Downtown

Downtown
“F*** you!” It was a female voice. I did not look back. I entered  into City centre through the double glass doors.. The doors propped open itself when I was closer to it. It was warm inside. In between two double doors; exterior and interior, there were two elderly male with stuffed backpacks and black garbage bags. A girl, probably late teen, was with them and she looked disoriented. I guessed,  she was under influence of some kind of drugs. Pungent odor of alcohol hit my nose instantly. As I was pulling the interior door out, I saw a female getting in from the same door. I paced faster without looking my back.
I wanted to spend an hour  in City centre mall. I entered in one of the shops to the right side of the east entrance. Two girls seen at the counter working with computers. I checked some sell items. Almost everything has yellow sticker on them. Yellow sticker price was for sell. Some shirts and jeans had 50% off. I picked up a green shirt, and checked the price. It was fifteen dollar. It was good. Checked the made in, it was Bangaladesh. I purchased one and moved to another shop. On the hall way a read skinned adult eyed on me and asked for a smoke. I told him I never smoke. He thanked being so generous to response him. Then I stopped by Dolorama. That guy followed me. I did not give a heck. I checked the cheap stuffs in every aisles. This place was busier than other fancy stores. As I was at the front paying for the stuffs, I saw two cops getting into the store. They sneaked into the employees area first and soon came out to the front door. In a minute or, two they stopped a guy with a backpack. This was the same guy who asked me smoke. He tried to run away from the cop and ended up in handcuffs.
They took him to the gallery outside. I went to food court in the first floor. Two Security Guards were eyeing to my shopping bag. I felt uncomfortable. I wanted to eat something but did not no what. Subway, MacDonald, Tim Horton, KFC and Chinese and Japanese stores selling foods. I did not know the names. I stood in front of KFC in line. The queue was long though. After five people, it was my turn. An Asian girl  with a fair complexion and short nose , asked what I wanted. I said, “ chicken.”  “Which chicken?” She asked. I did not know which. She showed the menu over my head. I pointed the one in the picture priced $8.00. She asked something else that did not understand. I looked at her face like a child looked at the teacher when he does not know the answers. “ how would you pay?” I said “card.” She looked confused and quickly looked at my hand holding the visa card. I paid the bill. I was embarrassed.
I waited other corner for the order. When a lady brought the order, I asked her If I could buy a cold drinks. Her face had some wrinkles and shadow marks. She asked “pop”. I did not know what pop meant. I said,”no”. Then grabbed my food, sat on a table at the far corner and savored without looking at the people sitting opposite of me. “Was I shy? Was I overtly sensitive about the strangers?”

Questions buzzed in my head. Nobody was really talking to each other though they were sharing the same table. They had wires running through the ears connected to the digital device. Everyone was looking down like a mourners of the funeral procession. I did not notice happiness in their faces. They were all looked like a robot in the 'Ex Machine'.
Weather outside was cruel with the sharp jaws on the sidewalks. If you step out of the door without balancing your body like the penguin, you would probably bang on your head opening the skull and no blood running because it is already frozen. The only people walking on the day would be from the rural areas come to the town as a nomadic. They lived in the river side in the bush making a shelter to protect themselves from the snow but not the ice. There were hundreds of those shelters in the river side in the summer. Some of them stay throughout the year. City police knows where are those shelters. They sometimes go to the places to rescue from domestic violence with the fire department and EMS.
Rogers Place, City Tower, CN Tower, Tell us Tower, Epcore building looked iconic in  Downtown. At the foot of these buildings people were begging a loonie or, a cigarette. At the corners of these gigantic towers hundreds of youths smelling cracks, smoking pods and injecting opioids or meth. They are the victims of the fast growing modern civilization that crumbled the family values, spirituality and religion down. The Cannabis stores, liquor stores, strip clubs and dance bars with full of those who have no family to share happiness and sorrows. I walked off the busy road and took a short cut from the Canada Palace. There was a underground tunnel that lead to the Shaw Convention Centre.
When I entered into the Shaw Convention Centre, I saw hundreds of teenagers on a queue. They were almost stripped off. I could see a girl of eighteen wearing a nipple tube and piece of cheekine  panties that barely covered their pubic hair. They were all waiting for their first beer and smoke as a big festivals. Each of the girls were attached with  skinny  boys who have tattoos all over the body. Some of them had muscles patched on the arms and chest. I talked to a staff who was pushing them in a single file queue what was going on in the building. He treated me like a shit calling a security to kick me out of the building. Soon, there came two Guards and pushed me out of the crowd. One explained that I had caused an issue with staff and not allowed in the building. Another wrote a note in the paper and explained that the note was a trespass ticket and I was banned for thirty days for convicting forced entry and disturbing their guests. He asked to sign on the paper. The one who handed me the ticket was a black like a coal with freckles on his face. He looked like a survivor of the famine in Somalia and got chance to enter into this country as a refugee. Now he is treating me like a vagrant. I turned back and walked off the building.
Then I strolled down towards east, where people of all ages and colour picking smoke butts and beer cans off the streets. Some of them were resting their heads on the chair closing their eyes. At the end of the walkway I saw a building with a cross sign on the wall just above the main entrance. There were a few cars parked on the yard, the the wooden door was closed. I guessed it was a church. There was a small bird on the roof hooping up and down. To the south side of the church, below the hill Saskatoon river was flowing magnificently. Joggers and bikers could be seen like a portrait of an artist on the beautiful landscape.
I had no time to savor the beauty of the nature.  I kept walking along the road towards the West. A
magnificent glass building was tilting towards the south with the glory of 21st century architect. There was no room for those who were picking smoke butts from the ashtrays out side the hotel or who has no money to pay their high bill. We only could tilt our head backwards and through the sight on the height adjacent to the blue sky.
I crossed the hotel and continued my stroll down to the West.  As I reached on the ground of the CN Tower, I felt it like a tomb of ancient culture and monuments. I was a sky scrapper building looking to the sky. There were also homeless, druggists, street gang members around the building. The police cars were patrolling the city. Surveillance cameras monitoring the areas to stop anyone entering into those towers. On the other side of the CN Tower I saw shining lights on a huge circle. It was Rogers place. I saw the name on the wall shining than any other lights in Down town. It was a huge round building in a shape of a bird's nest. As I entered the building I saw hundreds of people in multiple line on the large open patio. They were all waiting to get into the arena to watch the Hockey game, as i was told by a tall, white lady about my age. They were all wearing colorful dresses, most of them had Oilers logo on it. I asked the lady if I get in free to watch the game. “No, you have to purchase a ticket. She showed the window where tickets were sold. I had no money. I asked her how could I got out of the building. She directed me towards the North of the hall explaining the way down the elevator and follow the hallway to the end. I walked off down the elevator. On the right hand side I read the sign “Downtown Casino”. I had never been to the casino before. I decided to enter into the casino to kill my curiosity.
As soon as I entered into the glass door, a Security Guard stopped me and asked for ID. I told him I was over thirty. He insisted on so, I pulled the wallet from my pants back pocket, picked up a PR card and handed to him. He looked at the photo first and screened the face with his cold eyes and returned to me. There were computers with different screen. They had names on them like VLTs, Diamond Millions, Fortunes and many more. They were producing enormous noise with voices and bells. Adults and old people were sitting at the machine with their eyes fixed on the screen and fingers pressing the buttons. Some of them were playing the table games, card games, bingo games. I sat on the chair in one penny machine. A girl in a green apron with money purse on the top of the hip was dealing with the customer next to my machine. I called her and asked  how could I bet the machine. I had five dollar bill on my hand. She asked me to insert the bill in the hole. I put the bill and started betting as she instructed me. However, it was just fun with my limit of five bucks! After hitting couple of time, my credit was over. Then I walked around looking at the machines. Soon, one Security Guard came to me and asked to to leave the Casino. I said, “why?”
“You are loitering in the Casino disturbing our valued customers. You have to leave the Casino without objection. At the mean a lady came in in a Security uniform. She stood putting both hands over her vagina. I told him that I was just looking at the machines, how come I disturbed his customers. He grabbed my right arm and soon the lady security grabbed the left arm. They pushed me out of the door. “ if you get into the Casino, we will put you under arrest”, he walked in.
Both the arms of my watch were already in ten. I decided to go home. I followed the direction given by earlier lady that lead me to the LRT station. I road on train. The train was almost empty. After a few minutes two Caucasian sketchy boys got in the train. One sat close to be at the same seat and another on the opposite seat. The guy who was facing to me kept intruding me with his dull, cranky eyes and suspicious look. I felt utterly uncomfortable. I moved to another compartment which was empty. The guy who was looking at me suspiciously also followed me and sat next to my seat facing the window.
" Did you call me earlier? Are you Abdiali?", he turned towards and asked.
I said, " No". 
" What is your phone number?", he asked.
" Why do need my number? I did not call you.
He looked out of the window. The train stopped at Kingsway Station. As I was going to the exit door he grabbed my phone and ran away.  A woman who was getting into the train asked me to call the police. She gave me her phone. I instantly dialed #911.
" Can you please tell me your name? Fire, flood, or medical emergency?" a lady voice came from other end.
" Hello, somebody stole my mobile," I said.
" Are you safe?"
" Yes, "
" Call non emergency line and report the theft," she dropped the call. I returned the phone to the lady.
Train rolled on to the destination.  I had no phone to call and report the police.
I was the only one left on the station. I walked with my head down towards my apartment.

