Author: Pranaya SJB Rana
Date of Publication: 2015
Published by: Rupa Publications
"City of Dreams" by Pranaya SJB Rana is a carefully written and collected story compiled into one. Originally published in 2015, this book was Pranaya’s gateway to the writing world as a novelist. Previously, he had worked as a journalist and columnist for Nepali Times and The Kathmandu Post. His debut novel brought him fame, with the book accumulating great reviews and positive feedback from the readers' community. With 10 enthralling stories, "City of Dreams" has made an impactful effect on the Nepali writing community.

In particular, there are 5 stories that are my favorite from this book. The first being “Smoker.” "Smoker" is a story about a character named Pranaya, who we can assume is the author due to the same name they share. This story, in my opinion, talks about someone with a mental disorder. Pranaya is haggard with workload and pressure all the time, and living abroad, he does not have anyone he can truly rely on. Amidst this stressful period, he meets a girl named Maya, whom he ends up falling in love with. At the end of the story, it is clear that the Maya he met was someone he fictionalized. She was never real. This shows how he could have been schizophrenic. It also implies how under pressure, people abroad often crumble and end up with serious spirals of loneliness and even depression.

“Maya,” another one of my favorite stories from this book, delves into the life of Maya, a prostitute during the Maoist era. "Maya" is the story of a young girl who is consumed by society and poverty. She is helpless as she cannot do anything well enough to earn money besides selling herself, and even the money she gets from it is only enough to feed her, not send it back home. This story is about Maya’s dreams and aspirations as well. She wanted to study but due to her family’s poor financial condition, she had no choice but to quit her education, so to date, she cannot read letters written to her, and nor can she write letters to her family. This story is about the sad reality of people living in poverty in rural areas.

“Dashain,” another exciting story, is about a young teen. It is almost a coming of age story. In this story, the main character is a young boy, a teen essentially at the age of feeling like not an adult but not a child either. During the auspicious time of Dashain, the main character, a very scrawny kid, decides to try and behead a goat. When the time for the beheading finally comes, he fails to make a clean cut and according to Hindus, a double cut is nothing but bad luck.

Although the story portrays a teen failing to behead a goat, I believe it can be depicted at a deeper level. Often teens feel the need to prove themselves to one another and hence they end up doing stupid things. More often than not these actions lead to terrible consequences. It shows that people are often inclined to change themselves to fit other people’s ideas of them.

“Our Ruins” is a story that I can relate to. It feels as though it is a story that any 10th grader can relate to at a closer level. It depicts a student’s life after SEE, and how friendships break apart as people change. We are humans, so we are bound to change, but the bittersweet feeling of staying where you are while others pass you and you get left behind is always there. I believe “Our Ruins” does the perfect job at depicting this bittersweetness because in this story, the main character does not despise his friends for moving on; rather, he just sits behind and bitterly remembers the fond memories he created as a child.

Out of all the stories in “City of Dreams”, I liked “Red Kurta” the most. "Red Kurta" is about a couple who had a son named Kumar. This couple decides to get a girl from a rural village to work as a maid in their house named Sharmila. Sharmila and Kumar, being the same age, get close to each other and pretty soon fall for each other. After a couple of years together, Sharmila ends up getting pregnant, and she is kicked out of the house because the couple thinks of her as someone filthy while being blissfully unaware the father was their son. Soon after, the son runs away, leaving his parents distraught and sad. This story depicts how often girls from rural villages are used as child labor in richer and developed cities. It also shows the egoistic nature of a human. The couple, Raja and Rani, though perfect on the surface, always fight. They don’t mind treating Sharmila like a lower class, while totally ignoring their own faults. It also shows how in Nepali society, people from “lower castes” are often discriminated against.

“City of Dreams” is a very intuitive story collection. It connects chapters with one another through the clever use of settings and timelines. This is a suitable book to read when you want to read intricate and interesting stories. It also offers a vivid exploration of Kathmandu city, delving into its cultural, social, and historical layers. The author’s writing style is also simple yet effective. It makes you want to read the story more and more. I believe this is a book you would revisit when you are in need of a break. There are so many amazing ways the author ends the stories, with most of them being open-ended. I also believe the way the author uses Nepali words in the book is a special touch to the stories. I would recommend this book to a lot of people as I really like it and believe a lot of other people would too.

मानिसहरू पहिले महिनौँ भेट नहुँदा एक अर्कालाई चिठी लेख्ने गर्थे । त्यो चिठी पनि एक अर्काको हात केही समयको अन्तराल पछि मात्र प्राप्त हुन्थ्यो । एक अर्का कोअनुहार भने हेर्न सक्दैनथे । अनुहार हेर्नु त परैको कुरा हो उनीहरूले सामान्य तरिकाले कुराकानी पनि गर्न पाउँदैनथे ।

