Chapter title: The beginning
It's raining outside really harshly but weirdly not that intense on all side. It was common occurrence but to Raiyan it seemed weird.
He was on 9th floor apartment decent enough. Despite this rain the sound of 'tip tap' of water droplet on window sliding down sound really made him nostalgic about past when he was only a little kid.
Thinking about it being the best time for khichdi with mango chatni he whent to kitchen to prepare but luck was not on his side today as load-shedding happened simultaneously so with no choice but to give up as even though he could use rice cooker but he never learned to use gas oven since he never even learned start fire using matchbox let alone cooking with it.
Feeling fustrated using not so hot water from water flux making tea so can enjoy the rainy moment that he liked.
Sudden howling sound 'craclllee...dhumppp'
of thunder and lighting flash startled him. Even after growing this big a 24 year old man he still can't get use to sudden thunder but once continuous it doesn't affect much. Eid just around the corner so he was thinking about it and where to go with friends while sipping on red tea.
Suddenly phone vibrated he went to check it while putting down the coffe mug.(yeah coffe mug for tea now seems more appropriate so don't attack me, author)
It's the uni batch group. They are talking about the rain. It seems to be because of cyclone that he ignored before since every year march month guaranteeing cyclone but this time it was special one. Last time this violent like cyclone appeared more than 70 years ago in the country. Bangladesh is prone to cyclone almost every year along with flood that will drown two-third of the country. Anyway the main issue he was leaving near sea beach almost 6mile away. It isn't good news as level 9 regional as local warning is given by central government.
He thought to himself if he should flee when he still have time or wait as even if it flood nothing to concern as he was on 9th floor but. This powerful cyclone warring.
As he was thinking the building strated to shake a little. Not because of cyclone's wind power but earthquake!
"O lord, why earthquake happening suddenly.. "
Then shook again but stongly. Raiyan dashed to bathroom and tried to hide around a corner. Suddenly a sky priecing sound echoed with rumbling. Scream can be heard and from loud declaring of God's glory can also be heard from above and below according to tradition people doing it to hope God show mercy and leave them alone from this tragic fate. Feeling fear of life instead hidding in corner Raiyan rushed out and dashed toward main gate to go outside. After going out he saw his neighbours of same floor, they had the same idea it seemed. But the scene of broken wall blocking both two stairway made him more fearful..he noticed out of 4 lift one seems to be still working he hurried before it as he was about tap the button sudden loud snapping noise startled him and he jumped and backdown from lift's gate. With fearful eyes he look around only to see horrifying face of other and seemed to be not the first one as no one was approaching the lift before him and he realised how lucky he was but another round of shaking started with howling noise of wind cracle of thunder people face was full of hopelessness. Someone already started taking his shahada as if he was certain that he would die today at this very moment. Others followed suit and mothers after taking her started to help their little child resite it too. One family hindu and they too started to pray to their lord kirshna god of preservation and shiva god of distruction. Seeing this scene Raiyan became mortified.
He started to think if this was the end. He grasped the situation as to why it trunned from cyclone disaster to earthquake disaster and also how despite all this huge earthquake hit all the building still standing. He became angry and screamed "Why taking so long? If it is the end then let me die quick..don't give me this cruel experience lord!!"
And that was it. No sooner had he finished screaming another earthquake hit and that was the end they all died horribly.
No one how long it was from that incident but.. a young starving, weak bone sticking out frame of little boy in shackle opened his eyes slowly.