From being best friends of 13 years to being total strangers in each other’s life. This is a short story about Paxton and Maya. They were best friends for more than 13 years, were very close with each other and shared everything with each other. They would share every little thing with each other, things that are very close to us too. They were always there for each other, from helping each other even if it was midnight, they would sit there talking to each other or helping each other.

Soon they realized that they liked each other. Paxton confessed to Maya and soon they were both in a relationship. Paxton hated lies, everyone does but he extremely hated it. One day Maya lied to Paxton knowing that he hated it. It was not a small lie Maya told Paxton that her grandmother had stage three cancer and would not live. Reading this, people might think that it was Maya’s life. Why did Paxton even care? But lying about someone’s death would make anyone mad. Paxton figured it out through Maya’s friend and confronted Maya about it. When he confessed to her, she suddenly vanished. Paxton started worrying about Maya. Even if Paxton was mad at Maya he didn't want things to end. He still loved and cared about her. Maya came back after a week and talked about how he felt about him confessing to her and blaming him. Paxton was trying to fix things with her and Maya told him that she would never be able to see him the same way as how she used to but told him that she would try to make it as normal as before. And both of them decided to meet together in a park and sort things out but when they met it was all awkward between them and didn’t talk at all. And they went together without sorting out anything at all. But in the end, before leaving Maya made Paxton promise that he would not text her and she would text him but she never did. She was gone from her life completely and the bond they had was gone. Paxton started getting depressed and started smoking and taking drugs. He started getting happiness through it. Paxton wrote a letter for Maya to apologize for his mistakes and wanted to give it to him but didn’t know-how. Maya also had one other best friend named Riya but Maya never shared the same bond with her as she did with Paxton. Maya’s best friend Riya also didn’t know about her relationship with Paxton but knew they were best friends. So Paxton decided to talk to Riya about everything but he did not mention their relationship and they decided to go meet her. Paxton was hiding where Maya couldn’t see her but Paxton could see Maya. While Riya and Maya caught up Riya asked about Paxton and Maya said “ Please don’t talk about him in front of him. I don’t want to hear his name. I don’t care about his existence.” Hearing this Paxton was completely heartbroken. Right after saying that Maya saw Paxton and she was completely shocked and ran back home. Paxton returned home. He was struggling but in the end, he moved on slowly but surely he did but it took him years for him to truly move on. One day Paxton got his acceptance letter to a university abroad. He went to continue his studies there and was the happiest again. Whereas Maya moved on easily and found a new boyfriend. 

Paxton now believed in the old saying “Best friends are always meant to be friends.” Now she was just a chapter in his life that had a great beginning but the worst ending in his life.

हामी सबैलाई थाहा छ कि अहिले विश्वमा के भइरहेकाे छ ? एकछिन यता पनि है त, अहिले प्राणीहरूकाे वासस्थान रहेको ठाउँ (पृथ्वी) बेवास्ता गरिएको ठाउँ हाे । हामी आफ्नै संसारमा धेरै व्यस्त छौँ । हामी पूर्णतया बिर्सन्छौँ कि हामी बाँचिरहेकाे वास्तविक संसारमा के भइरहेको छ । के हामीलाई थाहा छ; अहिले के भइरहेको छ ?  हामी भन्न सक्छौँ, के चाहिँ  हुन सक्ला  ? हामी जवाफ दिँदा अक्क न बक्क भई बसिदिन्छाैँ । जवाफ दिनेहरूले नै पनि सजिलै भनिदेलान् आफूले देखे भाेगेकाे कुरा । अरू समस्या छाडेर युद्ध र महँगाइ पनि भन्न सक्छन् । तर के यही र यति मात्र भएको हाे ? वास्तवमा भइरहेको के हाे ?