कतै आमाबुबा आफ्ना छोराछाेरीको चिठीको लागि पर्खिरहेका हुन्थे भने कतै  छोराछाेरी वा श्रीमती सात समुद्र पारि वा सहर गएको बुबा वा श्रीमान्को चिठीका  लागि पर्खिरहेका हुन्थे । मानिसहरूलाई धेरै कुराको ज्ञान हुँदैनथ्यो  । उनीहरू कतैबाट पनि ज्ञान आर्जन गर्न सक्दैन थिए । त्यो बेला धेरै सुविधा पनि थिएन । केही समयको अन्तरालपछि यो दुरी अलि कम हुँदै आयो । जब टेलिफोनको आविष्कार भयो । टेलिफोनकाे प्रयोग मानिसहरू एक अर्कासँग कुरा गर्न थाले । मानिसहरूलाई कुरा गर्न महिनौँ पर्खिनुपर्ने भएन । टेलिफोनबाट एकअर्कोसँग कुरा गरेर अलि ज्ञान आर्ज गर्दै गए मानिसहरू । समय बदलिँदै गयो अहिले हाम्रो हात हातमा फोन छ र फोनमा सामाजिक सञ्जाल जसले हाम्रो जीवन सहज पारिदिएको छ । अहिले हामीलाई कसैसँग कुरा गर्न नपर्खिनु पर्छ न टेलिफोनको प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ । अहिले सहर वा देश मात्र नभए र सात समुद्रपारि गएका मानिसहरूसँग पनि अनुहार हेरेर कुराकानी गर्न सक्छौँ । पहिला मानिसहरूलाई देशमा के भइरहेको छ, त्यो थाहा पाउन गारो पर्थ्यो । अहिले सामाजिक सञ्जालले गर्दा विदेशमा घटेका घटनाबारे पनि हामीले थाहा पाउन सक्छौँ । सामाजिक सञ्जालको फाइदा र बेफाइदा पनि उत्तिकै छन् ।

सामाजिक सञ्जालका फाइदाको कुरा गर्नुपर्दा मानिसहरूलाई सामाजिक सञ्जालले धेरै सजिलो पारिदिएको छ । मानिसहरू घर बसेरै सरसामान मगाउन सक्छन् । विभिन्न विषयबारे शिक्षा आर्जन गर्न सक्छन् । विदेशमा रहेका कोही परिवारको सदस्यहरूसँग कुराकानी गर्न सक्छन् । हाम्रो जीवन अहिले सामाजिक सञ्जालले गर्दा धेरै सहज भएको छ । कति मानिसले सामाजिक सञ्जालबाट रोजगारी पनि प्राप्त गरेका छन् ।

फाइदासँगै सामाजिक सञ्जालले गर्दा भएको बेफाइदाको बरेमा कुरा गर्दा सामाजिक सञ्जालद्वारा हुने अपराधहरू बढ्दै गएको छन् । सामाजिक सञ्जालबाट हामीले कति गलत जानकारी पाउन सक्छौँ र त्यो गलत जानकारीले हामीलाई हानि पनि गर्न सक्छ । अहिलेका बालबालिकाहरू बाहिर निस्किनुभन्दा पनि सामाजिक सञ्जालमै भुलेएर बसेका हुन्छन् । बाहिर निस्केर खेलकुद गर्दा शरीरको कसरत हुन्छ तर अहिले त्यो पनि रोकिएको छ । बाहिर निस्केर बजार जाँदा मानिसहरूको कसरत हुन्थ्यो । कोही कोहीसँग समय हुँदैन उनीहरूका लागि सही हो यो तर जोसँग समय छ र उनीहरू जान सक्छन् उनीहरूमा पनि अल्छीपन देखिएको छ ।

हरेक कुराका सकारात्मक र नकारात्मक पक्षहरू हुन्छन् यो सबै हामीमा भर पर्छ । हामीले सामाजिक सञ्जाललाई कसरी चलाइरहेका छौँ । सामाजिक सञ्जालको प्रयोग गर्नु हुँदैन भनेर भन्दिन म तर सबै कुराको लागी त्यसैमा मात्र पनि भर पर्नु हुँदैन । आफैबाट विश्वास हटाएर त्यसमा मात्र पनि विश्वास गर्नु हुँदैन । हरेक कुराको सही उपयोग थाहा हुनुपर्छ । कतिपय कुराहरू हामी आफैँ पनि गर्न सक्छौँ तर त्यही कामको लागि पनि सामाजिक सञ्जा को प्रयोग गरिरहेका छौँ हामी । हो, हामीले सामाजिक सञ्जालमा विश्वास गर्नुपर्छ तर आखैँ बन्द गरेर हाेइन ।

सानी माया सानी नानी,

गर्छे ठुलो,कुराकानी ।

रैछ उसकाे खेल्ने बानी

कति राम्री सानी नानी 

सानी माया सानी नानी,

घृणा गर्छे,नराम्राे बानी। 

सानी माया,सानी नानी,

पुतली जस्तै कपाल बानी। 

सनी माया सानी नानी,

झोला भनेर ,डोको लानी। 

सानी माया ,सानी नानी,

सानो हात्मा, हँसिया लानी। 

सानी माया सानी नानी

कस्ताे उसकाे जिस्कने बानी

लाउँछिन् लुगा छानी छानी 

स्कुल हैन खेतमा जानी । 

I was born in a world of realms where people had very unique abilities and powers in their hands, which was common to this world. But the only thing that was uncommon in this world was being none other than a simple human child, and that was me. When I was born, I also carried the memories of my previous life. It was completely different from this world. People were all busy with their own work, as if life was a race. I was not able to enjoy my life to the fullest in my previous one, so I knew that God had just given me another chance. Even though I knew it might not be possible, I had a gut feeling that my wife, who had loved me until the very end of my life, would also be reincarnated in this world.

