Short stories are short for storytelling and something harder to wrap up. Perhaps, emotional pitch or compression of characters, the vibrant elements that we hold in our minds long after the imaginary tale is finished, reminding us almost in the flesh. The time is limited and the blow that the author needs to have on the reader has to be more instantaneous than the case of a story. Yet when it ends properly, the shorter format can be an ecstasy to read.
Quite a few young writers are talented in doing that, like Mehedi Shamim. This author once told a story of a man who wants to be happy in his life. The man actually means it and gets ready to set him on a battle for happiness. Sometimes he draws the equation of human relationships in comparison to the journey for getting happiness.
He upheld the picture of our social system. He criticised our social life and offered some solutions for our so-called social problems through the stories as well. Also, he focused on the reality of life in terms of imagination and wishes.
Tolpi Tolpar Golpo was published by Chinno Patra Prokashoni in the Ekushey Book Fair 2018. The first story ‘Budh’ of the book is all about a man who lives in a fantasy world of happiness, although his life is nothing but full of sorrow, tragedy, and all the complexities of life.
The second story ‘Ator Ali Brittanto’ is the story of a local journalist who is insecure about his life and career. This story has certainly been outlined in a professional and personal perspectives of local journalists.
‘Shei Joarer Lojja Nei’ is the third story of this book which has depicted our social classes, social norms, and ethics and how these things are upsetting our life. Without having political perception, a person could not decide his/her role in the society as well as the country which led a person towards the worst things to do like militancy. Shamim put this message into words through his fourth story ‘Akjon Bonik Attohotta Korechilo Poroborti Jiboner Lobhe’.
Our life is changing every day, in fact, at every moment. We are moving ahead through ups and downs. All of our decisions are not correct in the long run, but we are choosing the best available options. ‘Paddle’, the fifth story of this book that focuses on our life, our decision making and how these things carry our life ahead.
The sixth story of Tolpi Tolpar Golpo titled ‘Ki Kotha Tahar Shathe’ is about the shades of human relationship. This story reveals a scenario relating how the doubtful mind brings the crisis in our life.
‘Chotushkon’ is the second last story of this volume, which is acquainted with the tale of four different personas. In this story, readers will find four different perspectives that make our life complex. It is a story of our sense of accountability. The last narrative of this book is ‘Aronno Proman Korechilo Shey Ashole Jungle Na’ which is a love story of a teenage couple.
Without giving more spoilers from the book, it is safe to say that the author has done a fantastic job by putting these stories in one collection. Although some of the tales may seem to not have a point in the first read, they will truly connect with the readers on a personal level later.
