3 Days at Pokhara

1^st Day (ON THE GO)

 “Niraj” betrayed me at the last hour, what we had planned is to make a marvelous ride up to Pokhara but he suddenly changed his tongue “Sorry Prem I have something important”. Never mind he is my good friend. “Its ok”-I nodded.

 I took some shirts, t-shirts, two pants, undergarments, a toothbrush, a cold cream pack and a pair of socks. Thanks god no need to pack bags like girls……. Now all my bags are packed and I am ready to go.

I made a call to my big B” Avhiman dai", “Brother where shall I make a ticket?” “Khairenitar”-he replied. I was in rush to Kalanki, it was already 2:30 pm and it was almost 5 hours drive, I happened to meet one of my college “Are you going out of the valley?" The bag seems bulky, he pointed to my bag. “Yes, I am leaving for pokhara”, I nodded. “And what about the presentation?”, he asked suspiciously. “I will face it later. Ok I am already late, I got to go”, I replied. “Ok have a safe journey, he made a forceful wish. Oops! He killed my almost 15 minutes talking this and that.

"Pokhara, pokhara, pokhara……………super express, super express”-a conductor with some patches of money holding curved inside his finger was crying as if he is going to hitchhike every passenger. I quickly get inside. After 10 minutes the bus started leaving the hustle and bustle of the Kathmandu city. I made a call to big B “ brother what is the fare up to there?”, I can never trust these money minded bus staffs, there is no rules and the law for the fare, its there wish, they take fare so roughly, you never know with these types of people. "Around 350 rupees" he suggested.

A man of late forty was by my side, he had a beautiful Nepali cap over his head, white-black complexion with pointed nose and the mustache curved down was the most noticeable like a constable. He smiled at me for that I gave a cute smile. He asked me to take the seat, so sad he took the seat by the window. I love to be sated by the window while traveling, I can just remember before some few years I used to vomit so I prefer window’s seat but these days I prefer so that I can enjoy the view outside.

There were roughly 40 passengers I could notice. The two adult 

boys across my seat were trying to take out something from their bags. “Where are you up to?” the man by my side poked me. “Kharinitar” I replied. What I can notice that the boys were enjoying the “Lays” and some noodles and a packet of KurKure. Oops! I forget to get some with me. How could I be that careless I forget to carry a bottle of mineral water too? Whatever, I gaze the packet of Lays; the same American flavored cream one, green rapper Lays; Kali , me and her sister ate in the temple’s corridor behind her school in Narayan Gopal Chock. I can still remember that day, I took out a 100 rupee note and requested her sister to get one for all of us. “Are you showing money?” Kali said laughingly. I was trying to create a room for us without her sister so that i could me in front of her. Those were the best moments of my life. I was missing her in my every move. The boys were biting the brittle potato’s chips so vigorously that the cracking sound was getting into my nerves. I put down my hands into my pocket I took out 500 rupee note. Can I eat this? That day I felt badly that money is not everything. Better not to concentrate at them. Some common talks started between that old man and me. “Are you a residence of Pokhara? Who is coming there to receive you?” And many more usual talks between the two stranger. Most of his question I answered well and true but sometime I acted smart as he stared to irritate me talking something about politics about what I am not interested even little. They were finished with Lays and were biting KurKure. I vow to get some Lays and KurKure after bus stops and eat showing them, I turned left and start enjoying the panorama of the hills, the springs coming out between the hills, and somewhere there I could notice some landslides and well plotted fields. I could even notice the “WAI WAI” hording board across the Trisuli, which I have been noticing for 5 years, yea! Its still there.

  Whenever I reached the highway by the side of Trisuli, my monster inside me wakes up. Its starts imagining:-“what if the bus meet with an accident and fall down 300 feet down in the Trisuli? Wow! “ SPLASH”, for that I often think “ I know swimming”. Like in the movie I will break the windscreen with my legs and I will swim to the shore. Hehehehe, I am not afraid of dying.

Through the window I noticed a newly married couple in a Pulsar bike. I could feel their happiness. The woman was lining her head behind the man’s back and her hands around the man’s belly. The man used to apply the disc brake though it was not necessary for what the women’s breast happens to strike his back. He repeated that incident some couple of time. As she knew it she palmed his back hard and laughed. What a romantic scene I encountered. “Long Live Romance.” I mummer.  I missed my bike all the way.

All the way My Big B and including me, we nearly made 30 calls to eachother. “ Hey where you reached?" Which palace? Are you enjoying the journey? And all that. He loves me and cares me a lot. Telling about him, we first meet in Amrit Science Campus, where I completed my I.Sc. It has a long story how intimacy between us grew so strong. I love him more that any my blood relatives.

