Chapter 9: Welcome!

3rd June 2000

Ok, now here’s the catch, you going to a party and you need to look hot to catch a fish!
So we, I mean me and the guys went into town in search of the perfect bait to reel in the big guns. After hours of searching, I finally found something that suited me, a faded black shirt. Time was short, so I decided that I’ll go with it.

Around 14:30pm all of us headed towards Nirvana Hotel in the college bus and awaited the arrival of the ladies carriage. We were just checking out the decorations of the place when the babes started to climb up the stairs. God was so perfect in his creation of women that all the boys were, frankly speaking, ogling at the ladies wondering what happened to their regular dresses (which actually made them look old!)

Anyway, the long awaited welcome party fired off with proper introductions where I gave my intro in Nepali. The senior was impressed and he asked me, “Timlai hamro batch bata kun didi man’parcha?” (Which means: from our batch, who is your favorite senior sister?) I was expecting the question and previously asked Bishal for an answer. So I replied, “Aruna didi”..There were lot of oooooo’s and aaaaaaaaaa’s but to tell you the truth, I didn’t even know her!

The next item on the agenda was talent hunt, where I sang a Nepali song impressing a lot of my fellow colleagues (all the credit goes to Bishal Acharya once again) and finally, the disco balls started to paint the dance floor with flashes of the brightest colors…and my eyes immediately started searching for her…

I found her and had an idea. Before I edged towards her, I asked the DJ to play one song for us…When I made my way towards her, she was already dancing with the hyper-fancy-feet-happy-go-lucky vampire of the class…

“This song goes out to _ _ _ _ _ _, dedicated by the international lad!” I butted out the other guy and ushered my hand to her and she took it. It was so soft…I looked into her eyes and for the first time we had a proper conversation while moving with the flow of the romantic rhythm. I don’t know how many time I stepped on her feet, but she just kept smiling and it was killing me!
Bottom line, when the party was over, I wasn’t wearing a black shirt, it was white!!!

Chapter 8: Seniors and Juniors

17th May 2000

I was shifted into the hostel and the second night; I was kissed by an acid fly. When I came here, I heard rumors that a senior liked her.

That evening Sisir Gaire dai called me and told me that I was safe with the Nepalese and they loved me like their own brother. You know there is a saying, “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer”
Ok so, what happened next was this morning, when I went to class, my friend Krishna gave me a card and said that Gaire dai had given this to pass to “her”. So I took it and added a note of mine. In my note I said,
“I’m extremely sorry that I have to be a mediator like this, but I hope you understand the relationship between senior and junior”
Thanx
= _ _ _ _ _=

I took a deep breath and approached her. I called her and she turned…She took both the card and note from me when I handed it and I added “I hate doing this” in a typical tone.

The net was set and the charm was cast. She took my note and put it inside her notebook, she rejected the card! She said that she didn’t want it and I told her that dai will kill me. The bell rang and it was time for lunch.

As usual, a 5 rupee cake filled mu tummy and I was sitting in class early. Her gang also arrived early and from the other end of the opposite bench she called me. She said, “It’s ok. Just tell dai that I rejected it.” I said I’ll do it and I gave her a smile and she returned one back.

That evening I found a torn card on the ground. I joined the two pieces and it read, “FRIENDSHIP”. I smiled at it and thought to myself, “friendship….hmmmmm….”

Chapter 7: Prom night!

29th April 2000

Carrom Mania was a blast. It was organized by the 6th batch seniors and I joined in at the last moment. I tagged with a guy named Rupak and we reached the semi finals together and lost there. It was a tough challenge as the rules were new and the board was of mid-evil times with a plastic set of coins. But, hey, no complaining there, I was willing to practice my playing for anything. At the end, there was a huge dance party and I, for the first time in my life attended a dance party.

I thought of calling it my first prom night but I guess it would have been useless since neither I nor my friends had dates!

However, all the girls of the class were invited and at around 10:30 pm, the dance floor started to heat up.

The interns started dancing and my friends started to join in. I hid behind several of those people who were too shy to perform. For one thing, I was interested in dancing, but my mind was set on finding “her”. I was constantly searching until I found her dancing with her friends.
My heart flattered at the very sight. I let one of the guys pull me in and I joined the crazy floor where everyone was moving and shaking it.

I slowly edged towards her. She looked really pretty in the pink and white top with blue jeans. I have seen her dance before and wasn’t surprised at how flexible she was.
I was dancing close by and one of my friends pushed me towards her. I bumped into her and she stumbled but kept on dancing.

I didn’t give a damn either and kept on dancing. It was one of the most memorable nights. I was having the time of my life. I was shocked when the DJ announced it was 1:30 am in the morning. The girl’s bus came and they left.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

After they left, I was sitting outside with some of my friends and went inside to get some water.
When I came out, she was standing outside looking at the pouring rain. I asked her what happened and she said that she missed the bus. I asked her whether she wanted to walk. She said she was afraid of the dark.., “Then hold my hand”…I welcomed her and she took it.

We walked the dark roads in the rain. I held her close. The empty silence meant something. It is said that love is a silent language spoken between two hearts.

