With all the excitement I went to Pune to live in this new world I
had always dreamt of. New roads, strange looks... I was actually trying to
figure out how will I fit in this new world of mine which I had always wanted
to live. This was my first day of venture.
When I was in my hometown I never had used a bus to travel. It's not
that I travelled in a car or something. You see I do not come from a very rich
family. We used to have tempos that's not what they call it here in Pune...
It's called a six seater. Anyways I am not alone here. I am with my father. The
very first day of my new life I fell down from the bus. But the excitement
didn't drain. We were given three options for my studies. ICCS, Sinhegad and
Garware. Locals didn't have a good opinion about Garware and neither did I. The
difference is Locals said it's not good college and I didn't like the name...
then the next option was Sinhegad. I liked the name and we went there. Located
in Kondhwa. It's somewhat 10 to 15kms from the city. Well this is not the place
I landed at the end. My father was told it was MINI PAKISTAN area, the very
concept papa is not comfortable with and neither was I when we were told so. So
then finally I landed up in ICCS, 18 km from the University of Pune on Mumbai
Pune Expressway. All the required procedure was done and I shifted in the
hostel. A grand room with two single beds, a bathroom and two study tables.
Well I am sure by now you must have understood I was going to share this room
with another girl. I told Papa to leave and go back and he did the same. Now I
am here sitting near the window gazing at the college and the view from it.
**************************
I
was born on 23rd April 1989. Well reader do not worry I am not going
to describe the 18 years of my life. I come from not so orthodox family. I
spent 7yrs of my childhood with my grandparents as papa had to travel and mummy
took the decision so that my studies shouldn't be hampered. When finally they settled in KTM I was called
back. I started the second part of my childhood and completed my schooling in
there. Well I had many events during my school because of which I am the way I
am. I used to think because my origins are from India my friends didn't like me
which is again not true. Anyways then +2 from Universal where few important
things did occur. But they are again not that necessary for you to know. I have
always wanted to study away from home because my cousin Nikita used to tell me
about her life otherwise studying away from home was never so important to me.
But again I was a child. After every exam I used to bring this matter out just
in the hope that one day I would get them as wanted. But then the answer I got
was always a NO. I completed +2 and again the topic was raised and papa denied.
Well mummy has never been comfortable with the concept of children studying
away from their homes. But then like every once upon a time story has one day
even my story has one day. I had already taken admissions in CAB for graduation
degree and papa filled a form and he told me that I have an interview at Indian
Embassy. I was told it was an interview for scholarship. I laughed at my papa.
Well this laugh was not because I was happy. I mean I was happy that he was
thinking but at that moment it was the sarcasm that was being reflected. You
see I have always been fighting to study away from home and when I had left the
hopes papa brought this form. I was super excited though at the same time.
Today
is the interview. I am supposed to reach there at 10 but I am already late. Oh
God. "Ma, I am going"
"Just
let papa finish his breakfast"
I
and papa headed towards Indian Embassy. Its 10.30 when we reached there. It was
the first time I saw Indian Embassy. We had to walk a long way. The road was
big and it had a lot of trees. We searched for the counter where my name was in
the list. Long queue. More than 100 students were listed for today's
interview. "One I am not a
brilliant student and second there are soo many students brighter and brilliant
than me, I HAD NO CHANCE" thought I.
There
were so many students. I submitted the form and was waiting for further
directions.
"How
long have you been waiting for your turn?" asked papa to one of the
students.
"
Its 2hrs now"
"
What have you applied for?" again asked papa
"
BBA"
The
first thing that clicked my mind was just follow this student as we both have
applied for the same course and she was just ahead of me so probably we are
going to be at the same destination.
After
waiting for 3 long hours we were standing of the room where the interview was
being conducted. A batch of 25 students
at a time was the count. You can say the countdown began although I
didn't know when is my turn. I already had the feeling I am not going to get
through and above that when the students who already had been interviewed told
that they were being asked questions like describe the law of diminishing
returns and Bowley's Law I was blank.
"Why am I wasting my time and what did
papa think when he filled this form.. Hmmmph" said to myself
"Alice
Stones, who is Alice Stones?"
OMG
Thats my name.... "ME" I shouted
I
went inside the interview room.
I
am sure readers you understand the feeling when you are inside the interview
room.
