The further I go from home, the more I feel alone.

But why this feeling comes to mind, I can't figure out.

I am following my own decision this will be seen.

Looking towards the buildings, I notice how tall they are.

Each one seems to stretch its head into the sky without touching the others.

After twenty minutes, the bus stops beside the shopping mall.

Getting off, the biggest mall I have ever seen appears before my eyes.

For a moment, I freeze it’s so huge!

The entire mall seems as big as a football field.

Looking up, I count floor after floor 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…

I have to stop counting because it seems endless.

Entering inside, I wonder: if it feels this good outside, how will it be inside?

As soon as I step in, I see a vast ground floor and countless shops in every direction.

Standing in the middle of the mall and turning around makes my head spin.

I notice a map of the mall on the left.

Going closer, I see it’s a 22-floor shopping mall.

There are over a thousand shops here. Even counting all the markets in my city wouldn’t reach a thousand.

Excited, I start exploring the shops.

I go up to the second floor.

All around, there are toy stores.

Seeing the toys, I feel like a child again and start playing with them.

Then, a toy store catches my eye.

I enter and go straight to the toy.

Yes, it’s the toy I wanted as a child.

I remember it clearly. Back then, I had started going to new markets with my father.

In the first market we entered, I had spotted this toy.

I had told my father many times,

“Dad, please buy me this toy.”

But he always said the same thing

“Toys are useless things; you don’t need to buy them.”

Now, I will buy it with my own money.

I pick up the toy and start examining it.

Suddenly, my eyes fall on the price.

I quietly place the toy back and rush out of the store.

I can’t hold back a scream. I shout what!

The toy costs ten thousand taka!

What’s in this toy that it costs ten thousand taka!

Father didn’t buy the toy for me back then.

He would never have bought it if he knew it cost so much.

No, I can’t stay in these toy stores.

So, I go up to the third floor to see what’s there.

Father was right

toys are the most useless things.

Now I understand the meaning of what he said.