“This way leads to Gorkha.” The man by my side pointed the road up at Abukhaireni. I stretched and yawned. “yeye” I replied. We started with some interesting gossips for what we both were engrossed in a conversation, I was mumbling hmmm and eh every so often. More over I was enjoying the background music playing inside the bus, “lok dohore,”a typical nepali culture song. “ jhan jhan ramri vai chau, kun saabun le mukh dhoichhau, and lalu pate nuyo bhooee tira, ki lau maya uue tira ki laau mai tira oh nira na lau dwi tira”. Good taste to hear those songs all my way.

It was almost dusk and I was still travelling. I knew that I will be late to reach. A man named “ Prakash” was there to receive me. “Prrraa kyaa ass” I pronounced and smiled silently. As I reached my big B’s house, at first he kick my ass “why are you so late?” he sounded perky. I had to give a presentation, and also I was late to withdraw some money from the bank and moreover the traffic in that fucking Kathmandu, I replied. At the same time he introduced me with some characters and introduced me as an “Engineer”. Oh dad! I hate to be introducing as an engineer. I know the villagers and their mocking. ”Ok, ok change your dress and be fresh” he caressed my cheeks. I could feel my bum paining; he kicked me so hard I realized later.

As he was busy in his works I took out my mobile that I had borrowed from friend to use internet as my cell phone couldn’t work for that. I had a little chit chat over yahoo with Kali. She asked my number again. She doesn’t care me regularly I know that. At no time she called me after I typed my number in the yahoo. “Darshan” she started. I felt a surge of happiness. I asked why she didn’t answer my 100 messages. She replied” Ma testo keti hoena” that shocked me again. I felt as if I was talking with a stranger. She also said I won’t reply even one after this. Ok fine. Frequently Big B was calling me for dinner.

Her words and phrase “Ma testo keti hoen” floated on my mind as a haze. Delicious smell wafted up from the kitchen, washing my hands I sat for dinner Let me concentrate at the chicken roast and fried prawn. We had a good meal. I was feeling so drowsy so I asked my brother where is my bed that night. As it is a wedding house everything was messed up. I could notice a 21 inch Samsung color TV ready for dowry, and some furniture items.

I put on my night dress and snuggled into the blanket like a child snuggles in her mother’s lap. I don’t know though I was feeling dizzy my mind frequently remind me of her phrase “Ma testo keti hoena”. Really she treated me like a stranger. I know I felt that way because of talking after a long time. Haha don’t know when will we talk again and how will she treat me that time. Thinking about her I don’t know when I felt asleep.  

2^nd day. (THE GIRL IN BLUE)

Although I got up early, I was not willing to leave the bed because I can see the cold outside. The local peoples with heavy fur jackets, local woolen cap, muffler and a pair of Gold Star shoe. “Tea”:- a soft voice came out from the door side. I just notice the milk tea. “No I don’t prefer it so early” I sneeze. I was surprised for what she fetched me with a glass of black tea doped with ginger and marich at no time. “Drink it; it will help u to get rid of the cold”. I guessed: it was their culture to respect the guest.

Big B requested me to go with him to fetch some liters of milk from the dairy. All the way I can see the school children, some girls carrying books near their chest, that scene really remind me of my childhood schooling. The local people were busy bathing nearby the road tap, I can notice the women in petticoat and taking cold bath. I guess they were asking about the local business that my brother was replying them so politely. He has name and fame in his village because of his well behavior with all of them. For their any type of question he used to reply with smiley face so wisely that they were ashamed to reply back. I am totally impressed by his personality. Soon we were back to the wedding house and he was busy as usual, “he is the bride's brother, he must be busy”, I mutter.

I was just wandering what to be done? For some time I peeled some potatoes, crack some nuts and chopped carrot and radish but after I finished with it I asked Subash “ Hey brother lets go once through the village” as he is one of the local he suggested to go the river side. I took my camera and rushed towards the Seti Nadi.

