Stories of Nepal

“I sit in the corner and sell biscuits, recharge cards, hoodies and a few other things to the nuns at …

“I was struggling to carry the heavy sack of wheat up to the cliff. A few men had already passed …

“Mother had made up her mind to elope with another man before father returned home. He had been gone for …

“Just like you, everyone in the village wants to have tea with me. You see, I am the only entertainer …

“What dreams do we talk about? I am an old man. And I am also without wealth or inheritance. I …

“When times are difficult and I am lost in my thoughts, he comes to me and starts humming songs that …

My patience has run out. So I will be fixing the problem myself, no matter how big. I might be old, but look at my fists, they still have the strength of an elephant.

I take extra care of the girls in my class because not everything they are told at home is right, after all, all homes here are a patriarchy.

This mill I talk about is ancient and is the only source of income for my family. It is because of this mill, I have been able to send my children to school.

I did not know how to use the bathroom, or to cook. I remember watching my relative use the pressure cooker to cook Dal and every time it whistled I felt it was magic.

Father showed me the way to live. He talked of compassion, of family values and how to raise children.

My face is wrinkled and my hair like snow. But, I will smile for you, boy. It is something that I have not forgotten in life.

I know the nature of our sons and our daughters is to leave. Long ago, I left father and mother for my love and I will understand if they leave too.

To be able to sit by the kitchen fire while you stretch your body, to eat warm rice with family while you sing songs of happiness and cry tears of hurt is the meaning of life for all of us.

He is the youngest in our group and he gets too much attention. So he has become naughty.

A few years ago, I was the one who would tell my friends not to leave the village. But today I am the one who wants to leave.

Every time I get, I sit on the front porch and watch the foreigners come in and go. I wish them “Tashi Delek” and they smile at me.

I want to be a very good father to my children. I want to be with them and see them grow and help their mother in raising them. I want to treat their mother right.

She updates me every day about her whereabouts through Facebook Messenger and Viber. It has become so easy. It is almost like she is with me.

She then took me by my hands to the front porch to have her pictures taken.

The night I reached home, I bought some rice, meat and alcohol and we all ate, for the first time as a family.

I never looked back. I walked and walked in search of father and mother. From one village to another.

I remember, one night I came out to watch the full moon and a sudden realisation gripped me. Many years had already passed.

I do not waste time and keep things for later. I am always moving, always doing this or that.

Some would give me sweets and some would give me change. They would tell me that my smile made them happy and that I brought good luck.

There are many problems in my life. And if crying solved any, I would sit in the sun and cry all day.

I never begged, I worked hard and my skills with needles and threads have provided a service to the community.

I understood from very early on that we were poor and we led different and secluded lives.

“I sell big rugs.” (Laughs)