Taurean Ben

A pleasant and strange morning aura woke me up, unquestionably it wasn’t my alarm; I guessed. I stretched my hand to grab my cell phone and peeked the time with narrow eyes – 5:15 AM, it showed up. A sudden blush of irritation and laziness triggered within - "why always, am i awaken a whole five minutes before my alarm goes off.?" Sounds startling, but in the last few weeks, It has become my job to turn off the alarm, just before it does its job.

After peeking a quick glance into the mirror, and applying a little makeup, with a thin layer of lipstick, i sensed that the green “Shalwar” doesn't really suit me along with a black pant. But one part of my mind said "Ignore those little things", so I moved on.

The morning traffic is mostly clear and is the reason that vehicles evidently reveal their fleetness. Breathing the fresh air and forcing as much oxygen as I could into my lungs, I continued with my scooter, watching the opaque clouds in the horizon. “Its definitely going to rain”- I prayed, "not until I step off the road".

 Even though I am used to riding my scooter in hasty streets, sometimes i feel insecure and even presage the worst happenings, all inside of my mind. All those suspicions continually make me ride meticulously. But today the climate had deceived me, as the rain started just after I got in the streets. I took it as a challenge and continued after wrapping myself with the rain cover, which could barely battle the worst downpour of the season.

After about ten minutes, i reached the place; The Butterfly street, though with absolutely no butterflies, the place is institutionalized much with academic centers. Now i had to pull over to the right, so i turned on the sidelights and continued normally as in the past few weeks. But fate had something else in his plan today. My front wheel, instead of hopping up above the pipe in the corner, slipped on its edge... and suddenly i lost control and fell. I landed hard on my side in the edge of the pedestrian track. Overwhelmed with shy and fear, i hobbled and tried to stand up. A shrilling pain, traveled through my nerves from my right ankle. Now i knew, i was hurt in the ankle, helpless, with extreme difficulty and torment, i wheeled the scooter back upright and slowly continued towards the narrow path leading to the academy. “I am going to have a worst day ever.” - was exactly I thought.

As i was getting ready for climbing up the stairs, after parking the vehicle, a masked face appeared. I knew who he was; he had anonymously added me on the social network and we had a good ongoing chatting in recently, but I barely knew him... a friend, let’s say. But today I was in need of help. My ankle was squealing with pain, but i absolutely didn't had any idea how to explain it to him. Maybe involuntarily, I had decided not to, at all. He just seemed surprised to see me much early in the academy, asked the exact thing and disappeared into the stairs. "He seemed to be in much hurry and didn't even ask how was i? "

The class began, but the whole time i have been agonizing; the pain was growing unbearable. But without an option, i settled there, attending the voice of the teacher and noting down every single thing required. The guy was in the row desk behind me. There was probably something wrong with him today, that he had drawn teacher's insidious attention. He was blamed to be tepid and insensible by the teacher. But it wasn’t much of my concern at this time, as i was dealing with a well of my own problems and without any doubt he wasn’t having as evil luck as mine that day.

Two hours of agony had passed when the class concluded. I had rigidly maintained to all my strength to tolerate my pain, until the consummation of the class. As I knew, today was one unlucky day, and i was fighting hard to go through, I discreetly concealed for what I was holding on today, not even to my close friends and no, not to him. “I will fight with my problems myself”- my ego enlightened.

On descending down the stairs, slowly and steadily not to distress much on tingling ankle, i was talking to one of my classmates. From his outlook, he seemed much senior, and we had been together in a row a couple of times in the class. As i descended on the final stairs, someone spoke suddenly from the side; there he was, the yellow cap, the chatter and absolutely busy for today to ask me about. He was presumably asking about something discussed in the class in the end minutes. I just heard him say "Hey! do you think kings can be considered as political leaders?” but i was more occupied in the talk with my other friend who had come along all the way down the stairs. Hiding my ankle’s agony all the way along, and not being very sure of his query, i couldn't make time answering him. He was left after as we passed by.

Finally when after reaching my vehicle, I gazed back. I saw him staring strangely from a distance for an instant, he then turned his back and went away, while I had a really painful ride back home.

I deliberately prayed the bad luck begun with early morning downpour, go away with the soothing sunshine.

The day wasn't very unusual in the first glimpse. I stared out from my window with my dreamy eyes and Wow! the morning glory. "I have to get up", - i thought or i might settle down again. Without thinking again, i got off the bed and made into the washroom.