विश्वमा युद्धको वर्तमान अवस्थाको गहिराइमा जाँदा सानो झगडालाई पनि युद्ध मानिन्छ । मध्यपूर्वी देशहरू, युरोपेली देशहरू र अन्य धेरै देशहरू अहिले युद्धको सामना गरिरहेका छन् । जसले प्रत्येक देशमा ठुलो मात्रामा आर्थिक नोक्सान पुर्‍याएको छ। आर्थिक समस्याकै कुरा गर्दा आर्थिक मन्दीबाट गुज्रिरहेको नेपालको वर्तमान अवस्था पनि हामीलाई थाहा नै छ । नेपाल सरकार र आम नेपाली जनताले आर्थिक सङ्कटकाे सामना गर्नुपरेकै छ  । नेपाली जनताहरू उच्च मूल्यवृद्धिको सामना गर्न नसक्ने अवस्थामा पुगिसकेका छन् । देशमा आयात बढ्दै जानु, निर्यात कम हुनु, सबै सामान विदेशबाट भित्रिँदा नेपालकाे व्यापार घाटा बढ्दै गइरहेकाे छ । कमाइकाे तुलनामा खर्च बढी भइरहेकाे छ । यो सबैका लागि चिन्ताकाे विषय हाे ।  नेपाल र नेपाली मात्र नभएर विश्वका अन्य धेरै देशहरूसमेत आर्थिक सङ्कटको सामना गरिरहेका छन् । सबैका आफ्नै पीडा र व्यथा छन् । 

मौसम परिवर्तन ?

पृथ्वीको तापक्रम छिटो छिटाे परिवर्तन हुँदै गइरहेकाे हामी सबैलाई थाहा छ । अहिले हामी कुन युगबाट कुन युगससम्म आइपुगेका छौँ भन्ने कुरा अनुभव गर्दा नै निकै गर्व हुन्छ । त्यसैले विज्ञानको यस्तो युगमा आइपुग्दा मौसममा यति धेरै  परिवर्तन हुँदै गएकाे थाहा पाउँदा पनि केही गर्न नखोज्ने हामी मानव जाति कस्ता हाैँ  ?   यसतर्फ कसले र कहिले ध्यान दिने  ? अब हामीले याे साेच्ने बेला भएकाे छ । हाम्राे सानो सानो प्रयासले नै सबै कुराहरू ठुला र सम्भव बनाउन सक्छाैँ । हाम्राे साेचाइ र गराइकाे कमीले मात्र सम्भव कुरालाई पनि असम्भव देखिएकाे हाे । यो विज्ञान र प्रविधिको युग हो । यस युगमा हामीले चाहेकाे कुरा पूरा गर्न सक्छाैँ । मात्र इच्छाशक्तिकाे खाँचाे छ ।  

The urge for acknowledgement is something every single person has. Whether it is a shopkeeper or a web developer. Although the urge to get acknowledged is common, I am really unable to overcome this wish. 

An astonishing thing for me was that I found out that I could sing only a few months ago. Even though I knew my throat wasn’t in good shape, I sang at all times and to be honest, I was terrible. Well, I am really fascinated with music and anything related to it. Even though I do repeatedly listen to pop music, I do listen to other genres too. I mean the only thing that I just can’t bear is rap music. There’s a good reason for it. I don’t hate rap, it's just that the beat of the music and the beat of the heartbeat synchronize and so I don’t feel well at those times. Music is just something that I refer to as support. May it be for entertainment purpose or emotional purpose. I am also interested in songwriting  and music composing. The main thing I am focusing on is singing as I think I have many flaws that are just too unignorable. Well even though I know I have many flaws I don’t really consider myself a person with a voice not suitable for singing. I think music is an inseparable part of my life as I just don’t have a day without it. If I don’t listen to music someday I just sing it. My life totally depends on how I see it. Even though I’m not bold enough to speak properly in front of people but I can assure anyone that I can sing well, at least  as long as  I'm not shy. Also I’m thankful to my school for hosting an Open Mic Session for people such as me to get an opportunity to perform and get an opportunity to know yourself. I am so excited to see how the programme ends. I am looking forward to attending open mic programme. As someone who wants to be a musician, I look forward to any opportunities that I see to sing. No matter what situation I am in, I am always ready to sing. Well sadly I mess up every time I’m recording so I can’t do what I normally would while recording. You probably can call it anxiety or nervousness.  The only thing that I regret is not knowing how to play instruments well.  The only thing I want to do right now is learn, Learn piano  and Guitar chords. 

Well I just know a few chords so I’m not good at it but I am ready to learn every time I get a chance.  My future journey is yet to start and I am still  preparing for it and even though I know I’ll have to be patient I can’t wait.

