On the Road

It was a night bus Butwal to Burtibang. We, Jyoti and I were in the seat no 5/6 A. The time of departure was 6:30. As we boarded on the bus, we saw hips of rice sacks on the passage. I was confused whether it was a truck or bus. There was no place for reason. We occupied our seat. Soon, we heard that one of the passenger lost nearly 30000 in the bus. He was searching money desperately here and there. There was a discussion on this topic. I jumped to the conclusion that he was a fraud. Such events occur very often in the journey. Some people make a lie. And some are the real victims. 

When he was inquired how he lost the money, he described the situation. I observed his facial expression and studied his psychology, I came to the conclusion that he was right. He spoke with grim face and dim eye, " I was managing the luggage, two three boys tightly adjusted me. They might have pick pocketed." He was right. He sighed and spoke again " Achha ekbaar Chet mila". His language told me that he has been working in India. He was from Burtibang. 

This is not only the incident I saw for the first time. During the time of Dashai and Tihar, the gangs of robbers become active to rob the money of those who come from India. People often say that there is insecurity in the border areas of India and Nepal. But many people are being robbed in the hotels and bus stations of Nepal. Where should they go to complain? There is no one to listen them. Buses are converted into lorries. Traffic remains silent when their mouths are shut and eyes are blinded with bribe. Driver and conductors of the bus are like Commander of the army. They have never learned the word polite because they are born in the family where vulgarity is fused in day to day language as chutney. I asked some questions to the conductor about the mess in the bus. He was free and bold to answer, " traffic don't enter the bus. The shopkeepers order the goos in the bus. So what." I had no words. I couldn't fight alone. No one was ready to fight against them.

With the throbbing engine, the bus geared along Prithivi Highway. As soon as it arrived Shidhhababa, people bowed their head and put heir hands first on the chest and then on the forehead. They remembered Shidhhababa and begged for their safety journey to home. No one was speaking. No one was laughing. I thought they have long been forgotten to laugh.

I remembered the incident of the same day in Butwal. There were motorcyclists with party flags on the road racing like bulls . There was no following of the rules of the road. Traffic polices were only the onlookers. Common people were siding with the fear of accident. Those who don't follow the rules, how can they build the law. Those sons of the bitch never care the trouble of the public. So, how can we believe on fucking leaders. He has lost 30,000 rupee and no one was there to understand his problem. It was because there is no rule. No law of the country.

The road on Badighatt side was told dangerous. But we didn't feel that at the night. Almost everyone was sleeping on the bus. The music was on, and we were listening and sleeping at the same time. Instead of Hindi filmy songs, nepali lok dohori songs were being played. I didn't know how I crossed so difficult rocky and sloppy roads. When the bus stopped for food, only I knew the place, it was Argali. Had food and began the race. Fragrance of the onion and spoiled potatoes mixed with the stone powder and whirled in and out of the lung.

The bus stopped at Majuwa, Chorkati to let the passenger getting out of the bus. It was only two am. when the bus came to Bhuwaschidi. After 45 minutes the most difficult road, it reached Wami Taxar at 3am. The driver of the bis breaker hard and bus remained stationary.  Then everyone silent. I saw the driver sleeping on his place stopping the bus. It stopped nearly 40 minutes there. Then the bus started crawling down the kharbang Baglung crossing the river Daraidi. I made eye wide enough to watch the newly constructed bridge over Daraudi river. 

Again the bus stopped at Kharbang for tea. It stopped there nearly 45 minutes. After boring waiting for the bus, we reached Taksay at 6am. Despite boring waiting in some places, I enjoyed it.