As i walked out of the main entrance for my usual walk up to the Academy, where i was attending the GRE course, a chill of fresh air hit me. Yes, that's the reason i loved Kathmandu so much. No matter how arid and dusty the day is, the morning chill always makes you want to inhale a fresh long breath. Few steps ahead, i stopped, put on my dust mask and moved on again.

On the first crossing from my place of stay, i had to suddenly stop, for a disgusting and viscous, thread like material dropped from the sky. At the very moment, i knew what it was and i prayed that it hadn't touched me anywhere. But as i just had passed below it, i hastily started examining myself, starting with the cap on my top and then the shirt and "Oh god !!" there it was. I could see the dirty bird shit had splashed on my pants.

A bad omen i believe, that occurred at the first crossing is going to spoil my day today. It already had wasted a few minutes for wiping the dirty thing, which still had left greenish brown texture on the right top corner of my pant. In the rush, when i reached the academy, i could see a friend of mine was ordering herself for class after parking her vehicle. I approached her and had some fatuous talk. The bad omen of the day and the rush had me so enervated, that i wished to continue upstairs before she was ready. As i preceded  upstairs i felt a pinch that something i had done terribly wrong. I couldn't wait half a minute for her to come along, but till then my lament had no more value, as there was possibly nothing to undo it.

The class was running smoothly as usual, but my mind today was already distracted. I already had preconceived that not too many good things are going to happen today which was soon demonstrated by the teacher to me.  Twice the teacher, in the class warned me for the tepidity i seem to have reflected in the class. Suddenly, i was doltish in his sight now. He considered me to be a dissolute and insensible person. Not enough with it, he questioned on my abilities and drowned my inspirit. Sitting in the class with the obstinate gadfly all over, got really awful the whole time.

Finally the class concluded. With a sigh of relief for the bitter experiences of the whole time and ruminating about the subject that had just been taught, i made my way downstairs. The thought that had occupied me was that whether Kings could be considered as political leaders? - in the historical context. The answer was affirmative from the teacher but my beliefs were contradictory. I gradually stepped down all the way to the base of the building, at my glimpse from the final stairs i saw that the friend of mine too was approaching the final stairs. I waited and asked her the question that had been baffling me. " Hey i am a bit confused. Can Kings be considered as political leaders? " But she was possibly listening to rather something more important from her good buddy that she didn't even seem to notice. She passed by unnoticed and unanswered. I followed her till the rear end but couldn't get her attention. And that was enough, already having fed up by having a bad morning, i was finally defeated by her ignorance or probably something else. I didn't had a second thought, instead of going any further i witnessed her a stint and left heartbroken.

 On my way back, i was feeling a little energized for the morning mess that had just been over. And i walked down the street, with the mask on all the way towards my house. Walking was something i always enjoyed especially during morning. On the way, we could observe the initiation of work in the morning by a variety of people. I too wanted to have a good beginning as usual, but today the crow had shitted on me. I knew i had to be immune to that though which i obviously wasn't trying. I had always believed that i had pretty good eyesight, until a car blew horn and jammed its brakes. God! where was i looking? - towards the car. Yes i was staring at the car but wasn't seeing it. The eyes had no fault, the fault was in the mind.

I was getting late. Usually I don't, but today I couldn't open my eyes early. At night I couldn't sleep early for I thought for the whole night, what I did the day before was wrong or right.

As soon as I could, I rushed to the bus stop, the bus had already arrived and was leaving. In fear of being left behind, I started off running as fast as I could behind it. "I need to get into the bus at any cost."

By good luck something made the bus to stop, and I could reach up to it...  I had ran and yelled hard enough to get tired.

Inside the bus, all the way to the campus, I thought of what I did yesterday. "May I shouldn't have done that. But i couldn't control my feelings."

Reaching the campus, everything was normal. "Give me those notes" someone was shouting.

It rained a bit too heavily that day. We enjoyed the rain until the class was over. But later, by no means we could return home.

The whole building was surrounded by water. The vehicles were half buried in them. Waiting was the only option we had, but question was until when? The rain didn't seem to slow.

Almost half an hour passed staring the rain falling in the dark night. I was watching the raindrops passing close to the street lights and wondering aimlessly when she said-  "Let's walk. "

Before i could think she took off her heels, and put on her bag over her shoulder. That was a real get set go sign... I asked again " Are you sure?"

