Solo Enigma

  Hurray! Hurray! The students of Mongar Higher Secondary School was closing for winter vacation. The school is located at corner of country with, around seven hundred students and fifty teacher and staff. Bhutan is tiny landlocked country located in Himalayan region squeezed in-between India and China.   Every citizen of the country have right to enjoy the freedom of education, health and other resources. A native of country, Lobzang, who was then a class twelve student of Mongar Higher Secondary School was also leaving for the vacation. He was a science student and had completed class twelve in the year, 2016.   As usual, he would be found always drooped inside the book, both at school and home. He goes for fantasies, philosophical, inspirational and other non-fiction series. That day, his attention was caught by one of the books at the corner of kitchen reading, "Dooms Day Conspiracy".   It was fully dog-eared folding into crumples nearly biding final stage. He scrubs all the dirt and unfolded all the crumpled pieces. After scrubbing, hardly he could go through the gist of the novel. His mind is diverted by some catchy words reading, "NASA Agent Profession and Life"   His inner vision forced him to go through the books. He was fully engrossed in the book, day and night. It speaks about the nature of job, love life and upsurge in the impediments as a life of agent. He came to learn about the risk ahead, working air and solitary life as NASA personal.   He was taken aback into the reverie dreaming as a soldier sacrificing in the name of country. After going through the words of the book, he dreamt of becoming a first Bhutanese NASA agent based at United States of America (USA). Even from destitute family and countryside, his dream is always over the moon.   The chapters and the words of the book were inspiring him more and more. He went through the book for several times and was fully optimistic to join an Army right after his High School Graduation. The book was his lone companion and he never fails to go through some interesting phrases and chapters again and again, when time badges.   The journey of solider came into a full swing with the labor at home. He took every chore at home as training to join detective in future. Even fetching a water and firewood was pre-training and he never took it easily. He was 18 years old village boy with the wildest dream, filled with positive outlooks.   On deciding with the clear picture of his future. He texted his one of friends, Dechen toward night reading, "Hi buddy". "What is going around" though he is not active on w******p. He was eagerly waiting to share his future in next 10 years.   For him, Doctor and Army shares same taste of profession as a one, who protects or kills the person with different weapon. One kill and save with gun and other by Morphine and Phadine 50-mmHg. On the other hand, he feels that both profession is for the betterment and safety of people. So, he concluded that it does not matter to him anymore with nature of job back in the mind, seeking warmth on the bed.   "Hi Brother", blinks the status bar of his simple J2 smart cell phone. He was knocked from the day dream, gathering his sense back to the reality. "I am done with dinner and waiting to go with new novel, "Solo Walk...The dream and the Destiny", Comes next. Lobzang was elated and replied instantly, "Oh! Are you busy?", “No brother, go on". Was his next. Lobzang outlaid his dream and plan pooping back in his mind. Though Dechen was badmouthed guy, he was certain with his true color as a friend during high school.   After listening to his bluffing for five minutes, Dechen was the one who pull his legs with the sharp edge in his tone. Lobzang concluded back in his mind that he was indirectly backing up his plan. So, they didn't waste much time and bid each other. In the meantime, Lobzang was visualizing his mission in next five years, first as an Army and as NASA personnel in decades.   Amid the fires and bullets in war zone wandering in his mind, he was snoozed into the deep sleep. Utopian sketch was only the thing from dawn to dusk. Every seconds of time, a day was busy trail for him to rebuild his determination. He work out every morning, despite busy labor during broad daylight. He re-energized his inner instant with fantasy and other series books during minimal recess hour.   Swiftly, time was adding its course into months expecting to walk the talk of mind. 2017, very first month, every twelve standard students were getting set for their academic transcript. It is the life changing turn of them to foresee the future in decades. Few days later, every media in Bhutan went on air about declaration as expected by every bystanders. The internet feasibility would be jam-packed with networks of users across the country.   Lobzang, on contrary, doesn’t mind much but decided to browse page to update with his final scores. Bravo! His scores were nearly to ceiling, though he could not gain the academic celebrity of the year. "Yes!” He yells to himself with the tear of joy streaming with satisfaction over his results. He learned to focus on goals and fuel with every ways and methods to pursue the dream. He never fails to place faith in materialistic world full of intricacies and confusion. "Scientific Orthodox Realm" was his name to his surrounding, back in his mind. He believe that science can change the course of world with mystic technologies and numerous emerging brainboxes.   