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“Good morning Nani!” A high-pitched voice behind her door can always be heard during the early mornings of Spring. The morning wishes to feel like a reminder to her every day. This a reminder about how she can seize the day with optimum energy to accelerate productivity. 

A day where she is encouraged to quench her thirst for knowledge by plunging into the world of books and learning resources. Some days she is occupied with the wonders of the outside world and a few days she emerges to reflect her inner self. 

Her curiosity about life keeps her engaged throughout the day. Once she gets submerged into the depths of her understanding and thoughts, she imagines. An imagination that takes her to a topsy-turvy world. It unhinges her. 

On a calm Spring morning, she woke up to the sound of her father’s morning wish as usual. The sun was setting above the horizon and the Kathmandu valley was getting warmer and the sky clearer. A ray of golden light entered through the big windows into her study table. The table was full of her current readings from Carmine Gallo to Michael J Gelb. There were colorful sticky notes all over her wall which read about affirmations and mantras. 

Her vision board echoed the triumph of achievements she has envisioned for herself in the coming years. A graduation photo of her mother hung right below the flag of her dream country, Germany. As she stood in front of the mirror, a reflection of her teen self-appeared. A girl who is full of dreams and enthusiasm to conquer the world of possibilities. With a smile on her face, she does a big “hi 5”. 

After drinking a cup of water, she ties her hair up and sits down on her study table to write a to-study list for the day. A list that consists of several topics to read, learn, watch, and listen to. The sound of the cuckoo is a call for her to go upstairs on the terrace for some serene time alone. She catches a deep breath of the fresh air and the cool breeze flips her long hair. The hills on the southern side catch her attention and she feels calm and at ease. The hill isn’t as steep as a cliff but steep enough to run out of breath if a trekking trail is there. Many houses and buildings were visible from afar where the Kathmandu valley could be seen in its form.

Once she turns around to see the beautiful landscape of the valley, a glimpse of her childhood memories flashes in the blink of an eye. She saw a shy girl who was afraid of people. People’s faces. Faces that reminded her of an unforgettable incident that crippled her down to angst. Her heart suddenly feels cold and uneasy. She tries to divert her mind by recalling all the greatest lessons she has learned in her life so far. She reminds herself of her potential and worth. 

A reminder that keeps knocking her mind to make a comeback from all those setbacks. There she was already visualizing herself on the stage. The stage where she can share her story. The stage which fulfills her dreams in her mind is just a terrace at the moment. The limelight of the sun which she thinks is the spotlight for her makes her feel euphoric. And there she is. 

Talking to thousands of people. She can hear the audience clapping. The audience which are the houses and buildings at the moment. A moment that she rehearses in her mind to get the feeling of ultimate satisfaction. 

She stays longer than enough in the state of mind which frees her mind from those angst and fear of people. After attaining serendipity, she opens her heart to pour her feelings into the journal. The clarity in her vision of life she is building allows her to become more confident in the process. By writing, she gets to de-clutter her mind and understand herself. She writes: 

“There comes a point,

A point where you want to dream, 

Dream about every possibility,

Possibility of hope.”

In a brief moment, she pens a letter to her future self about how she has to keep going despite the obstacles and hurdles on her way. A letter that she seals with all her promises and dreams of achieving one day. Her style of articulating her thoughts and feelings made the letter sophisticated. There is a file of her letter collection which she has kept safely to open soon. Letters she wrote by collecting all her thoughts together to make sense of the “why” in her life. Long writings where she expressed her gratitude for life. A life that is full of quests and exploration.  

A notebook that was inside a pile of books caught her eye. It was sewed with a white thread on the side to keep the papers intact and brown tape to secure it neatly. She took the notebook in her hand and gently turned on the first page which wrote “1989, Kathmandu Valley” with a familiar-looking signature that caught her attention. The next page of the notebook would change her perception of many things in life. Once she started scanning the writings and the information in the notebook which was written with a type-writer handwriting almost to perfection, it amazed her. With a racing heart and curiosity in her mind, she started searching for more of the notebooks from other years.

There it was. A pile of several notebooks was organized based on the year. All the front pages read, “Curiosità”.

With a willingness to dive deeper into the world of thoughts, she spends an entire afternoon connecting the dots. The dots which is a point for her introspection consisting of her muse and contemplation. A cup of cold coffee keeps her up until evening as she plays Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” on the Bluetooth speaker. Through her big windows, she can see a bed of clouds covering the honey-dew sky. She gasps for a few seconds and looks outside the window to feel the cozy evening warmth while munching on freshly baked cookies from her cousin. 

“Beep beep…” 

The phone ring catches her attention. It was a call that informed her about a delivery package in a few minutes. The package was wrapped in Lokta paper which had no information about the sender. A unique stamp piqued her attention. With gentle care, she unwraps the package and finds six similar-looking notebooks which were written in the year 2000 in the same handwriting. She assumes it to become a chronological order of writings with the content of a cathartic release of the writer.