पृथ्वी जस्तो सुन्दर ग्रहमा बस्ने हामी जीवहरू भाग्यमानी छौँ । किनकि यस धर्तीले हामीलाई जीवन दिएको छ । हामीलाई घर,परिवार,जीवनको अनुभवलगायतका सम्पूर्ण कुरा दिएको छ । सायद यो ग्रह अहिले नभएको भए हामीले याे जीवन पाउने थिएनौँ । हामी बाँच्न पाउने थिएनौँ । यो धर्ती हामी प्राणीहरूको घर हो तर अहिले हामीले आफ्नै घरलाई सुरक्षा गर्नुकाे साटाे नष्ट  गर्दै गइरहेका छौँ । 

हामी मानवले याे सुन्दर धर्तीलाई अहिलेसम्म धेरै बिगारिसकेका छौँ । हामीले हाम्रो स्वार्थका लागि दिनप्रतिदिन वन जङ्गगलहरू नष्ट गर्दै गइरहेका छौँ । हामीले हाम्रो घर बनाउनका लागि अरूको घरलाई नष्ट  गर्दै छौँ । आखिर हामीसँग आफ्नै घर भए जस्तै जनावरहरूको घर वनजङ्गल हो । हामीले आफूलाई सबैभन्दा बुद्धिमान् प्राणी भन्दै अरू प्राणीहरूको घर बिगार्नु राम्राे हाेइन । मानिस बुद्धिमान् प्राणी भएकाे नाताले अरू प्राणीहरूको रक्षा गर्नुपर्छ । प्रकृतिकाे रक्षा गर्नु  र प्राणीहरूलाई बचाउनु मानिसकाे कर्तव्य  हो । घरविहीन मानिस बाटाेमा बस्दा उसकाे जस्तो अवस्था हुन्छ । वनजङ्गलविनाका जनावरहरूकाे पनि त्यस्तै अवस्था हुन्छ । आफ्नाे घर नभएपछि उनीहरू घरको खोजीमा ठाउँ ठाउँ घुम्न थाल्छन् । मानव बस्तीभित्र पस्छन् । जङ्गली जनावरहरूले मानव बस्तीमा हानि पुर्याउन सक्छन् । मानिसले आफ्नाे सुरक्षाका लागि ती जनावरहरूलाई मार्छन् । मानव प्रजातिकै कारण आहिले धेरै प्राणीहरू विलुप्त हुन पुगेका छन् । 

हामी मानिसहरू धेरै अल्छी छाैँ। हामी आफ्नो फोहोर जता पायो त्यता फालिदिन्छौँ । फालेको फोहोर फेरि टिपेर फाल्नु पर्ने ठाउँमा फाल्दैनौँ । यसले वातावरण प्रदूषित हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा हामी बुझेर पनि नबुझे जस्ताे गर्छाैँ । यस्ता फोहोरहरू कुहिन वा सड्न सयाैँ वर्ष लाग्छ । यस्ताे समस्या धर्तीमा मात्र नभएर नदी समुद्रमा पनि भएकाे पाइन्छ । समुद्रमा यस्तै फाेहाेर बढ्दै जाँदा समुद्रमा बस्ने सामुद्रिक जीवहरूसमेत यसकाे शिकार बन्न पुग्छन् । यसले समग्र जीव र प्राणीमा नकारात्मक असर पर्छ । त्यसैले विवेकशील प्राणी मानवले एकपटक साेच्नुपर्ने बेला आएकाे छ ।

प्लास्टिक र प्लास्टिकजन्य फाेहाेरले वातावरण कुरूप बन्दा मानिस आफैँ कुरूप बन्छ भन्ने कुरा मानिसले बिर्सनु हुँदैन । त्यसैले हामीले अहिलेदेखि नै केही गरेनौँ वा सचेत भएनाैँ भने हामी मानिसकाे अस्तित्वसमेत छिट्टै सङ्कटमा पर्छ । याे कुरा हामीले हाम्रा नयाँ पुस्तालाई पनि बुझाउनुपर्छ । वातावरण संरक्षणमा हामी एकजुट भएर अगाडि बढ्नुपर्छ । 

Harisiddhi jatra is the first mask dance of Nepal and it is also known as 12 barse jatra. As the name suggests it takes place once every 12 years but in different places. It was my first time attending this jatra. This jatra lasted four days and it was conducted by 4 newar castes from Dhulikhel i.e Deuju, Byanju, Makaju and Tusuju. The 1st day is conducted by Deujus’, second day is conducted my Byanjus’, third day is conducted by my caste Makajus’ and the last day is conducted by Tusujus’. There were about 135 or more than 135 Jalanis’ and 3 goddesses. This jatra is celebrated on the second day of Fagu Purnima. 