I started to live the normal life of the people in this world. The first thing was to learn magic in this world, then slowly and gradually learn swordsmanship from my father. I was a unique combination of a mage (my mom) and a swordsman (my father). So, I was only slightly given attention from the people my parents knew. Everything was normal: the slight bit of attention, the love and care from my parents and others, normal adventures, etc. But I knew something was completely missing in my life, and that was Aarti, the love of my previous life. Aarti and Aman, we were known as the A square couple, and we both loved each other. Because I knew my Aarti would come for me, I made it my aim to search for her, even though it would take decades. I knew that the decision I made was harsh, but as we all know, destiny is destiny. It takes us wherever we are destined to go whenever it wants.

So, my destiny introduced me to my destined one, Aarti, when I had reached the High School of Magic. She didn't recognize me. In this world, her name is Fitz, just as my name is Alex. She didn't recognize me because I knew that God also wanted me to do some hard work. So, I did whatever I had to in order to impress her. I got good grades in every subject. Later, when I proposed to her, she replied with a yes. I was so excited since I got to spend time with the one that I had loved from my previous life.

Later on, after graduating and becoming the so-called adventurers of this world, we decided to marry and settle. I felt some emptiness in our marriage, but I couldn’t find out what it was. Even after a year, the emptiness continued to haunt me, but I found out the reason for my unhappiness, and that was Aarti. She was not the same Aarti from my previous life; it was just her body and not her soul. So, after 7 whole years, one day after coming home from work, she called out, “Aman, I love you so much! My darling, I am sorry I was not able to remember anything!” Later, I cried so much, and just those two words came from my mouth, “Welcome back, honey!”

Olivander was fully aware that Peter and Andrew would try to avenge their parents and the village, but he believed that they would do it without the use of black magic.

Back when Azrail studied in the school, Olivander was always worried about him as he would ask questions about Dark Magic in every class. He once asked Azrail where he knew all of that information from, but Azrail refused to reveal it. Olivander, after several years, cast detection magic and saw that he was in the library’s restricted section.

Olivander had only one fear above all after defeating Zenos’s opponent. ‘What if someone stronger than him appears? Would we still be able to stop him?’ was what he thought every night before sleeping. So, Olivander searched for a successor to inherit the will to serve justice, and he once also thought of Azrail. Still, after finding out about Azrail’s midnight library search, his expectations all vanished. It was a disastrous moment for Olivander when he came to know that Azrail would drop out of school the next day. Olivander instinctively knew that Azrail would follow the wrong path, a path where he would have to lose everything he had: his family, friends, and even his soul.

Olivander tried to stop Azrail once, but after hearing what he had to say, Olivander knew that no matter how much he would try to convince him, Azrail’s thoughts would be rigid and firm, which was a great disappointment. The day Azrail stepped out of the school, the May village was filled with only dead bodies and a foul smell of blood. Olivander was worried about Azrail, thinking that he would be a wild beast that would do anything when he would starve for power, and it became a reality.

But after Peter came to school, Olivander saw a faint glimpse of his prime when he was as strong as Zenos’s opponent, who was also known as Felon. On the day of Peter’s examination to be taken into the school, Olivander saw something he could do only when he was 15: double casting. Peter cast fire magic from his right hand and wind magic from the left. It was as if the heavens had blessed him with pure magic that could be changed into any form at will. All the teachers were shocked to see such an advanced form of magic coming from a child who was barely five years old. So, with this immense talent, Peter got accepted into the school the moment he demonstrated his double casting skills. Unfortunately, Peter hadn’t learned any basic magic and had manifested his double casting in a forest while cutting wood. Unaware of his rare achievement, Peter showed this to Andrew, who was amused by his sibling’s achievement. Andrew was the only one to know about the double casting skills of Peter, and Peter also never showed it to anyone.

Olivander thought of keeping him in tier 2 magic class, but others thought that it wouldn’t be appropriate, and by the majority of votes on keeping him in tier 1 magic class, Peter was placed in tier 2 magic class.

पुस्तक अध्ययनका क्रममा मैले खबुज नामकाे पुस्तक पनि अध्ययन गरेकाे छु, जसका लेखक बेन्यामिन हुन् जाे केरलाका साहित्यकार रहेका छन् । यी पुस्तकहरूकाे अध्ययनबाट मैले हाम्राे समाज, समाजमा घट्ने घटना, मानिसका सङ्घर्षका कथा, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक विसङ्गति, बाल मनाेविज्ञान, देशभक्त नेपाली, १२ वर्षकाे द्वन्द्वकाल र परिघटना, यार्चागुम्वाका कारण बालबालिकाले भाग्नु परेकाे दुःख र पढाइमा भएकाे अवराेधका बारेमा बुझ्ने माैका पाएँ । यसमध्ये पनि मलाई असाध्यै मन परेका पुस्तकमा आमाले सक्नुहुन्छ र हजुरआमाकाे लाैराे रहेका छन् । यी दुवै पुस्तकका पात्र महिला र बालबालिका हुनु र यसमा उल्लेख गरेकाे घटना क्रमले महिलालाई हेर्ने दृष्टिकाेण, समाजकाे महिला प्रतिकाे साेच, तथा अहिलेकाे आधुनिक युगमा महिला, बालबालिका तथा वृद्धवृद्धाले भाेग्नु परेकाे पीडालाई उल्लेख गरेकाे छ । 