On the way we encountered many school girls. Subash teased them just like slum dog. I could neatly notice his language he used for teasing. So dirty and vulgar. I could read his mind. He was taking girls in the sense that the girls are made just to fuck. For that I gave him some lecture in such a way that he start feeling guilty for what he did and also he was not angry for what I show my smartness. I am good in giving lecture, I felt proud when the listener listen and apply it for the same. Oops! I nearly slipped, the way was so slippery. The brothers unbutton their pants and shirts but I felt cold to take a dive. They started swimming and I thereby start capturing the moment with my “Sony Cyber Shot”: 14.2 mega pixels. The hills around, the greenery forests, the chirping of birds, I can see a stork (a bird with long neck and beak) catching sting-ray (a kind of fish). The water is almost green; I can clearly see my reflection, sedge under the water looked like a painting as if it is crafted. I  was not satisfy just for that, I decided to have one more stay, tomorrow I will come down the river again to feel its beauty and will swim. It was already late because that day was the wedding day, we hurried up. As we reached home I find the people from groom side had arrived. “Where were you busy” Big B shouted and stared at me. I was to reply he said “You are the photographer of the day; move on with your camera”. “Yes, Boss” I smirk. I run toward my room, put on my casual dress. “Oops I forget to bring my perfume”. I can clearly smell my dress stinging little. And also I remember Sristi words “those who don’t bath for long days use perfume”. I guess I was in class 8 that time. Of course body spray causes adverse effect due to the chemicals and may cause skin allergy but in case of perfume, it is not like that. Because Perfume is sprayed over dresses and body spray: its names tell itself, on body surface. “Oe do fast, What this boy doing?” he kicked my paining bum again and marched towards the store room. “Oops! My poor Bums.” I stagger towards the wedding ceremony.

My eyes happened to notice “A girl in blue sari”. The sari was bright blue, with delicate embroidery of flowers and hearts. A thin strip of velvet bound the edge, the blouse was cream white embedded with golden yellow dots. She was wearing a gold necklace.( I compared it with the mala I gave to Kali and thought again if I could give her this she wouldn’t have thrown, whatever). I keep on peeping the girl in “Blue” throw the camera lens. Her earlobes were weighted with heavy ear-ring, and she’d pulled her hair back so that her smooth cheeks shine under the sunlight. Aquiline nose, kazal on her eyes, black-white skin complexion, thin and tall. She was wearing a phuli on her nose, its diamond glittering and her beauty stung me. She badly made remind me of “Shristi”. She moves with the natural grace of a ballerina ( a female dancer in a ballet). The same physical appearance.“What a beauty” my heart lipped up. Sahe was frequently her sari to cover the belly. It was her first time wearing a sari I thought. The local monkeys (villager boys) were criticizing her. Why I am so focused at her I really don’t know. The monkey’s behavior and their activities were blowing pressure in my nerves. “Manner less Boys”, I utter.

My heart pounded restlessly as she passed by my side. Awful-smelling oil combed hair and her sweet fragrance passed by my nose. She pulled her hair back and bowed down her head and raised her eyes at me and gave a smile blinking her eyes feeling shy that made me alive, as if the cells inside my body had awakened from deep sleep.

Oh! My dad. What is happening with me? Why is pulling me towards her? It is not fair I am in love with some other but gazing to the unknown girl. This is not my nature. I have to shoot this girl out of my mind. I know that she was looking gorgeous simply and I happened to look at her that’s it. No big problem. Beauty is to see by the way. But also I felt as if I am betraying Kali. I get up abruptly, overcome by guilt and loathing.  “You are really looking beautiful” I couldn’t hold my tongue when I saw the bride of the day. “Thank you” she smiled me on her subway, she was with the groom. They were looking superb but my concentration was somewhere else.

At one corner I could notice a modern girl. The girl in skirt and it was too short. In context of my relatives I don’t like anyone wearing skirt and every dress that is open from down. And the way she was wearing was revealing vulgarism. She was so ill dressed like a whore. Anyone can notice her pumpkin size breast. The local monkeys were staring at her and making some illegal gestures and for that she was feeling comfortable. I guessed she might be a “Whore”. I couldn’t tolerate her body language and some fucking gestures. She exactly was dressed like a porn star. May she is a source of mutual entertainment for the local boys. “What, what gods makes” I turned my head left. I turned so carelessly that I happened to hit the girl in “Blue”. Her lipstick smudged on my chicks. What a situation I was really confused, before I notice her response I run out from there pushing her aside.

One of my sister told that she was searching me in the hustle and bustle of the wedding. She told that she was even asking for my cell number.”Do you like her?’’ sister asked me. “Yes, she is beautiful” I replied cunning way. “Than I will give her your number” she ran fast saying this. I could hardly stop her. She ran so fast. I switched off my phone for the rest of the days.

