Former freedom fighter turned beggar, Abbas, faces betrayal and hardship

Abbas, a former freedom fighter and later a robber, wakes up on a cold morning wrapped in a torn blanket, his broken leg making movement difficult. He finds comfort in his semi-conscious state, enjoying the sounds of passing vehicles and the warmth of the sun. His companion, Jamila, is nearby, but her mother is missing. Abbas, a one-legged beggar, struggles to stand and calls out for Jamila's mother, suspecting she has run off with a man from Kishoreganj. Jamila, shivering and crying, denies knowing her mother's whereabouts. Abbas, filled with pain and disappointment, tells Jamila that trust no longer exists in the world, recalling his past dreams of providing for her through education. He laments losing his leg, which prevented him from achieving his aspirations. The narrative reveals Abbas's past as a farmer, then a robber, whose leg was broken by landowners. He began begging after being discharged from the hospital, taking in Jamila's mother, a widow, and previously another young woman, neither of whom stayed with him. The harsh winter weather exacerbates their suffering, contrasting with the comfort of the wealthy. Abbas, who once loved winter and the harvest season in his village, now finds the city's cold brutal. He reflects on his transformation from a brave freedom fighter to a beggar, attributing his current plight to the loss of his leg. He contemplates his past actions, questioning if his path to becoming a robber was justified by societal inequalities. However, he recalls a spiritual encounter with a baba who advised him to abandon such thoughts, urging him to focus on inner peace rather than material gain. Despite this, Abbas is deeply affected by witnessing another disabled beggar who, despite lacking both legs, continues to beg with unwavering determination, prompting Abbas to question his own resolve.