Monkey with Human Body in a Glass Cabinet

I was at the bank of Don river in Southern Ontario. There were people in a group of ten or fifteen on the side of the road talking each other in a louder noise than regular talking voice. A girl about ten passed by the crowd and entered in to the bush with no other friends. She was wearing a white scarf and slippers. After five minutes, another girl about fifteen wearing a black scarf and bare foot also entered into the bush through the same track.

In another five minutes, an elderly male with a cane followed them. He was wearing a red long gown as a monk. The crowd was still there and having loud discussion on computers, machines and role of man. I could only say this because I could not understand more what they were actually talking about. I heard some fragments of the discussion.

As I was standing on the edge of the road and observing the activities of both, people going into the bush, and the people having hot arguments about the politics of nothing. A squirrel ran into the woods. A tiny bird fluttered from one tree to another. The nature was calm and soothing. The gentle breeze passing through the woods make it rippled waves of the leaves.

I was about to participate in the group and ask random questions of void, a question hit my head hard “Why should I involve with the discussion that I don't have a clue.  Again my mind reeled on the words like algorithms, colon, robots, AI and other words I could not enter in my brain and my brain's algorithm could not short it out.

I slowly walked towards the crowd and and stood beside a guy who was talking in a louder voice than others, “ Sir may I know why... what you are talking about?”

 He looked into my face, raised his eyebrow and folded his forehead. Then he looked other side completely neglecting my request.

“ Sir, are you hearing me?” I asked.

“ No I'm not. You are none of us. Your skin is brown and you are tinier than us. You are foreigners you ruined my country. Get the f*** out of here.”

I walked back away from the crowd. Everyone was looking at me as if I was from another planet. I thought those people who went into the bush were kinder than the frustrated mob. The grass on the ground was green and clean. The flowers were blooming and bumble bees and butterflies were zooming on it. The trees were deep and dark. I could hardly follow the human track into the jungle. I could see some animals running into the bush. Monkeys , jackals, Raccoons and chimpanzees were jumping on to the trees, running through the bush and crossing the creek.

I was alone and aimless. At the same time I was standing on the void. I had no identity to tell people who I was and where I was from. I lost the place I was born with human face and a brain which is no more important than the wired brain of the computer. I was living in a vacuum; political, identical and ethical. I worked for a company which only knows the numbers. Number of my entry in their employment system. They always ask me the numbers: the year, month and day of my birth, the social insurance number, the bank account number, the number of my children. But they never asked me what game I used to play when I was two or three. They never asked what food I used to like or had when I was a child. They never asked if my school teacher used to joke. They never asked if my mom remembers me every night before she goes to the bed. They never asked if I liked poems, stories, rivers, birds .
They asked me what did I have to make profit for them. They always asked how I could proof myself  that I am a machine to follow the certain procedures keeping my mouth shut if something goes wrong with that procedure. They asked if I had a history of heart disease so that they could avoid the expense of possible employee insurance in the future. They asked if I understood that I would be fired without any reason if they wanted. They would give me a bull shit reason, though.

First I left the country I was born. Then I left the job I picked after I choose to live in foreigner’s land. Then I left the family because I was nothing then the garbage on the bed. Then I lived on the streets. I made friends of drug dealers, butt-pickers, gang banger, panhandlers, pickpockets, hookers,
sketchy, crack addicts. I saw racism there. I saw a lot of shit happening in their lives. I knew why they were what they were.

Then I started walking alone. I had seen all kinds of people,but nobody saw me. I was like a dust particle in front of their eyes but nobody really cares it. When I was in the parks, I used to the dogs and cats much more happier and wealthy. They were being listened, taken care and treated better. They were having fun, eating food on time and many more.

Then I decided to spy people to know why they were acting like machines or treated like machines. All I knew was the FEAR. It was the fear of uncertainty, fear of war, fear of disease. THE FEAR OF DEATH.
They were all living in a void. They had no fucking clue what was happening around the world. They were running after an illusion; illusion of the self and the illusion  of the material world. They were all hunting the luxury but not the peace. They were not living happily with their wives, parents and kids. They were all living with a digital box and the world falsely brought to them. They could not laugh and cry, but all they can act better happier, wealthier and more content. 

I was wandering like a lost bird from its flock. I was physically lost. I was spiritually lost. I did not know where I was going. I was there on the street. At the same moment I was't there.

When I saw those people walking into the bush, I followed them. They looked like they were in search of the meaning in the void.I stopped on the bank of the river under the shadow of Maple tree. I looked the leaves of the maple. I saw the glory of the color.  Though they were fallen apart from the branch, they were still shining. They had identity. They were not lost. They were everywhere. Worms were hidden underneath the leaves and making their food. They were living in harmony. I saw the birds on the tree sharing the same branch. They never had an issue on sharing and living in harmony. They were not fighting for power. They were not making any nuclear weapons to destroy themselves in the coming future.

I walked across the river over the shallow water on my foot. As I reached other side of the river, I saw a similar face with different build up hanging on the raspberry tree. I waved my hand and said 'hi'.
She looked at me, in me and through me, but did not smile at all. She might have known that smile is not the right way to repose the stranger. Unlike human being, she had compassion in her eyes. I wanted to talk to her so that I went closer to her. As I moved closer to her, she jumped to the next tree and still keep looking at me. I thought we had lost the faith. We lost the trust. I followed the monkey up to the hill to the cave where I saw those girls and monk sitting on a stone and meditating. There were other monkeys too in that cave but all of them were swinging here to there on the vines and over the limestones.

I went close to a small monkey and initiated a talk, but another giant monkey came closer to the baby monkey and hissed at me. I remained unmoved. He looked into my eyes, heart. I felt pain in my chest. The monkey came closer to me and whispered  in my ear and walked off. I followed them. As they all gathered on the two big flat rock behind the cave, they talked in their language. After they finished talking, one of the monkeys came closer to me and held my hand. He took me to the other side of the stone and showed some yams stored underneath the rock. He looked me with compassion.
He was requesting me to eat the food. Tear rolled down of my cheeks. I ate the raw yam as I was hungry for several days. Another monkey came with a banana in his hand. I was surprised how he got the banana as I could not see the banana tree around.

When the twilight welcomed the cricket in the bush, all the monkey family went to the cave. I walked slowly with them. A baby monkey was with me. I was nervous. I was thinking of meeting the monk and two young girls who were meditating in the cave. But by the time I arrived to the cave, they had left the cave. The monkeys sat together in the cave keeping the younger members of the family in the middle of the group. I was little away from them and watching their activities. They were so caring,  compassionate and extremely social. They were not watching TV. They were not grumpy with their kids. They were not using cell phones or not calling and texting. They were not blaming each other. They all worked together and also enjoying their freedom. Nobody was corrupt and mean. They all talked in their language. I was feeling better than human society. They did not afraid of any other monkey party. There were no doors locked for any of their neighbors.