At night after the ritual function was over, me including all the family member squatted round making a circle where I again notice the same face in Kurta Suruwal. She was looking beautiful in that dress either. I just smiled at her. May be she was willing to talk with me I read out her mind and something was going in my head too. But I take it easy. I try to present myself bold. Frequently she used to clear her throat, may be she wants my attention. My heart was throbbing, self loathing “Is it going to happen again”. “Brother I am going to sleep” i poked big B. “Wait 10 minutes”, drink a hot glass of tea. “Oh he doesn’t drink milk tea” big B mutter. “I will get you a black tea”, a soft and shrine voice rose from the mass, it was of the same lady; lady in Blue. I could feel the words of respect. How could anyone; unknown, starts caring so fast. May be to show she was doing this all. I don’t like this short distance relation, who shows as if she is the most caring and starts ignoring when you become far. So may be this is said “Who is near  is dear”. Thoughts were twisting in my mind and the mind was replaying “Ma testo keti hoen”. I could just compare Kali then and now. How strange she behaves these days. I don’t believe in any girls again, I turned my head away from her. But she came up with a glass of black tea and sat by my side. I felt uncomfortable as my shoulder was occasionally touching her. Oh! My dad she has so sweet voice. I notice it clearly when she murmur, one of my favorite classical song by Kishore Kumar “Chu kar mere maan ko kiya too ne kya ishara………….” May she wants to have some chit chats over the cup of tea. “So heart touching song” I nodded. 








But I was not in mode to. I could remember all the time Kali. Yesterday after talking in phone I waited her in yahoo to chat but she was not online. What’s the matter? Before we used to chat after we talk but………….and also thousand times I call up her on yahoo but also she ignores, why I was just wandering about her that time. Oops! Her breast hit my chest so hard that I could feel her sharp pointed nipple. That happened because my sister pushed that girl so that she can catch me. She was in a mode of romance. I didn’t like those mischievous activities so I check out the place for a beautiful sleep. Sister told me that I gave her your number, she will call you. I switched off once again. Hehehehee about cell phone, I lost phone again two days ago, where I dropped it I don’t know and now I am again contact less with everyone. I don’t think I will carry cell phone again. What will she do? May she will contact Big B, because he is her relative. My sister said that she would add me in facebook. Oops! Facebook; facebook sucks. Let it be I don’t care what she does. As the cold was increasing I snuggled down the bedclothes and made myself warm. i was really missing Kali, I wanted a warm hug and wanted to sleep with my legs across her legs like the first day we meet closely in my room. I was badly missing my stupid wife that very day. I wanted to talk with her and share this all but she is she. Thinking this and that I fell asleep.

3^rd Day ( AN UNORGANISED PICNIC)

Early in the morning I came to know that very girl left for Palpa. She is the residence of Palpa. Whatever, she left and its fine with me. After having our meal we prepared to go down the river.

There are lots of cold stores near by the river. We headed to the one where we could notice some alcohol from distance. It was not so big market, the drinks were almost finished so that we couldn’t buy all the beers we can drink. However we managed with 6. “Get some noodles brother” I shout from distance. I was surprised why he lend a large plate. We moved forward towards our destination. The more we start moving the more I can enjoy the natural beauty, the chirping of birds, mocking of different local animals it felt as if they are musician and composing some. I tried to scream loud so that I could hear my echo from the hills but I couldn’t produce enough sound because of something my throat was paining. I enjoyed my way to the spot. I was feeling a surge of happiness. I jumped and drift from the high sedimentary rocks throwing my hands and legs that felt as if I was doing “Bungee Jump”. Oh! Dad I nearly broke my ankle. I had lost my consciousness because I was feeling that happiness after a long gap. I grasp at the scene that I can view that time. No any fix words to describe the natural beauty so far. Anyone who go there he will look the beauty with all his mouth open. Why I left my birth place. “Dhankuta”. The more I flatter here about Dhankuta the less it becomes. Anyway I love my birth place. I almost spend 5 years of my childhood there. But now my grandparents have migrated to terai.

