"God sent them"
"I am not going. I'm feeling dizzy " said Tashi Kunga turning our attention toward him. We were putting on the best uniform we had. By best uniform I mean the neat and clean one. It would've been better with fancy clothes but our principal had made us clear that without uniform we were unable to join the outing. "I feel like something bad is going to happen. "he added. Everyone gazed at him and started cursing him. How ever we made him come along with us. We 150 of us including borders students from grade 1to 10 ,staff and foreigners. It was foreigner who arranged this picnic for us. We weren't told where we were heading but however someone managed to know.  We were to go Godawari but it was cancelled and we're gong to Tribhuwan park. We the boys of grade 8 were together at the back seat of bus. There were more than ten foreigner who was one the same bus in which we were present. They requested us to sing song. We began only one the approval of principal who happen to be on the same bus. We sang song to the fullest. I could see that we passing swayambhu and kalanki. It's been long since Ive out of my school with stood northern most part of Kathmandu. I felt very delighted to see people and vehicle moving around." Sing a English song " said our principal in Tibetan language in order to please them. ,we didn't knew old English song as almost every foreigner were above 50. One of the student shouted"we will ,we will rock you "and everyone continued after him. This was the most popular song in our school. Every student even students from grade 1 knew this song. Other song followed with wrong lyrics.The seniors students we told to carry the stuff and I was handed with a half dozen of Coca-Cola tied together as we got off the bus. The gate was small with no proper sign on it. I could see jungle and lots of people as it was weekend. I heard that the price of ticket wasn't expensive but felt bad when they charged double our price our foreigner. Carrying those bottle of carbonated drinks made me feel lighter as its been long time since I saw six Coca-Cola together. We borders students were very fond of eating. It's not because we didn't get enough to eat but rather it was  excuse we ate the same thing always. Everyone had big smile on their face when they got food to carry and at the same moment I felt bad for those who got other than food to carry. Next time I enjoyed carrying fruits with one of my friend. "let's eat one "he said. I didn't reply but rather I stared at his face. It was safe to eat(steal)  as I couldn't see anyone in our sight and the place where were suppose to place those things was quite far. Thanks to park, it was huge and full of trees.  We enjoyed the apple and threw the seed  far from our sight. My heart felt warm after eating that apple and it was beating fast at the same time. I just finished washing hand and got the sight of students playing. Kids were enjoying football, boys volleyball, some girls were playing badminton with foreigner and some sat to gossip. I could see a rare happiness in face of students and some grinned as a they saw me watching them. Senior students who carried load sat at the corner and began their gossip. I didn't join them and stood still near a lovely tree. I was experiencing the moment. I thought it was quite a different moment, different happiness and different place. The park was full of people. I could see people playing loud music and dancing . I could see couple dating and kids running around. I could see people food there with their big smile on their face.
I was standing still with my hand at the back of my wrist and suddenly I heard a grumbling sound as if a bull dozer was passing by or as if an aeroplane was landing near by or like the sound of galloping horses. Suddenly my legs were moving out of my order. I was not able to balance myself and  fell on the ground as if like a thread. The ground was shaking with large amplitude. Then I felt dizzy and heard student shouting and crying for help. I could see everyone with their four limbs on the ground. The shaking went for almost 1 minutes. Suddenly someone shouted "earthquake " .I only came know it was earthquake after that. The shaking continued for few more seconds and it ceased. I signed with relief and heard my name being shouted "Jamyang gelek gurung " . I sensed as I was in trouble because I was called by full name ."you foolish boy, go away from that tree !".Before she completed her sentence I ran towards them and she yelled "Don't run! you fellow".I slowed my pace and turned back to check whether the tree was falling or not.  I felt safe when I reached near them. And suddenly a brick wall fell down with loud sound. It nearly hit one of girl but she escaped. Later she cried and other consolated her. It wasn't only who was far but I could see all scattered. Some kids were crying out in mother name and other prayed.  I sensed fear in everyone face .Foreigner were shocked. My heart was beating quickly and legs were shaking due to fear. After that everyone sat together in group and prayed to god as per our principal who was quite religious.  I could see other people talking and making a sign of relief . After few minutes of praying we were told to continue playing. Some reached to play and other sat together and shared their feeling. I  played volleyball  .we had our lunch after few minutes. It was much better than the food that we daily had but no-one seems to care cuz in deep they were in fear. I could see other people down the slope dancing and  singing. The samosa tasted awful than usual samosa but I didn't intent to throw. I was hard time we got to eat different than usual one. Even though the school tusk shop had many food but our pocket money would finish within few weeks of returning to school from home. They fed us with samosa, Tibetan bread,cold drinks, veg curry, fruits and lots. Just as I finished eating I went to toilet down the slope near the people dancing , I could see crowd of people quite far from my sight.I along with few friends went near to it and saw that two group of people were fighting.  We came to know that the village people near the park had come there to silence the people who were dancing. They said that many people lots their life due to earth quake and they couldn't bear people dancing in front of them.They say Kathmandu was a mess. They also claimed that dharahara was collapsed along with lots other monuments. I could imagine the condition myself , the area of Asan and thamel, people crying for help and news on earth quake . The fight settled and the people who were dancing felt sorry and instead of music they played radio and gathered around it .we're called back to join other. As soon as we reached there near other another jolting occurred. This time it was so clear . One girl was sitting in the shed, whose roof made out of tin which obviously made sound, shoke so badly that the girl cried till her breadth was out. I could see other out of their mind.after that everyone were told to sit together and prayed. In Tibetan prayer we had one for natural calamities so we were told recite that. After some time ,principal played radio from her cellphone and gather to listen. Many channels were covering and had different news. Some said Sindhupalchok was the epicentre and other said Gorkha, sikim and so on. One even said Kathmandu was in pitiful state and other covered death casualties. We were surprised to see dad of one of our friend . He said he went to our school and came here as per watch man. He informed us about our school and said that one out of four building was in worse condition and all the boundaries wall had fallen. He thanked god that students were not there other wise dozens would have died. We had to stay there for more than we had to because the road wasn't clear. We say that the statue had fallen which hit a kid to death. As we step out of the park we could see houses fallen and tilted position. Our bus moved through the main road and all of us watched the painful sight we could see. One of student cried after hearing that Gorkha was the epicentre which was his village. I was beside him and I could feel the pain and began to think about my family. I prayed in heart not to hear bad news. Hospital on the roadside were full of victim and even dead bodies were lying on the road side. Every student watched. No one spoke a word until we reached school. Some parents were already there to take their children. We could see our school in ruin. All the boundaries wall had fallen down. We could see cracks on building from outside. It seemed as if a bomb has fallen there. Our hostel (boys)  was tilted . In spite of that, we went inside and brought our belongings. Upon this our principal was mad at us and told everyone not to enter any of the building. Senior boys were told to fetch bedding as many as possible from our hostel. That night we didn't have anything to eat.so, some students ate remaining food of lunch and most didn't .we slept in the basketball court with clear sky as roof. We boys gathered and began to talk. One of them said, "if these foreigner didn't take us there, few students could have died. ""God sent them" other added.