Yatra Karnali (Chapter One)

Yatra Karnali (Chapter One)

My insides danced with pleasure when the holidays started after the completion of the two long years of high school. For a person like me whose time during the high school hadn't gone so well, to get it completed was more than getting relief. The end of the high school was like getting a new beginning to me. And what can be more fun than starting the new beginning with a 'Yatra'(journey)?

Yes, I went to a journey in these holidays. Since, the situations favored me I got the chance to travel to the region of Nepal which is known for its remoteness rather than, any commodities or landmarks. I got the chance to go to the 'karnali region' of Nepal. First of all when I was purposed about the journey to Karnali by my father, who had been working there since last six months, I was not so much excited. I had heard such things about Karnali which made me think that, that place was not worth visiting. But due to the 'stubborn request' by my father for me to come there, I finally agreed on going to Karnali.

  
I set off for Karnali on 5th of June. I boarded a plane from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and from Nepalgunj to Jumla.The plane meant for taking passengers from Nepalgunj to Jumla was really small. I was for a moment petrified to see the plane that I was to board to reach Jumla. The plane looked really very old and you could see dents all over it. Soon as the plane took off I was telling myself "this may be it, this is the end", my mind didn't get peace throughout the time of flight. And later when the plane came so near to the top of the hills, I thought the plane was going to crash, but it didn't actually it was going to land. 

Soon as the plane completely landed and came to a halt, I took a long breath. I was so much surprised to see the working mechanism of Jumla's airport. The plane's engine hadn't been stopped even as we got off the plane. All of the luggage were taken out and another cartful of luggage were tucked into the plane. After sometime another group of passengers boarded the plane and the plane's door was shut and I was watching with amazement. It hadn't been more than five minutes the plane had landed, it took off again.

Cockpit of the airplane

A view from the plane's window

SOMETHING

My teacher had told 'the class' to present whatever we've written on the last day before vacation, for none of us were in the mood to study then, This is what i presented in the class.

It has been two days that I haven't made up my mind about what I should write about. It's not because I am not able to find a topic to write on, but it's because all the topics are clashing in my mind in such a way that I am now in dilemma about what topic should I write on. Come on goddamn brain! Become an autocrat like Orwell's 1984's 'Big Brother' and force my thoughts to concentrate in a single topic. Come on brain I've had enough with the revolution of thoughts going on in you now you must suggest me the best thought going on in you.

  Hmmm.. Let me think about my thoughts, Conspiracy theories? A story? Composition about the upcoming elections? Condolence to Jagdish Ghimere? My reaction to Putin being the most powerful person of the world? Reaction about the picture of bunch of nudists I saw today in the book that my sociology teacher brought in the class? My feelings for the person who was sleeping in the road, whom 'Monica'(my friend) told me to kick? Character sketch of my best buddy Pranish, the diehard fan of Kurt Kabin? Or the old prose about nationalism, country's glorification, respect to the national anthem and all those which my friend think are boring things to listen to? Or should it be my opinion about the three letter world that starts with 'S'? Oh thoughts! Come on stop your pulling and pushing, none of you are good enough to be written down in the paper.

What would Pranish say to me if I don't write down something? He was not going to come on the last day, it was 'I' who purposely in a way 'ordered' Pranish to come, for I was going to present 'something' in the class the last day. Come on dear brain, next time I won't let my thoughts bombard you like this. Please! Help me write something this time.

<<Brain talks to me>>

Comred Adwait, read what you've written, for you've achieved what you desired for. The clash of your thoughts going on in me have produced a great prose.

You've written a Monologue!

Present this in the class on the last day before holidays and keep your promise, you made to Pranish.

<<Back to me>>

Thank you Brain!

Walaaa! I've also made out a moral.

'क्रान्तिले नै शान्ति ल्याऊछ!' 'War brings peace'

{for my thoughts' clashes made me write a monologue}

 -Genuinely, Comred Adwait's  

People, I know its COMRADE not COMRED!

Story behind my title, ‘COMRED’

            ‘Comred’ is the title given to me by myself, now friends call me ‘comred’ rather than my real name ‘Adwait’. I feel so special when people call me ‘comred’ rather than my real name. There is quite a long story behind how I entitled myself ‘comred’. I hope youl’ll find this story interesting.

            It was July of the year 2010. I was studying in grade IX back then. The games of the semifinals of ‘World Cup 2010- South Africa’ were being played. And I was having a chat with my friends about the world cup. I being a die heart fan of Germany and Germany having defeated strong nations like England and Argentina with edge; I was sure that Germany would win the cup. That night was the game between Spain and Germany. I betted with my friends, I told them that I would change my Facebook username to ‘Adwait Baral Germany’ till the end of 2010 if Germany lost the match.

            The game went very bad. Germany was defeated by Spain. Although I didn’t watched the complete match I came to know that Germany had lost the match the following morning. I was so taken aback. I went to the school. Friends called me a liar because I hadn’t changed my facebook username. I again lied that there was a problem with internet connection in my home because of which I hadn’t changed the username. And for my surprise they believed my, I told them that I’d change the username right after I go home. So, I did change my username to ‘Adwait Baral (Germany)’; Germany in brackets because facebook didn’t allow me to keep Germany as my last name. So I kept my promise. But it didn’t matter very much. Only few noticed that I had changed my user name.

            As for the conditions of the bet, that the name won’t be changed till the end of 2010 I didn’t change my user name throughout the year.

            Finally after months 2011 came. I think it was some weeks before our winter vacation was the new year. As of the conditions of my bet, in 1^st January 2011, I went to ‘account settings’ of my facebook account and clicked edit link in the ‘Username’ category. It asked me what name would I want to replace the current name with, first I only removed ‘Germany’ from my name. But I had an urge to write a attractive name. I had noticed my friends adding different words in front their real name in facebook. I too thought of writing something in front of my name.

            (Back then there was extreme political instability in Nepalese politics because of which newspapers well full of names of political parties and other political matters. I slowly was being interested to politics. I had learned that there are several political theories like Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, etc. Among all these Communism and Socialism attracted me the most. I found it favorable for a country of Nepal. I also had started to read about various political theories in the internet. I repeatedly searched the meaning of ‘Communism’ in the dictionary. In the dictionary’s meaning of communism was a sentence i.e. “Its members are addressed as ‘Comrade’. The word ‘Comrade’ attracted me. I had seen this word in many slogans written in the walls. I found the word ‘Comrade’ very interesting.)

            So, while changing the username of my facebook profile I added ‘Comrade’ in front of my name. But the story doesn’t end here! Facebook didn’t allow me to put ‘Comrade’ in front of my name. I was quite disappointed with this. Later after some time I tried adding ‘comred’ instead of ‘comrade’ and it worked! I was like ‘Huraaaah!!’ when this happened. I felt so proud of my name back then.

            The day I changed my name, nothing much happened but the next day my wall swarmed with posts of my friends and relative about my username. Not just wall posts my friend request also stormed with request of strangers. Many messaged me telling that I had a very great username but I replied to none. I was quite scared at that point of time. But slowly I became used with requests and messages from unknown people.

            After this my friends, relatives and even my teachers! Called me comred Baral. I felt very happy about this.

This is the story about my title ‘Comred’.