As storm clouds gather over the village, Rono runs his kite through the meadows in the valley. When rain begins to fall, the villagers retreat as the dam struggles against rising water levels. As families conduct headcounts, Riba Marya, the village outcast, realises her son, Rono, is missing.

Desperation leads her back into the storm, where she finds the valley swallowed by a sudden flood after the dam collapses. The villagers call it divine punishment, blaming Riba's past and shunning her completely. Only a few offer solace in her grief. But in her anguish, Riba confesses how trusting her brother and using common sense have sealed her fate as the village outcast.

This is the third part of the Unpopular Opinions Book Series, set in rural Bangladesh, and tells the story as seen through the eyes of Riba Marya.

Disclaimer: This story contains strong themes of child abuse, human trafficking, and misuse of power.

About the Author

Dr. Taseef H. Farook is an award-winning academic researcher and healthcare professional with an extensive publication record in medicine and dentistry. His fictional novels blend wit, humour, and compelling storytelling to explore pressing societal issues. Shaped by his cross-cultural experiences living and working across multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region, his literary work offers a fresh and engaging perspective that will resonate with mature, diverse audiences.

Other books in this series:

1 Unpopular Opinions 1

After inheriting the diary of his dearly departed friend, Yaad faces a difficult choice: leave his troubled past behind or relive it again through Sufi Hamza's eyes. But it's not just about a diary filled with scandals; it's about something-and someone-Yaad had spent years trying to forget and must now confront before he is ready to read Sufi's final words. His thoughts pull him back to 2000s Bangladesh, as he begins to share raw opinions on the many societal flaws that shaped his childhood and ultimately led him to his own version of a happy ending.

2 Unpopular Opinions 2

Though their lives now seem worlds apart, Yaad and Sufi once shared a controversial passion for exposing societal flaws with brutally honest opinions. However, after Sufi's death, Yaad inherits his diary. Upon reading its pages, Yaad discovers a series of criminally unsavoury confessions from his morally ambiguous best friend. These confessions indirectly implicate Yaad as a silent witness to scandals that once ruined many lives.