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Months passed, and we still didn’t get a chance to investigate the haunted house. We really wanted to go and see if it was real or not. Tom and I kept waiting for the day when we could finally investigate it. One afternoon, when I came back from school, I overheard my mom talking to Tom’s mom on the phone. They were saying they had to go to another city for work, and it would take a few days. They also decided that Tom and I could have a sleepover at my house so we wouldn’t be scared staying alone, since our dads were also leaving.

Excited, I rushed to my room and called Tom to tell him everything I had heard. After that, I did my homework and played some video games. Suddenly, “RRRRIIIICCCHHAAAARRRDDDD!” my mom shouted from downstairs. I thought she was angry at me for playing, so I hurried down—but it turned out she was just calling me for dinner.

After dinner, my dad came home, and once he finished eating, my mom told me again that they would be going to another city for two days and that Tom would come for a sleepover. I already knew this, but I didn’t say anything. Inside, I was thrilled. This was our chance to finally investigate the haunted house.

Asking for some clue  

The next morning, I met Tom on the way to school, and we excitedly talked about the haunted house. I reminded him that this was our big chance. At school, we asked other students if they knew the way. My friend Wolfy said there was a mansion nearby, and from there, we had to take the right path to reach the haunted house. Many other students gave the same answer. Since the majority agreed, we decided to follow Wolfy’s directions.

When I got home, I asked my mom when exactly they were leaving. She said tomorrow morning at 5 am—and that Tom would be arriving then too. I was so happy because it was the weekend, and with them leaving early, we’d have plenty of time for our investigation.

Time for the journey 

At 5 am sharp, my parents left. Right after that, Tom arrived at my house. We packed some food—just in case the journey took longer than expected—and set off together. After walking for an hour, we were exhausted, so we rested for a while before continuing. Soon, we spotted a small, unpainted house in the distance. A faint light glowed from one of its windows. Nervously, we headed toward it. My heart was racing faster than ever.

Suddenly, I realized Tom wasn’t beside me. I looked around—he was nowhere to be seen. Then I heard a loud snore. Panicked, I ran back to our resting spot, and there he was—snoring like a giant! Relieved but a little annoyed, I woke him up, and we continued, this time with me keeping a close eye on him. When we reached the house with the faint light, my heartbeat quickened again. Holding hands tightly, we stepped inside.

Investigation of the house  

Inside, the house was empty. It had four rooms, all dark. We checked one room—nothing. In another, we found a big, fat black cat. I suddenly remembered reading somewhere that witches often keep black cats as pets. I told Tom, and we both screamed.

Then we noticed a candle flickering by the window. That made us scream even louder. Just as we were about to run outside, a voice called, “Boys, why are you here in the woods? Are you lost?” We froze, then turned to see an old woman holding the black cat. Surprisingly, our fear vanished. We asked why she was living in such a small house with no electricity. She explained that she had no family and no home, so she found this abandoned place and had been living there for ten years.

It turned out the house wasn’t haunted at all. We invited her to come with us, and she agreed, carrying her cat. When she asked where we were taking her, we explained we wanted to bring her to an old age home where she would be safe and cared for. She was very happy.

Proving everyone wrong 

We took the old woman to the old age home and explained everything to the caretaker, who thanked us for helping her. As a reward, we received a bravery badge. Later, we went to the children’s park to show our friends the badge. When they asked how we got it, we told them the whole story. Everyone appreciated our bravery.

After that, Tom and I went back to my house and had fun. Two days later, our parents returned. We proudly showed them the badge and told them everything. At first, they scolded us for taking such risks while they were away, but in the end, they also appreciated our courage.

This is the second in a two-part series

Shreyashi Sigdel

Grade VII

Euro School, Chhauni

Growth in the world today is no longer about profits alone. To succeed, we  need to build the bridge between people, planet, and profit, known as the  3Ps. Businesses that believe in sustainability are setting themselves up for  sustainable growth in the future, while also helping to create a healthier,  fairer, and more resilient future. 

