Fight In The Hostel

“Its 7:00 pm here in Dheradun, india. And at this time the chowk (a mini town) is full of live. The shop owners are happiest for the shop runs best at this hour. Students of our college who are the majority customers will be seen around, some talking to friends while others will be busy buying their needs. This tiny place would look like a fish market with much noise and crowd.

But this evening as I went to chowk nobody could be seen. The shopkeepers had started closing their shops. The street was silent and empty. It was as if the whole of human race residing there was suddenly shifted to somewhere else or has suddenly disappeared. A hollow and empty feeling engulfed me. Only then I realized the power of examination. Tomorrow we have exams and I sensed that examination can keep even the most outdoor person in……….”

I had been on my bed and was writing the above lines when it was almost 7:45 pm. I was inspired to write more but I heard a crowd shouting outside our hostel. “What’s happening outside?” I asked my roommate. “Nothing, the usual thing: seniors shouting outside.” He said. But the noise wasn’t subsiding. Something wrong was surely going outside. I unlatched the door and we went outside. All our fellow hostellers were standing by the balcony and before I could figure out what was happening, I saw a guy getting melding of kicks and punches from the angry mob of local people. There were almost twenty five people beating the guy.  Then I realized that I was witnessing something known as ‘public dhulai’ for the first time in my life.

After a minute or so of public dhulai, a senior guy stopped the fight and the victim escaped with his head bleeding. Immediately ambulance was called for help. Only then I saw the face of the victim and he was one of my friends doing B.sc Agriculture. I was more worried because the next day he had university exams.

I was horrified realizing what had just happened. I was standing and I could not move my legs to walk. My whole body froze. I was shivering. My body had become cold.

I also had exams the next day but I could not study thereafter. After the dinner I tried to sleep but I couldn’t.  Even after being under thick blanket for hours my legs never became warm. I felt insecure even in hostel. I couldn’t understand what had happened. Series of questions invaded my mind. What if I accidently do something and I also get beaten. What if something happens here?

I just want to go home. I just want to go back to Bhutan.

Country Road, Take Me There

country road, take me there.

The house in the above photo is situated on the way to Punakha Dzong from Khuruthang. And that is where we stay. The photo was shot months ago when we went to play by the river side. Back then that was just a photograph for me but now it has found a place in me for now all I long is to be there.

It has been my wall paper for long now and when I stare at it, million things pass my mind. I am reminded of how my cousins residing in Khuruthang used to come over to our place for a get-together. We used to gather in our living room and it would soon be filled with laughter over my father’s jokes. My father is a kind of person who doesn’t crack much joke but when he does you would roll over the floor, unable to control the laughter. We would prepare a sumptuous dinner and sit in the living room to eat and share our stories. Most times it was only after midnight that they would leave for we would be so engrossed in our talks that keeping track of time was lame. Last summer when it was almost time for me to leave for college, we insisted them to spend the night at our place when they had come for dinner. After much persuasion they agreed and as expected no body slept until three in the morning. Instead in the dead midnight when it was too hot inside, my cousins and I crept silently out of the house to talk a walk on the road below. That night we were insanely running like ghost in the empty and silent road.

When I look at the above photo I see myself coming from the market and parking our car in the shade of the tree by the side of the road. I see myself going to drop my brothers to school and picking up my dad from the office in the evening. I see myself playing guitar outside in balcony. I see myself discussing with my mom over whose turn it is to do the dishes. And I see myself doing lot other things.

Although I am not a Christian, but if Santa Claus decides to gift me this Christmas I would sincerely ask him to take me home.  

PS: After you read this and you happen to go to Punakha, don’t miss to take a look the house on my behalf for there is where my heart lies.

National Day Was Celebrated On 28th Of November

The national day celebration by the Bhutanese students studying here in Dheradun was held on 28^th November, since on December 17^th, many students have their exams. Also the farewell for the graduating students was also coincided with it. That afternoon I along with seniors went to a town called Prem Nagar where a hall was decorated with banners of our national flag. One by one students studying at different colleges in Dheradun arrived in the early evening of that day even though everyone was requested to gather at 2pm. And this particular fact amused me for where ever we go we will always be Bhutanese and we will always follow ‘Bhutan Stretchable Time’ and India is not too far from Bhutan to not follow the Bhutanese timing.

The celebration started with singing of our national anthem. And I must tell you that when you are in a foreign land, singing ones national anthem feels different from how it feels to sing in your own soil. It feels different and I do not have words in me to describe the feeling. After the anthem was over, many volunteered to sing their hearts out, some for the country, some for the outgoing students and others for their loved ones. Small gifts were also presented to the graduating students which the emcee called ‘token of love’ from their juniors. And after that a grand and sumptuous dinner was served.

Right after dinner the emcee announced that a DJ is around and everyone should join the floor to dance. Well I had been sitting at the corner trying not to dance until one of our female friends dragged me to the dance floor. Needless to say, in the dim lights, for the first time I danced like no one is watching me. We danced wild until our stomach started hurting and I must admit that I enjoyed more than anyone would have enjoyed that night. Only then I understood why people go to night clubs.

The celebration-turned-party ended at around ten at night and outside buses were waiting for us to drop us back to hostel. We all exchanged hugs and good wishes and we all departed with smiles in our heart. Thank you BSA for making a homely air and of course for the smiles.

