Five engineers were walking down the highway, soaked with perspiration, each carrying a duffle bag weighing tons. The venue was Tandi, Chitwan and the year was 1998. One of them was me, the good old John_Galt with eyes penetrating all the paddy fields to look for a small temporary office (and perhaps a glass of cold water) our company established which was soon to be moved once the factory was completed. None of them spoke to each other, cos everyone knew coming to a terai was not a good decision for most of us. Mr. A and I were raised in the eastern terai of Nepal, but had become consummate kathmanduites over the years. Mr. B , C and D had never been to terai, and their debut was not so fine.

It was our first job, garnished by a handsome remuneration and a perk training in various parts of Asia, Europe and South America....an offer no one could refuse. But the catch was; we had to be stationed in Tandi forever. We were delighted at first.....as long as the money was good enough no one would mind relocating in either Timbucktoo or Ulan Bator. Everything seemed so alright until we saw the paddy fields and the scorching sun. I had no remorse over coming to Chitwan, infact it reminded me of my childhood and early teens in Biratnagar, but for others, it was a living hell.

Finding a house was not a major issue but living together certainly was. Mr. B used to wake up all night killing mosquitoes further exacerbated by incessant snoring of Mr. D as if mosquitoes weren?t enough to do the damage. Three days later we decided to go separate ways. Mr. C almost went back to Kathmandu, but after thorough counseling with Mr. B and I, refrained from doing it. Finding another job with a good five figures was not a cakewalk.

So I started living in Parsa, a VDC six miles east of Tandi. I moved into one of the finest apartments with a little bathroom in it. Most of the houses had restrooms located outside. I started my first evening with a cold San Miguel which caught eye of one of the probing old woman at a grocery store who would not believe engineers drank liquor.

?I thought you guys were good student and successful human beings, keeping yourselves away from liquors?.
She scowled at me.

She was certainly outdated.

Grapevines in Parsa had news disseminated that a young engineer who drank lot of beers had arrived and was stationed there forever. Middle aged women flinched, and thought I would not make a nice groom for their daughters completely forgetting about their half drunk husbands who picked up fights at a village square once a week. But some of them were aware that I earned more than enough to feed their daughters and that drinking did not matter at all. I would soon have to encounter them.

Chitwan was a beautiful place, more beautiful than I ever imagined and the people were courteous and nice. But it was a playground for dirty politics. Leaders often amassed gullible villagers and duped them for wrong doings, such as unconditional strikes and bandhs.

During one of those bandhs, when I had to abandon my sleek hero Honda and had to rely on my feet and a pair of Nike for odd miles, I met Neema.....

To be continued.......

Yes often it happens John. Sometimes circumstances puts us in a situation where we can not help but go with the flow.

And no, it would not have been any better had you refused. At least you have a memmory of her. It's weird how some people have some weird unexplainable warmth that touches you. But strictly speaking about myself, I would stop short of making any 'didi, baini' with emotional attachment. I have my own and I for one would not share the same love & care by making othesr my 'didi or baini'. The one I have is all I need. And god knows I love her beyond rationality.

I know love like happiness grows more when shared. But (striclty speaking for myself) I honestly would not want to create relations as such. wel if it happens, then well...!!!

IndisGuise:)

thanks manab,

I should be honored to hear that I have been paving my way to be next Samrat, but he is a mutifaceted, multi-talented human being, he can write anything from Julius Caesar to Fidel Castro to masaii tribes to donald trump to everything else we have ever heard of. I had heard him once, in Indiana, he speaks wisdom....I am just a rookie.

Nice story, john bro. It really touched my heart. Relationship are not created, just happen....................... very true, but I personally believe up to some extent u can avoid that relationship to happen, at least u can make it not happen. I don't have a sista of my own have a couple that happened. Well, I never tried to avoid those relationships, i just wanted sisters and I got a couple. Now, i don't want no more, I think two is enough for me, after all responsibility comes with relation, i think its like buy one get one free. Now I can avoid any more sisters entering my life. I think I can avoid to let it happen.

