A few minutes later, my crying had attracted a huge crowd. I looked around to see if I could find any Nepali faces. But it was mostly Chinese and a few foreigners. A police woman showed up and took my hand. She smiled and asked me questions in English. My father had taught me how to say my name, his name, and the place we lived. I managed to blurt out the three things that my father had taught me in English even though I was sobbing.
Half an hour later, my parents arrived. I was at the police booth in the railway station, licking on a chocolate ice cream cone. I was happy to see my parents. I gave them a tight hug and continued licking my ice cream. My parents thanked the cops and we went home. I still remember the train incident even today and thank the heavens above that I got lost in a railway station in Hong Kong and not across the border. Things could have turned out differently had that happened.
I turned six and got admission at a boarding school in Nepal. The first day was scary because I would now be without my family and with hundreds of boys. I cried the first night. I thought my parents did not love me anymore. The first year went by and I finally got the opportunity to visit my parents during the winter vacation.
My father always encouraged me to read newspapers. At the dinner table, I was expected to converse with him in English. He asked me about what I had read in the newspaper that day. It took me a few years to finally tell him what was happening in the world and what I made out of it.
As I slowly morphed from a wild kid to an even wilder teenager, I was more interested in reading music magazines instead of the daily papers. My father asked me to read The Times of India every day. My father gifted me books during my birthdays and special occasions.
Today, I need something to read when I'm in the restroom. I need to read something before I go to bed. I cannot start my day with going through half a dozen daily newspapers. It's been a few years that I have been reading the Nepali papers as well. I love my own language more and wish I could speak Nepali like our competent government officials and visionary politicians. Well, as my father used to tell me, always learn something new every day. I hope to be a fluent Nepali speaker when I'm in my 40s.
I have to thank my father for encouraging me to read, be it newspapers, novels or the manuals of every electronic item he brought home. He always told me that it is always better to read the instructions carefully so that you don't mess up later, be it for exams or anything that needed special handling.
Today, my father is 71. From a young, strong man, he's now a fragile senior citizen. It's been a few years since he was diagnosed with cancer. He has been through hormone therapy, surgery, chemo and more. The doctors have advised him to go for another round of chemotherapy again.
My father still reads the daily newspapers and we talk about world affairs every day. In the evening, as he gets ready for bed, we talk about the daily stuff and Nepali politics. Like most fathers in Nepal, he seems to think that our politicians are thieves and have no vision to take this country forward.
I hug my father good night like I used to when I was a kid. The teenage years were spent rebelling against him and mom. Every teenager goes through this phase when your friends and American celebrities are more important than your parents.
Now, as I'm married and getting older, I listen to my Dad more and seek his advice. I admire his strong will power to battle cancer. My father tells me that he's not afraid of death. We all have to go someday.
Like most sons, I too wish I could be a successful person and make my father proud. He reminds me every now and then that he doesn't want to see me make millions of Rupees, be a wealthy man and drive around in fancy cars.
He just wants me to be happy with life and be content with what I have instead of comparing myself to others and dreaming of making quick, easy money. He used to run cross country and so did I in high school. He wants me to go slow and steady. It is important to finish the marathon but you don't have to come first. He wants me to be honest and compassionate with others. He tells me to take care of mom, be close with my siblings, and support and love my wife till the very end.
Like all sons think of their fathers, I too see my father as my hero. Someday, I too will be a father. I hope I will be able to learn what he's taught me and be a good dad, even when things go spiraling out of control. There's a lot I've learnt from my dad and there's a lot I've yet to learn, only to someday pass it on.
kalumaila99@gmail.com
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