Land Is New and So Are People

It was late in the evening when I was comfortably sitting on my bed when John Denver was going ‘country road, take me home, to the place, I belong……’ on my laptop. Listening to this song my mind was on the verge of reaching home but a friend of mine from adjacent room who is doing Bsc Agriculture came in to share me his good news. “Man, our date sheet for examination is out. By December 25^th, I will be home.” He said with much happiness and anticipation. He had a broad smile and his eyes blinked with excitement. “When are you going home?”  He asked me. And that very question hit me hard. For the past few days I had been trying not to think about that question. Sometimes in life there are certain things that you will never get and you should not be too adamant and wait for it. In fact you should learn that some things are never meant for you so one needs to build up enough courage to let things go and move on. This I personally learned.

I just smiled and said I was not planning to go home. He told me about his plans to go home and he left the room.

Then I was left all alone in my room again. I leaned my back on the wall and realized how ridiculous time is. Just few months ago I was in the cocoon of my parental love and family. It seemed perfect and lived a carefree life full of smiles and blissfulness. And within days, time carried me to a foreign land of strangers, new faces, new friends and a completely new land with diverse religion and traditions. Never had I thought it would be hard to make one comfortable in a new soil.

But who am I again to brood and fret about this for after few years I would be floating back in my thoughts as to how I worked out make myself comfortable in a foreign land.

Blissful Moments Never Lasts Long

She would often call me and ask me to come “here”. And when asked why, she would simply say, “to meet me.” And then I would go to capital for there I would be in a different realm. She had completed her board exams and had all the time in the world to spend it doing things she loved. And I was not different. But now I have nothing to do, but to sit in this empty room and look back at the times we had spent.

We would sit beside the heater till late night to warm ourselves and talk endlessly. We would talk about our school, friends and the funny moments we had at school. I would tell her about my new friends and how we would plan not to attend the extra classes. And then she would nod and add that extra classes were nerve wrecking to her as well. And then we would laugh together. Whenever she recommended a good movie to me, I would tell her I watched it and it was awful and she would roll her eyes. I would tell her how excited I was to go to college and she would say so she was.

And oh how I miss the evening walks. We would go for walk around the memorial chorten. And other times we would walk till the Dzong. Those times were too blissful and unhealthy emotions and thoughts would never invade me. I would tell her that I would miss all those moments later when I moved away for college but she would tell me not to be bothered, rather than brooding and fretting I should enjoy the present moment and live in it. She made sense.

And after having spent such moments how wouldn’t I miss her. But I am grateful to the founders of skype for because of them I get to see her even from miles away.

Dear sister, I miss all the time I spent with you. Hope to meet you soon. J   

Dearest Dad

Dearest dad,

I remember you buying me a small toy like bicycle on which you would make me sit and you would push for then my legs were short, even to reach the pedal. It was a pink one with a tire in the front and two at the back. I grew but the cycle didn’t. My legs grew much longer than the pedal and you sensed the need of a new bigger one with only two tires this time. The new bicycle wasn’t my thing for I couldn’t balance it on the road. Then every evening we went for cycling where you would be holding its rear as I rode it. That was how I learned to balance the cycle on road. Even if you didn’t know how to ride a bicycle, you made sure your son knows how to.

I had once failed in fifth grade. I was going unconscious thinking how would I even face you but you didn’t scold me that evening. You taught me failing is a part of life and so are mistakes and one is to learn from it and never repeat it. Later when I was in my primary school, when other friends had just known that computers exist, you had bought one for us. You did not have much knowledge on computers but you made sure your sons have. You knew its importance in my life in future.

As I entered high school, you taught me how to drive. Every weekend you would take me to a ground and let me drive. Slowly you taught me how to drive on road. You taught me that when I knew how to drive I should also know how to be responsible. And even before I completed my high school I had my driving license. After high school you made it sure I have the best college education and I have a prosperous life later so you send me to this college.

I realized that you have given me everything. You sacrificed your happiness to create mine. You worked hard to meet all my needs. Even now, with your average source you sent me to study a course of my choice here in India.

Dad I know you heard of the recent suicide case of a Bhutanese student in India and that disturbed your peace of mind. Suddenly you were worried and your mind went into asking being away from family and friends what if my son also…… but dad I want to tell you that I have your values in me and you have done a million things for me and it would be very selfish to end my life and bring misery in your life. It would be the most painful thing for you to see a lifeless body of mine. After having given me all the happiness in the world how would I even dare think of inflicting pain and make you suffer further. Dad I want you to peacefully go to sleep because I would never ever in any point of life and circumstances end my own life. Never! And this is a promise I keep and everything in this world is fragile enough to be broken but this promise.

With much love

your son

Dear Nanu

Dear Nanu,

I always felt sad when people asked me if I have sisters for I always had to say no. The fact that I don’t have sisters bothered me much. It pained me. But since the past year all of my sadness has drained away and all of my pain has subsided. I feel light and happy for I have sister now. We are three in brothers with three sisters and a youngest naughty brother. We are a complete family now. I praise haven for he has given me the most beautiful sisters in the world. I feel all the comfort in the world to discuss my secrets with you all. And that in fact is a blessing for me. Being with you all now I know the sisterly love and how lovely sisters are. Thank you for always being there for me.

And how absurd it would be to forget the birthday of such beautiful sister? How would I even do that? So I whole heartedly wish you a very happy birthday and pray for your prosperity and your success. May you shine all through sun and rain.

With love

from dheradun

P.S: Also it is the birthday of my father and the father of our nation and I pray for their long live.