In the world's most densly populated country

After a lovely 24 hour journey (and by lovely, I mean fairly miserable), I arrived in the world's most densly populated country. My home until I get my data for that blasted dissertation. Things so far have been good. A bit strange at times, as all new places are, but I am living in a really nice apartment, courtesy of the generosity of Becky (Day) Merrill and her husband Scott.

But, let's get to the juicy stuff right away. Why bother with pleasantries? Let me tell you about the most darkly comic response to "How are you" I have EVER received.

I was picked up at the airport by Shajahan. He is the project manager for the research study I am working with. He is a distinguished older guy. And although there are 150 million people in this country, I have learnt that it is actually quite small, and everyone knows each other. So, Shajahan is a man of connections.

Being the polite girl that I am, I asked him how he was.
His reply: "I am facing the worst crisis of my life."
My response: "[long, pregnant pause] Oh. Um. Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
The rest of the conversation went something like this.
Does it have to do with your family?
Yes.
Is everyone's health ok?
Yes. It is my son. He is so stupid. He has ruined my reputation and my family's name.
Um. What did he do?
He is trapped by a bad girl.
A bad girl?
Yes. She has trapped him and now her family says we must pay. They want me to pay 20 lakh taka (2 million taka - $30,000)
Oh. [another pregnant pause] What happened?
He is so stupid. He got into love with her. I am ruined. Where do I come up with the money?
Um. Is there a baby?
What?
I mean...he is in love with her. Is the problem that there is a baby involved?
No.
Oh. Where is your son now?
He is in hiding.
Hmm.
At this point, I was at a complete loss. So, I told him that I was sorry, and thanked him for coming to get me. He said he was on the phone the whole time he was waiting for me, trying to get this sorted out.

But, my curiousity was certainly piqued. After a bit of investigation, and some cross-referencing, this is the situation.

Shajahan rented his house (or part of his house) to this family. His son fell in love with their daughter. Then, Shajahan finds out that the father is a very big international smuggler. He tells his son that he cannot be with this girl. But, it turns out that the two are married. The son is in hiding because he cannot divorce her.

But, the Bollywood aspect of this fiasco does not end here. The smuggler has "documents" indicating the marriage, and the Bangladeshi version of a pre-nup, that says that if they get divorced, the daughter gets 20 lakh taka. Shajahan can't run away from the problem and tell his son to solve it, because it does not work that way in this culture. And, to make matters worse, he cannot go to the police or other authorities, because the smuggler has them in his pocket. And, the daughter was 'delivered' to Shajahan's house recently, and tore at her clothes. So now, they have trumped up an accusation that she is being mis-treated. I was told that Shajahan may have to sell his house. I was also assured that this is a very rare situation.

You think?