Dreams Of Reality( Pooja Bhatta)
…
The person kept on knocking the door at the dawn in a cold morning. I was in my deep sleep and thought to ignore it. But, the loud noise was irresistible to my ears. I opened the door, finally I had to. He was about thirty-five( with a long beard ) and was very frightened. I also noticed a noise outside. He pleaded to keep him in. I quickly made him go in. Few minutes later, I was interrogated by a group of armed man. They threatened me regarding the consequences of hiding anyone from them. They paved their way and the man whom I made to enter my house did not come out until the guns were gone.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
" I am an innocent person…..er…..I was in their custody for more than three years. I was bitterly tortured; no food, no clothing, no bath- totally inhuman behavior."
"What's your name?" I asked.
" I am Joran Sigdel,…used to teach at a secondary school in Paanchthar but….they killed all my family members in front of my own eyes…" He kept on weeping.
"Who suspected them?"
"They were suspected as rebellions, I don't know who exactly killed them. Their brutally killed body parts were found after two years. They were secretly massacred….my son, a daughter and wife were killed…..They had also raped my young daughter and wife. I couldn't see either of the faces. Had I died earlier, I wouldn't have to listen this intolerable, inhuman deed."
Tears ran down his cheeks.
I asked why he was being followed. Suddenly, a loud voice (probably from a mike) was heard. It was something like " You have been covered from all sides. Come out and save your life otherwise we will throw bombs on you…." We helplessly went like out a mouse being requested to get trapped. I could easily notice their dress and the way they acted. They began to beat Joran with boots and guns. One of them was loading his gun. Joran was bleeding from his mouth. I was ther as a silent spectator, being surrounded by those evils. A soldier fired six bullets from his automatic weapons and there was a complete silence for few seconds.
"Don't tell anyone about this incident otherwise we know how to treat you and your best friend."
All of them had gone. They also carried the dead body of Joran but blood was till fresh. It was showing the earth- the mother earth- the condition of her child. I sat lonely there for sometime. What did I do ? A man dies or say brutally killed in front of me, just few yards away. I couldn't do anything. His world has disappeared. Although he lost his family, he wanted to live- to tell his story to the world. The conversation we had for ten minutes depicted the whole scenario of our nation. Here many Jorans are captivated and encountered in a dark moment of time.
Few days after this incident, I heard an unexpected news regarding the death of a terrorist called Joran. Oh God! , I was the eye-witness and knew the reality of Joran and his family. No any human rights activists, reporters had access to such sort of incidents. Life is valuable to you; as well as me. I thought of - not decreasing my life balance as I was scared of the tragic death; the one Joran had acquired.
The next day, I had to go to a remote place of our nation, yes… Paanchthar itself. I thought of knowing the reality by my secret investigation. When I arrived, Joran's village, villager seemed really terrified. School was also closed, the same school where Joran used to teach.
"Who are you and why did you come here?" an elderly woman asked me with furiousness.
"I am just a journalist, self-minded journalist…came from valley…"
"You seem like my younger son who is now in rebellion. Elder one died in an attack one year ago. Two daughters have also been abducted by armed forces from school."
"School! Isn't the school closed ? Who closed it, dear mother?"
"…rebels and armed forces had a fierce cross-firing. Since then, school administration is hesitating to open school citing the insecurity to students."
"Do you know Joran, a teacher of this school?"
"Joran…" her eyes widened.
"Where is Joran? Do you know him ? Tell him his mother…is looking for his arrival."
"Are you Joran's mother ?"
( I as totally broken. I didn't know what to say. She went on telling about Joran's childhood, about his fonds and dislikes, his dedication to work… I just looked at her eyes. She must be in her early sixties. Her eyes were deep, watery and black. I thought of the consequences if I mistakenly tell everything about the person whom she loved more than her own son. )
"No, but he was the most close friend of my younger son Baibhav. He had a nice family but all of them suddenly disappeared ( around ) two years ago. I thought- Joran would really have a nice mother in this world even if his own mother had departed. Really, a mother's love can win everyone's heart, alter anyone's mind and help in engraving a new fortune as well as future.
I just returned back the next day. My mind was completely disturbed. I met Nisha, my best friend after arriving in valley.
"Pooja, where were you that long?" she interrogated.
" I am really undergoing a difficult time Nisha. My recent days have taught me the true meaning of life and bitter reality of death. "
"Oh…o…! have you read Shakespeare's novel eh… You are giving me literary explanations…."
"Please Nisha, I have got no time for joke - I am tensed, damn it?"
"I am really sorry, Pooja. Share with me what is undergoing with you."
"………………………………………………………………………………………"
"Ohh, then why didn't you seek help from human rights activists?"
"How can I…? Thay won't leave me alive if I tell the truth. Noone knows the grief and sorrows Joran faced."
"So Pooja ! You have lost all your morality and humanity. Didn't you use to tell me to pave the right path - the path of truth during injustice? If you really are my best friend, you must think for millions of Nepalese. Please, tell the truth to the world. Display the situation of Nepalese brothers and sisters."
" I f you want me to do so, I will do it for you - for my Nepalese brothers and sisters and for everyone else - even if my heart leaves to beat."
The next day I called up a press conference and told all the facts of Joran and his family. I urged human rights activists and concerned organizations to investigate the matter.
The next morning, I was abducted and taken to an unknown place. I was severely beaten.
Now, they are trying to shoot me. No, No, No… I can't see this.
"Don't kill me, please. I love my life."
The bullet left the gun and I woke up suddenly at my house.
Was this a dream? I don't think so since it is the bitter reality of our nation where injustice captivates freedom. The useless government snatches one's right and separates innocents from their families. Only "ordinances" are brought out but they themselves are out of order. Royal government has allowed rebels and armed forces to clash. These all ruthless, chameleon like ministers are destructing the sovereignty of the nation. Real Jorans are pleading for life but there is no record of such encounters. They are all termed 'missing.' Whole villages are captured by rebels but still the nonsense term of 'election' has been brought out.
Children who must have pens and copies in their hands are now detonating bombs. One doesn't know the destination prescribed by the God. But, it is not an impossible task to innovate the seeds of peace in abstractness.
Let's work - for a new day.
- for a new millennium of peace.
- for peace,
and complete stability.