After School

It was the third week of June. Kathmandu valley was not that much hot as it usually used to be. Perhaps, global warming hadn't affected to its extent. It was around six o' clock at the evening. The lane from Sanothimi to Gatthaghar was being crowded gradually by the public.

Walking about two to three hundreds meters through the lane, we could reach up to Controller of Examination Board. The lane seemed to be busier than normal days. The old locals were selling special King Curd beside the lane.

Sixteen years Old excited Ratis was waiting his result of S.L.C. in the crowd near the gate of examination board along with his Pa. This place was not new for Ratis as he had visited this place often during his childhood with Pa. Ratis was rotating his eyes and capturing the scenery. He started to analyze the face of other students in the crowd. This Ratis was none other than my past. I don't know who the hell I am these days but that time I was completely Ratis.

I continued to analyze the face of other students. Some face were worried in a doubt of being failed whereas some face were eager to know the marks they secured. But, I was experiencing something different. I was self confident. Hence, I was enjoying the moment. Neither there was the feeling of fear nor the moment was scary. If there was something there was feelings of joy, peace and happiness in my mind.

I took out my first flat Nokia keypad mobile phone which I had received after my S.L.C. and kept in my right palm. As it was flatter, I had named it frogy. Keeping my eyes at the digital clock of the frogy I found it was six and half at the evening. And the wait was over. The staffs of the board started stiching the printed result over the outer wall. But those printed sheets couldn't remain attached within the wall for long. They were tore and scattered by the crowd within a minute. Our wait till the moment became meaningless.

I was waiting for the result as I had done hard labour. I started moving from Gatthaghar towards Thimi along with my Pa and was producing few jokes with him. I didn't have too many friends within my circle. Hence, my Pa was my best friend and everything for me. Hence, I could share everything along with him regarding religious stuff to Kamasutra.

The work of expansion of Araniko highway to four lane was just started. A hundred meters before the Gatthaghar chowk, we saw crowd of few people outside a cyber. They were gathered to see the result through internet. I also wished to see the result, hence we also waited there but electricity authority made me wait again. I mean to say it caused loadshedding. There was not any benefit waiting at the cyber.

We headed towards the Gatthaghar chowk from there and reached the chowk within few minutes. We boarded the bus from there. The conversation between us was running smoothly, words over words and answer over questions. We got off from the bus at Suryabinayak. Pa paid the fare of bus to the conductor. My fate, there was power in that area. I took Pa to the Mirage Cyber.

The owner of the Cyber was familiar to me. I requested him to check my result. The cyber owner opened the official website and asked for my Symbol number and date of birth. I wrote my symbol number and date of birth on the sheet of paper and gave it to him. He entered them in the website. As the result was being loaded I was filled with excitement. I don't know which sort of excitement it was but I was excited a lot.

As the result was loaded, few words appeared in the monitor along with the buzzer. "You have been passed in distinction with first division." It was an incomplete result as I couldn't know about the marks I secured. Our school's Principal had expected 90% from me hence I wanted to know whether I had succeed or not. But I had to wait. I came home along with Pa. We became fresh and ate our dinner. After having dinner, I entered my bedroom and took rest on the bed. Soon, I fell asleep.

"Tring Tring" The table clock at the table beside the bed symbolically indicated that it was 5 o' clock in the morning. I soon remembered that I had to see the result and got up from the bed. I entered the washroom and became fresh. Then I entered inside my room again. I didn't have anything except curiosity and excitement inside my heart. Mom was already awake. She was standing infront of me holding a cup of tea on her hand.

"Take this cup of tea my sweet son." She said and handed me the cup of tea. "Please keep it on the table." I said wiping my face and head with towel. "And what are you preparing yourself for ?" She said and kept the tea on the table. "Yes mamma, Today I am going to the cyber." I said looking at the smiley face of my mamma. "Oh I see. Okay, go and come as soon as possible. Your father seems very happy as he has known that you've secured distinction. Go and find out how much marks you have secured." Mamma said and got out of my room. I started searching for the black shoe. It was outside the room on the shoe rack. I took the black pair of shoes and polished them. After polishing the shoes, I kept them on the same shoe rack and entered the washroom. I washed my hands and entered my room.

Mamma was sitting on the stool holding the worshipping plate. She put tika on my forehead as I entered the room. My chest was broad with pride. I was feeling nostalgic with happiness and enjoyment. After putting tika she said,"We are feeling proud and happy. We hope you will continue progressing in the similar way. Go to the cyber and come with the more information about result. I am going to the kitchen. And don't forget to have the tea before it gets cold." I shook my head and said,"Okay." Mamma left my room. I drank tea. After I finished drinking tea, I put on socks and shoes and left the room.

I walked as fast as I could and reached the cyber. The cyber was overcrowded. But I got an opportunity to see the marks through the owner's personal computer. As the marksheet was displayed, my eyes got a pause on the percentage. I had secured 86%. I was neither happy nor Sad. As, my Principal had expected 90% from me and I couldn't fulfill his expectation.

I had already decided to study overseer. Hence, to discuss about it I went to the school. The Principal sir was sitting on the sofa inside his room and watching the television. Discovery channel was tuned on the television. The Principal sir told me to have a seat. I sat on the sofa opposite to him. I kept my view towards him and asked for his suggestion. He said,"See Ghimire, I see possibility in you. Enroll yourself in +2 science rather than in overseer. It will be finished within two years and you can easily get passed in entrance examination of Institute of engineering." Respecting his words, I decided to enroll myself in +2 science rather than studying overseer and returned back to home.

It had been more than a week since our result was published. I had to search best college with good management and teachers which could be fitted in my budget. I expended around a week in search of good college.

My feet took a pause at the gate of Linclon college of Science and Management located inside Subidhanagar. The building of college was neither attractive nor dashing. Perhaps, it

was wish of Lord Shiva, I entered directly in the room of honourable principal Dr. C.K. Chaudhary. We had a short conversation regarding the management, facilities and historical performance of the college.

I came to know it was the second batch of science. I requested him to be a bit flexible in case of college fees considering my capability and potential. After listening to me Mr. Chaudhary said,"Look brother, every contract involve both side benefits. I will allow you to study here with minimum fees, but what will you provide us in return?" I was confident enough, hence I said,"I will not give you any chance to regret. You'll say that I had selected the best student with pride." We made a verbal agreement. As per agreement, I had to pay only minimal fees for two years and my responsibility was to get best result and glorify the name of the college. With confidence, I returned home making my mind to do hard labour.