I was not alone there although I had no human friends. I was the escapist. I escaped from the society. I had long  been escaped from the competition of so called prosperity. I wanted to be away from greed and lust. But it was not possible in the human society. The humanity was corrupted. People had fear of unknown enemies. They were on the mission of destroying the earth with poisonous gases. Only few people have faith on the God. There were only a few people who were looking for the peace of the inner soul.

Next day, I saw more people with the monk. They were one with nature. A monkey, I named him Rahul, was always with me and was taking care of me wherever we went. I learnt to climb the trees though the smaller than they used to climb. I learnt to ride on the rocks and crawl through the cliffs. They would help me anytime I needed. After a month I noticed that I had already started walking on my four feet. I used to dig the grounds with my fingers because nails were all grown as sharp as the monkeys had. I used to jump to catch the ripe bananas on the jungle. I learnt to use stones as a weapons. I forgot my language of human being. I could communicate with other fellow monkeys. I could understand when they warn me about the danger or they asked me to run away. It was a fun to steal maize from the fields and run away as soon as the farmer appeared with stick, stone and sometimes with shotguns. They taught how to hide in the bush.

My clothes were all dirty and tattered. One day, I removed and threw them in the bush. They were looking at my private part. First, I was ashamed . I learned the art of living. The weather was challenging to my skin. Sometimes it was too hot for my bare skin and sometimes too cold. My skin used to have full of blood stains due to the thrones of the bush. I grew hairs all over the body.  I had  extra skin layers to protect me from the cold and hot weather.
One morning, we were all climbing the hill searching for food. It was a rocky terrain and hard to climb for me. I stumbled many places on the way up the hill. One medium sized monkey, less hairy with shiny eyes assisted me holding my hand. First, I did not know difference between male and female. They have no distinctive characteristics like human gender faces or body structures. I discovered some difference in their behavior pattern. Some monkeys were kind, compassionate and caring. Some other monkeys were careless, quarrelsome and short tempered. I thought the first group of the monkeys were female and the second group male. Rahul was short tempered although he was friendly. The one which was taking care of  me was more compassionate and caring. I named her 'Sundari'. She was prettier than any of the group. When I had wounds or cuts in my skin, she used to put mud and rub with her hands. She used to sleep with me and make me warm.

One day, fire caught the forest. Birds flew away. Other animals ran out of the forest. The head of the monkey commanded everyone to follow him. The mother monkeys carried their babies on their backs. I stood in the line where Sundari was standing by me. They headed towards the river. Once we arrived to the bank of the river, the male leaders of the group stood in the front line and other in a single file. Sundari stared at me and pushed towards the water. I stepped into the water holding her hand. We crossed the river without any hinderances. The leaders continued strolling down the river.

On the bank of the river near the hill, we saw a mud house. One of the leader monkey asked us to hide underneath a big rock while he was checking the food in the house. They were well coordinated in the group. This time most of them were looking at me. They were thinking that it was my house. I said "NO' shaking my soldiers vehemently. Sundari touched my hand and smiled. There was not any different in the expression of their face, their eyes would be telling clearly if they were happy or sad.

After a minute, the leader summoned everyone to the house. The house was empty. There was nothing outside of the house. The door was locked. But there were varieties of fruits in the orchard. I picked up some guava and crap apples. They jumped all over the trees. I felt bad to the owner of the orchard.

Then, I heard Bang ..bang. I saw Rahul rolling on the grass. Other monkeys ran away leaving Rahul there. I hid behind the house. I saw Sundari coming towards me. I asked her to follow the group. One man about seven feet tall with spotted clothes appeared infront of me. " Holly shit, this is a human boy. How come you are with monkeys?" he was nearly collapsed . I understood what he said but I had almost forgotten how to speak human language. I was frozen.

Then I ran down towards the river where other monkeys ran. The man followed us until we reached to the extremely steep hill. All the monkeys climbed the rock quickly being scared of the man with gun. When I was hanging and swinging onto the vines, I fell off the tree and stumbled onto the ground by the shore. The man came running and held me up. He asked, " who are you?" Are you okay?" There was blood all over my body. At the meantime, I saw a group of monkeys watching me from the top of a rock just above us.  The leader monkey started beating his chest with his hands. Other started hissing and grouling . Soon a monkey with the giant limbs jumped in between us, caught in my arms and dragged up the hills. The man backed off without further action. Soon, other monkeys gathered and circled me. They put me in the middle and looked other fellow monkeys. When they realized one of the members was missing, they all cried. Then two of them went back in search of the missing member. I knew that it was Rahul. Rahul was my friend who used to play and stay with me most of the time. After two hours they came alone. For almost a week, we stayed in the same forest. There was not sufficient food to eat.

After seven days, we all moved to another forest near the town. There were people living in the forest under the tent. Children were cycling and adults were strolling. Some human couple were holding each other tightly in the bush. They were afraid of us. Children used to run crying towards their parents. Nobody spotted me as a human. I used to crawl in the tree and swing from one branch to another. Whole body had changed the skin and developed a layer to resist the sun, rain and the snow. I never suffered from cold or hot.

One night I was sleeping on the ground with other monkeys. When I woke up, I found myself in a glass cabinet away from the forest. There weren't other monkeys around. I had clothes on my body and wires hanging in the four corners of the cabin. I felt pain in my buttock and arms. As I raised from the bed, a white, skinny man was standing in front of me. He was wearing a mask and gloves.
When he saw my eyes rolling and hands were moving, he removed his eye glass and observed me closely. He gently touched my arms, probably he was checking the veins.
'"Hello, I am professor Doug", the man said. "We found in the forest with a group of monkeys. Do you understand my language?"
I did not speak. I tried to speak with some bits of alphabets, however it became a noise. He examined each parts of my body. After he left the room, two girls in the blue uniform came in and asked me to follow them. When they saw me unmoved from the place, one of them telephoned someone. Soon there came a man with weapon. He grabbed by wrist without saying a word and pushed me into the bathtub. I felt uncomfortable with the hot water.

After they showered me with hot water, they gave me a shirt and pant and asked me to wear them all the time. I had no proper coordination with my hand. They helped me put the clothes. It was not comfortable for me to wear clothes. But I had no choice. They took me to the another room and drained my blood. They put instruments into my mouth and noted in the computer. After an hour, they moved me to the another room. There was a girl who looked very young. She spoke a few words with smile and took a measuring tape from the bag. Then she spoke a few words and stretched her hands towards my penis.

 I was extremely surprised with her attempt. Then she held my penis with left hand and took measurements with the right hand. She typed in the pad and again measured my arms, legs, height, width.  Her touch in my body started giving me the sensation. They kept me in the glass cabinet for two days.  On the third day, a woman appeared in the room with some instruments. She took the note of my height, size and skin color. That night they moved me to one of the  laboratoris of the town. They gave me the alphabets and asked me to read them. I uttered a few words but for sure there was no rhyme.
"Welcome back to the life. you are now recovered from Covid-19," I heard .

As I opened the eyes, I was in the ventilator breathing hard. A white doctor was standing beside me with a report. A group of nurses were ready to release me from the ventilator. I remembered when I was admitted to the hospital after I had difficulty in breathing. It was a bad dream.