When she opened the first notebook written in 2000, it read “The first wealth is health.” Her prolonged inquisitiveness made her adrenaline rush. She turned into the second notebook of 2001 which had the title “The Art of Being Happy.” While turning the page of the 2002’s notebook, she found a family photo and the title wrote,” Family is the heart of home.” 

While being inundated by the people of the family photo, she noticed the date at the back of the photo which was taken in 1990 by Panavision Panaflex Gold II. This took her to another notebook’s title “No pressure, no diamond.” The sequence of the title’s content was a matter of conjecture. She took a breath of relief before taking a glimpse of the other two notebooks. 

“Knock knock.”

The door is swiftly opened by her notorious brother just to barge in. Her focus diverts into the realm of friendly banter with many giggles and shared eye gaze. With an astonished look, he glances at the notebooks and tells her that the cover pages look familiar. 

On the spur of the moment, he rushes toward the storeroom and picks up a rustic brown wooden box that has metal brackets in the corner. He hands over the box to her and the first thing that she notices is the carving which is similar to the stamp in all the notebooks. 

Once they unlock the box, a photo of an old man sitting on this reading table is captured along with the same notebooks. 

It was a moment of awestruck infinity.  

Animon Rapacha 

BBM VI Semester, United College, Lalitpur

In this 21st century world it is difficult to find someone who has never played any form of video game. With the constantly evolving technology, video games are not limited to consoles or computers but are easily accessible on mobile phones no matter the type. The types of games may vary based on the device you have, but every device has the access to video games which have now slowly been a way for many people to kick back and relax after a long day of work, school, anything.

According to Statista, there are currently more than 2.5bn video game players in the world which means the notion of only children playing video games is long gone. As of now there are 831,000 video games in the world which indicates a wide variety of selection for people. Video games are currently a big source of entertainment in many households.

I first started playing video games at the age of three, and ever since it has been an integral part of my life. Sure, I don’t hop on games for hours on end everyday, but whenever I feel down or have free time, I turn on a game. Video games are not just limited to one person as the option of multiplayer allows the person to connect with friends via the internet or meet up together and enjoy the game.

Along with being a form of entertainment and a means to pass time, video games have also become a major source of income for numerous people. Games like Fortnite and Dota 2 have had tournaments which had prize pools of over $30m. Many games hold tournaments year round with massive prize pools because of which Esports is becoming a serious method of income among gamers in the West.

Not just Esports, online platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Kick and Rumble are filled with streamers who live stream themselves playing games and make a living off of it. Many popular streamers sign multi-million-dollar contracts with said platforms which contribute to their earnings along with sponsorships from many game developers as well.

While video games have risen as a source of income, entertainment, relaxation, just like everything, this coin has another side as well. One of the biggest seen traits in people who are involved with video games is the trait of anger. Playing games means investing real time and energy into the virtual world which at times can bring up frustrations and there are many factors that contribute to it, ranging from something that happens in the game itself or because of some glitches or even because of your own friends and teammates. Being too immersed in video games can also lead to health risks mainly obesity and posture related issues. Playing games for long hours means you stay in a certain position and place for several hours which can lead to people having problems in the spine, their back, hands and necks. 

While made for enjoyment, video games are also subject to rules and regulations and go through various checks. All games are subjected to ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) checks which assign age and content rating to the games before their release.

In Nepal Esports is slowly being taken seriously and it is because of one very specific game, PUBG Mobile. Many Nepali teams have been able to take part in major PUBG Mobile tournaments and make earnings. Not just in a competitive scene, PUBG Mobile has also enabled many content creators to amass a huge audience in Nepal.

This rise in gaming has resulted in internet service providers also upping their game and attracting customers with packages that focus on giving a better gaming experience. Worldlink has a package specifically made for PUBG Mobile which allows the players to experience a smoother connection while gaming. While improvements are being made in various sectors to promote gaming, regulations other than age restriction based on content is not available yet in Nepal, as there is no proper government body to make such adjustments. However, online gambling is something that is punishable by law in Nepal.

Video games unlike the stereotypical notion don’t just spread violence. For a long time, the idea that video games that contain violent content results in the players also being involved in violent activities in the real world as well. But video games don’t just contain violence they also contain enriching stories, great world-building and adrenaline-fueling moments because of which they have become a global phenomenon in recent years gaining more and more popularity. Games like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Fortnite, FIFA, Dota2, Counter-Strike, Skyrim, Assassins Creed, Far Cry, God of War have gained massive fan bases ranging in millions which show no signs of stopping.

Diwas Lamichhane

Thames International College

Every year, I celebrate my birthday by cutting cakes and hosting a party with my family. However, this year, I chose to celebrate in a different, more nobel manner. I told my parents that we gather clothing and food items to offer to the senior citizens residing in shelter homes. So, I decided to visit Nisahaya Sewa Sadan, a home of senior citizens, located in Tinkune, Kathmandu, on my birthday.

Accompanied by my grandfather, grandmother, mother, father, and aunt, we arrived at 11:35 am. At the shelter home, we distributed scarves, biscuits, and a ‘Dabur Chyawanprash’ to 40 senior citizens. There I found people who were very humble, polite and lovely. Some people were crying because they were missing their son and family.

