A LONG WAIT…a short story

But to my astonishment, all of a sudden some four or five small boys, who held glue-sniffing pouches in their hands, surrounded me and forced me to give them money. I shouted at them and threatened them to run away or get a nice beating from me.

Photo credit: A Kumar

By SAJJAN PRASAI

It was Saturday and I was at my friend’s home at Ram Bazaar. We studied together for some time after then we went to a restaurant to have lunch. The restaurant was not very far from my friend’s house. We sat on the balcony of the restaurant and gave orders for lunch. Very soon, a delicious Nepali meal was served and we began eating immediately.

In the meantime, I saw a boy huddled in a corner of the street, he severed with cold. I felt it odd because the day was hot and why this boy was severing in cold. My friend asked me to ignore but I could not resist myself.

I reached to him and when I touched the boy his whole body was burning like a fire. Without further delay, I took him to a nearby clinic and showed him to a doctor. He received two bottles of glucose water, one injection and after some time he felt much better. Surprisingly he recovered very soon and wanted to go to his sister’s house at Bhendi farm. I wanted to drop him but he refused.     

From the clinic, I headed to my apartment at upper Deep. The bus left me nearby my house. I walked to my apartment. My friends immediately noticed the happiness on my face. They asked me why I was so happy. I had no answer for them but I just smiled back at my friends. For the first time, I had realized how much happiness we get when we do something good for others.   

I had my lunch and went to American Corner Library. I regularly visit this library in Pokhara. I read whatever interests me. I grabbed a novel ‘Invisible Man’. I began reading the novel. It was full of thrill, suspense, and adventure. I read the novel until 3pm. It was time to close the library. I wanted to read the whole novel, that’s why I borrowed the novel and walked out of the library.

The next day in the morning, I had my lunch and decided to go to a lonely place to read the novel. I chose Begnas lake to stay there up to 5pm and read the novel.

I got down at the Begnas chowk. From there I had to get another bus to Begnas lake. I did not have to wait for more as the bus was available within 10 minutes. I sat in the front seat of the bus because from there I could have a nice view of green, paddy fields sprawled in a wide area.

“Hi Sajjan, how are you?”  I heard someone call from my backseat. I was surprised because I did not expect anyone would call me in Begnas…I did not know anyone in Begnas.

Oh, what a pleasant surprise for me! He was my college friend, Dipak Ojha. No doubt, he is my best friend. We immediately got into spicy talks.

“Why are you here in Begnas?” asked my friend. “Actually just yesterday I did borrow a novel from the library and I was looking for a peaceful place to read it. I want to finish this novel in a single reading”, said I.

“I know your habit. You are a speed-reader. Look at me, my friend. I also began taking interest in reading novels and their credit goes to you. When I saw you all the time reading books that encouraged me to read books and you see nowadays I also read books regularly”, said my friend with a big smile across his face.

“I am glad that my reading habit could inspire you. Actually, reading leaves a profound impact on the human brain. Science has already proved this phenomenon. Watching TV makes us dull because the brain’s cognitive skills become inactive while watching TV. Moreover, reading makes us knowledgeable, gentle and thoughtful”, I explained.

We could talk more but the conductor of the bus asked us to get down because the bus had already reached its destination, Begnas Lake.

My friend was a local resident of Begnas Lake. He wanted to take me to his house but I refused because my real intention of going to Begnas Lake was reading the novel not to spend time with a friend. I had not planned to spend my time with a friend. It is because I always act according to my ‘Time Management Planning’. I always act according to my TMP (Time Management Planning).

My friend had made many frantic efforts to take me to his house but soon he gave up because he knew my habit, I never go against my TMP.

We parted our ways from Begnas Lake. For some time I looked at my friend going his way after then I began walking briskly. I wanted to go a little inside the woods so that no one should disturb my reading.

I read and read the novel nonstop until five o’clock. It was ten minutes past five and I finished the last chapter of my novel.

I walked up to the main bazaar of Begnas Lake and there I had little snacks. I ate fish curry with beaten rice and a cup of hot tea. The food gave me enough energy. I felt revitalized and refreshed. I was walking on the way to the Begnas Lake Bus Park, it was at the stone throw away distance.

But to my astonishment, all of a sudden some four or five small boys, who held glue-sniffing pouches in their hands, surrounded me and forced me to give them money. I shouted at them and threatened them to run away or get a nice beating from me.

My threats did not work on those rowdy boys. They were still there and continuously pestering me. I then took out my mobile and dialed 100 to get help from the police. The boys immediately run away as soon as they saw I was contacting the police.

I saw they were laughing at me and some of them even showed middle fingers to me. I did not react because I was happy I got rid of them. I took my seat on the bus and threw myself in the seat as   I was a bit exhausted.

At Amar Singh Chowk, the bus conductor approached me and asked for bus fare. I wanted to take out my wallet but it was not in my back pocket. I looked in my bag it was not there as well. The conductor thought I was just acting like losing my wallet. “No money, no travel”, he said and got me out of the bus at Amar Singh chowk.

I was at a loss as to what to do. I did not know anyone around Amar Singh chowk. In the meantime, someone said to me “Namaste Dai”. I turned my face back and I saw he was the same boy whom I had taken to a clinic for treatment.

“Hey, how are you? And what are you doing here?” I asked him at once.

“This is my area I roam around here and look for some odd jobs”, he said. When he asked me what I was doing there then I told him my story. I was already getting late in the evening and it was not possible for me to get any bus…taxi was the only way to go to upper Deep. It would cost about Rs.300 by taxi. But my pocket was empty.

I was all set to walk on my foot to upper Deep, which was about 4 to 5km away from Amar Singh Chowk.

But! What is this? To my surprise, the boy put his hand in his pocket and gave me a five hundred rupees note.

“Dai, take this money. Today I had earned it by selling three full bags of rags. This time you need this money than I need. Please take it and go home”, said the boy with a big smile on his face.

I was speechless. I did not want to take the money but my condition was as such that I could not say no. I took the money from his hand and I hugged him with both of my hands.

“Thank you very much for your help. Tomorrow I will come to this place in the afternoon and give your money back”, said I.

The boy nodded in affirmation and went away with his friends. I could not believe in the generosity of the boy.

The next day, I reached Amar Singh Chowk, looked around, and waited for him for about two hours, but he was nowhere to be seen. I asked his friends but even his friends were clueless about his whereabouts.

It has already been two years whenever I pass by Amar Singh chowk, my prying eyes always look for him…I am still waiting for him because I owe him five hundred rupees.     

About the author

Sajjan Prasai has completed his +2 education from Prativa Secondary School, Pokhara. He is preparing for IELTS and SAT at Miracle Institute. His plan is to hold a degree from the US. 

Apart from the college education, Sajjan has an interest in acting and reading books. He wants to give continuity to his acting career. During his leisure time, he reads fiction and non-fiction and loves to write short stories. 

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