संसार एक पाठशाला -विशाल सिटौला

बिध्यार्थि पुस्तक पशलमा किताबहरू खोज्नेक्रममा संसार एक पाठशाला हातमा लिए। बिशाल सिटौला पहिले नामै नसुनेकोले गर्दा पनि होला मन सरर भएन। पछाडि कभरमा भएका टिप्पणीहरू पढे। कुनै बरिश्टहरूको टिप्पणी पनी थिएन। एकदुई पाना फर्काएर हेरे। चित्रहरू र क्यापसनमा मोटा मोटा अक्षरमा सारकुरा दोहोर्याएको रहेछ।  खबरपाटि जस्तो लाग्यो। पुन सेल्फमा राखे। किताब पसलमा काम गर्ने भाइले भने “यो किताब खुब बिकेको छ ऐले। मुल्य पनि घटायको छ।”
पुन किताब हातमा लिए र पहिलो पन्ना फर्काए। लेखकको बुवा र आमाको फोटो थियो। अर्को पेजमा रास्ट्रकबि माधब प्रशाद घिमिरेको टिप्पणि रहेछ। सरसर्ति पढे। “यो पुस्तकबाट धेरैले आफ्नो जिबन परिबर्तन गर्न सक्नेछन भन्ने मैले आशा लिएको छु”, भनेका रहेछन् बुढाले। प्राध्यापक तिर्थराथ खनियाले राम्रो टिप्पणि गरेका थिए। किताब किने।
ताप्लेजुङको निघुरादिन गाऊमा जन्मेका बिशाल सिटौलाले संसार एक पाठशालामा आफ्नो बाल्यकालदेखि अहिलेसम्म गरेक संघर्ष, भोगेका दुख र प्राप्त गरेको अनुभबलाई चटामरि झै स्वादिलो बनाएर पस्केका छन्। तिस बर्ष नर्बेमा बसेर कामकै सिलसिलामा पचासभन्द बढि देशहरुको भर्मण गरेका सिटौलाले बिश्व जिबनदर्शनलाई आफ्नो आध्यात्मिक ज्ञानले ऐना जस्तै छर्लङग पारेका छन।
सातौ नम्बरमा जन्मेका सिटौला जन्मनासाथ आमाको दुध नआएर सार्कि थरकी महिलाको दुध चुसेर उठे। त्यतिमात्र होइन ऊनलाई बचाउन आमाले पाथिभरासंग भाकल गर्नु परेको थियो। सात बर्षमा परिबारसंगै मधेश झरेका ऊनि लामखुट्टे, ऊडुस र उपियॉको असल मित्र बने। राजेस खन्नाको फिल्महरू हेरेर हिरो बन्ने भुत सवार भएका सौटौला पछि रामपुर क्याम्सबाट बि एस सि ए जी मा डिस्टिङसन पट्काए। ऊडिसा पढ्न जानको लागि काठमान्डौ जादै गर्दा गाडि त्रिशुलिमा पल्टेछ। धेरैको ज्यान गयो। ऊनी चाहि जस्ताको तस्तै। त्यो बेला ऊनि ध्यानमा पो मस्त रहेछन।
पछि नर्बे पुगे र प्रतिस्ठित बिश्वबिध्यालयमा पढाउन शुरू गरे। उनि भन्छन,” ग्रिष्म रितुमा आठहप्तासम्म सुर्य नउदाऊने देश सामाजिक अनुशासन, कामप्रतिको जिम्मेवारी र दायित्वबोधले गर्दा नै नर्बे संसारमा एक सबल देशको रूपमा चिनिन्छ।” तर बिकाश मात्र ठुलो हैन। त्यहॉ प्राय मान्छेहरू एक्लो छन। घन्टौ संगै यात्रा गर्दा पनि कोहि कसैसंग बोल्दैन, सोध्दैन। आगन जोडियको छिमेकिसंग बर्षौसम्म पनि चिनजान हुदैन।
सबै देशहरूका राम्रा र नराम्रा दुबै पाटाहरू छन्।
आफुलाई चिन्नेले मात्र संसरलाई चिन्न सक्छ। आफुलाई चिन्ने बाटो आध्यात्म हो भन्छन उनी।
जिबन र दर्शन बारे लेखक भन्छन, “ आफुभित्र भएको अथाह सम्पतीलाई चिन्यो भने, जिन्दगी अत्यन्त महत्वपुर्ण र आनन्दित हुन्छ। जानेन भने जिन्दगिमा दुख, कष्ट र विषाद मात्रै बाकि रह्न्छ।” आध्यत्मिक क्षेत्रमा रूचि भएका सिटौलाले रबिसंकर र पाईलट बाबासंग भएको भेटको अनुभब पनि समेटेका छन्। सिटौला नयॉ पिडिलाई संदेश दिदै भन्छन,” जिबन एउटा उकालो बाटो हो। यसमा यात्रा गर्दा सबै खालका क्षणहरू आउछन्।… मनलाई सकरात्मक मार्गमा हिडाउने प्रयास गर्नु पर्दछ। आफ्नो मन शान्त र सरल नभयसम्म मानिसमा खुसी आउन सक्दैन।”
धेरै मन छुने कुराहरू छन् यो किताबभित्र। फुर्सद मिले झ्याप्प बसेर पढौ है।

Nine Points to be noted from the book 21 Lessons from the 21st Century

Nine Points to be noted from the book 21 Lessons from the 21st Century

1. Since September 11,2001 each year terrorists have killed about 50 people in the European Union and about 10 people in the United States. About seven people in China and up to 25,000 people elsewhere in the globe (mostly in Iraq Afghanistan Pakistan Nigeria and Syria.) In contrast, each year traffic accidents kill about 80,000 Europeans,40,000 Americans, 270,000 Chinese and 1.25 billion people all together. Diabetes and high sugar level up to 3.5 million people annually while air pollution kills about 7 million people per year.

2.  Today close to 1.25 million people are killed annually in traffic accidents, (the number killed by War crime and terrorism combined ) More than 90% of these accidents are caused by very human errors somebody drinking alcohol and driving,somebody texting a message while driving, somebody falling asleep at the wheel, somebody daydreaming instead of paying attention to the The National Highway Traffic. Safety administration estimated in 2012 that 31% of fatal crashes in the United States involve alcohol abuse 30% involve speeding and 21% involve distracted drivers. Self-driving Vehicles will never do any of these things this offer from their own problems and limitations and though some accidents are inevitable replacing all human drivers by computers is expected to reduce death and injuries on the road by about 90% in other words switching to autonomous vehicles is likely to save the lives of 1 million people every year.

3. The loss of many traditional jobs in everything from art to healthcare will partly be upset by the creation of new human jobs primary care doctors who focus on diagnosing non disease in administrating family treatment will probably be replaced by AI doctors. But precisely because of that there will be much more money to pay human doctors and lab assistants to do groundbreaking research and develop new medicines and surgical procedures. 
4. AI might help create new human jobs in another way instead of human competing with AI they could focus on service Servicing. And leveraging for example the replacement of human Pilots by drones has eliminated some jobs but created many new opportunities in maintenance Remote Control Data analysis and cyber security the US Armed Forces need 30 people to operate every on armed predator or Reaper drone flying over Syria while analyzing the resulting Harvest of it. 
5.  In fact today computers and algorithms are already beginning to function his clients in addition to being producers. Algorithms obviously have no consciousness show unlike human customer consumers they cannot enjoy what they buy and their decisions are not saved by Sensations and emotions. The Google search algorithm can test ice cream however algorithm slick things based on their internal calculations and bill in preferences and this preferences increasingly save our world.formation occupies at least 80 people more.

6. We know how to build a dam and stop a river from flowing but we did not know how to stop the body from a-z we knew how to design a irrigation system but we had no idea how to design a brain. If a mosquito bust in our air and Disturbed sleep we knew how to kill the mosquito but if the thought bust in our mind and kept us awake at night most of us did not know how to kill the thought. The revolution in biotech and infotech will give us control of the world inside us and will enable us to engineer and manufactured the life.

7.  We will learn how to design brains extend lives and kill Tarts without Direction nobody knows what the consequences will be. Humans were always far better at inventing tools than using them wisely it is easier to manipulate a river by building a dam than it is to predict all the complex consequences this will have for the wider ecological system. Similarly it will be easier to redirect the flow of our minds than to Divine what that will do to our personal psychology or to our social system.

8. What should we be teaching in 2050. Many pedagogical export argued that schools should switch to teaching the 4 CS critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. More boldly they believe school so downplayed technical skills and imprecise general-purpose life skills. Most important of all will be the ability to deal with James learn new things and preserve your mental balance in unfamiliar situations. In order to keep up with the world of 2050 you will need not merely to invent new ideas and products but above all to reinvent yourself again and again. 
9. By 2048 people might have to cope with migrations to cyberspace with fluid gender identities and with new sensory experiences generated by computer implants. If they find both work and meaning in designing up-to-the-minute fastens for a 3D virtual reality game with inadequate not just this particular profession but all jobs demanding this level of artistic creation might be taken over by AI.