This jatra is quite different from the other jatras where there are vocal instrumental music and drama but in this jatra there are nothing of that sort. Due to my exams I was not able to attend the first day. This year it began on 17 Chaitra and ended on 20 Chaitra. I went to Dulikhel on 18 Chaitra and stayed a night there. My whole family, (I live in a joint family) we booked a hiace due to the huge number of people, almost about 17 in number. On the 2nd day we went there just to watch the jatra. It was the turn of Byanjus’ and all the people who belong to that caste had gone to puja wearing the same color sari and the men were wearing the same printed t-shirt. It is also called “Jaladeu”. We all enjoyed it a lot. There was mela as well. People were selling all the stuff at such a low rate price. My family and I also went for a picnic at Devithan. After the puja the main thing of the jatra started the goddesses started to dance the dance as well as the music were so much different than the one I had been hearing and seeing. Shortly after the dance, 5 goats and one buffalo was given as a sacrifice. The deuta drank the blood of the sacrificed animals. The jatra was held until 6 pm. I did not return to Kathmandu that day and day after tomorrow was our day to conduct the jatra. My mom went to Harisiddhi to keep the puja and my dad mother and brother went to worship all the goddesses but due to some reasons I was not able to worship the goddess or go to the puja (Jaladeu). After that all the people who belonged to the caste Makaju went in a line to do puja before that they went to Harisiddhi temple to worship as Harisiddhi is our Kuldeuta. The puja nearly took 4 hours to finish and after that we all went to see the dance and after that goats, ducks and other animals were given as sacrifice.

I just found this jatra completely different from other jatras with no use of Dhime. I enjoyed and knew a lot about my hometown and culture and the saddest part is we all have to wait 12 years again to celebrate this jatra. The hype of people in this jatra was the best. All of them are standing in the sun for 3 hours just to worship god and this shows the importance of god and culture. 

फुटबल मेरो सानैदेखि खेल्ने रहर
खेल्छुभन्दा सबै भन्छन्; लेखपढ गर् ।
मेरो चाहना फुटबलका लागि खट्ने
घरमा भन्छन्; छोडिदे सबै स्कुल गएर पढ्ने ।

फुटबल नै हो मेरो ठुलो सपना
सपनालाई मैले बनाउनु छ विपना ।
देशभरि चिनाउनु छ आफ्नो नाम
देखाउनु छ गरेर मेरा लागि ठुलो काम ।

फुटबल नै मेरो जीवनको सार
यसैमा लाग्छ छ  मेरो पहिचान
बन्नु छ साना नानीहरूको प्रेरणा
मनमा राखेकी छु यही धारणा

कोही भन्छन्,
के देखेकी छ्यौ;  फुटबलमा ?
म भन्छु;
“मेरो सपना हो फुटबल
मेरो जीवन हो फुटबल
मेरो रहर हो फुटबल ।”

Inflicting harm upon an animal physically, emotionally or even killing the animal mercilessly can be called animal abuse. Animal abuse can also be called as animal cruelty. There have been many laws made for the protection of animals but we humans have been ignoring it and are still abusing them. Animal abuse is illegal and we can even go to jail for it. Everyone has abused an animal once in their life even if that is a small scolding or physical hurt. Even as I’m speaking right now some animal in some part of the world is being bullied and killed. While we don’t need a specific reason to abuse an animal, the main reason for why a person abuses an animal is because the owner is not capable of taking care of the pet properly and as the owner is not able to fill the pet's necessities. The pets are often locked into cages not given food and water. The main reason why an animal is killed is for clothing and food purposes as for food meat is one of the most eaten food products in the world right now and as for clothing we kill animals for leather, wool, fur and make new clothes out of it and sell it to people. It is really sad to hear that millions of animals are being killed each day and we do not care about it and billions of animals each year. Pollution is also one of the main causes for which an animal is killed because due to pollution the animals get various types of diseases which can transmit from one animal to another animal. We should protect animals instead of abusing them. For example if we see a hurt animal we should take the animal to the vet and give them shelter, food and water. If we neglect animals we won't be able to create a better world in which animals and humans live together. Only pretending to help animals to post in social media is not actual help so we should also stop faking these scenarios as it doesn't help the animal but only you (your ego). If we see someone abusing the animal or killing the animal we should immediately complain that to the police. Over 10 million animals are killed in the US alone each year. Asia is the continent with the most animal abuse and kill rate. The most abused animals in the world are chickens for food purposes. An estimated 50 billion chickens are slaughtered for food every year. If we see animals getting abused then we should help them. We should spread awareness about animal abuse to people. Animal abuse is pretty common because people do not really care about animals. This is very wrong and people should realize it. No matter what happens animal abuse is not an excuse.