हजुरआमाकाे लाैराे पुस्तकका बारेमा भन्नुपर्दा याे पुस्तक साहित्यकार रामदेव पाण्डेले लेखेकाे उत्कृष्ट बाल उपन्यास हाे । जसमा जेष्ठ नागरिक र बालबालिकाकाे पक्षमा उल्लेख गरिएकाे छ । यस पुस्तकमा लेखकले बालमनाेविज्ञान र आधुनिक बाबुआमाकाे मनाेविज्ञानलाई केलाएका छन् । साहित्यकार पाण्डेले अहिलेका आधुनिक बन्न खाेज्ने बाबुआमाले परिवारका सदस्यहरू जस्तै छाेराछाेरी र वृद्ध बाबुआमालाई आफ्नाे जीवनकाे बाेझ मानेर उनीहरूबाट टाढा रहन छाेराछाेरीलाई हाेस्टेल राख्ने र आमाबुबालाई वृद्धाश्रम पठाउने कुसंस्कार माथि व्यङ्ग्य गरेका छन् । उनले यसमा आधुनिक समाजमा आफू कथित आधुनिक बन्नका लागि आफ्ना बालबालिका र वृद्धवृद्धाहरूलाई गरिने व्यवहार कस्ताे छ भन्ने कुरा सहज र सरल भाषाकाे प्रयाेग गरी व्याख्या गरेकाछन् । ग्रामीण परिवेशमा हुर्किएका व्यक्तिहरूले सहरी वातावरणकाे नक्कल गर्न खाेज्दा परिवार नै लथालिङ्ग भएकाे कुरालाई निर्मला, छाया, हजुरआमा र निर्मलाका साथीहरूले गरेका व्यवहार र भाेगाइकाे चर्चा गरी सरल भाषामा र शैलीमा बुझाउन खाेजिएकाे छ । याे पुस्तक बालबालिकाका साथै परिवारका अन्य सदस्यहरूका लागि पनि उत्तिकै सान्दर्भिक छ। यसमा एउटा परिवारकाे कथालाई व्याख्या गर्दै घर भित्रकाे परिस्थिति सहज र सरल बनाउन मुख्य अभिभावककाे ठुलाे भूमिका हुन्छ । यदि अभिभावक नै अव्यवहारिक भयाे भने राम्राे परिवार पनि बिग्रन्छ भन्ने कुरालाई निर्मला र विमलकाे व्यवहारबाट देखाउन खाेजिएकाे छ भने उमेरले र अनुभवले सानाे व्यक्ति भए पनि विवेक र बुद्धिकाे प्रयाेग गर्न सके कुबाटाेमा जान लागेकाे परिवारलाई सही स्थानमा ल्याउन सकिन्छ भन्ने कुरा छायाले हजुरआमालाई वृद्धाश्रमबाट फर्काएकाे घटनाले देखाएकाे छ । यस उपन्यासका पात्र हजुरआमा र नातिनी बिचकाे सम्बन्ध, कुराकानी र उनीहरूकाे व्यवहारलाई विश्लेषण गर्दा अन्तरपुस्ता सम्बन्ध बालबालिकाकाे जीवनमा महत्त्वपूर्ण र अपरिहार्य छ भन्ने कुरा बुझिन्छ । बुढाबुढीका लागि आफ्ना सन्तान बुढेसकालका सहारा हुनुपर्छ भन्ने कुरालाई व्याख्या गरेकाे याे पुस्तक मलाई असाध्यै मन पर्ने पुस्तक बनेकाे छ । यस पुस्तकका माध्यमबाट हामीले पनि हाम्रा अभिभावक र वृद्बवृद्धालाई सम्मान, माया सद्भाव गर्नुपर्ने र उनीहरू सँगसँगै समय बिताएर उनीहरूकाे भावनालाई बुझ्नु पर्ने शिक्षा पाएकाेछु । यस उपन्यासका पात्रहरू निर्मला र विमलले आफ्नाे परिवारका सदस्यलाई गरेकाे व्यवहारलाई सङ्गत अनुसारकाे फल भन्ने उखानसँग दाज्न सकिन्छ किनकि जब निर्मलाका साथीले उनलाई आफ्नी एक मात्र छाेरी हाेस्टल राख्न र बुढी आमाललाई वृद्धाश्रम पठाउन सल्लाह दिएका हुन्छन् भने त्याे सानी छाेरीकाे बाबु र  वृद्ध आमाकाे छाेराे विमललाई उसकी श्रीमतीले कुरै नबुझी उक्साउने काम गरेकी हुन्छिन् ।