But, I noticed that the environment there was somewhat dirty. I believe we can contribute by helping in its cleanliness. We students can organize a cleaning campaign there. When they meet us, they become very happy. I felt happy to celebrate my birthday with those senior citizens, especially considering the absence of care from their own children and daughters.

I learned the lesson that all children and daughters should care and love their elders. And, we should do such social works distributing foods to them and helping them.

Prabesh Bhattarai

Class: 6

Global Pathshala, Kausaltar 

“Time is the music and death is the applause in the dance of life. The beauty of our existence is defined by the way we move to the pulse.”

In this stage of life as mysterious as it seems, the perspective of time itself is bizarre. What is time? What we know about it is it started somewhere in the past (probably when you were born: at least for you this definition is true). But we can no longer describe anything on this day in such a generalized and isolated way. So, what actually is it? Even if it has no tangible effect, you can still feel its impact and it somehow propels you on, whether you like it or not. You were born 18 years ago and not probably 16 million kilometers in the past. We plan our whole life with respect to time which is like an object that is fixed with space and we are moving along it like a passenger taking a ride in a bus. Join me as we embark on three different perspectives on time, unraveling the complexities of time and savoring the moments it unfolds.

The typical frame of reference: What do you think time is? Objectively, time is the space between two events. You woke up, had a cup of tea. The very space between these two events is time. It could be five minutes or 30 minutes or an hour. But what may be an objective event for you may not hold the same significance for me. I could still be sleeping. We can see that time is a subjective experience and is not the same for everybody. Our calendar lies to us by showing only one Saturday, but there are as many Saturdays as there are humans on this planet. You could be scrolling TikTok on a Friday night, but I might be in a business meeting. So where are these observations leading us to? 

Time is relative and doesn’t progress linearly for everybody. On one hand, when you are in a state of flow—a state of focus and enjoyment— time flies. On the other hand, when we are very bored, either it is the event of going to school or daily reading, time moves very slowly for us. The pause in your watch does not halt the progression of time. This simplicity may not endure in the exploration of the remaining two perspectives.

The religious frame of reference: What mask could religion and monks possibly take off from the face of time that occupies a whole new section in this article, what is time? It is the space between two thoughts. Some Eastern philosophies, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, view time as cyclical rather than linear. The cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth (reincarnation) is seen as an eternal recurrence until spiritual enlightenment is achieved. It is common for monotheistic religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity to view time as a component of a divine design. It is believed that everything happens in accordance with God's plan, and that time passes linearly and leads to a preset destination that is frequently connected to ideas like salvation, judgment, or the afterlife. Religiously, time is viewed as an eternal illusion, a concept that accompanies us from birth to the tranquil embrace of death. 

The scientific frame of reference (Thanks for giving your precious time and question again): “What is time?” To answer this let’s imagine from the beginning with another question: “Did the universe have a beginning or it existed forever?” If it didn’t have one, then there would be an infinite period of time before any event and titling it like that would be absurd, right? Should there be any beginning? But why should time itself begin at one particular time?

We can relate time with the beginning of the universe or before the beginning of the universe as there may arise two sides where one could account on the theory that universe had existed forever or on the theory that it was set in motion at some finite time in such a manner as to look as though it had existed forever. Here we enter into the realm of scientific understanding of time apart from different theories of the beginning of the universe from this one discovery. But before we know about that discovery why on earth do we need to know about the universe in this very article about time. Here comes Einstein to defend my article by his theory of relativity where he relates time with space considering time to be the fourth dimension.

Being a three-dimensional creature, while it may be hard to imagine the fourth direction apart from the three-dimensional space which we can easily perceive, there is some evidence however which supports the idea of the existence of the fourth dimension and we are moving along it right now. Einstein proposed that space and time are interconnected, connecting the fourth dimension much like the three spatial axes. Without time our three-dimensional space wouldn’t move; it would rather be in one state at its time which allows us to move in it. This proves the importance of time even if we cannot see it (being out of our realm). But why can’t we see it?

Many objects are obscure to us, not because our perception is poor, but simply because these objects are outside of the realm of our conception. Let us consider that we three-dimensional beings are packed in a two-dimensional plane and the third plane being time. Now move that two-dimensional person upward in the plane of time considering that direction to be future and leftover direction to be past so the higher up our two-dimensional person gets, the older he becomes. This feels like our daily life. There is like a magical constant force that is pushing us towards that dimension at some constant rate and we sadly can’t control it. It may be misleading to say we cannot control the rate of time flow in our life because Einstein allowed us in his special relativity postulate equations to move slower with time as we move faster in space. Well, that’s the gossip for another article.

All of these ideas that we are drawing about time and space are by assuming we are rational beings who are free to observe the universe as we want and draw logical deductions from what we see. Time is the most unknown of all unknown things. Time is like an arrow which moves forward piercing the space and heart of a physicist, trailing away a fundamental question: “Try to understand me, if you can!”

Kiran Paudyal

Grade XII

Trinity International College, Dillibazar