We have all been hearing about our economic condition everywhere, be it on media, social media or even our school/college. We also have been hearing false rumors about these too. Even though we might say it doesn't really matter, it somehow does. We should keep up with the information and updates of where we live, right? It’s the country where we live in, so it is really an important job to keep up with what is going right and wrong. It is a responsibility being a citizen to avoid the rumors as well as warn others about the facts about critical subjects going on in the country. 

But it really is confusing in a way because we get to hear everybody's perspective in this scenario. For example; we hear people saying it is going to be fine but at the same time some people say it is going to get big. People are sharing about how they think Nepal is going to reach the situation of Srilanka’s. 

According to the public’s eye, Nepal is definitely moving towards Sri Lanka's situation, while the others believe that it might get better. Although the central bank has stated that Nepal has been showing steady movements in terms of economy, the finance minister has stated that there is no economic crisis. Plus, Nepal Rastra bank said that Nepal's inflation or economy has reached its highest position in the last 67 months. But still following the central bank's report, Nepal is convinced about its economic crisis and the government has made several areas for the improvement of the crisis but it might've turned into a bad thing too as the nepalese started experiencing high price hikes. Also due to the ongoing clash or war between Ukraine and Russia the price of petroleum products has increased too and it is to be bought and sold at a high price. Members of CNI (Confederation of Nepali Industries) have stated that the condition is really not like Sri Lanka so there is no need to worry a lot, the condition is not fine but it is not the worst either. Also keeping in mind that Sri Lanka and Nepal are completely different countries having different histories. 

What more might've been the reason behind the crisis?

First thing that comes to our mind is covid, it restricted a lot of tourism practices in Nepal. It managed to shoo away many factors of the tourism industry with its sudden wave. And of course, the remittance rate. It also has been decreasing quite a lot. 

So is there any hope for change?

Yes there is, because you know the tourism crisis that grew because of covid is starting to get better slowly. Plus officials also say with the use of electricity we can make few changes by using inductions and electrical products. Nepal still has some foreign currency to keep up so there is a chance for hope. And so to decrease or work with the crisis  a little, Nepal has started to avoid the import of luxurious items, which are definitely not so important in daily life but are expensive. Many margin lines of price and import have been made and it has started to be implemented as well. 

गत माघ १६ गतेकाे कुरा हो । म छतमा बसेर बदाम खाइरहेको थिएँ । तलबाट आमाले सन्जोग ! सन्जोग !! भनेर बोलाउनुभयो । म मेरी आमालाई तलतिर हेर्न थालेँ । त्यति नै बेला म छतबाट ३ तला तल खसेँ । केही समयसम्म म होसमै थिएँ । नजिकैबाट थाल खसेको आवाज आयो । आमाले सन्जोग  सन्जोग भन्दै रोइरको अहिलेसम्म याद छ। अनि एकै छिनमा कानमा ट्याङ्ङ्ङ् आवाज आयाे र दृष्टि कालो भयाे । 

