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…?

Chapter 6: Heart beats!

13th April 2000

Today was the last day before summer vacation. I had half a mind to go to class but one of my friends, Bishal Acharya asked me to sit out the class until it was over. So I thought why not…let’s just do it…

It was a long and boring day until the lunch break. Just after lunch, I planned on bunking class and Bishal Acharya made me sit glued to my seat.

It was Nair sirs Health promotion class and as usual, without steaming our mind, we just had to switch on the gas in our hands.

Within 30 minutes we finished writing everything and he still didn’t let us leave. Suddenly he said, “Who will sing a song of farewell?” I was laying my head on the desk when the few guys present in the class started screaming my name!

“Ok boy, come up here and sing us a song”. I hesitated just for minute and I stood up with a smile. I knew exactly what to do.

I was handed the microphone when I reached up the stage. I took a deep breath and…

“Ok, so it has been almost 3 months since I’ve been in Nepal and it has been great. This song was taught to me by Bishal Acharya and it goes like this…Eklo jeevan ma kewal saath khojathey…”
Immediately everyone started clapping and all the girls joined in and sang along. For a fraction of a second, I noticed the beautiful smile of the “other” girl along with the smile from my “Bauju”.
I couldn’t take off my eyes from the girls as I was constantly searching for her until…there she was…

There were sparkles all around her as she looked at me from the last bench. She was shy and tried hiding behind her friend. Her smile…it mesmerized my heart…its rhythm changed and it started beating in a new direction!

Chapter 5: Gawking Gala!

15th March 2000

It’s been a long time since then, but the story still continues. The letter was of no use I guess. I mean there was no response and as time passed, everything went back to normal. I sit in my bench and do my thing and she sits in her bench and does her thing.

However, after the first internal exams (which I passed with flying colors and she failed), I noticed something. I’m a guy who has good eyesight plus hearing (thank god for that), so I usually sit in the back benches.

The thought might have occurred to you that she also moved to the back benches. Well, you’re damn right! What was funny is that, me and her, although we sit at opposite benches, we always sit at the same seat! Sometimes both of us would sit at the edge of the benches and I notice her watching me…and I guess she pretty much noticed it when I just stared at her for at least half an hour during Biochemistry class! The mere gap of feet separated us, but somehow, I think our hearts were connected…

Awaiting your return…

The rain came, knocked on my window
My gray eyes, filled with sorrow
The pain felt, were tears on my pillow
My lonely soul, it feels so hollow

I was searching for a reason in my mind
I don’t get it, why’d you leave me behind
I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, maybe I was blind
Tell me, what was it, you were trying to find?

The aching wound, it’s not so shallow
Our crazy past, leaning on my shadow
It’s really hard, hard to even swallow
Tell me why, what made us wallow?

This little reason I’m trying to find
It’s trying hard, trying to escape my mind
But this time around, I’m not so blind
Sorry, I won’t let you leave me behind

Don’t die on me, my dear friend fellow
I’m waiting for you, just by my window
I’m right here, clinging on to hope so shallow
Come back soon, to take away this sorrow

Welcome back to the riverside...

I couldn’t take the heat of Bhairahawa anymore, so I decided to hit the green hill paradise of Nepal, Pokhara. After a seven hour long journey with one of my friends, Sandy, I was welcomed to their home by Don and Homy. The whole week I spent here was great. If I untie the bag of stories I have from here, it won’t finish till next summer vacation. So let’s cut it short.

Fewa taal.

This is the area where I stayed with Don in his house. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Pokhara and we did boating here a couple of times. After my arrival, I was shortly joined by PP and Dilipo-Filipo. We did boating the whole afternoon, shooting photos and enjoying several snacks throughout.

Power house.

This is not exactly a tourist attraction, but it is a beautiful place to spend some private time. We were showered by the rain half way there, making everything around us as green as ever. We took shelter in a small hut where me and the guys enjoyed a little rain dance.

Davis falls.

I was fortunate to visit this place as I didn’t get a chance to visit this place last time. This time we were accompanied by a crowd of ten and Don was the tour guide. The place was named after the person who fell into the falls…myth or truth, I don’t know. There was a little wishing well at the exit. Although I didn’t believe in that stuff, I flipped a coin just for luck.

Forestry campus.The forestry campus is one place where you can see the “white” river of Pokhara plus, where you find some interesting wildlife. I went there to meet my best friend’s brother, Vivek. It was nice meeting him after a long time and he gave me some post cards.

Manipal Medical College.

The only place where other Maldivians were rumoured to be studying in Nepal was this place. We met our old Biochemistry teacher, who gave us a tour of the place. It was humungus and had better facilities than our own college. What it didn't have was students who respected their teachers and hot girls!

Apart from visiting all these cool places, we played basket ball every evening. We also saw a movie in the theatre, Kites, which I didn’t find that interesting or that boring. I also had diarrhoea for a day and enjoyed a night at the rooftop at my Homy’s place looking at the mountain tops gleaming in silver in the moonlight.

And now, I’m back in Bhairahawa again, and like someone said, time to become a nerd again!

Alone in hell...

After the guys left, I was one of the three seniors staying in the hostel apart from the juniors. I had huge plans for the remaining 14 days. So I started off with cleaning my room. Boy that was hard work. I upturned all the beds and pulled away the cupboards while cursing the worker who cleans the room. It was so dirty! I sprayed all the little bugs and chased a little mouse out of the room that had made his home inside my room partner’s old shoes. I finished cleaning in 3 hours and took a shower. It was almost 3 in the afternoon and the sun was scorching hot.

The temperature was around 45 degrees and I felt drained. I settled on my bed and immediately fell asleep. When I walk up, I was drenched in sweat. It was around 7 in the evening and yet there was no light and no change in the temperature. The heat added to my boiling temper.

The same night, around 12 midnight, a “helicopter” entered my room and I had to search for him for an hour before I could sleep again. (Helicopter is the name I gave to a big beetle that represents a dung beetle but is in golden yellow color. He’s extremely noisy and loves crawling under dark places which are extremely narrow.)The horrible one day alone in the hostel changed my mind and I had a change of plans…I headed towards Pokhara.