Red Wine

I was bored. Sorting out the stuffs and put them on the shelves was not an exciting job at all. But I had no choice. I got the job, I picked it up. It used to pay me $15:00 per hour. It was a dollar store named, ‘Dollar Tree’. Every stuffs in the store was a dollar and quarter or less. Most of the stuffs were shipped from rural part of china. 99.9 percentage merchandise were labelled as 'Made in China.' Anyway, it was not my business. I had to do the job what was assigned to me to do.
I was not only the staff bored while working long hours. There were cashiers who did not have anything to do during slow hours. When I had a  break, I used to chit chat with them and kill the monotony of the work. Most of them were the old people above 50s. They had always a story to tell. They used to talk about their earlier job, their own  kids and their husband's kids, grandchildren. Some of them used to talk about their boyfriends or living together partners. I had only the stories to tell them was Nepal as a mountainous country and the highest peak of the world Mt Everest.
Due to my accent they used to pay attention to my lips and the facial gestures than the actual story  I was telling to them. Anyway, I liked to chat with them to learn and understand their accent.
One day there came a new cashier,  a young girl of her teen, probably, with a blonde hair, slim built with an gala apple sized tits and a pair of swelled hips giving her a perfect shape. Her name was Samantha, she told me when I met her at the staff break room. She was frank talking jovial. Most of the time she used to talk about the little dog she had in her house. I was not the fan of any kind of dogs. But I was paying attention to her every words because her accent was different from other staffs. Later I came to know that she was from New Founded land  Labrador which she called 'New Finland.'
I told her my story of back home in a different way than I used to tell other old staffs. I told her how I used to teach to the students of her age, what students used to do in the classrooms. She said, " we never listened to our history teacher when he was telling about war and civilization stuffs.  I liked our science teacher most because he used to take us to the lab and never concern what we did."
"Oh! that was not really fare with the students, was that? " I asked her.
" You know what there were students who always ask questions to the teachers and they care about the study. But hated the science stuff and wanted to have fun rather that sitting bored."
"Neither I like the science stuffs. I used to teach literature. I like it." I said.
"Poetry and novels stuffs, you mean."
"Yes. Have you read any of them in your class?"
" Yah, I remember, we had to do the essay stuffs. And some romantic novels. I liked them. I hate the classic stuffs. I liked Separate Lives by Carolina Jants and Day Of Fire series. We never read seriously about the course book. But one of them used to be the part of talk among friends."
I had not read those books, so I did not want to talk about them anymore. I said, ' well, you so romantic girl." I had read the classics of Jane Austen and George Orwell and many more.But now a days I am reading modern writers and some of the self help books."
" Well, I read' Art of Not Giving a Fuck' recently. I liked the guy who wrote this book," she said.
"Wow, that's great. I am reading the same book. I have it in my backpack."
"Nice talking to you, Dal, I have to go, now," she walked away immediately. I had the really friendly chat first time with a white girl who was young and beautiful.
Then I went to the Shipping and Receiving to assist other staffs unloading the merchandise. There was a Pakistani guy who used to operate forklift. He was supposed to train me. But later he told me that I had to take a class. I hated that job. So I kept escaping that training stuff. I helped hem moving  lighter stuffs away from the service lane and stocking them on the storage racks. I never did that before in my life. All I did was teaching. After we finished stocking all the stuffs, we opened all the boxes, read the labels and restock them in the ails. There were two white girls who used to move their hands faster then I uses to while writing on the white board. But they were boring like a hell. They never talk, never smile and never help. They used to come exactly the right time and would leave at the right time.
On my second break, instead to the staff break room, I went to the counter. There were a few costumers. She was dusting the till and also organizing the items at the counter area.
“Don't work hard,” I said.
“I am trying”, she gave me a sexy smile.
“Do you have boyfriend?”
“ Not at the moment. I hooked up with a brown guy from my high school, but his parents were so traditional. He was a kind of dick”, she looked away.
“ Can we hang out this weekend somewhere?”
She smiled. She did not say a word. After a while she looked at me like she was screening my soul, heart and lungs. This time she did not smile at all.
“Are you serious?” She said.
“ just asking you!” I am bored working all weekend. You are my type of girl .”
“ You are also brown. You guys are so fucking nuts.”
“Don't be racist. Try once. I am not that type of brown”’ I tried not to laugh.
“Then where are you planning to go?”
“ Lets go to movies at WEM and try luck afterwards.”
“ How come?”
“Casino”.
She remained silent. I got her number and returned to the work. The store manager was watching us the whole time we were talking. I did not give a shit. He wanted to be the Big Brother which I truly hate being watched. There were dozens of cameras all over the ceiling. They were watching from each corner and somebody is watching on the screen sitting on a cozy chair with freshly made Marxian coffee. I could see those homeless people stealing pops and chocolates right from the cameras angle, but nobody dares to stop them.
I finished the job. As I went the front, I came to know that she had already gone home. I typed a text, “ why did’t wait me. I wanted to sleep with you tonight”. But I deleted it . I thought it might be too
early.