For decades, some industries have used the traditional model: extract resources, manufacture  goods, use, and finally, throw away the rest of the product. The “take–make–dispose” cycle in  today’s world is used to cut costs on ecological problems, and business growth. Sustainable  businesses embrace, and focus on the Circular Economy principles [it means to move the economy in  such a way that everything is reused, recycled, or regenerated instead of being thrown away] which  puts an emphasis on treating waste as a resource. 

Reports say one regenerative dairy cooperative, the First Milk, implementing resource-efficient  closed-loop strategies and sustainable practices experienced growth in sales by 38 percent in the year  2023. The change demonstrates how ecological systems can help grow business solutions,  enabling companies to thrive even in resource limitation, or scarcity. 

Going beyond the minimum requirements helps companies protect themselves from risk and  comply with consumers. Research shows that approximately 70 percent of consumers prefer to buy from  brands that are considered environmentally friendly. The growth of global ESG-related assets, projected to be nearly $34trn by 2026 tells you that sustainability is not a cost—but a  growth opportunity. 

This strategic shift is grounded in reality. Businesses are embracing sustainability not just for  reputation, but because climate risks are already reshaping their operations. Industry leaders  emphasize that businesses are embracing sustainability to not just look good but because they  understand that, “The very real impact of floods, fires and storms has direct consequences on  businesses’ bottom line and long-term viability.” 

Sustainability often inspires innovation instead of stifling it. For example, IKEA has managed to  lower emissions by over 30 percent since 2016, all while keeping affordability in mind. As CEO Jesper  Brodin stated, “Sustainability can’t be a luxury; it has to be a choice for everyone.” 

Authenticity is also important. Alex Wright, CEO of Dash Water, warns that loyalty only comes  from legitimate environmental commitment and not just a gimmicky initiative. 

Challenges persist in measurement. Deloitte recently said that almost half of FTSE 100 companies  restated climate and sustainability data, especially related to indirect emissions. Still, this increased  scrutiny can be viewed positively as a movement towards a greater degree of accountability.  

At the same time, sustainability goes beyond the environment to communities. Fair labor, fair  trade, ethical sourcing and social equity move companies away from simply selling a product, to  being a positive agent of change. Research indicates that consumers are even willing to pay a  premium for ethically produced products, which reinforces the social aspect of corporate  responsibility. 

Balance is the essence of sustainability: people, planet, and profit. Academic literature reinforces  the strong correlation between high corporate social impact performance and profitability and  resilience over the long-run. Consumers, investors, and regulators are driving sustainable business practices that are redefining  success. Whether it is generating sales, protecting ecosystems, reducing emissions, or improving  financial performance, sustainability is now a mandate, not a choice. It is the compass leading us  to an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.  Profit cannot be the only measure of success; prosperity can only be achieved in harmony with  people and the planet.

Sriansha Bhatta

Nepal’s prison system reflects the deep contradictions of a country that has enshrined human dignity and humane treatment in its Constitution but has failed to translate these guarantees into practice. Overcrowding, poor facilities, and a purely custodial approach have left correctional facilities overwhelmed and ineffective. Article 20 of the Constitution prohibits torture and cruel treatment, while Article 21 secures every person’s right to dignity, yet prison conditions in Nepal remain far from these commitments.

The Prison Act, 2079 introduced a significant legal breakthrough by incorporating provisions for humane treatment, classification of inmates, and the possibility of open prisons. Particularly important is Section 41 of the Act, which explicitly authorizes the establishment and management of open prisons, outlining the criteria for selecting eligible prisoners and the conditions under which they may serve their sentences in less restrictive environments. This section embodies a shift from viewing prisons solely as spaces of confinement to institutions of correction, emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration. However, despite the legal foundation, practical implementation has been timid, with only a handful of facilities in Nuwakot and Pokhara functioning under the open or semi-open model.

The reformist intention of the legislature is further supported by the Criminal Offense (Sentencing and Execution) Act, 2074, particularly Section 28, which provides courts with discretion to impose non-custodial alternatives to imprisonment. Under this provision, probation, parole, community service, or other supervisory mechanisms can be applied in place of incarceration, subject to specific terms and conditions designed to ensure accountability. This provision complements the philosophy of open prisons by reducing reliance on imprisonment for non-violent offenders and promoting rehabilitative sentencing. Yet in practice, judges have been reluctant to fully exercise these powers, and the probation system remains underdeveloped and disconnected from the open prison framework.

