I had just came home, when I saw every one in the family sitting around the small fire place (chu-low) in the kitchen. I always wanted to asked something to my father since I was a little kid, but I couldn?t, actually was scared. I thought today is the perfect day to ask him about it. That day was my birthday, but no one remembered not even my mom, & not even me my self. But, later that day I knew, when my neighbor, who is a teacher in a one primary school in my village (gau) told me that now I m 8 years and she suggested me to join the school.
That day at night, it was about 8 p.m. I was not even sure, because we never had a wall clock. It was dinner and everyone was on floor on the piece of wood (pirka). Our dinning room was just a part of our kitchen. There was nothing special except a room full of smoke, floor covered with mud. On my plate was 4 roties and *dhido* and some vegetables and its soup in a bowl (ka-chau-ra). Vegetables were fresh, and it were from our own kitchen garden. Which was just few foot below our house (ghar). Rotis were like a piece of dry leaf.
?Dad (buba)? I said
He stared me like, I did something very wrong.
?Do u want to say something?? he replied after a long pause.
?Yes, dad (ba)? I answered in a low voice.
?Go ahead? he said, as he was eating.
?Dad (ba), now I m 8 years old and I want to go to school?? I said proudly
?What?..? (Ke-re??.?)? my mom shouted.
?Don?t come between me and Ma-nay?s conversation, manay ke aama? my dad told
Actually, Milan was my real name, but no one calls from my real name.
I don?t know why, I guess they lov like that, and even I lov this name: Ma-nay.
?But why Ma-nay?? my dad (buba) questioned
?Every kid in our village goes to school, and I?m the only one who stays home and feeds and has to looks after cattles, and clean up their shi*?
My mom was pretty mad by that time, and her anger raised. As she said pardon me, ma-nay, I understood what she meant.
?But, your brother does the same work as you do, and he never asked to go to school !?
?Son, if you are really interested on going to school, and want to fulfill your aim. Then, I am not stopping you to do so.?
? I am proud that you want to go to school, and you can join from tomorrow?
My eyes were full of tears, as my buba was saying those words. I didn?t know what to say at that time. I just hugged my *ba* and went upstairs and waited for the sun to rise.
?Oh, so you want to read huh?!? my brother asked
I Nodded.
?Do you want to join school with me, Hari?? I asked
?Thanx broda, but I am happy with my job and mei life. Don?t u try to split some shi* in my life?, he warned me.
?Anyway, all the best for your first day of school?
My brother Hari hates school. He loves hanging out with cattle, cutting grasses for them, and milking cows and buffaloes, and drinking half of the milk. He is 5 years older than me and he never think of going to school. And also because no one forced him to.
I went to my bed, which was actually, just a piece of mattress (das-na) half of it was added by my mom with some pieces of cloths. I tried to sleep but I couldn?t. All these crazy feeling were all running around my mind. I haven?t ever entered inside the school once in my life before. By the that time, it was so dark outside, and it was more darker because of on light. We never had light bulbs. All we used was a candle (Two-key) As the darkness increased I was afraid and hide my body inside the blanket. A blanket!, it was just some pieces of old clothes.
So, I started my school, the day after I got permission from my father. I had nothing except my interest in study, not even a copy to write and pencil to write with. I just learned everything our teacher taught on the black board, actually it was a brown board because it was made out of mud. And stick was a source to write on it.
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