Mind revealing micro-fictions

Anwarul Kabir's latest compilation of fifty two micro-fictions Mind Reader got published in Ekushey Boi Mela of 2015. Mind Reader is a handy collection of mind revealing micro-fictions where stories primarily deal with psychological suppression and social hypocrisy. Some of these micro-fictions are only a couple of lines long while the longest ones are of a page or two at most. Thus, the pace of these narratives grips the reader. These micro-fictions draw out troublesome questions of coping in the world that hastily embraces modernity and false moralities in urban setting. Stories like Change, Irsha and Prem:2015 and Propose capture the theme of fleeting love. Sensitive individuals in these and other stories are often intrigued by the urge of sensuality that creeps in their daily interactions. The author is consistent in his portrayal of desire driven situations where the chemistry between opposite sexes is depicted in myriad hues.  Alongside, stories like Somoyer Songshoyee Shash, Froyodio Bekkha explore the uncanniness of Freudian hints that characters like Jafrin and Jamal succumb to. The collection has quite a few stories that capture the dilemma of Freudian slips, or suppression. Deep yet unfulfilled attraction continues to appear in Karjokaron and Nostalgic Bhalobasha. Author's perspective is clear  as he suggests that while an individual is caught up in the deceptive cobweb of love, it is quite useless to seek out Freudian interpretation. Therefore, in Froyodio Bekkha the insoluble solution is rather taking a sedative from his physician and suppressing desire rather than asserting his love. 

The title story 'Mindreader' is an apt anti-thesis. The major pre-occupation in the story is to reveal what is unsaid in unusual interactions of attraction. The anonymous self-indulgent narrator, who loathed her own appearance, surprisingly discovers a genuine affectionate gaze from her uncle at the airport. Thus, these interactions are often friendly, often Platonic and often drenched with desire. 

On a different note, stories like Mofiz Ekta, Kicchu Bujhe Na and Godhulilogne wittily depict mid-life crises in unexpected turns of mid-life years along with courtship during youth. A number of stories deal with societal and political phenomena and abounds with hinted sarcasm. Stories like Progoti, Dimension and Civil Dress-e find bathos or, baffling twists that will surprise the readers, make them agree at other times, or, leave them chuckling.

Beside the themes of unrequited affair or, mismatched couple, readers will find sharp social awareness throughout the collection – be it in the campus setting, rural setting or, cosmopolitan. Stories quite consistently depict mostly middle class issues. Thus Arnob has to write a letter to both the parents that their divorce is going to ruin his life, therefore, they must look before they leap. The ending leaves us with question whether or not Mr. Sourav, the father will also be in tears as Mrs. Neela, the mother. Another poignant reality is found when a rickshaw puller, while pulling his rickshaw in intensely humid mid-day puts forward the question that why must only the poor be cursed by fate and not the rich. Thus, beyond sexual politics, stories present dilemma between the financially haves and the have-nots.

A number of the micro-fictions have an anonymous narrator. Characters like the eldest brother in Opphekkha, Kobi Farzana Zaman in Kobita Path, and Razzak Chacha in Artonaad reveal the hypocritical notions of modernity, of post-modernity and of traditional notion of life. Occasionally, the author plays with black humor while addressing the absurd like situations of our lives and times. Thus, modern day corporate marketing finds poetry quite sellable if it is accompanied with provocative music videos as promotional commodity. In Shiri a novice writer would rather make her way up by attracting her aged editor, an elderly boss would rather propose his employee. Altogether, Mindreader is an easy read and a thought provoker simultaneously. 

The reviewer is Lecturer, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).