यसरी विद्यालयले मासिक रूपमा प्रदान गर्ने साहित्यिक पुस्तककाे अध्ययनकाे अभ्यासले ममा साहित्य प्रतिकाे रुचि बढ्दै गएकाे छ । म नियमित रूपमा आफूले पढेका पुस्तकका बारेमा विश्लेषण गरी पुस्तककाे समीक्षासमेत गर्न सक्ने भएकाे छु । मेरा रचनाहरू नेपालकाे अनलाईन मिडिया जस्तै सेताेपाटी,साहित्यपाेष्ट, हाम्राे पात्राे र सिफल विद्यालयकाे आफ्नै वेवसाइटमा प्रकाशनसमेत हुने गरेका छन् । त्यसैले विद्यालयहरूले विद्यार्थीलाई पाठ्यपुस्तकमा मात्र सीमित नगरेर अतिरिक्त पाठ्यसामग्रीहरू उपलब्ध गराएर उनीहरूकाे बाैद्धिक ज्ञान विकासमा ध्यान दिन आवश्यक छ । 

तिम्रै सुन्दरतामा म रमाउँछु,

सबैभन्दा प्यारो लाग्छ मलाई तिमी मात्र ,

तिम्रै सुन्दरताको चर्चा छ सबै जहाँतही 

छानिएका तिमी लाखाैँमा कहीँकहीँ ।

नेपाल छौ तिमी यति राम्रो नेपाली भेषमा ?

जन्मिए म पनि यही प्रिय आफ्नै देशमा

जन्मे गौतम बुद्ध  तिम्रै तराई पाखामा,

गुनगुनाउँछन् लाेकभाका सुरिलाे भाकामा ।

वीरता र एकताका प्रतीक कति कति

गाउँछन् वीरगाथा सबैले यै देशका अति

पृथ्वीनारायण शाह, वलभद्र र भक्ति थापा

 रमाउँछन् सबै हेरेर  हिमाल र वनपाखा ।

 रातै लालीगुराँस फुलेका पाखामा,

बजाउँछन् मुरली सुरिलाे भाकामा, 

मन्दिर र स्तूपहरू, मस्जिद अनि गुम्बा

 मिल्ला र खुसी मलाई अरू के याे भन्दा ?

नेपालको सुन्दरतामा हामी रमाउँछाै

हाम्रा सपनाहरू उडिरहेकाे हामी पाउँछाै,

हिमालको अँगालोमा, प्रकृतिको काख,

नेपालको सुन्दरता नेपालमै राख ।

Guheshwori Jatra is one of the popular jatras celebrated in the Pashupati area of the Kathmandu Valley. This two-day-long jatra has many important beliefs within the devotees. It is not only a moment of joy in the Pashupati area but all over Kathmandu city. For the jatra, the Guheshwori area is also decorated with lighting that enhances the joy in the jatra.

Guheshwori Jatra is all about showing respect to the goddess Guheshwori. Guheshwori is one of the most powerful Ajimas of the Kathmandu valley, also known for her protective and nurturing qualities. The festival starts with the Newar community performing traditional ceremonies like prayers and offerings. They do this to ask for the goddess's blessings and wish for the good health and happiness of the community.

On the 1st day of the jatra, the goddess is brought in a chariot from Taleju Bhawani located at Basantapur with different ceremonies and different bajas like Dhime baja and Nya khin Baja that make the jatra more enhancing. Before entering the chariot inside the Temple Premises, the lingoo is set up outside the temple. After that, different offerings are done the next day, and the chariot is lifted around 7 pm the next day after all offerings are completed. There, in the temple, samay baji is also given as prasad to all the devotees who came to the jatra. The special part of the jatra is that Gurju paltan comes to take the chariot from Guheshwori Temple to Taleju Bhawani. Not only that, but bajas of different groups like Dathu tole, Srijanshil, Chabahil, Kutubahal, Mitrapark, Guheswori, etc., make the jatra more enhancing and fun.

After the gunshots from Gurju paltan, the chariot is officially lifted and is taken around the temple at first, which has its own religious importance. After that, the chariot is taken outside of the temple and kept outside. Then, after the lingoo is dropped down, the chariot is taken to the next side of the Bagmati river, crossing it. After that, the chariot is taken to Basantapur, going through Gaurighat, Pashupati, Jayabageshwori, Nawali tole, etc., where different offerings are done by the locals. There, in Basantapur, the jatra officially ends again with the gunshots from Gurju Paltan. At last, the samay baji is also given in Basantapur.

In conclusion, the Guheshwori jatra creates a moment of happiness with the devotees who come to worship the goddess. This jatra is very important according to the beliefs and rituals in the Newar community of the Kathmandu valley.

“I sometimes wonder what it would feel like to be the one waiting. What it would feel like to be the one sitting behind the table rather than the one standing in front of it.

“That’s one huge dream you have, kid.”

“Well, it is my dream, and I just can’t seem to get around it.”

“Well, kid, you have to work a lot in order to achieve something like that. You have to work outside this kitchen, explore your options, and face everything with strength, bravery, and determination.”

“I could achieve that dream just by working here as well, you know. I could work hard in this kitchen, get promotions and work my way through.”

“Well, that would work if this place would exist for that long. This place is dying down, kid. I bet in the next two years, this place will get demolished by the bank. This restaurant has a lot of debt, you know. And looking at the way this restaurant is earning its profit, this place won’t be able to recover from its debt.”

“So, it's fixed, huh?”

“Look, kid, you are a bright person. You are the brightest kid I have ever met. And I can assure you that whatever path you take in life, you’re going to make the best out of it. Someday, you are going to reach the top. And when you finally get your place behind the table, don’t you forget my name, ok?”

