PINKU'S STORY II

I

2004 April 15

After almost three weeks of holiday, Pinku’s school was about to be open. She had passed her standard six in the first division. After four years, studying in the same school, her father wanted her to study in another school. Her father felt the school had lost the quality so, he admitted her to a new school. Most of her friends had shifted to a new school named Cambridge Public High School which was located at Old Baneshwor. She too wanted to study in this school and her father agreed.

Pinku was 13 years old. Pinku was rushed to the bus stop. She in rush got ready and had worn previous school uniform. She is rushed reached at Gopi Krishna Pool to catch her bus. It was the first day at her new school. The time showed 8:00 am. She waited and waited but the bus didn’t arrive. After one hour standing, she returned back. After reaching home, she told her parents about her bus incident. This day, she didn’t go to school as she missed the bus.

The next day, she reached her bus station and waited. At 8:15 am, the bus came and she went inside the bus. She felt nervous. Around 9:15, she with others reached the school and entered the school. Luckily, she had some friends she knew who was from her previous school and helped her when she needed.

She was in the class and she got introduced with every girl of the school. She then became good friends with Shreya and Mona. Shreya and Pinku was bus student whereas Mona lived near to the school.  Three of them were good friends as well as good students. Mona was good at her studies whereas Shreya and Pinku were good in studies as well as in extra activities.

II

It was the month of May and it was raining frequently.  She was looking at the rainfall from the window.  They had reached to the place named Lazimpat. While looking at the rainfall, she saw one of the students with his friends waiting for their school bus. The students were from Siddhartha Vanasthali School. He was smiling and talking. He was tall and when he smiled, he had an attraction. His smile had charm.  She was focused and looked at him. When the school bus left the place, she turned back and looked at him. She fell in love with him at first sight. She was lost in his world.

“Hey, Pinku,” Shreya called her again. Shreya slapped Pinku and she came in reality.

“Where were you lost?”

She remained silent. She realized her school had arrived. She got out of the bus and went inside the school. In the assembly too, she too was lost. This day was lost day for Pinku.

The first period was Maths. The teacher was teaching; whereas Pinku was lost. While she was smiling, the teacher threw chalk and she came in reality. She felt nervous as everyone was laughing at her. She looked at her and there. Shreya was too amazed that what had happened to Pinku today.

When the classes were over, Shreya said, “What has happened to you today? You were lost today.”

Pinku told everything to Shreya. When Shreya heard the story, she smiled and said, “Love cannot be at first sight. It might be infatuation. You don’t know anything about him. You just saw him and his smile. You are just 13 years old. At this age, you might not know the meaning of love.”

Pinku felt Shreya was right. The whole night, she thought she should give herself time and take a decision.

And it had been a month; she was focused and was lost in the world of his. Whenever the bus stops at Lazimpat, her heart stops there and looked at him. At first, she thought it was infatuation but it wasn’t. Whenever she looked at him, she felt different and her heart started beating faster. She wanted to see him and his smile.

III

June 1, 2001

This day no one will forget. It has been a month. There were heavy rainfall and crows were making a noise. No Nepalese can forget the incident. When the whole nation woke up on the next day that is June 2, the news of the Royal Massacre occurred. The whole day, the news spread and no Nepalese believed on the news for some days.

The Nepalese royal massacre occurred on 1 June 2001, at a house on the grounds of the Narayanhity Royal Palace, the residence of the Nepalese monarchy. Ten members of the family were killed in a mass shooting allegedly by Prince Dipendra during a party or monthly reunion dinner of the royal family in the house. The dead included King Birendra of Nepal and Queen Aishwarya.

Pinku’s family were too shocked after hearing the news. They were following the news. Due to the royal massacre, the school was closed for 15 days. The days were tortured for Pinku. The whole nation was in shocked whereas Pinku was lost in the memory of him. Although she was happy that there was no school for 15 days, she missed him so terribly. She missed his charming smile and innocent face.  When she opened her book, she sees his face.  She dreamt of him. She was lost.

