Traded My Life for Love

ebook

By Ruhul Amin Pothik

cover image of Traded My Life for Love

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Russell takes the address from the shopkeeper and sets off for the shooting spot early in the morning. Upon reaching the location, he approaches the security guard at the gate and shows him a picture of actress Chumki.

"Is she here?" Russell asks eagerly, his eyes filled with hope.

The guard nods, eyeing him suspiciously. "Yes, madam is shooting inside."

Russell beams with excitement. "I am going to marry her! A fortune teller in my village predicted it. That's why I've come to marry her."

The guard's expression darkens with irritation. He lets out a scornful laugh. "Who the hell are you? Some random fraud fortune teller told you this nonsense, and you ran all the way here from your village? Get lost!" he barks and pushes Russell aside roughly.

Russell stumbles, barely keeping his balance. Tears well up in his eyes. "Brother, please believe me! I will marry her! Look, my mother has sent gifts for my new bride—milk pitha, country chicken, date molasses, flattened rice, and puffed rice." His voice shakes as he eagerly opens the bundle to show the items, his hands trembling.

The guard's patience snaps. He loses his temper completely, grabs the bundle, and throws it onto the street. "Get out of here! Stop wasting my time!"

Russell feels as if the sky has collapsed upon him. His heart shatters as he kneels down, picking up the scattered items from the dust, his hands shaking. His mother's love, her efforts, all ruined in a second. Tears stream down his face as he sobs loudly, his voice filled with agony. "My mother worked so hard to make these for my bride, and you destroyed everything! How could you?"

The guard, now fully enraged, lifts a stick, ready to hit Russell. Just then, actress Chumki appears at the gate, talking on her phone. Her sharp eyes catch the moment the guard raises his stick.

"Hey! What's going on here?" she demands, her voice stern and commanding.

Russell looks up and recognizes her instantly. Overwhelmed, he bursts into uncontrollable tears. "Look! My mother sent all this for you, but this cruel man threw everything into the dirt!" His voice cracks as he holds up the dusty, ruined food with shaking hands.

Chumki, shocked and appalled, turns to the guard. "What have you done?"

"Forgive me, madam," the guard replies hesitantly, sensing her displeasure. "This lunatic came saying that some village fortune teller predicted he would marry you. So he brought all these items for you. I couldn't tolerate such nonsense."

Chumki is stunned. She looks at Russell, who continues crying, his face pale and exhausted. "Yes! The fortune teller said the moment I meet you, we'll be married. I've been wandering the city for two days without food, searching for you." His voice is barely a whisper as he sobs uncontrollably.

Chumki is taken aback by the blind faith of rural people. She doesn't blame Russell; she blames the fraudulent fortune tellers who mislead innocent minds. Her heart fills with compassion as she watches the young man, broken and desperate. She can see the sincerity in his eyes, the purity of his belief.

"Come with me," she tells Russell gently.

The guard stares at her in disbelief. "Madam, are you serious?"

"Yes," Chumki replies firmly. "Tell the production team to arrange some food for him. He hasn't eaten for two days."

She then kneels beside Russell and softly wipes his tears. "You must be very hungry. Let's get you something to eat first."

Russell looks at her in awe, as if she were an angel descending to save him. His heart, moments ago filled with sorrow, now feels a warmth he had never known before. Chumki helps him up and leads him...

Traded My Life for Love