Next day, I texted her,”hey! what about our hang out this Sunday?”
“DOMS”, she texted.
I did not understand what she mean. I never use those letters while texting. I did not reply for a while. Then another text popped up,” are you there”?
“Yup. I did not get DOMS.”
“ Dad Over My Solder. So, I did not want to talk,” she texted again.
“What is answer?”
“Why? You want to hook up with me seriously?” She replied with some smiles.
“No, I don't hook up. I fuck hard.”
“He-he really. You guys don't know how to fuck, do you. LOL?”.
I was wordless. I never though she would say that .” I will try.”
“Then how come you have no girlfriend?”
“I never looked one. I never loved one. You are the right person for me”.
“ you only met me yesterday. How come you say I am the right person to you? I am a slut, he-he.”
I was laughing so hard. I typed something and deleted again. Again a MSG popped up on the screen “ scared”!
“Okay, I will come to pick you up at 11:30. That day will be ours. Absolutely, ours, do you understand?”
“ No”! I don't trust brown guy.”
“Are you serious? You are a racist.” I like you though.”
“Yes, I am.”
I had to go in the kitchen as my wife was calling me to help her chopping the onions. I texed “catch you later.”
“What?”
“Your tits”.
I closed the app and went to the kitchen. I put my phone on the dining table and started chopping the onion. Texts kept popping up on the screen. My wife was wiping her hands to get the phone. I jumped before her and shoved the phone in to my pocket. She looked at me mysteriously.
After dinner, I read all the craps and deleted the conversation.
On Sunday, I picked her up from Seven-Eleven next to her house and spend the whole day in WED.
I had lied my wife telling her that I had a meeting with friends. That night I wanted to bang her in her home because she was already hammered in the Casino. I had to drop her home. She told me that her girl friend was no more at home.
I made up a bull shit story to my wife and went to her apartment. Her apartment was not that impressive. A pair of bras was sitting on her sofa. Her inner garments were on the floor. Sink was full of dishes. Pizza boxes and chips packages were heaped on the corner of the living room. She asked to to sit on the cough removing the bras. She went to the washroom turning TV on for me.
When she came out of bathroom, she was just wearing a jumper. I could see her tits slightly tilting
down to the ground. Her hips were dancing as she was walking to and forth. Her wet hair on her solder adding sexy look on her.
“Wine or beer?”
“I would prefer wine to beer,” I replied. I was thinking not to drink at first. But I just surrendered to her beauty.
She put two wine glasses on the table and a bottle of red wine. I opened te bottle and served to her. She thanked me and sit close to me giving me a flirty look.
“Netflix?” She asked.
“Sure!” I replied. She put an adult movie on the TV and tossed my glass “cheers. Her legs were open and wide. I put my hand on her left thigh and gently pressed. She put her hand over mine and started rubbing it. It gave me a romantic sensation. I got permission to explore deeper. I slide my hand down the the slop of her thighs towards the curve. It was hot.
“ Are you serious?” She looked at me.
“Ya, I am,” I touched her pussy hair. She was wearing nothing inside. As I started fingering the hole, I felt her grabbing my little fish. She leaned on to my laps. I hold her on my arms and kissed her right on the lips. She unzipped my pants and hold my fish tightly. As I released my lips from her she lowered her head and got my fish in her mouth. I heart beat was speeding. I grabbed her tits and rubbed on my knees. As I raised her head to kiss me, gathered her both both nipples in one hand and started shucking them. She was already submissive and had opened the legs as a welcoming gesture.
“Do you have condoms?”
“No, I hate condoms”.
She folded her legs and said, “ no way.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I am. I am not going to hold your fucking juice.”
“I will take out and shove into your mouth. You can swallow it.”
“No way fucking retard”
I tried to shove in her asshole when she rolled back. But she quickly moved other side. I was already out of control.
“ I promise, I will take it out when it comes to its mouth.”
“You might have disease.”
“You are the one fucking cunt. I am clean. You might have the disease. “
She held the dick folding her fingers and shoved into pussy hole.” I just followed the command of the tower. She said “no fucking inside.”
We finished in ten minutes. She cleaned up the mess. After that she went to the bathroom of the living room. I followed her. We took shower rubbing each others gentiles . She making fun of my under sized dick.
She made French omelet and served to me. I was already late to home. I ate hurriedly, gave her a kiss and left the house. I had stories to tell my family.
We met again in the workplace . But this time we were different than the earlier meeting. She was more vulgar at the back house and flirting constantly. I was worried about my job. If my manager would know what was going on between us at the back of house I might get fired. Then it would be  harder to  find another job. It might take another two months going through the frustrating process of job search .
I started avoiding her after a few weeks. She knew that why I was avoiding her. She used to tell me "you are a little scared brown" when I made her aware of the manager. One day she told me that she got the another job with EPCORE . I did not know what job she got, but gave me a tight hug that evening she signed out for the last time in the time clock for the employees.
I felt relieved. I continued my work as usual. New employees used to come and go. But I limited my interaction with them. Most of the employees were old and cold.
Another month I got the job with Canada Post. I had to deliver the mails everyday to the community. I was posted to the China Town community. I used to carry the letters and other mails door to door, unlock the mail boxes, put the mails and lock them before I leave the building. As soon as Winter started the job became much harder. I had to park my truck three four block from the house and carry the sack on my back. It would be biting cold and roads would be slippery. In some areas people never clean the snow so there used to be deposits of the black ice.
One afternoon I was putting the mails into the boxes in a residential building in my area, there I heard a soft and sounded familiar voice, " Hi".
"Hello" I looked back holding the mails in my hands. There was Samantha. She looked hot and sexy in her home gown.
"What are you doing here?" She said .
"I am doing my new job. How come you are here?"
"I moved here as soon as started the new job. I tried to call you a couple of time. What happened with you? You never call me back."
"You know what Samantha, I lost the job soon you left. I had to go back home for a month. I closed the account with my phone carried and changed with another when came back. I had the new plan and had to take the new SIM for the phone. I lost most of contacts", I made a beautiful story.
"Okay, I understand now. How is everything?"
" Surviving".
"You are on duty now. Do you have some time to stop at my apartment if you are not in a rush."
"Let me finish this job," her beautiful body definitely overpowered my mind.
The I put the sack over my soldier and followed her to to the apartment. The apartment was full of aroma of roasted chicken. She took out the tray of chicken from the oven and offered me. "Do you drink?" she smiled.
" I wish! but I am on duty now. I hate the policies that chain our freedom. She sat close to me. She told me that she had a boyfriend from Quebec. They had good relation for a year. When she proposed to marry, he refused without saying a word. Then he disappeared. After that she went on depression. She started drinking alcohol very often. She was nearly the victim of an addiction. One night she met her school friend Tina at the club, who advised her to join the yoga class to manage the stress. First, she did not believe on yoga . But as soon as she practiced the meditation, she felt a change in her. She had a new hope, new light and new color of life. She quit alcohol forever . She told her story everything as a lecture.  I could feel the relief in her. She was not the same piece of flesh of sexual urge.
"You are transformed Samantha .  You are beautiful and qualified girl. You have a good job. You will find a best of the best boyfriend."
"I am not thinking of any boyfriend. I was hurt when he betrayed me without a reason. Later I knew that he had his another girlfriend in BC which I never got the clue during our relation"
"What about our relationship?"
(She laughed! You were married, weren't you? Anyway, you never tried to be close after that night. I know guys. They want to keep relation but don't want to be in the relation."
I had no words to reply. I said, " I did not do anything that night, all I blame is the Red wine."
( She laughed again..) Okay, I don't want you be late in your work. When you come this house again, you can stop at my door and knock. if no red wine, I will welcome with red tea.
I put the sack on over the solder and walked out.

Canon EOS Rebel SL2/200D Tutorial

City Bus Rider

The weather was -35 degree celcious. I got a new job, yesterday. Since I got the offer letter, I had only partial sleep last night. I googled the map of my workplace 7245, Callingwood. It was my first job which I signed up after one and half month’s venture. I bundled up with winter clothes, carried a backpack and walked off my apartment. After reaching to the station at 107 ave, I waited for the bus#3 for about fifteen minutes. There were three people already waiting for the bus. One was a black woman about two hundred fifty lbs, completely dark complexion, medium size balloon boobs, and full size buttocks. Another was a red colored old man with  with a knapsack and a old bike. The third was a white girl wearing headphone over her ponytail and playing with a digital device.
I casually looked at them, but nobody was giving me a heck. I felt numbness in my fingers so that  I quickly shoved my hands into pockets and stood close to the building walls. A lady with a white tiny dog walked through giving me a full smile. It made me feel good. At the same moment a public bus ETS-3 stopped at bus stop. Everyone were standing on a queue. I joined in a single file line and rode on the bus.
I had one loonie, one loonie and a quarter in my hand. I put them in a box on the right hand side of the driver. The driver looked at me as if I had just put a couple of dimes in the box. I did not smile at all. I walked down the patio to find the seat, but there was not a single left. I was swinging left and right while holding the hand bar tight. I saw everyone bowing their heads on phone as if they were all mourning. A white boy in a gray jacket at the far end was laughing. I did not see anyone talking to him. It looked wired to me. A pair of wires running through his jackets.
At the next stop, a big fat lady rode on the bus with her wheel chair. She had a vacant seat reserved at the front. People standing near her seat moved backwards pushing me down to the exit door. I accidentally pressed the stop button which made the bus stop at the next stop. I did not get off. There were no one to get off. I saw the driver in the rear view mirror looking at me as if I had a gun hidden in my pocket. I felt guilty. When the bus reached to the Jasper station, there were people standing all in the patio. I moved to the back seat providing space for them. After a minute, I found only myself left in the bus.
"Where are you going, sir?" The driver asked me.
'" I looked in notebook where I had written the address and said, ' Collingwood'.
"This bus does not go to Collingwood. You should take another bus to the West Edmonton Mall transit centre where you can get other buses go to Collingwood."
I quietly got off the bus and stood on the edge of the road under the ETS bus stop sign. I did not know which bus go to the address I was intended to. It was windy and chilly weather. I had no data in my cell phone to check the bus which go to West Edmonton Mall. A man with a red skin spotted with dirt came close to me. I could smell pungent odor of alcohol. " Can I have a smoke please?' he extended his right hand towards me.
"Sorry, I don't smoke," I said.
" Do you have loonie?", he asked again. I said no. He walked away from me saying" thank you!"
I gave him neither a smoke nor a loonie, but he extended gratitude towards me. I was quite surprized. Then another man came in a walker and asked for a smoke after a few minutes. I said no and moved away from there. I went to the station and asked a guy how could I get a bus to West Edmonton Mall. He showed me the stop where I could get a bus # 2 which would take me to the WEM. I thanked him and headed to the stop. Unfortunately, I missed the bus with a slim gap. I had to wait another bus fifteen minutes more. In fact, three buses had already left during my stay at the station. But whole time I was standing at the wrong stop.
After a fifteen minutes wait the bus arrived. I got on the bus. The bus was full of passengers. I went to the last seat. I sat next to a girl who had Chinese complexion. She smiled at me nodding her head and in a second, by the time I smiled back, she turned as a statue. I learned how to stretch my lips without even opening them and bear a fake smile.
Whole time I felt mourning silent in the bus. There were passengers on and off the bus in every five minutes, but nobody was really communication with the words. There was a speaker announcing the location. A string of wire was stretched on the ceiling of the bus with a little loupe  of the wire at the top of every seat. Passenger were pulling it if they wanted to stop the bus at the next stop. I learned this when I pulled it  earlier, accidentally.
The bus stopped at WEM station. Everyone got off the bus. I was the last one getting off the bus because i stopped by the driver to ask which no bus goes to Collingwood. As I got the direction from him,  I went to the shade to wait the bus to my destination. There was a bench to the waiting passenger. I sat on it. Next to me, there was a couple of the teenager who were attached like a magnet attached with the metal. They did give any space to me while joining their lips multiple time. There were other people too in that shelter, but everyone was turning a blind eye on them. It was hard for me to avoid the sight. Soon I left the shelter and waited the bus standing in the cold outside. There came a black guy who looked new to the city like me from his appearance. He came closer to me and asked,”Are you from India?”
“No!” I hate people who asked me if I were Indian. “Am I really look like Indian?”, I asked myself. I did not talked to him anymore. A white man looking normal came closer and asked for loonie. OMG how many beggars are there in the city. I never imagined before in the the county like Canada which the top ranked in the best lifestyle in the world. The black guy was mumbling that these people are lazy so that they ended up in jails due to drugs and crimes or become homeless.
After ten minutes wait, the bus came and I rode on it. I was empty. I got the seat of my choice. I gave the address to the driver requesting him to let me know when the address arrived. The driver was east Indian immigrant who replied, “ no problem, aap baitho.”
The bus stopped multiple community stops before reaching to my location. Every time I looked at the eyes of the driver, he gave me the signal with the hollow eyes “no”!
Around 12:30 the bus stopped at Collingwood community centre. I got off the bus and walked along the street looking for the DOMO gas station. I saw the sign of DOMO at the opposite side of the road. By this time, I was almost two hour late. I looked the Pump standing at the distance where two black women running in and out pretty quickly. I decided not to go there. Went back  to the stop and  started the city bus journey back to home hoping to arrive before twilight.


