BUTTERFLY ON A WINDOWPANE

As the ambitious Bidhya (13) diligently readied herself for the next chapter in her education, her mischievous younger brother Basanta (9) continually disrupted her focus with his playful pranks. But when Basanta discovers that his sister is losing sight of her aspirations, he rises to the challenge. He tirelessly strives to reinvigorate her with the hope and motivation she urgently requires.

One thing that always bothers me about my society, which is steeped in extreme patriarchy, is that women are forced to spend their entire lives within the confines of the home. They are denied the opportunity to peek outside, to venture into the outside world - as if it is a crime for them. Therefore, they become accustomed to the life within the four walls; there, they find their joys and sorrows, construct their reality, and they disappear, without ever realizing that there is a greater world outside where every person has their own existence, their own agency to decide independently regarding every important aspect of life. Growing up with my mother and two older sisters, I have witnessed them gladly accepting society's so-called norms and values. Recalling those days, I find myself filled with deep remorse that I could never become anything more than a stone in the walls confining them within. The times have changed; many political transformations have transpired, and the people who controlled the government have also changed. But the social conduct that kept women second-class citizens in the country has not changed. If this culture of oppression continues, it is impossible to tell how many more mothers and sisters will have to devote themselves to finding pleasure in the happiness of the men they serve. It is suffocating even to just think about it.