Suddenly, there was dang-dung and the beautiful picture shattered…I woke up with a start and realized it was just a dream!!!!!

Virtual Conscience: I tricked the devil to become a doctor!

“I was in real need of a doctor. Rolling the dot pen in my right, I sat with a clip board in my left, just like all the other patients in the long queue, waiting for my turn. Literally speaking, I had no symptoms of a disease affecting my physical well-being, but rather a half disturbed mind, mental poisoning to be accurate. The fear of being kicked out if I don’t get a decent digging out of “this” doctor for my press was overwhelming.

Time passed like a two-toed sloth trying to digest its yesterday’s meal. My palms were getting sweaty and my little brain was taking every ounce of pressure I put on it by mustering all the negative energy I got, picturing every worst case scenario that may happen if anything went wrong today. It was my last shot and failure was not an option!

About half an hour later, the long line of patients seemed to become less in number. It felt like the doctor knew I was here and he was rushing with the check-ups. As the path to my goal got shorter and shorter, I had half a mind of throwing up, or maybe run away and get directly admitted in the mental asylum. The electronic monitor flashed 619 in red and I looked at the piece of paper in my hand. Yup, it was my turn. I slowly stood up, shifted my specs on my nose straightened my tie and entered for my check-up.

I was quiet surprised to notice that this doctors room was very different from the ones I have seen previously. There were microscopes and little beakers with different colors of liquids oozing gas bubbles. He was sitting in a comfy chair with a half expressed smile on his face which gave me an idea that he knew why I was here. The place gave me the haunting of a mad scientists lab, but I proceeded with the professionalism in me at full. “Hello sir, may I please…” I was half completed with my sentence when he cut across, “Have a seat, your face tells me you’re not sick and your Id says you’re a news reporter. Would you like a cup of tea while I help you or should I say, while you help yourself?” OK, that was completely out of the blue, a more than friendly welcome with flawlessly arranged words, I was getting a bad feeling he could read minds!!!

So I proceeded, did as I was told and explained to him my purpose of the visit and with his permission started the interview. For a few seconds, he was answering quiet normally, but the air in the room took a turn when I asked him, “So, how did you become a doctor?”…There was a smile on his face I could not describe, his eyes narrowed and brows flying off his forehead, “Why don’t you switch off the little recorder in your left pocket and I’ll tell you a secret. I hope you’re not a spy from the government trying to bring me down because I have no intention of getting involved in politics…” his smile broadened…

How did he know? I was caught by surprise as my body responded to his words as if strings were attached to my body which he was controlling from his mind! Whether I was in control or not, I didn’t know but my body did what I was told to do. He smiled again… “Do you know my young friend? Health is not just a word you toss around with those boneless tongues of yours; it is majestic in its way and should be said with respect! It has many dimensions. I for one, happen to be a strong believer of the spiritual dimension. I believe in god and the existence of Lucifer, as there is no darkness without light and no evil without good. When I was sent away on to become a doctor, I was captivated by deep sorrow and my deepest desire, freedom. I was a pure soul, thrown into a world created by Lucifer’s followers, to be tested by god. Lucifer was waiting for me in the shadows. He was clever with his plans. I was falling into every trap he ever laid and slowly my soul became tainted with the blood of ebony.

One rainy night, I had a dream…In the silence of total emptiness; there was a flow of energy, one of a demon and that of an angel. They were pressing against a smaller body, a soul asking for directions, trying to win it over. I don’t remember what exactly happened but when I woke up I was sweating. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a silvery shadow cast by the hollow moon which smiled at me and disappeared in the blink of an eye. I knew what I had to do…

The days went by and I completed my MBBS program and came home. You must be wondering how my soul would have been then. Let me tell you one thing, it was half tainted by the darkness but it could not progress further. You see I tricked the devil and became a doctor.

Later, after one year passed, before I went for a MD in Pediatrics, I was visited by the same silvery thing. Call it my imagination, call it hallucination or call it the fallen angel, I don’t care, because when it disappeared my heart was set for a spirit walk. I started my journey towards the holiest of places on earth with a silent prayer from my silhouette, “Dear god, I know I don’t’ deserve this name, but if I truly am the slave of god, please wash away my sins and make me worth of being addressed by that name…”

It has been 15 years since then, and although I may have changed a bit physically, but within me the young slave still dwells, seeking knowledge and bombarding every little plan of Lucifer. In front of me, Lucifer is now a kid with a tail and horns, which can neither, walk nor talk…someone who has been defeated. My goal now is to educate young minds and warn them about Lucifer. I can only guide, I can’t force change…”

I was thunderstruck with the story, the papers in my clipboard were blank and the only thing I could do was stare at the doctor, blankly. I thanked him, got up and left. I threw the clipboard, pen and my ID in the nearest bin and headed home. It was time for a change, time for my spirit journey to begin…”

At this point there was a loud snore from my room partner and I woke up. I was sweating too. A mystical glow was shining onto my pillow by the rising sun…I was confused about what I saw. There was one thought in my mind…I never saw the face of neither the doctor nor the reporter. If it was the future, who was I? The doctor or the reporter…?