A Story By: Yuvval Bhasin, Class VIII-C, Brilliants’ Convent School, New Delhi-34.

A Chance Encounter!
Maruni was a bubbly ten-year old girl, who loved everything around her. She lived with her
parents in Lachen, a small hamlet situated in North Sikkim amidst the Himalayas. It was best
place for nature lovers, peace seekers and meditation. The curvy and zigzag roads of her village
were adorned by prayer flags, covered by alpine vegetation with a plethora of flora and small
bungalows.
There was always an influx of tourists from other parts of India to her village and she loved to
look around at the new people, with their different kinds of dresses and often wondered what
places they came from! Maruni felt she was floating on clouds as she made her way to her
school at the Lachen monastery.
Here she saw a boy, looking in awe at the monastery, trying to locate the main entrance gate.
Thinking that he might be lost or searching for something, she quickly went up to him and
asked if he needed any help. The boy, Varun, said he had got separated from his parents and
was anxiously looking for them. Maruni knew what to do, she had been taught well by her
parents and teachers on how to help lost tourists. She quickly went up to the head monk of the
monastery, related the boy’s misery and came back to him. She offered him a cup of hot milk
and some Sael Roti that her mother had given her for lunch.
“Do you know anything about my state, Sikkim?” she asked Varun, to keep up the conversation
while they waited.
“Well, I have only read about Sikkim in my Geography Book!”, he replied. “Why don’t you
tell me something more about this village, Maruni?”
Maruni’s eyes lit up, she was always very proud of her heavenly little village. She went on to
describe that Lachen was near the Kanchenjunga National Park and Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Her quaint village was an abode of beautiful places like Lachen Monastery, Thangu Valley,
Tso Lamo Lake, Lhonak Valley and Green Lake.
Varun was visibly excited to hear about the beauty of Sikkim, He then expressed an interest to
know more about some famous people from Sikkim. He hardly had any knowledge about any
famous person from this state.
Maruni was like an encyclopedia as she started telling Varun about one person, then the next.
Sikkim state is renowned for supplying the country with many celebrated personalities. Danny
Dangzongpa and Nirmal Chettri are revered characters that India is proud of. Baichung Bhutia,
who born in a small village in Sikkim, his sheer talent led him to the greatest achievements.
From becoming the second Indian soccer player to playing professionally in Europe to wearing
the captain’s uniform for the Indian soccer team, he’s done it all. Omi Gurung, a renowned
fashion designer, was also born and brought up in Sikkim. He worked as a modelling editor
before becoming a full-time artist. Karma Paljor, a daily news reader and writer for CNN-News
18, did his schooling at the Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok!
Yes, I do recall him when I see the English news channels, Varun remarked!

Their conversation was suddenly broken by shouts of glee, as Varun’s parents came running
towards him. They thanked Maruni profusely for helping them reunite with their son. Varun
told them about how Maruni had also enlightened him about her village Lachen and how he
now knew about so many famous personalities from Sikkim!! They were happy and blessed
Maruni!

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