She turned around and started walking. Her foot splashed in the water. I had no choice but to follow her.

We had met only a few days ago, and i barely knew her. I didn't even know her name. But now we were walking side by side, touching each other, introducing under a small umbrella in the heavy rain.

We talked about our pasts, and families. She already had been to London, and was planning for Germany. I was feeling inferior in front her, but i never revealed it.

"Do you like rain so much?" I asked

"I like much than u do." She giggled revealing her wonderful smile.

" U choose to walk. I couldn't help myself following you. U are going to get cold tomorrow " , I sounded conscious.

"Why did you follow me?" She queried.

Well i had no one else to follow except...."ouch!!!!!" she slipped off on the ground. The rain had carried the mud off to the side of the roads which made the paths slippery.

She had a hard landing. I instantaneously grabbed her and pulled her up. I didn't knew whether to laugh...or what to do next.... Only thing i could utter was telling her to sit on the stairs in the sidewalk of a building.

She was in pain and i could feel her pain, like it was myself. We sat on the nearby stairs for a few minutes when i tried my best to keep her relaxed Though I was admiring her pretty face all the time.

Are you ok ? - I uttered... But she only stared at me.. vaguely..... without a word. Her eyes sparkled in the rain lit streetlight and i could almost see myself in them.

The wind was pleasant. Our kites were swinging cheerfully up above in the distant horizon. We had been thrashing our kites with others. It was quite fun attacking others kites and bringing them off. It was a war with just a winder in hands.

The gradually increasing wind revealed its cruelty and our string collapsed. The large green kite in the sky went out of control. We chased our floating and gravitating kite far, running ups and downs. Minutes later it settled, on the twigs of a tree.

Although the tree was tall, it was branched and likely to be easier to climb. Some crows were sitting up in one of the branches. The kite too was visible and we desperately wanted it, so one of the guy attempted to go up.

He had climbed just a few inches, when the crows started to craw louder. Ignoring it, he continued. But every inch he climbed, the sound got louder and more of the crows flew in. Till he reached halfway to the kite, the sound was intolerable. A murder of crows had gathered in the branches at the top.

Staring up from the ground, we were already terrified. We had failed to notice that there was a crow's nest one of the branch above. Probably there were eggs or baby birds in the nest, and that's why the crows were offended.

Feeling the threat, we shouted our friend to climb down hurriedly. But it was already late. Few of the birds flied over him and tucked in his head with their beaks.

He rapidly started climbing down with fear, when few more birds arrived and clawed him. Helpless in the ground, we waited with pebbles in our hand. The birds attacked him until he was near to ground and then flew. He had wounds on his head where the crows struck. Before we could throw stones at them, the flied off in varied directions.

That's when the unity of crows was revealed. when they felt the danger, they didn't wait and watch, but fought together. There is much to learn from them.

A night travel by train had made us sick. We had traveled far south from the country into the capital of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The super hot and humid climate of Lucknow had feverishly welcomed us. The rays of sun would almost penetrate inside the skin.

After seeing the doctor at Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre, which was our primary purpose... we had no desire of staying longer in Lucknow.

The day ahead was already a burden for us, as the return vehicles were available only on the following day.

Hungry as hell, we started looking for something to eat. The street foods were pretty much popular in Lucknow. In hope of finding something really delicious, we settled at a stall.

The sight of fresh made puri and pickles watered our mouths. So without delay we got it for ourselves. Hunger got mixed with chili, spicy pickles and fresh food. It didn't took much time to be devoured.

At the mid-day we ended up at train station, searching for tickets if available by chance. But luck wasn't on our side.

There was something else that was troubling us more than the heat and frustration of not getting a ticket.

The food we had eaten had already started to bubble in our stomachs. And both of us were desperately in need to excrete. Unable to find sanitized washrooms in there, we headed towards the other building of the station.

We had found the lavatory, but were like the previous, already rotting with the feces all over. The relatively cleaner ones didn't had doors. And the ones which had, didn't had the locks in them. The torment inside stomach was already intolerable.

Panicked by the bowels and beaten by luck, both of us found our ways inside and expelled the burden in absolute agony. There always was a threat of someone entering the hand held doors. Furthermore, the chilli we had consumed had played its part and it felt like lava oozing out of a crater.

Despite the circumstances, at the end it was an absolute relief.

A lesson of life was learnt that day. 
At unknown places beware of what you eat... You can hold on to the hunger, but can't hold on to your shit.