We were almost 6 people that day. Four of us were from the wedding house and rest were already there, may be the local boys. As the beers were not cold enough, he took out from the sack and dipped it down the river water. The water was enough cold to chill the beer. The water temperature solved the problem of a fridge. First we undressed and started to wash the clothes all we were wearing. I just compared the washing in the insufficient water in fucking Kathmandu and the pure and clear abandon flowing water there in the river. What a pleasure to live in village? It’s so natural. I just protested why my parents migrated from hills? Everybody was busy cleaning the leftover stuffs and I was busy gazing them. All I can see is everybody was feebly covered with their underwear. I could notice me and my big B had the same company underwear”Calvin Klein”, two of them were in “Amul Macho” and one was in “Puma” and rest were in local underwear.“Are you guys the employers of Calvin Klein company?” one of the local monkey mocked. No “ Brand ambassador” I smirked at that monkey. “My boy” big B patted my bums. I could feel yesterday kick still. Oops! I could notice a big hole among one of them through which I could clearly see his black hairy bum. There was hardly something left in my mind, I was in class 9 perhaps, because of something I was burring my head down the pillow not to speak with Sristi. He pulled me down and dragged me through the passage; the cemented floor was so cold my belly could feel that. Even though I was ideal. She poured a bucket of cold water over my innocent body and that get into my nerves though my lips were sealed still than. Cold catches me fast so realizing that she started to undress me. As she unbutton my pants a feeling of shy hovered around but “my anger”, I turned upside down. I was fully naked, thanks god she left my underwear. But she started laughing, what I realize that she noticed a big hole in my underwear. For that I didn’t talk for some months. Whenever I remember this I start laughing for the same childish. “Look at his………..” big B screamed pointing to the centre between the two legs of Deepak. He was with us from the wedding house. He is a relative of big B. I also knew that he was the eldest brother of the girl in “Blue”. Remarkably he had a big penis I could figure out. Deepak……I pronounced him as “De-Fuck”. He tried to utter some English words but failed to break it right. He tried to be over smart wit his English as if he is one of the white people. “De-Fuck” it name suits him well I smirked at him. For almost 10 minutes we all were engrossed in teasing each other. There was one fat man, I hardly remember his name but I had noticed his breast bulging down his hairy belly and small bums. We finished up with the dirty clothes and were taking sunbath. It was so burning the summer has started to crawl I guessed.     

Oh! My Dad………he had brought some stick of cigarettes and marijuana (toxic grass). Some started filling it and some of us started to break noodles. In the sack I could see some numbers of tomato, onions, carrots, peanuts. “Where is the knife” I shook my head turning to big B. “It might be there”, he shrugged. That was so friendly environment I can feel the comfort around. One of them was of my father’s age but not married till date. He was cracking some vulgar words but that sounded cool because the words were not addressed personally. We were all making fun with the vulgar words and that was not insane because there were all bachelors. I chopped the carrots, tomato into small pieces, green and large chilly cut into  round pieces. Tear fall down as I chopped the onions. That was Chinese onions because Indian onions are shortage these days. I was to cry but just my eyes were burning. I was busy mixing the stuffs (noodles, tomato, onions, chilly and peanuts) in the large plate. That time I knew why big B borrowed that plate. “Smart man” I murmur.

“Hey bring the beers out of the fucking water” big B acted perky. We made a circle and started smoking the marijuana. All of us were totally intoxicated after that unhealthy enjoyment. As the bottles were not enough per head they were all in hurry to make more swigs from the bottle and moreover we forget to take water bottles. The snacks really tasted good. That was my idea.

“What about your American girlfriend” De-Fuck shouted. May someone told him about my love story. He was focused to America. “American girlfriend” his expression was really disgusting. I could have foreseen if I said “she left me”. And they were really going to make incessant comments over my girl. I don’t want anyone laugh at my girl and my love. So I replied “Yes, she is fine and we are going well”. I headed towards the green water.

There was a bathtub structured in one corner of the river. I layed down there. The flowing water was moving from my head to the feet all across my private parts. The pleasure that I found there is really unexplainable in words. The alcohol and the marijuana were twisting my thoughts. The mind was replaying “Ma testo keti hoen”. Why I was so deep rooted for that phrase. Every time it was floating in my mind like a haze. Let it be. I concentrated to the panorama that I can see through all my eyes.  After sometime I could notice that all eyes were on Deepak, he was making some stupid activities as he was heavily drunk. “De-Fuck” I laughed out loud as there were no one to care for the drunkard. “Are you enjoying?” big B shouted at distance. “Superb brother”, I wave hand in air.

Finally it was 4 o’clock. We decided to return. All the dresses were dried well as they were all washed with “Puja Soap”. I missed her every moment. What a famous name my girl has. “ Pooja enterprises, Pooja Workshop, Pooja Hotel, Pooja grocery, Pooja Beauty parlor and many more.”

Slowly we marched forward enjoying the views again. So pure place. “We will again make a holiday with a fire camp” I requested big B. “Ok” he replied. I was fully tired after the swim and the long walk, up and down the hilly paths. Taking my meal I threw myself in the cot, snuggled down the blanket mulling over the same phrase again.