Besides it, dream he yearns never fails to add its course in hand to hand with emerging modern Eras and westernizations. Lobzang wants to become ever first Bhutanese NASA agent. He want to salute for every people across the globe. Normally, he spent most of the time with phone browsing aimlessly like everyone do. The first person in his mind right after the day was his mate Dechen. While regaining his strengths after tiring day, he waved him on Skype. There comes a prompt reply from his comrade.   "Hi Dude, Heartfelt Congrats", applaud Dechen. It touched him on perceiving something sincere and positive regards from his best buddy. "Thanks brother" Lobzang replied trying to mask his inner joy. "Are you joining Doctor?"  Lobzang began the conversation. "Sure, I was always waiting for this moment to cripple" grasp Dechen and continued, "I will help people to see the world, even if it is for a second". Lobzang was really happy to hear his friend and fed more verbal motivations. The to and fro interview got over with Lobzang planning to join NDA, Pune at India and Dechen to MBBS at Sri Langka.   It was never easy for them to find time to exchange text after the school. Though they have a root of inner connection, meeting in person was just a dream which would be realized once in a blue moon. The distance got stretched between them and on the way, lost their contact, while building base for their own future. One day, reminisces of school day was craving Lobzang desperately, saddening him to the bottom line. He took out his Journal and begins, "Life is like a jig saw puzzle fitting, Many to come and much more to let go, it comes and goes at last"- Missing Mates, wrapped up days trip with few word of billion meanings.   Although out of reach with friends, he diverges his leisurely time reading books, updating daily journals, sketching maps to lead mission in future and sometimes making time for action movies. Every day was busy for him and night was full of dreams, making him hard to get a sleep. Indeed, he never take rest with labor maintaining his health to join National Defense Academy, though lummox about it. He always finds time to stay tuned with BBC news, learning about the status of the world as whole.   As a time passes by, every student was applying to various university in and out of the country. After three to four months, everyone got recruited in various university in and out of the nation. On the one hand, Lobzang didn't applied for any university and was patiently waiting for his chance to turn in. He was adamant with his goal and didn't have any second thoughts as a backup plan, chances he hadn’t got to study at his dream college.   It was nearly towards the end of first semester for his batch, when he saw the notice about upcoming pre-commission vacancy. He jumped, unleashing the beast within roaring with the pitch of success into an open air. Nothing around bothers him anymore, after hearing the news with additional top up from academic transcripts. His dream of becoming an agent at NASA was looming with the first and foremost step. The first obstacle rung of the ladder took broader out view with many more ahead.   Next day, he rushed towards town with adequate bucks to meet the transportation and scanning charges. He arranged his documents, re-arranged, check and re-checked for several times to make everything is in place without single defectiveness. He mailed his documents to Army Head Office at capital. He even went repeatedly through mail to scan his documents for the last time.   He didn't took cab on returning home. The ultimate choice was to walk back home as a training to build stamina and resistance to face every types of incoming challenges. For him every hardship is a lesson and labor is an exercises. After trotting for five hours, he was back home, completely drained out. It was dinner time and his hunger was scraping over the hill without any food for a day. Hastily, he got over with second plate, quenching his cravings. For a moment, everything around, seemed looming with his thoughts, full belly and eventful day.   For another week, there is nothing to be found in the website. Lobzang took out his phone every minute wishing for the mail. One adds to another weeks and he found himself burning, losing interest and faith. His dream was shattered, everyone was blaming him and was completely broken after three weeks. He learned that his friends were back for vacation, completing their first time at new atmosphere in the universities.   He felt deserted without any value in his education and doomed dream. To his surprise, one morning his status bar displays an icon of mail. He scrubbed his eye half asleep and opened the message. It reads, "Congratulation Mr. Lobzang. You are shortlisted for the physical test and entrance examinations, dated on......" He verified mail for second time and was certain with another rise in his life. He was over paramount hill, still didn't reciprocate to anyone about the message.   He got one week time to prepare his expedition to the new place. With light heart and clear vision, he walked the sideway along feeder road into thick jungle.