Experiences from the few open prisons in Nepal demonstrate the transformative potential of this model. Inmates in Nuwakot and Pokhara engage in agriculture, carpentry, and other vocational activities, with a portion of their earnings supporting their families. They live under minimal security, governed largely by trust and self-discipline. This aligns with the intent of Section 41 of the Prison Act, which envisions open prisons as mechanisms of rehabilitation rather than exclusion. Comparative evidence from countries like India, where Rajasthan’s open prisons have functioned successfully for decades, and from Scandinavia, where open and semi-open prisons form the mainstream correctional system, further reinforces the practicality and effectiveness of this approach.

The judiciary has echoed this reformative vision. The Supreme Court of Nepal has, through multiple rulings, directed the State to ensure humane treatment of prisoners and explore alternatives to custodial punishment in line with constitutional mandates. The Court has recognized that incarceration must not merely punish but must prepare inmates for reintegration. However, judicial pronouncements have not been matched by executive commitment, and without budgetary support or political will, the directives remain aspirational rather than operational.

Critically, Nepal’s hesitation stems not only from administrative inertia but also from entrenched societal attitudes. Many perceive open prisons as leniency, ignoring that overcrowded, punitive prisons actually heighten risks to public safety once inmates are released. Reformative measures such as those envisioned in Section 41 of the Prison Act, 2079 and Section 28 of the Sentencing Act, 2074 are not concessions to offenders but investments in safer communities. They recognize the inevitable truth that prisoners will return to society, and the State must decide whether they return as broken individuals or as rehabilitated citizens.

For Nepal to address its correctional crisis, open prisons must become policy rather than experiment. This requires amending the Prison Act, 2079 to provide clear and transparent criteria for eligibility, ensuring oversight and accountability, and linking probation and parole more coherently with open prison management. Courts must more actively apply Section 28 of the Sentencing Act to divert non-violent and first-time offenders from closed prisons. The government must allocate resources for training, infrastructure, and monitoring. And civil society, academia, and the media must help shift public perception by highlighting the successes of rehabilitative justice models.

Prisons are not merely holding cells; they are mirrors of the State’s humanity. Continuing to ignore constitutional guarantees and legislative provisions will perpetuate a system of abuse, inefficiency, and insecurity. The open prison model authorized under Section 41 of the Prison Act, 2079, coupled with the non-custodial alternatives under Section 28 of the Sentencing Act, 2074, offers Nepal a pragmatic, cost-effective, and humane path forward. The question is whether the State has the courage and will to put its own laws into practice, or whether these progressive provisions will remain unimplemented words on paper while prisons collapse under their own weight.

Several countries around the world celebrate library culture in their own ways. In Nepal, National Library Day is observed on August 31 with the aim of promoting library culture and strengthening the library sector. This year, under the theme “Our Library: Our Future,” we marked the 18th National Library Day. On this occasion, I would like to share a few thoughts on libraries and the culture of reading.

Libraries worldwide have evolved from being mere government archives of records and documents into public institutions where people seek knowledge and information. Sadly, in today’s world, libraries receive little attention from the public. Yet, they remain vital repositories of wisdom, not just for contemporary society but for generations to come. America was fortunate to have Benjamin Franklin, who pioneered and promoted library culture. The US is now recognized globally for its strong library system, which has also contributed to the growth of world-class educational and research institutions.

In Nepal, however, library culture is still in its early stages. One major reason is that the government does not require schools to maintain dedicated libraries. School libraries are crucial for nurturing reading habits among children. Parents and guardians, too, play an important role in cultivating a love for reading. By setting aside time and space at home for reading, they can inspire children to follow their example—since children often emulate older family members. Gifting books to children on special occasions, instead of transient distractions, can also help foster lifelong learning.

To conclude, at the national level, the best way to commemorate this day is by taking tangible steps to promote and strengthen library culture. At the family level, the most meaningful celebration lies in developing the habit of reading together and sharing ideas. After all, a family that reads together stays together.

Happy National Library Day to all!

Mohishu GC

Grade X

Sanskar Pathshala, Dang