It
was a clean and dark room with very less light. I observed that the room had
many medals showcased, few newspaper cuttings framed you know the kind where
you are shaking hands with the PM or some politician or some celebrity, few
awards received by I didn't know the faces I had seen. The person sitting was a
tall person. Well I cannot say handsome but he definitely made his presence
felt. Wearing a black coat white shirt and formal pants . Well you can say the
classic combination. At the same time I was praying he didn't ask the questions
from my books. I have dreaded interviews and more than that I have dreaded the
course books.
"Sit
down" he said
I
had read a lot of articles about your posture during an interview and the
etiquettes to be followed. It was one of the tantrums used as per those
articles. I believed it left a good impression.
"
Thank you" said I
"
So tell me about yourself?"
"My
name is Alice Stones. Born in Biratnagar and brought up in Kathmandu. I have
studied in New Summit School as you see in the data presented and I have
completed +2 from Universal College. At present I am studying BBS in CAB and
also teaching in my own school where I had studied. I am ambitious, hardworking
and adaptable. I like playing chess and have been a chess champion in my
school, participated in few cultural dance events."
Well
that's the way the article tells to answer and I did.
"
So Alice, tell me one thing", " what do you think whether the demands
made by the madhesi is good for the country? Do you think their demand should
be fulfilled and is it good the way they are protesting?"
Another
bullet on my head –
that was what I was thinking. I questioned myself why I never watched news. But
again my article helped me.
"
Sir, I have a very negligible idea about the demands by Madhesi but you see any
kind of protest would not be helpful to the country as it is affecting the
peace and security of the country and no country can develop if the peace and
security are at stake and above that for a country to develop it is necessary
for the political condition to stabilize and all these protests would do no
good to the country in a whole and if a country can't develop then we cannot
think of individual progress" was my answer with all the confidence.
"
Very well. So Alice I can see you are Stones"
"Yes
Sir!"
"
Your origin is from India"
I
don't know whether it was a question or a statement. But I nodded in agreement.
"
Do you doubt about your nationality? Do you see yourself as a Nepali or
Indian?"
Thats
a trick I thought. But again with all the confidence I said- " Well Sir, I
do agree that my origins are from India. My grandfather came from India at the
age of 8 when his father died and then my father also was born here and he
studied here and is working here only. In fact he also got scholarship to
study. Then I am also born here and brought up here. I can never deny my origin
but at the same time this is my country" I smiled and in return he smiled,
"Thank you Alice. Nice talking to you."
"Thank
you"
"Can
you also send the next person Arun Tuladhar please?" I nodded and left the
room. I wanted fresh air as I was petrified.
"Arun
Tuladhar" I cried the name as I was requested.
"So
how was the interview?" papa asked
I
was too thrilled to answer his question.
"I
actually don't know if it was good or not because the questions he asked were
not answered with the information. He asked me about politics which definitely
has never been my cup of tea. The only thing I am confident about is the second
question if the evaluation is done on that basis."
I
went home now. Me and papa both wanted rest now. It was a tiresome day.
It's
MAY now. I kept calling the embassy to know if I am selected or not. Entire
month I had called the embassy. I believe the operator now knew my name and
number.
I
was sitting with mummy discussing about the marriages. It's kind of debate me
and ma always have. The so called concept of love and arrange marriage. A
bizarre topic.
"How
does it matter if the guy is from a different religion? I know adjustments are
required but every marriage requires it. It's so wrong to blame a couple and
tell them characterless just because they are in love before marriage. How much
racism can you promote!!!" was my argument
"I
dun care about others but dare you go for boy from different religion" was
the immediate response I got.
Before
I could reply back the phone rang.
It
was an unknown voice and unknown number.
"May
I speak to Ms Alice Stones?"
"Yes,
speaking"
"Miss
Stones I am calling from Indian Embassy"
An
alarm in my mind and my heart was pounding hard and fast.
The
voice again spoke "Miss Stones you have been selected for the scholarship
program that you had applied for"
I
was filled with joy and in a hurry to give the news to ma I thanked the voice.
"Ma
I got the scholarship"
"How!!"
was the tone
Me
and mummy, we both believe that I was completely lucky and we strongly believed
in destiny.
I
disclosed the news to my family. I didn't want people to know about the news as
I wanted to be sure but my too much excited papa declared the news of FULL
SCHOLARSHIP to everybody. I was not happy about that but you see ALL'S WELL
THAT ENDS WELL.
The
arrangements were made and then me and papa started off for Kolkata and my new
life.
