Power Game

Power is everything in today’s world. America is regarded as the power house, it can do what so ever it wants. When you get into power, even you can do whatever you want. You can prove Right, a Mistake or fault, and you can prove false statement true. Don’t even forget the traditional system, when King could turn the caste in Nepalese Society.

‘You seem innocent, why are you here?’ She asked Supriya.

‘It is none of your business.’ Although Supriya felt like saying this, but since she had no one to talk since last two days, a company would be better though she looked weird.

‘I hit a guy with knife….’ Supriya said.

‘And why are you here?’ Supriya immediately asked again.

‘It has already been six months; I will be here for six more months!’ She said.

‘No, that was not my question, I asked why?’

‘Umm….Actually I was caught while trying to take some drugs to Hongkong.’

‘Drugs trafficking?’

‘Yeah…at least that was better than being prostitute!’

‘You….And Prostitute?’ Supriya asked surprisingly.

‘Yeah, worked at a bar for two years just to feed my stomach, and later got into this. At least it is better than dying of hunger! Better for people like us who live below poverty line! Better to live a life, no matter if it is by stealing or robbing than to die like a dog in the street…’

‘Oh…’ Supriya had no idea what to say.

‘Forget it, tell me your story, you seem innocent, why did you hit him with the knife?’

‘Ummm……’

‘Don’t feel awkward, feel easy and share….was he your boy friend? Love and breakup?’

‘No…’

‘You can call me didi….my name is Pramila’

‘No didi, he was not my boyfriend or anything…there is a long story…’

‘Okay, begin….there is nothing so special waking up early tomorrow!’

****

I had a simple life in the capital city. Morning college of BBS that would consume the time till ten in the morning and then go back to my rented room where my cousin sister would keep the cooked lunch, have it and then reach office and occupy the receptionist chair by eleven thirty. Deal with every staffs and abroad aiming students throughout the day and get out at five. Buy vegetables on the way, reach room and prepare the dinner for me and cousin. After dinner I would share the things that took place entire day to my cousin and listen to hers. Sleep after the talk and wake up early morning at five and again rush to college. Getting a rent in such a mid area that was near to both my college and my office was lucky thing though I didn’t cross the finger praying for anything as such. Saturdays would pass away washing clothes and cleaning rooms. Other public holidays were actually meant to be the holidays when I could either get out with my college friends, or sleep entire day or movies! I would call at least once a week to my dad and mom who were at Nepalgunj, my hometown. That was my life in Kathmandu. I was from middle class family, and after I got the job my father need not to send me money. Life was going on, and was moving better before a week.

Something like eight months back,

After my college, I had to go to see my friend in hospital, and for that I had already took leave from my office that day. I had to go through public vehicle. I got into Nepal Yatayat from Subidhanagar. As usual, the bus was over crowded. I got inside when the conductor sent me back so that he could get new passengers to stand in the front. The crowd was really exceeding by the time it reached New Baneshwor. It was difficult to keep hand anywhere around, and I could sense something on my back. I could no way turn back because of the crowd. At first I accepted the situation and thought that there was nothing so abnormal, but when the hand began feeling my back I got nervous. My nervousness crossed the limit when my body felt cold as the hand got inside my tee. I tried to turn back, and the hand was removed all of sudden. I tried to move a bit front to stay safe, but again the hand was sensing my body. I could not get any idea regarding who the person was, but finally made a safe arrangement at the place bit foreword. After reaching New Plaza, I got out when I heard a sound came….’Mazza ayo maiiya lai?’ (You had fun baby?) I just got the glimpse of the face who told me that.

The incident made my heart heavy and I returned room as soon as possible after meeting my friend at Kathmandu Model Hospital. I just slept, and did not cook dinner that day. My cousin was sure that something was wrong with me and she made the dinner without any complains. At the time of dinner she asked me with a sad voice…

’Didi, I thought I was more than sister to you, I thought you treat me like a friend and like everything in this city, but today I felt very bad when I can sense that you are hiding something with me!’