And finally, after 15 days, the school was opened. She was excited not because the school was opened but she was excited to see him and his face.

IV

August 2001

The bus stopped at Lazimpat. The bus tyre was punctured. Pinku was cheerful. All of the students came out from the bus and Pinku too came out from the bus. The bus conductor warned the students to come after ten minutes and not to go far. She went near to his bus stop. He was with his friends. When he saw Pink coming near to him, he too came near to her.

When they met, they both felt shy. They looked at each other and smile. Meanwhile, he said, “Can I know your name?”

“Pinku and yours?” She felt shy.

“Praveen.”  The environment was silent and both were looking here and here. Due to the shyness, they didn’t say anything. In the meantime, Shreya came and said, “Hey, Pinku, come fast. Let’s go.”

“Bye.”

“Hey, I have something for you,” Praveen said.

She took the letter in a hurry and rushed to the bus. When she sat on her seat, she waved him through the window. He too waved. She opened the science book and kept the letter. She observed her surroundings. Everyone was busy with themselves. Then, she opened the book and started reading the letter. 

Dear,

I don’t know how to start. Whatever came in my heart and mind, I have written in this piece of paper. In the beginning, I will ask you for the forgiveness if anything hurts you.

I watch lots of romantic movies. In the movies, hero and heroine fall in love at first sight. I felt it was nonsense and never believed in the first sight. But after seeing you on the bus, I fell in love with you.

I still remember the day I saw you. It was raining. You were looking at the rainfall through the window. Moreover, you were playing with the rain. When you were falling with the rain, I knew that you love the rain. My eyes caught you playing with the rain. My concentration was fully on you.

When I saw you, I felt different. As shown in the movie, violin started playing. I started getting lost in your memories. During those months, I was full with you in the mind and heart. Your face started dancing in my books. In the beginning, I thought it was infatuation but realized later it was not infatuation, it was love.

I love you. Will you be mine?”

                                                                                                 Yours Praveen

Pinku felt enthusiastic to read the letter. The whole night, she kissed the letter and didn’t sleep the whole night. She too wrote the letter to Praveen. Although she wanted to share everything to Shreya, she wanted to wait for the right time.

The next day, when the bus reached Lazimpat, she saw Praveen and threw her letter. He was happy and opened the letter which mentioned:

I LOVE YOU TOO.

Those magic words were written with a red pen with beautiful handwriting. Praveen smiled and kissed the letter. He then kept the letter in the bag.

After the letter exchanged, they frequently started meeting in a secretive manner. Shreya didn’t know about their meeting. They met by making excuses like they are going to tuition and to meet a friend. They talked a lot and used to spend quality time.

V

2004

New Baneshwor

2:30 pm

“Pinku, I want to say something.”

‘Say.” She was eating chowkmein. She was enjoying her food.

They both have completed her School Leave Certificate (SLC) exam and were meeting after two months.

"I got DV for America."

"What?" She was shocked. She kept her spoon on the table and looked at Praveen. The environment was silent. They were looking at each other. Tears were rolling in her eyes. He saw tears in her eyes. Furthermore, he said, "I am leaving by next week with my family."

She was speechless and was listening to him. He felt nervous.  He had to say something which might break Pinku's heart.

"Pinku, I want a breakup from you. I didn't want to continue this relationship more."

"But why?"

"We were childish at that time. We weren't matured at that time. We didn't know the meaning of love. We need time and we need to grow up. I hope you are understanding me."

She didn't prefer to say anything and left the place. When she reached home, she called Shreya in the landline and explained everything. When Shreya knew the whole story, she came to console Pinku. Not only Shreya, Mona too came to console Pinku.

For many days, she wasn't able to forget Praveen.  Shreya and Mona were confident that with the time, she would forget Praveen.

 VI

2006

Pinku gave her board exam of 10+2 in Humanities. She had almost forgotten Praveen. She became more matured. With time, she was much grown up with her thoughts. She learned from past mistakes.