केही समयपछि मैले आफूलाई मरुभूमिको बिचमा पाएँ । केही समयपछि टाढाबाट एउटा मोटर बाइकको आवाज आयो । ए फुच्चे ! यता के गरिरहेको ? भन्दै एक जना मानिस मोटर बाइकबाट उत्रियाे । म डराएँ र मैले मेरो नाम भनेँ । त्यसपछि उनले मलाई सहरसम्म पुराइदिए । बाटाेमा जाँदै गर्दा उनले आफ्नाे नाम डा. सुरेश भनेर चिनाए । उनले मलाई गङ्गापुर नामकाे सहरमा छाेडिदिए ।  मोटर बाइकबाट उत्रिएपछि म टोलाएर बसिरहेको देखेर डाक्टर साबले मलाई आफ्नाे घर लिएर गए । डाक्टर साबको घर धेरै नै फोहाेर थियो तर आधुनिक थियो । आत्तिदै म डाक्टरसाबलाई आजको मिति सोधेँ । अनौठो जवाफ आयाे १६ माघ ३००१ ।  मैले डाक्टरसाबलाई मेरो पुरानो जीवनको बारेमा सम्झेँ जति सबै कुरा भनेँ । डाक्टरसाबले मलाई गँजेडी ठानेर झन्डै घरबाट निकाल्न आँटेका थिए तर मेरो आँखाभरि आँसु देखेर डाक्टर साबले मेरो कुरा साँचाे ठाने। डाक्टरसाब उठेर छिटो छिटो अनुसन्धान गर्न थाले। डाक्टरसाबले सोफाको पछाडिबाट एउटा बोतल निकाले। केही समयपछि डाक्टरसाबले रक्सीको नशामा आफ्नो पीडा पाेख्न थाले । डाक्टर सुरेश पहिले धेरै धनी र सफल मान्छे रहेछन् । उनी डाक्टर भएकाे ३ वर्षपछि उनको अस्पताल जलेछ । अस्पतालमा ४० जना मान्छे घाइते भएछन् । ३ जना मानिसकाे मृत्यु भएछ । अनि यो सबै दोष डाक्टरसाबमा थाेपरियाे । उनलाई दिनका दिन मानिसहरूको हेपाइ खान थाले । उनकी श्रीमतीले हेपाइ सामना गर्न नसकेर उनलाई छोडेर गएकी रहिछन् । डाक्टरले आफ्नाे कथा भन्दै गर्दा उनी निदाए ।  

भोलिपल्टदेखि फेरि डाक्टरले अनुसन्धान गर्न थाले । अनुसन्धान गर्दै जाँदा ४ महिनापछि डाक्टरसाबले एउटा पुरानो किताब भेटे । त्यो किताबमा मेरो जस्तै कथा लेखिएको थियो । किताबमा लेखिएअनुसार मैले सुकुम नामकाे पहाडबाट एउटा हिरा लिनुपर्छ भनिएको थियो । डाक्टर साबले पहाड चढ्न भने । डाक्टरसाब र म पहाड चढ्न तयारी गऱ्यौँ । हामीले एउटा योजना पनि बनायाैँ । सुकुम नमकाे पहाड चढ्न थाल्याैँ । पहाड चढ्दै गर्दा मैले डाक्टरसाबलाई सोधेँ, "तपाइँले मलाई सहयोग गरेर के पाउनुहुन्छ ?" डाक्टरसाबले हाँस्दै भने, "बाबु मेरो पनि एउटा छोरा थियो "  अनि हामी पहाड चढ्न गयाैँ । केही समयपछि पहाडमा मैले हिरा देखेँ । हिराको छायाँमा मैले मेरा आमाबुबालाई देखेँ हिरालाई छुन जाँदा मेरो कानमा फेरि ट्याङ्ङ्ङ् आवाज आयाे र आँखाको दृष्टी कालो भयाे।

मेराे कक्षा ९ काे वार्षिक परीक्षा सकिएपछि केही समय म फुर्सदिलाे भएँ । याे समय मेरा लागि आफन्त भेट्ने र घुम्ने थियाे । केही पूजाआजामा सहभागी हुने अवसर पनि जुर्याे । मेराे बुवाको माइजूको नातिको व्रतबन्धमा गएँ । उसकाे बसाइ अष्ट्रेलिया थियाे । केही समय बिदा मिलाएर उनीहरू नेपाल आएका    रहेछन्।