I could not see her upset and hence told her the entire story and also thanked her for cooking though it was my turn to cook there.

‘Didi, we can’t afford taxi, and it’s hard for us to travel like that.’ She said.

‘Yes, it would have been better if I had accepted Ravi’s proposal, at least I would get to travel in bike at such moments! And I could appear bold at such time because there would be a backup for me…’

Ravi was actually guy from my college, I don’t have any sort of feelings for him, but it seems that he really loves me. Else, he would not be so good to me time and again. I have already said him that we can be good friends, but cannot go into relation four times before this.

‘Chii! Don’t say that…’ She said.

Days were moving gradually after that incident. Life was getting normal, but I could not forget the incident and would think more than twice before getting into the public bus. Hatred for guys, fears from boys made me finally think that guys are the cheapest creature in this world. I never entered into the public bus and rather preferred tempo always for my travel. However I just got into public bus two times then, and nothing such stupid happened then.

___

It was another hot summer day, when I had to go Putalisadak for applying my Bio Data at another Consultancy house, because I was searching for the job which would pay me comparatively high salary. On my return, though it was around four, I could not get a single seat in tempo, so I had to choose something fearful. Although I had travelled in bus earlier after that incident, but I would never feel secured. But when there was no other existing option, I had to get into the bus. So, I entered into the bus, and had to stand in such a crowded place. My one hand was hanger for my bag, and another hand was in the rod above, to control the balance of my body in moving vehicle.

Gradually, I could feel some one sticking to my back, I could feel something strange. I feared that someone was again trying to go through the same mischief this time as well, so I moved to another place without seeing the person who was doing it to me. I luckily got the seat, and seated there. But on that crowd, someone was feeling my hair again, and when I turned my head up, I could see a guy looking directly at my breast from above. He was making fun of me with one of his friend, and I folded my hands and chest, I even buttoned my shirt so that he could not stare at me. He was talking something with his friend, and I could not get what he really was talking of.

Before leaving the bus at New Baneshwor, he all of sudden brought his hands to my breast tried to squeeze and got off. I could not make any issue there, and thought it wise to stay silent but I was again nervous and was mentally ill again. I shared the incident with my sister again, and this time she gave a bold advice to always keep some weapon with me in bag always so that I can give a wonderful feedback if anyone tries doing that to me again.

I could no longer think of working at the New Consultancy, where I could be paid higher.

***

After that day, I always used to keep nail cutter with me, for my safety. Although at first I used to keep my kitchen’s knife in the bag, but that was something bulky, and nail cutter was the best thing. Small and easy as well.

Travelling in bus was such a fearful task for me, that I rather preferred walking in capital than getting into any public vehicle. If I walked half an hour early, I hardly need to take any bus, and by now only tempos had been my way of transportation. I used to walk instead of getting inside any public vehicle.

The stick of the clock had been rotating in its own speed, and one day, when I had to return back from the Anniversary Party of our office, it had been kind of late. The party was scheduled to be till nine in the evening, and I was asked to stay full time, so that I would be carried to home in some of their vehicles. However, since my sister was alone in the room, I had to get out by seven.

I got into the tempo at Pulchowk that took me till New Baneshwor, and I still had to walk for twenty minutes to reach my room. It was more than seven thirty, and winter’s time is fast. So, I was hurrying myself to get as quickly as I could. The worst part was, on the way, I found a guy was following me from the time I got out of tempo itself. More than fear, I got myself strong. My nail cutter gradually moved into my hand, and I raised the knife part above. It was not that empty street though’ and his fast walk made him overtake me. As soon as he got forward, he turned to me….

‘You are beautiful.’ He said.

As though I have not heard, I walked continuously. He was moving in my speed and with me, as if we had been walking together.

‘Did not you hear? I told you are beautiful.’ He again said.

‘Please, leave me alone.’ I said. I could smell alcoholic smell from his mouth by now.

