As
I am sitting in an AC room, fridge is full of foods and closet full of clothes,
I have fallen somewhere in the “it’s all about me” club. I have somehow
forgotten an essential part of my life and forgotten my root. This post is
about my experience, more of a learning experience I’d say.
Five
years ago, I went to visit some of my relatives on the outskirt of the city I
lived in. The village was small where hundreds of people live without proper
road, a sewage system, hospital or police. There was one public school and
electricity which was cut off for nine to ten hours a day. With the news of us
(me & my mom) visiting from the city, we were invited for dinner to our
other cousins place. That’s where I met a very charming girl Geeta. She was
about 13 years old with a very friendly and outgoing personality. Geeta’s house
was then approx 11x11 foot made from rusty metal sheets; the room had two worn
out mattresses and a small table, bed sheet hung across the room dividing the
room from a small kitchen. We listened to a local FM station on a small battery
powered radio and Rajesh Hamal (famous actor) gazed down upon us from a big
poster hung on the wall. They cooked us dinner in a firewood, serving us rice
and a delicious Kukhura ko masu(chicken curry) .Later I learnt that Chicken
cost them a week wage. Two of her siblings joined us, we talked about their
schools and hobbies. Geeta didn't want to go to the school because she didn't
have school uniform to wear. The smallest was the naughtiest so her parents hadn't
put him through the school. As quoted by her parents, the middle one was the
brightest. He did all the chores at home and also attended the local primary
school. The parents wanted him to join the army when he grows up. They didn't
have running water and the toilet they shared with three other families was
overrun with rats. My mom tried to repay them for hosting us, but Geeta’s
parents said no. They were grateful that we came for a visit in their house and
had dinner with them. Geeta in no time became close to me. She said she loved
my dress, shoes and my hair; we had an immediate girl-bonding. She braided my
hair, and I gave her my butterfly hair-clip and she was very happy.
I
was very uncomfortable in the village; we stayed for a night in our relative’s
house. And next morning, we walked several hours to reach a hot, dusty bus
station and finally rode back home bumping all the way in the bus. I was
thankful to my mom that she agreed to cut the trip short. Geeta came all the
way to drop us till bus station, she said she was fond of me. She told me
"didi don't ever forget me; because I'll never
forget you”. I was sympathetic and gave her Rs 400 equivalent to $6
and told her to buy school uniform for her, and that if she studies well, I
would call her to my hometown Pokhara for her further education. Lesser that I
knew that I'd given her some hope and those words had meaning.
I
got busy with my own life and then I came to America. Those moments were buried
somewhere in my subconscious mind. But yesterday, I received an email from Geeta.
She learnt computer so that she could email me. A new cyber- cafe has been
opened in the village with two computers. She wrote that she still remembers me
and that Rs.400 meant a lot to her. All those nostalgic memories came by. I was
overwhelmed with happiness and some sort of guilt for being so irresponsible.
But "guilt" doesn’t solve anything, does it? By choosing this life,
I've gained an incredible freedom to drive myself to touch her life in a way or
the other.
The problems of the world and even
my community seemed gigantic to me. I always thought there’s no point in trying
after all, how can I make a difference? I can’t do anything. . But now, I feel that my small deed did make a difference in her life. She clinged to the hope, that
someday she will be coming to my hometown to pursue her education. Hope
prevails, and she did pass her exams with good grades... Oh, what an
overwhelming feeling.... I realized it’s not her that I helped; I helped myself
understanding and getting to enjoy a life-changing experience in the process. I always
thought I am a no-body, but now it will be me to start to be a somebody
accepting the responsibilities and starting to make little bit of contribution
to the society. That was an eye opener, and I am ever thankful to Geeta for her
kind words and of course for the yum dinner they made for us.
It doesn't
matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with
you. Always." - Oprah Winfrey