It was the month of July. She was in her free time and was reading the novel named "The English Teacher" of R.K. Narayan. When she was reading, she heard the ring on the landline phone. She kept her book on her bed and received the phone.

"Hello. Is this Pinku?"

"Yes. Can I know who is this?"

"This is Aakash."

"Hey. Hi. How are you?"

"I am good. Actually, it has been a long time we haven't met. So, let's meet. Most of our school friends are coming tomorrow at New Baneshwor Cafe at 2:30 pm. Are you coming ?"

"Sure."

Both disconnected the phone. Pinku and Aakash were good friends from school. Aakash was also a common friend of Praveen.

The next day, she reached New Baneshwor. She waiting for Aakash and her school friend. Meanwhile, Praveen came near to the table and said, "Hi."

'Hi." She was focused on the book.

"Can I sit on this chair?" He said.

She felt she had heard the voice and she closed her book and looked at Praveen. She was surprised.

"May I sit?"

She agreed. The environment was silent. After two years, they had met. She had never expected that she had to face Praveen again. For the moment, she felt that this type of situation happens only in the film but in her case, it happened in reality.

"How are you doing?" He said.

"I am good and you?"

"I am also good."

Again, there was silence. They were looking here and there. They felt awkwardness.

"And how is everything in the US?"

"Good. I have a holiday for a month so, I came back to Nepal."

"When did you arrive?"

"The day before yesterday. Actually, I want to say sorry to you."

"For what?"

"For breaking your heart. I realized your love and I want you to be back in my life. Will you be back in my life?"

She remained silent for a few minutes. Then, after a few minutes, she said, "I don't know whether I can be back in your life or not but we can be good friends."

He felt happy because she was ready for friendship. During those one month, they were regularly meeting. They hanged out mostly. Finally, Praveen's one month holiday was over. He felt sad as he had to go back to the US. Those months were the previous one to Praveen. She was at the airport to see off. They had exchanged their emails.

Soon they both started chatting on Yahoo Messanger and Pinku again fell in love with Praveen. This time they both were matured and serious. They both knew that they were right for each other.

VII

2016

Pinku started doing the job at NGO. Shreya and Mona both were at the same NGO. They were in different projects. Pinku was in Refugee, Shreya was in Gender Equality and Social Inclusion; whereas Mona was in the project of Migration.

Pinku was feeling anxious. She wasn't able to concentrate on her work. Shreya and Mona entered in her cabin after completing her work. Pinku wasn't happy and Shreya said, "Hey, what happened? You look anxious."

"We broke up."

"Hare. Again."

"Yes."

"Why are you so depressed?" You guys have broken up many times and do patch again. You guys will patch up again."

It was true that Pinku and Praveen have broken up more than ten times and they used to patch up again.  They used to argue a lot and didn't prefer speaking for many days. After cool down, they began their relationship.

Shreya woods came true. They patched up again. Their relationship was like that. They didn't know when they broke up and patched up but their arguments made them close.

VIII

2018

She got the visa of the US for five years. More than she, Praveen was happy. Now, she shall get married to Praveen. She will be his and he will be hers.

She left the job and got prepared for the US. Finally, in the month of March 2018, she flew to the US. Shreya and Mona were saddened that her friend was leaving her. Pinku too was sad.

After the month, she reached the US, Praveen approached for marriage and she said yes and they got married happily. In their life, they had many ups and downs but their love never died. How many arguments they had but their love grew stronger.

After a week, Pinku was looking at the wedding photos. She smiled. Meanwhile, Praveen came and joined. They both smiled.

While looking at the photos, Pinku said, "I didn't accept that we could marry happily. In our love life, we have ups and downs but our love grew stronger. I sometimes laugh because we have broken our relationship many times and patched up too but love grew stronger."

Praveen smiled and said, "I Love You. I knew you were the right partner for me after I went to the US. It was my mistake to break up with you at the beginning but now after getting married to you, I feel like I am blessed. Thank you for coming in my life."

They both hugged each other.