‘How much do you need? I am ready to give you Three thousand bucks, let’s go!’ He said.

‘I am not that type of girl.’

‘Come on!! There is nothing wrong…you are beautiful!’ He tried to catch my hand!

‘Please!’ I said in nervous tone.

‘Hya sexy, don’t search any bhau, okay I raised the amount, I am ready to pay you four thousand bucks!’

‘I said, I am not that type of girl!’

‘So what? I said I want to fuck you, don’t you get that?’ saying this, he said catching my hands.

‘Please!! Just leave me!’

‘No way baby!! Lets go..’ He was dragging me. Although there were few peoples around, I could not see anyone noticing us there.

‘Leave me, or else….’ I could not further think of.

‘Else what? You will scream? No one will hear you! So just walk normally with me, my friend’s room is just few minutes from here!’

‘Oh come on darling, there is nothing to feel shy of, I will pay you don’t worry.’ He further added.

I could not tolerate any longer, my knife raised nail cutter in my right hand got active and I hit him in his hand at first!

‘You bloody…’ before he could complete saying anything, I took the knife and hit him in his forehead, and then again in his cheek. The blood was flowing, and removing his hands from my hand, he now started touching his blood moving area. Before anything, I just ran, ran like anything to my room.

I narrated entire story to my sister and then I could not sleep for the night.

Next day, I had a fever, and I could not go to the office or even college. Even the day after, I could not attend my classes or office. However I received a call, saying I was fired and get office to get every things complete.

I was shocked hearing that, and when I called my friend there in office…she said….

‘A guy came to office, to search you. He was with police, and he was wounded. He said that it was you who hit him and hit with knife in his eyes. Police are waiting for you to come in office, so that they can take you. You were not drunk that day, how did you…?’

Before completing her lines, I cut off my phone. I was shocked that how could he reached office. Things like, ‘He probably had known me since very before…’ came into my mind. However it got wrong when I realized that my bag was missing, and I suspected that I have had left it in the place of incident itself. My identity card must have brought him till my office. Without hesitation, I got into the office, where police were waiting for my entrance. As soon as I entered manager’s desk, he gave call outside, and said, ‘You can come!’

After handing me a letter of fire, and my last cheque, police came inside and arrested me. I was thinking to protest, but when I knew that he was the son of Praladh Sharma, ex minister of Nepal, I knew that I was weak. No one beside my sister knows that I am here, I don’t want this to be known my parent in Nepalgunj., so I have warned cousin not to inform they anything. Because they would be mad to hear this, they already were pressurizing me for marriage though’. So here I am!

***

‘So what do you think it is going to happen now?’ Pramila asked Supriya.

‘I don’t know, I have not yet been sentenced either!’

‘Praladh Sharma indeed is powerful person; he will not let you so easily!’

‘Yes, that is the same feeling I am having within me as well!’ Supriya said.

‘Its already half past eleven, let us sleep right now!’

‘Yeah, okay.’

---

Two days later,

‘Who is Supriya?’ Guard came asking.

‘I am…Why?’ Supriya said.

‘Okay, get out, you have been rescued!’ Lady guard said.

‘But who? And how?’ Supriya asked.

‘Why do you want to stay here forever or what?’ She said with lazy tone.

‘Pramila didi…did you hear what she said?’ Supriya asked.

‘Yes, but who could do it?’ Pramila was confused as well.

‘My dad sure does not know anything about it, even if he will know, he cannot do anything…Did Praladh Sharma’s son himself realize?’ Supriya was talking to herself.

‘Hey, don’t take tension, go out and you will know it all…and before going let me know who took the step in rescuing you.’

‘Okay didi!’

---

After Twenty Minutes,

‘Pramila didi…it was….’

‘Who?’ Pramila asked before Supriya could complete it.

‘Ravi…!’

‘Ravi…same guy who used to run after you? But how could he?’

‘I just figured out, he is the son of Home Minister!’