Any one understand wat I mean here ????????????????????????

john, thank you for sharing such a personal part of your life with all of us....your story is very touching indeed and i think it was a good idea to accept her offer of bhai tika. there is nothing stronger than a connection between two people. it's just unfortunate that it worked out the way it did....

and i would like to add my two paisa....i have no sisters of my own. and while you were an outsider to neema and that community, i was an outsider to everyone in my village....but now i can say, with complete honesty, that i have about 100 wonderful bahinis in palpa....not that i accepted bhai tika from all of them, but i grew to love them like my sisters. and now, when i receive letters from them, they write "namaste sir and dai...." and then "love your student and bahini...." my heart breaks every time.

yes, relationships do sometimes just happen....but they happen as a result of a mutual connection that we cultivate over time and through shared experiences. i am sorry that neema's family and the community was so misunderstanding regarding the relationship the two of you shared....but, in some ways, that's nepal for you....hoina ra?

ruina, i also enjoyed reading your post. thanks for sharing that as well! ahile ta, sathi banayera, bhok lagdaina hola.... (;-D)

ani indi ko kura pani ekdam thik ho! "It's weird how some people have some weird unexplainable warmth that touches you....I know love like happiness grows more when shared." so true....

John Galt, I called my fren up and she told me her "gaon" is in Jagatpur. Its 2 hrs away from Parsa. The museum that I was referring to is in Kasara. We didn't actually enter it because they were building or (re-building) the bridge then. She also told me there is more than one museum in Chitwan. That one week I spent there was heavenly.

buddy, Ghariyal camp gayena? Thanks for the complement. all chitwanbasi are frenly like me :D:D

those good old days :s

That one week we left for Chitwan in my fren's truck. We reached there sometime in the evening and as soon as I met her baba, he asked me all sorts of qs. Nani ko ghar kata, bau ko naam, bau kya kaam garnu huncha, purkhali ghar kata ho.." After 5 minutes of interview, my fren rescued me. She had told me that we were going to her gaon, but her house turned out to be made of brick or cement (don't remember). Boy! I was soooooo disappointed. I had expected some mud hut :(

Anyways, there were like 10+ houses in that gaon and all were all related to her. That was the whole gaon in total. Amazing!! Then we went to visit the museum and this army stopped us on the road and he looked at me and said, "Bahini, KTM ko ho?" Damn, how did he know? During the evening the lights would go out and we would all sit outside and talk. Maybe I chose the wrong time of the year to go for the heat would be unbearable sometimes. And I remember this particular "hero uncle". He came to visit us. He asked us some qs and we asked him how he was doing. Seems he knew Rajesh Hamal (dai) in person and also had also offers to act in movies. The whole talk impressed me none. After he left, my fren said he was a "real" guffadi.

That was my one week. It was not perfect but came close to being one!!

हर्कु,
>Now, i don't want no more, I think two is enough for me, after all responsibility comes with relation, i think its like buy one get one free. Now I can avoid any more sisters entering my life....
Any one understand wat I mean here ????????????????????????
मैले बुझेर भेऽन।बुझ्नेले बुझे होलान् नि।
इण्डी,
>I know love like happiness grows more when shared.
कुरा त मिठो गर्छ केटोले बेलाबखत।

Meera,

I have been to Jagatpur, it is a very remote village, had trouble driving there, and yes, I have been to kasara too, there is a military barrack where few friends of mine worked. There is a tamed rhino too.

Just called my fren up, she says Ghariyal camp is where all the crocodiles are reared re. Its half an hour from her place re. No, she did not take me there :(

She's also heard of the tamed rhino re, seems they reared "it" in the jungle not at home but she has yet to see it.

We both promised to go back to Chitwan together, she wants to go back after she's done with her undergrad which is at least 18 months more, I want to go when the whole Maoist thingie has settled, if it does ever. But buddy u should come with us, maybe u can be a better guide :)

You have deleted most of your pieces. I am reviving the last remaining ones.

John bro you reminds me of good old days spend in chitwan. I was also borned and raised in kathmandu and that was the first time i was going to stay by myself that too out of kathmandu. I visited almost every corner of the chitwan district. It was funny that even some people living in bharatpur doesnt knew half the part of the district is coverd by hilly areas. Those hill were mesmerizing and always felt so good whenever been there. I m espcially attracted by UpperDandgadhi and Dahakhani. Few other incidents like local people teasing airhostess of Yeti air in Meghauli airport was funny.

    

 Hi John Galt

I really enjoy reading your posts. But where is the remaining part? I could not find your other posts as well, seems like you have removed it. Could u please post them again?

 

Anu

Nice  to reading this small story but you should finish your whole story....But Ruina story is also good....John bro next time u should post ur whole story...ready to read your writing...

anu9, Death,
The story is complete. Just click on page 1 at the top of the thread. Then you can see a post with the remaining part of the story.

it is always pleasure to read your stories john.  i am one of your many fans who always wait for your stories on sajha forum.  not many people have such skill like you do, please write frequently if possible.  i hope your little daughter is doing great. 

Oys, you are another sajhaites who is master in story telling.  your memory lanes are always missed here.  when is your next part coming?  i hope new heaven is treating you well.