I giggle a little, “Alright, Brin. One day, when I make my way to America after I finish my studies and I make something out of myself, I’ll make sure to come back finding you, Brin. And we’ll go to the biggest restaurant in the city and sit behind the table while someone else stands in front of us and takes our order.”

“Sure, kid. One day I hope to see ‘Krist Roberts: The new success in the world’ in bold written in the font Times New Roman, as the headline of the newspaper.”

“Table 4 needs a waiter.”

“It’s your turn, Krist. Before you head out into the world, why don’t you head out of this kitchen first?”

“I swear, Brin. Someday, I will rise to the top. For now, I have to head out for that order.”

I walk out of the gray kitchen doors as the bright yellow light flashes on my eyes. Whenever I walk out of the kitchen doors, I imagine myself walking out on the red carpet from my black limousine. I step outside my car, and a bright light flashes at my eyes. As I walk, paparazzi surround me with questions that I’ll probably ignore except a few. But whenever I walk my 7th step, I enter the same old restaurant that I’ve worked at for 4 years. The same old The Bennies.

After I wake up from my daydream, I click back in with reality and walk my way towards Table 4.

“Hello, folks. Welcome to The Bennies, how can I help you today?” I look at the family of three surrounding Table 4. Two young parents and a toddler. The toddler had blond hair and blue eyes. Blue eyes from the father and blond hair from the mother. The toddler looked exactly like me. I also had blond hair and blue eyes. When I saw the toddler, and the happy family of three I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

“We’ll just do Alfredo pasta, a Caesar salad, and fried rice.” “Ok, I’ll be right back with your order. You have a lovely family.” “Thank you.”

The toddler looked exactly like me. I never knew my parents. Well, I did know them. But it was so long ago since I last saw their face that I don’t remember what they look like anymore. They left me on the streets when I was about 6. And Brin has raised me ever since. I wonder if I also got my blue eyes from my dad and my blond hair from my mom. But oh well, it didn’t matter anymore. It’s not like they’re gonna come finding me again.

“Krist, you should head out first. I’ll finish up the dishes and be right behind you. Your results are tomorrow, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, I’ll head home first then. See ya later, Brin.” “Get home safely!”

This is it. Today might be the last day of me working in this restaurant or just another day. I cannot believe a few numbers will decide the entire course of how my life will go. Tomorrow might just be the most important day of my life. I can imagine myself in a few decades remembering the moment I opened my results online. It would be 12:00 o’clock in the morning, my arms sweating, my mind full of thoughts, and Brin next to me supporting me. I wonder if I’ll get any sleep today.

“Krist, it’s time.” I run downstairs and open my old almost run-down laptop. Brin had to save up for months to buy me that laptop. And it was a second-hand run-down laptop but it was more than anything I could ask for. That was the best present I had ever got. It was time, I checked the clock on the laptop and saw the time being 11:59. It was time. This was it. I open the website and put my credentials in the website. “On the count of three, three, two, one.”

“Hey, Brin. BRIN!! Come look at this.” “What is it?” “Come check this out!! Quickly!!!” I get handed a newspaper and on the newspaper’s headline, there was written in bold and in Times New Roman, “Krist Roberts: The new success in the world.”

नेपालकाे राजधानी, काठमाण्डाैँ उपत्यका, धेरैले मन पराउने सहर जँहा सबैका रहर पनि मुस्कुराउने गर्दछन् । तिनै मध्येकाे म पनि उपत्यकाकाे विद्यालयमा भर्ना भएर जीवनकाे उज्वल भविष्य काेर्नका लागि वि.स. २०७५ सालबाट काठमाण्डाैंकाे सिफलमा रहेकाे सिफल माध्यमिक विद्यालयमा कक्षा ५ देखि भर्ना भएर पढ्न थालेँ । यस विद्यालयमा आउनुभन्दा पहिले म बानेश्वरमा रहेकाे ‘विद्या संस्कार’ विद्यालयमा अध्ययन गर्दथेँ । तर त्याे विद्यालय बानेश्वरबाट स्थानान्तरण भएर गाेकर्णेश्वर तिर जाने खबरले मेरा बुबाआमालाई निराश बनायाे किनकी त्याे ठाँउ म बस्ने ठाँउ भन्दा निक्कै टाढा पर्दथ्याे । मेराे विद्यालय जाने समय र बसकाे यात्रा धेरै हुने कुराले मेराे विद्यालय परिवर्तन गर्ने चाहना अभिभावकमा देखियाे र अरू विद्यालयकाे खाेजी हुन थाल्याे । यसै क्रममा बुबाले यसबारेमा आफ्नाे कार्यालयका साथीहरूसँग पनि साेधपुछ गर्नुभएछ । नभन्दै बुबाकाे साथीले यस सिफल विद्यालयकाे बारेमा तारिफ गरेकाे सुनेर विद्यालय भ्रमण गर्ने याेजना लिएर मेरा बुबाआमा विद्यालयमा जानुभयाे । विद्यालय भ्रमण र त्यहाँका शिक्षकहरूसँगकाे कुराकानीमा मेरा अभिभावकलाई विद्यालयले गर्ने कृयाकलापमा चासाे भयाे र सबै कुरा बुझेपछि मलाई सिफल माध्यमिक विद्यालयमा भर्ना गरिदिनु भयाे । 

