Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Niraj Aryal

Case I

How was everything today? It was fine, she replied.

Did you visit Baneshwor today? Yes, I go there everyday, why are you asking?

I heard there were protests around Baneshwor? Hyaaaaa, it happens everyday, there! It’s not something new.

Really? Baal lai lagdaina! (I don’t care a whisker) They burnt a car in Baneshwor. I was there watching that horrific misadventure. First they destroyed the vehicle and finally burnt it.

How do you find all these incidents? Very bad! Ha.. Ha.. Ha!

Why are you laughing? Sometime I think they are just acting. First the protestors come; they start chanting slogans then the police intervenes. This has become a daily routine. We the people remain as a mere spectator. Some laugh, some become sad. This is what happens when a spectacle comes to an end. Every body goes home in the evening.

What do you think about the country, where are we heading? Nothing is going to happen to our country.

Why do you think like that? Only thing that is remaining in this country is that everybody carrying a weapon in their hands. Then we start living like animals. And to answer your question… who am I to think, even the politicians do not know where the country is heading for. Anything might happen anytime...moreover the life of general public is at risk because while these andolans (protests)...the general public are suffering..., the police is beating each and every person walking on the street......just two days before some guys were returning from tuition the army beat them so terribly that I felt crying.

What about your future here? I am leaving this country very soon.

This is an excerpt of my discussion with an eighteen-year-old girl, who lives very close to New Baneshwor. I hope her arguments in this column represents to an average teenager living in Kathmandu.

Case II

A friend of mine informed me that there was a party between the fortified walls- the auspicious place where the political prisoners are kept like "honored guests". The place is auspicious because this is the place where ideas emerge and take a big shape of the type of a Tsunami which, they hope, will sweep away everything of their disliking.

I am sorry for using the word prisoner, perhaps a harsh word to describe our leaders, better use “beloved ones”!

My friend continued, yesterday an illustrious wife of a previous minister cooked thirty kilos of fish and brought into the place where he and his colleagues are kept by the present regime. He continued, today a goat was sacrificed. Tomorrow is the day for Juju Dhou- famous yoghurt from Bhaktapur, yummy! And plenty of fruits everyday! My mouths are watering! In the evening Vodka flows like Volga and Danube! And they discuss politics while playing cards, he added. He continues, one guy was so drunk that he could not stop himself, and finally said, “Better we are here”. Another enlightened one stopped him, timely perhaps!

Those who come to visit are the messengers of god. Messages of various sorts are delivered.

No need to worry. Not many days left. The opponents are falling apart. But in the mean time enjoy! God has sent you many blessings.