   

सुधीन

" तपाइको बिषयमा जम्मा दुइ जना मात्र पास छन्। अरु चालिसजना फेल। तपाइले के पढाउनु भयो बिद्यार्थीहरुलाई ?" प्रिन्सिपल झक्कु सुबेदी ठुलो ठुलो स्वरले प्रश्न सोधिरहेका थिए। सुधीन ट्वाल्ल परेर प्रिन्सिपलको अनुहार हेरिरहेको थियो। "मलाई अरु हैन रिजल्ट चाहिन्छ, रिजल्ट। फाइनलमा सबै बिधार्थी उतिर्ण हुनु पर्छ।"

सुधीन एकछिन के जबाफ दिने अलमलमा पर्यो।  हिजो कापी जाच्ने बेला नसोचेका पनि होइन उसले एकदुई नम्बर बोनस थपेर पास गराउन।  तर कापी सबै रित्तै थियो।  लेखेकाहरुले पनि एउटा वाक्य सम्म सुध्ध नलेखेको देखेर उसले जस्ताको तस्तै नम्बर दियो। दुइजना मात्र पास भए।  गल्ति आखिर उसको ठहरियो। 

"बिधार्थीहरुले लेखेकै छैनन् कसरि पास गराउने तपाई आफै भन्नुस सर ?" बिनम्र स्वरले सोध्यो उसले। 

"तपाइको काम के हो ? के पढाउनुहुन्छ तिनीहरुलाई ? तपाईलाई ति बिद्यार्थीहरु पास गराउनको लागी जागिर दिएको हुँ  मैले, फेल गराउन हैन। यस्तै पारा हो भने मैले स्कुल बन्द गरे हुन्छ। तपाईलाई एक मौका दिन्छु थप कक्षा लिएर भएपनि बिद्यार्थीहरु पास गराउन पर्यो। अहिले गएर आफ्नो काममा लागिहाल्नुस।"

सुधीन केहि नबोली प्रिन्सिपलको कोठाबाट बाहिरिन्छ। स्टाफ कोठामा आज कसैको पनि अनुहार खुसि छैन।  सबै जना चक डस्टर समातेर हतार हतार दौडिरहेका छन्।  उ पनि चक डस्टर समातेर बाहिर निस्कन्छ। उसलाई कक्षा भित्र छिर्न मन छैन। एघार मा हुदा सम्म अलि शान्त हुन्थ्यो उनको कक्षा तर बाह्रमा पुगेपछि उसले पढाएको कसैले पनि सुन्दैनन। बिद्यार्थीहरु पनि लद्दु छन्।  राम्रो नम्बर ल्याउनेहरु सेक्सन - ए  र बि मा छन्। बल्ल बल्ल पास भएकाहरु र गाउँ गाउँ को सरकारी स्कुलबाट आएकाहरु सबै सेक्सन -सी मा। अंग्रेजी मठ्यै आउदैन उनीहरुलाई।अंग्रेजी टिचर हो सुधीन।  त्यसमाथि बयालीस बयालीस जना छन् कोठामा। तेही भएर पनि उसले पढाएको कसैले बुझ्दैनन्। 

"सरको कलास छैन अहिले ?" प्रमिला म्याडमले दाइने हत्केलोमाथि देब्रे हत्केलोले प्याट प्याट हानेर चकको धुलो झार्दै सोध्छिन। उसलाई आज उनको सुन्दरताको तारिफ गर्न मन छैन। " छ ' जादैछु "  यति भनेर उ सरासर कक्षाकोठातिर लाग्छ। 

"एकछिन ढिलो भएकोले कक्षामा हल्ला बढी  थियो। उसले डेस्कमाथि जोडसंग डस्टर ठोकेर सबैको ध्यानाकर्षण गर्छ। अझै पनि हल्ला रोकिएको थिएन।  बोर्डमा सरासर हिजो पढाएको च्याप्टरको प्रश्न उत्तर लेख्दिन्छ र चुपचाप सार्न लगाउछ।  सबैले चुपचाप सार्न थाल्छन।  हल्ला पनि अलि कम हुदै जान्छ। 

 बोर्डमा लेखेको सारिसकेपछि एकजनाले भन्छ "सर एउटा जोक भन्नुस न। " त्यसपछि सबैजना " जोक.… जोक भन्दै चिच्यौछन। उसलाई आज जोक भन्ने मुड छैन। 

" सबैले घोकेर आउनु लेखाएको जति। भोलि म सोध्नेछु।  अबदेखि तिमीहरुलाई जोक हैन जोताई हुन्छ। "

यसरि सुधीन सर कहिले पनि रिसाउदैनथ्यो बिद्यार्थीहरु संग। आज यसरि रिसाएको देखेर सबैजना ट्वाल्ल परेर हेर्छन। तेश्रो घन्टी बज्नासाथ उ कलासबाट निस्कन्छ। दस मिनेटमा अर्को स्कुलमा क्लास छ उसको। बाइक स्टार्ट गरेर त्यहाबाट बाहिरिन्छ हतार हतार । चोकमा नपुग्दै एक हुल युवा युबती प्लेकार्ड बोकेर बाटो पुरै ढाकेर हिडेका हुन्छन।  मोटरसाइकल गल्लितिर बाट हुइकाएर लन्डन ब्रिज हाइस्कुल पुग्छ। स्कुलको गेट भित्र पस्दा नपस्दै  प्रिन्सिपलले आफ्नो अफिस डाकेको जानकारी  दिन्छ स्कुल सहयोगी राजेन्द्र दाइँले। 

सुधीनले मुबाइल निकालेर टाइम हेर्छ। उसको कलास पाँच मिनेट ढिलो पो भैसकेको थियो। ऊ  सरासर प्रिन्सिपलको कोठामा जान्छ। " तपाइको क्लास सुरु हुने बेला यहि हो ? अस्ति पनि ढिलो आउनुभएको थियो रे। तपाइँ दस ठाउँ पढाउनुस मलाइ मतलब भएन। मेरो क्लास डिस्टर्ब हुन भएन" बस्न पनि नभन्दै कड्के प्रिन्सिपल चुन्नालाल। 