व्रतबन्ध गर्ने घरमा ३ दिन जुठाे परेकाले हाम्राे घरमा सेलपुरी आदि राेटी बनाएकाे बनाएका थियाैँ । हाम्रो घरमा मान्छे पनि बाेलाएका थियाैँ । व्रतबन्धकाे केही तयारी हाम्राे घरमा पनि गरिएकाे थियाे । मेरी हजुरआमाकी दिदी पनि अमेरिकाबाट आफ्नो परिवारसहित नेपाल आउनुभएको थियो । व्रतबन्धकाे दिन धेरै रमाइलाे भयाे । व्रतबन्ध मेराे घर नजिकै राम मन्दिरमा भएको थियाे । व्रतबन्धमा धेरै मानिस आएका थिए । व्रतबन्ध सकिएपछि पार्टी थियाे । पार्टी भनेपछि सबैका लागि रमाइलाे हुने ठाउँ हाे । म पनि पार्टी भनेपछि निकै रमाउँछु । पार्टीमा मीठा मीठा परिकार खानका लागि राखिएकाे थियाे । पार्टीमा आफूलाई मन पर्ने मीठा मीठा खानेकुरा खाइयो र  रमाइयाे पनि । 

यसरी नै मेरो बिदाको पहिलो हप्ता बितेको थियो । व्रतबन्ध सकिएपछि म मेरी फुपूको घर दुवाकाेट गएँ । काठमाडाैँकाे सडक सामान्य अवस्थामा पनि जाम हुने गर्छ । साँझ पर्न आँटेकाे थियाे । हामी ट्याक्सी लिएर फुपूकाे घरतर्फ लाग्याैँ । बिचबिचमा जाम पर्याे । फुपूकाे घर पुग्दा रात नै पर्न आँटेकाे थियाे ।  त्यस रात त्यहीँ बसियाे । फुपूका २ वटा छोराहरू छन् । एउटा छाेराकाे बिहे भइसकेकाे छ । उहाँकाे १६ महिनाकी एउटी छाेरी पनि छन् । उनी सानी भए पनि अलि अलि बाेल्न सक्ने भएकी छिन् । उनी मलाई काका भन्छिन् । फुपूले घरमा २ वटा कुकुर र एउटा कछुवा पनि पाल्नु भएकाे रहेछ । एकछिन बसेर कुराकानी गरेपछि खाना खाएर सुतियाे । मैले नयाँ वर्ष  त्यतै मनाएँ । म फुपूकाे घरमा एक हप्ता जति बसेँ । त्यसपछि म मेरी मम्मीको दिदीकी छोरीको पास्नीमा गएँ । त्यहाँ मैले मेरा नातेदार पनि भेटेँ । त्यसदिन पनि रमाइलाे भयाे । अर्काे दिन त्यतैबाट पार्कतिर घुम्न गयाैँ । जे हाेस् बिदामा रमाइलाे गरियाे । यसरी मैले मेराे बिदा मनाएँ ।

Genre: Animation, War, Drama

Release date: April 16, 1988

Director: Iswori Takahata.

Producer: Toru Hara

Cinematography by: Nobuo Koyama

Production company: Studio Ghibli

Characters: The story consists of 2 main characters: Seita Yokokawa and Setsuko Yokokawa. They are siblings. There are also quite a few side characters: Mrs. Yokokawa, Mr.Yokokawa, Setsuko and Seita’s cousin who are important for the story to keep going.

Settings: The story takes place during the time of World War II in Kobe, Japan

Plot: The movie starts with the soul of a young man, confused, roaming around a train station. We are then introduced to our main characters Seita and Setsuko. Both of them seem to be injured but not severely. It turns out that a  bomb had just been dropped at their village and they had lost their house. Their mother, unlike Setsuko and Seita, wasn't just severely injured but had lost consciousness too. While their mother was recovering they lived with their aunt. Seita (14) worked and Setsuko (4) followed her brother wherever he went. Even though they got treated really poorly in their aunt’s house they couldn't really leave, until Seita found out that his mother didn’t make it and had unfortunately died. Seita and Setsuko left their aunt’s house after a argument and managed to find a place that was used as a shelter during the bombing, abandoned. They started to live there with the little money they had. When they were out of money, Seita had no choice but to steal so that his sister wouldn’t starve. Even though Seita fed Setsuko, she ultimately fell victim to malnutrition. Seita, having realized he had to feed Setsuko proper food, went to the bank to withdraw the money his mother had left. In the bank he overheard a conversation saying the Japanese Navy standing in the frontline had been wiped out, which meant that his father had died too. After finding that out Seita zoned out due to sadness and was late returning back to Setsuko. During the time Seita was gone, Setsuko had become really ill. Upon returning and buying things, Seita realized his sister had passed away. He held her funeral in a forest. Having lost all of his family, Seita was out of it and couldn’t do anything. He eventually died at a train track and became the soul we saw at the beginning of the movie.