सुरुमा त मलाई नयाँ विद्यालय कस्ताे हाेला, साथीहरू कस्ता हाेलान्, शिक्षक शिक्षिका कस्ताे हुनुहाेला भनेर कुतूहलता र मनमा डर दुवै थियाे । तर जब शिक्षकहरूले विद्यालयकाे बारेमा सुरूका दिनहरूमा बताउनुभयाे, भएसँगै रमाइलाे र उत्सुकता जागिरह्याे । मलाई यस विद्यालयले गर्ने दैनिक गतिविधिले लाेभ्याउँदै गयाे जसमा सदन बाँडफाँड प्रकृया, कक्षा प्रतिनिधि छनाैट जस्ता कुराहरूले मलाई नेतृत्व छनाैटमा सहयाेग गर्याे । मैले पनि आफ्नाे कक्षाकाे कक्षा प्रतिनिधि पदमा भाग लिन पाएँ । यसले मलाई हाैसला र सबै समान भएकाे महसुस गरायाे । यति मात्र हाेइन मैले जब हरेक महिना अङ्ग्रेजी र नेपाली भाषाका फरक फरक साहित्यिक पुस्तकहरू जुन पाठ्यपुस्तकभन्दा अतिरिक्त पठनका लागि विद्यालयले दिने गर्थ्याे र त्यसकाे बारेमा साप्ताहिक र मासिक रूपमा पुस्तक समीक्षा भरेर बुझाउने कुराले मलाई पुस्तक पढ्ने कुराप्रतिकाे लगाव र लगनलाई बढावा दिएकाे महसुस गरेँ । 

अहिले म यसै विद्यालयकाे कक्षा नाैमा अध्ययनरत विद्यार्थी हुँ । मैले मासिक पुस्तक अध्ययनका क्रममा अहिले पनि पुस्तकहरू महिनाकाे सुरूमा पाउने गरेकाे छु । कक्षा ८ मा रहँदा मैले नेपाली र अङ्ग्रेजी गरेर जम्मा २४ वटा साहित्यिक पुस्तकहरूकाे अध्ययन, पुस्तक समीक्षासमेत गर्ने सिप सिकेँ । जसले गर्दा मेराे पुस्तक पढ्ने रूची बढ्दै गएकाे छ । मैले कक्षा ८ मा नेपाली साहित्यका जम्मा १२ वटा पुस्तक एक वर्षमा अध्ययन गरेकाे थिएँ । म लगायत मेरा साथीहरूले निरन्तर रूपमा शिक्षक, शिक्षिकाकाे सहयाेगमा ती पुस्तककाे सारांश लेख्ने र पुस्तक समीक्षा गरी पत्रपत्रिका र विद्यालयकाे स्टुडेन्ट कर्नरमा प्रकाशन हुने गर्दथे, जसले हामीलाई झन् झन् हाैसला दिँदै जान्थ्याे र निरन्तर रूपमा पुस्तककाे समीक्षा गरी सम्बन्धित शिक्षकलाई पठाउने गरिन्थ्याे । यसै क्रममा मैले मासिक रूपमा अध्ययन गरेका पुस्तक जस्तै अनन्त वाग्लेजीले लेखेकाे यार्चा, विरेन्द्र नेपालद्वारा रचित छन्द कविता सङ्ग्रह विश्ववेदना, आन्विका गिरीद्वारा लेखिएकाे नारीवादी सचित्र कथा सङ्ग्रह आमाले सक्नुहुन्छ, रामदेव पाण्डेद्वारा लिखित बाल उपन्यास हजुरआमाकाे लाैराे, गितेश प्याकुरेलकाे याेध्दा, मन्जु ज्ञवालीकाे किशाेर कथा सङ्ग्रह फेक आइ डी, डा. सुदर्शन भक्त माथेमाकाे कविता सङ्ग्रह मैले बुझेकाे जीवन, राधा पाैडेलकाे खलंगामा हमला र उनै साहित्यकार राधा पाैडेलद्वारा लिखित राेल नम्बर एक साहित्यिक पुस्तकहरू मलाई मन पर्ने पुस्तकहरू मध्येका हुन् । 

यसका साथै मैले खबुज नामकाे पुस्तक पनि अध्ययन गरेकाे छु, जसका लेखक बेन्यामिन हुन् जाे केरलाका साहित्यकार रहेका छन् । यी पुस्तकहरूकाे अध्ययनबाट मैले हाम्राे समाज, समाजमा घट्ने घटना, मानिसका सङ्घर्षका कथा, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक विसङ्गति, बाल मनाेविज्ञान, देश भक्त नेपाली, १२ वर्षकाे द्वन्द्वकाल र परिघटना, यार्चागुम्वाका कारण बालबालिकाले भाग्नु परेकाे दुःख र पढाइमा भएकाे अवराेधका बारेमा बुझ्ने माैका पाएँ । यसमध्ये पनि मलाई असाध्यै मन परेका पुस्तकमा आमाले सक्नुहुन्छ र हजुरआमाकाे लाैराे रहेका छन् । यी दुवै पुस्तकका पात्र महिला र बालबालिका हुनु र यसमा उल्लेख गरेकाे घटना क्रमले महिलालाई हेर्ने दृष्टिकाेण, समाजकाे महिला प्रतिकाे साेच, तथा अहिलेकाे आधुनिक युगमा महिला, बालबालिका तथा वृद्धवृद्धाले भाेग्नु परेकाे पीडालाई उल्लेख गरेकाे छ । 

क्रमश: ………………..

