seen those eyes before.

The man then led Raisa to the edge of the mansion’s pond after the dance. It really looked like a whole different pond, covered in mist. The man stood by the pond, he removed his mask suddenly. Raisa was shocked. "You! Rashed!"

Rashed her childhood friend. Seven years had gone by since he’d left their village and disappeared. Suddenly all the memories of their childhood resurfaced in Raisa. She remembered the afternoons the pond, going to school together, and the fair when he bought her bangles.
"Where have you been for these many years?"

Rashed’s eyes showed guilt. "I ran away, Raisa. I felt so small. But I could never forget you. I come back today only for you."

Tears filled Raisa’s eyes. It felt like the simple friendship from their childhood had come back in a moment.

Nuha, Raisa’s college friend had been watching quietly from the distance. She started wondering- Was it really love that brought Rashed back, or there was something else?

The night was getting deeper. The light of the moon was reflected on the water of pond. Raisa’s eyes looked questions in that light. If Rashed had really ran away, why did he disappear?

Maybe time would answer the questions that it had begun. This is how Raisa and Rashed’s new story began, during that night at the masquerade ball in Narayanganj.

I invite following users for the contest
@dulcem05
@eveetim
@esvisionaria

Here is: Contest Link .
Organized by @solperez Ma'am.