Analysis: Let’s analyze the ending and see if it would change if certain choices weren’t made. In the movie Seita withdraws the money too late and also resorts to stealing. If he had drawn the money earlier he wouldn't have heard of his father’s death and wouldn't have lost his sister that early. But at the end it was quite clear that they would suffer a lot living alone as the money their money left wasn’t enough to last more than a week or two. So at the end, the movie’s ending wouldn't change a whole lot. Of course if both siblings hadn’t decided to leave their aunt’s house they might’ve lived but seeing how their aunt treated them, they would be kicked out after their mother’s clothes, jewelry, etc. couldn’t be sold anymore, since the aunt only kept them in the house out of greed. Though they might have not died if they chose not to leave, they would suffer.

Opinions: In this movie the time of war and flu is shown clearly. The movie shows human emotions like love, sorrow, greed and many more in a single sitting. It also shows how in extreme conditions such as this one, it isn’t possible to survive without doing bad things. The story itself was sad to watch but the animation and music were pleasing to see and hear. I would recommend this movie to everyone.

I just remembered holding my mom so tight, tears filled in my eyes and not wishing for that one teacher to come near me and take me inside the school. It's already been more than 10 years. I used to go to kindergarten crying wanting my mom not to leave me with those teachers. Recalling those beautiful days of childhood, I feel like time flew by very fast. It feels like it was just yesterday when I used to sob every time my parents would take me to the gate of kindergarten but it's already been many years these eyes have stopped crying at the sight of the school gate. Holding mom's hand to go to kindergarten to walking school alone things changed as I grew up. 

When I was in 1 or 2 grade, seeing my seniors of grade 10 I wished to be in their place. Being in grade 10, being a senior was such a thing of pleasure. They were respected by the juniors.  After school I questioned my mom. Will I also be called a senior? Will I also be in grade ten? She gave a smile and said many more years until I reach grade 10. But those words many more years now don't feel like anything. My mom also had always told me never let your grades go down if you want to go in grade 10. Always make sure your grades and your studies are well. I think I could not make up for her words. Facing many ups and downs in my studies, the grades which went down disappointingly I completed my 9th grade. I am now a 10th grader. Everyday what I hear is, “Now you are in grade 10 you are grown up and not a child”. This sentence was said to me more than 10 times a day. I began feeling like what am I supposed to do? I know I am in grade 10 now. I have to study properly but saying that every time was not necessary. I used to think back then I was so eager to be in grade 10 and what was it for? Why did I want to be in grade 10 and be called a senior? Now I am in grade ten. I am a senior but now it doesn't please me. Because all I hear now is you are in grade ten don't act like a child don't use your devices as this year you are giving SEE. My grandparents disappointed me the most when I was with my cousins playing with them. They came and said “Now you are in grade ten you are not supposed to play so study and make your brother and sister study too”. I was like what is it that after being in grade 10 all I have to do is study? The day I questioned my mom about grade ten I didn't think that things would turn hard. I had never thought that after coming to grade ten all I had to hear was being a tenth grader this that… Yes I do agree that studies will get more difficult and we should work even harder but that does not mean that we should let go of relaxing once in a while.

I know being at the end of school life as a tenth grader is not easy. I have to study hard to get good grades in exams as everyone has very much expectations from me. I learned that whenever you get into a higher grades the more things you have to hear. The more life lessons will be given to you. Our parents scold us if they see us not studying properly because they have some kind of fear that we will not secure good marks. As we get older we have to hear a lot of things and all we should do is take it positively. My desire to be called a senior and be in tenth grade has been fulfilled. When your time comes you will be called senior you will be in your desired post is now what I think. I do feel proud to be called as a tenth grader. As I am growing up my responsibilities are also growing and now I must learn to do them properly. Being a 10th grader is not easy but I am in my last year of school wishing to make beautiful memories.