“I have sold curd in this street for 51 years. When I started a few people came. They told a few others about how good the curd was. Maybe it was the milk I used. I don’t mix water and I don’t take out the cream from the curd. And more came. And in a few years this place became a favourite among the locals. They came to rest and have their curd and beaten rice. And we talked about our daily lives and our families, of having a life, of not having money. They talked amongst themselves for 5 mins or 10 mins and parted their own ways. Everyone became friends. And they talked to me too. They had questions to ask and to answer. But times are not like that anymore. Situations have changed. And people have changed. Money came and it changed our thinking. These days everyone is in a hurry, they come, eat and leave. No one has time to talk to anyone. No one asks me questions and even if they do I don’t have any answers. Some come and leave without even exchanging a word. And I look at all these different men. The brotherhood is lost and my time is coming soon. Just an old man’s story for you, boy.” (Bishwa Nath Mandal Dhanu, Janakpur 23, Dhanusha)