हरिराज शास्त्री आज ६७ वर्ष पुगे । हरिले आफ्नो ६७ वर्षको लामो आयुमा धेरै कुराहरू अपनाएका, पाएका र छोडेका छन् । नेपाली गाउँघरमा हुर्केका हरि निम्न आर्थिक अवस्थामा हुर्केको थियो । उसँग धेरै कुरा थिएन तर उसले सधैँ आफूसित भएको कुराले नै काम चलाउँथ्यो । ऊ अरूको जन्मदिनमा गएको थियो, रमेको थियो तर आफ्नो जन्मदिन मनाएको थिएन । न त उसको बुवाले न त उसकी आमाले न त उसका तीन भाइबहिनीले आफ्नो जन्मदिन मनाएका थिए । हरिलाई कहिले जन्मदिन मनाउने बानी नभएर होला उसलाई अहिलेसम्म गरिबबाट धनी भइसकेपछि पनि आफ्नो जन्मदिन मनाउन अफ्ठ्यारो लाग्थ्यो ।
 

हरिका आमाबुवा गरिब भए पनि असिना पसिना गरी छोराछोरीहरूलाई पढाएका थिए । हरि पढेलेखेको व्यक्तिलाई जन्मदिनको महत्त्व थाहा थियो र आफ्नो छोराछोरीहरूको हरेक वर्ष जन्मदिन मनाउने पनि गर्थ्यो तर जब पनि उसका छोराछोरीहरूले उसको जन्मदिन मनाउने कुरा ल्याउँथे उसले त्यो कुरा अस्वीकार गर्थ्याे ।

हरि सधैँ कक्षामा प्रथम आउने विद्यार्थी थियो । साथी, शिक्षक सबैले उसलाई मन पराउँथे । ऊ एकदमै राम्रो व्यक्ति थियो जो सधैँ अरूको लागि सोच्ने गर्थ्यो । उसलाई अरूलाई सहयोग गर्न पाउँदा धेरै राम्रो लाग्थ्यो । ऊ सधैँ अरूको मद्दत गर्ने मौकामा जुटेको हुन्थ्यो । र धेरै जसो बेला आफू आगाडि अरूलाई राख्ने गर्थ्यो । ऊ आफूबाहेक अरू सबैजनाको बारेमा सोच्ने गर्थ्यो।

हरिलाई सबैभन्दा धेरै प्यारो लाग्ने कुरा आफ्नो घर थियो । उसको गाउँ उसलाई सारै प्यारो थियो । उसले आफ्नो गाउँलाई विकास गरेर सहरझैँ बनाएर र आवश्यक सामग्री ल्याएर मद्दत गरेको थियो । सबै गाउँलेहरू हरिदेखि एकदमै खुसी थिए । उसलाई धेरै सम्मान पनि गर्ने गर्थे । तर, उसका लागि पनि केही गर्न मिल्छ कि भनेर सोध्दा हरिले मेरो लागि केही गर्नु पर्दैन । यो सबै तपाईंहरूले पाउने हक छ भनेर हरिले भन्याे । हरि सधैँ अरूबाट केही समान लिन हिचकिचाउँथ्याे । उसलाई लिन अफ्ट्यारो लाग्थ्यो तर दिनमा उभन्दा अब्बल काेही थिएन ।

उसको यो बानीले उसका परिवार धेरै निराश थिए । किनकि हरिले अहिलेसम्म आफ्नो लागी केही कुरा गरेको थिएन । उनीहरूलाई थाहा थियो कि हरि एकदमै राम्रो व्यक्ति थियो भनेर । तर, राम्रा व्यक्तिहरूले पनि आफ्ना लागि केही राम्रा कुरा त गर्न सक्छन् नि । अरूलाई मद्दत गरेर सुखी बनेर आफ्नो अवस्था नराम्रो राख्नु ठिक थिएन । हरिले अहिलेसम्म दिने बानीले जन्मदिन मनाउन असजिलाे मान्थ्याे । आज ६७ वर्ष पुगेकाे उसले आफ्नाे जन्मदिन यत्तिकै कुनै अर्को दिन जसरी बित्छ भनेर सोचिरहेको थियो ।

हरिकी छोरी, “ह्याप्पी बर्थडे टु यु बाबा।”

“आबुइ के हो यस्तो मैले भन्या हैन, मलाई बर्थडे मनाउन मन पर्दैन भनेर छोरी ! ”

“बाबा, तपाईं सधैँ हरेक वर्ष अरूको कति मद्दत गर्नुहुन्छ। कति मानिसहरूको जन्मदिन मनाउन मद्दत गर्नुहुन्छ । तर हरेक कामको फल हुन्छ बाबा । आजको दिन तपाईंकाे कामको फल सम्झिँदै यो केक खानुस् । बाबा ! हजुरले कहिलेकाहीँ त आफ्नो लागि पनि केही गर्नुपर्छ ल ल छिटो खानुस् । यसपछि हजुरलाई मनपर्ने सबै सामान किन्न जानु छ,  बाबा !