" सर बाटोमा महिलाबादीहरुको जुलुस रैछ त्यसैले ढिलो भयो। अबदेखि टाइममा आउछु " , सुधीन आफ्नो मजबुरी बिनम्रताको साथ बताउछ। 

"हाम्रो देशमा जुलुस सुलुस सधै हुन्छ। के मैले स्कुल बन्द गर्ने ? अर्कोकुरा तपाइले होम्वोर्क चेक गर्नुहुन्न रे। अबिभाबकहरुले कम्प्लेन गरेका छन। तपाईलाई एक मौका दिन्छु। अहिलेलाई जानुस, भोलिदेखि समयमा स्कुल आउनुहोला। होम्वोर्क चेक गर्नुस।  स्कुलमा भ्याउनुहुन्न भने घरमा लेर जानुस," पावरवाला चस्माको फ्रेम माथिबाट हेर्दै आदेश फर्माइस गर्छन चुन्नालाल।

सुधीन लडाई हारेर फर्केको सिपाइ झैँ निन्याउरो मुख लागाउदै निस्कन्छ। कलासमा बिद्यार्थीहरुलाई लेख्ने काम दिन्छ र डेस्कको छेउमा उदेक मानेर बस्छ। जागर नलाई नलाई केहि बिद्यार्थीहरुको होम्वोर्क चेक गर्छ। उसलाई कुन कुन बिद्यार्थीहरुको अभिबाकले होमवर्क फलो अप गर्छन भन्ने पनि थाहा छ।  उनीहरुको होमेवोर्क प्राय: चेक गर्छ ऊ।

स्कुलमा तिन पिरियड पढाएर  किर्तिपुरको कोठातिर लाग्छ सुधीन। बिहानदेखि भोक भोकै त्यसमाथि प्रिन्सिपलको हेपाहा बोलि टाउकोमा घुमिरहेको थियो। कोठामा पुगेर खाटमा पल्टिन्छ। एकछिन भएपनि निदाउन खोज्छ तर निन्द्रा पर्दैन।  साँझपख उठेर चोकतिर जान्छ। हरिहर, बिनोद , सुर्य ,प्रलाद  लगाएत उसले नचिनेका दुइतिन जना संग चोकको पत्रिका पसल अगाडी उभिएर गफ गर्छन।

"साला पचास ठाउँ अप्लाई गरिसके मुजी कसैले बोलाउन्न यार। बाउले घर बोलाएकै बोलाइ छन्। गाउमा के मुख देखाउन जानु, बरु बिदेशतिर जाने उपाय खोज्दै छु हौ केटाहरु म त ", बिनोदले चुरोटको धुवा आकासतिर फुक्दै भन्छ।

"यहा जागिर गरेर ज्यान पाल्न गारो छ। बोर्डिंग स्कुलमा पढाएर बस्नु भन्दा त कतार गए जितिन्छ केटा हो", सुर्यले कान्तिपुर पत्रिकाबाट आँखा नहटाई भन्छ।

"तेरो त मालामाल होला हैन बिहान प्लस टु , दिउसो स्कुल। मलाई पनि खोज्दे न यार जागिर ", प्रलादले सुधीनतिर फर्केर भन्छ। सुधीन केहि नबोली कुरा सुनिमात्र रहन्छ।

"मैले त क्यानाडाको फास्ट ट्रयाकबाट  पी आर अपलाई गर्ने सोच्दै छु यार केटा हो।  मास्टरको जागिरले त आफु पालिन गारो छ अरु कुरो छोड ", सुर्यले सुर्य चुरोटको धुवा फाल्दै भन्छ।  सबैले अलि चनाखो भएर हेर्छन उसलाई।
"कहाँबाट अपलाई गर्न लाइस हँ हाम्लाई नि बता यार ", हरिहरले तत्कालै सोध्छ।

" तिमीहरु पनि इन्ट्रेस्टेड हो भने भोलि सबै जाउ बुज्न लाई।  मैले चिनेको कन्सल्टेन्सी छ।  मेरो दाइको साथीको हो। "
त्यसपछि सबैले एक एक मुठा साग किन्छन र आ आफ्नो कोठातिर लाग्छन। कोठामा पुगेर सुधीन सुर्यले गरेको क्यानाडाको पी आरको बारेमा गम्भीर भएर सोच्न थाल्छ । अहिलेसम्म कहिले पनि बिदेश  जानी कुरो सोचेको सम्म थिएन उसले।श्रीमतीले अस्ट्रेलिया आप्लाइ गर्छु भन्दा उसैले भो भनेको थियो केहि महिना अघि । अब फेरी कसरि क्यानाडाको कुरा गर्ने उनिसंग। सुधिन सोचमग्न भयो। मनमनै सोच्यो ,' अब बुढीको पनि डिग्री सकियो। पी आर मा दुवै जना क्यानाडा जान पाए प्रिन्सिपलको हेपाइ सहन पनि पर्थेन। दुइ जना गएपछि पैसो पनि त मनग्य कमाइन्छ होला।  बरु पैसो चै कति पो लाग्ने हो?  भोलि जसरि भएपनि बुझ्न जान्छु सुर्यसंग।"

मनमनै क्यानाडाको कल्पना गर्दै सुत्यो। सधै बुढीलाई फोन गर्थ्यो ऊ तर आज फोन गर्न पनि बिर्सेछ। निदाउनै लाग्दा उसको फोनको घन्टी बज्यो। बुढीसंग केहीबेर कुरा गर्यो तर क्यनाडाको कुरो गरेन। सोच्यो 'भोलि बुझेर मात्र गर्नुपर्ला।'

बिहान जागर नलाई नलाई उठ्यो। पढाउन जाने मन पटकै थिएन तर पनि झोला भिरेर लाग्यो ट्यार- टुर्र हर्न बजाउदै किर्तिपुरको ओरालो।

त्यो दिन स्टाफ कोठामा धेरै बेर बसेन।  सामान्य 'हाय 'हेलो' बाहेक केहि बोलेन ऊ कसैसंग। घन्टी बजेपछि सरासर कक्षामा गयो। नोट लेखायो। सबै जना खुसि भए नोट दिएकोमा। उसले पनि सोच्यो जता जता जस्तो ताल उस्तै नाच ठिक। किन टाउको दुखाउनु फोकटमा चिच्याएर। कलेज सकेर स्कुल गयो। स्कुल पनि ठिक समयमै पुग्यो।  सरासर आफ्नो पिरियड पढायो, होम्वोर्क दियो। उसले आज गित गाएन कलासमा। जोक पनि सुनाएना। बिधार्थिले सोचे सरको आज घरमा झगडा परेजस्तो छ।

स्कुलबाट निस्केपछि ऊ सरासर गयो बागबजार। सुर्यलाई फोन गर्यो।  उनीहरु अघि नै त्यहाँ पुगेका रहेछन। ऊ पनि गयो खोज्दै।

सुबास राई छालाको कालो घुम्ने  कुर्चीमा बसेर केटाहरुलाई गफ दिदै थियो।  रातो बर्णको, मेडियम हाइट, सेतो सर्टमा हल्का गुलाबी रंगको टाई बानेको, छोटो कपालमा जेल ठोकेर निधार माथिको रौ ठाडो पारेको सुबास निकै रहरलाग्दो देखिएको थियो।  त्यो भन्दा रहरलाग्दो उसको गफ गर्ने इस्टाईल थियो। साच्चि नै क्यानाडा बसेर सबै थोक जानेको जस्तो कुरा गर्दथ्यो। 

" टिचिंगको एक्सपेरियन्स लेटर तयार गर। सर्टिफिकेटहरु सबै नोटरी गरेर राख। आयल्सको तयारि गर। पैसो सुरुमा अप्लाइ गर्दा एक एक लाख बुझाउनु पर्छ। फाइल नम्बर निक्लेपछि अरु बाकि म मिलाएर गर्दी हाल्छु", सुबासले ढुक्क साथ भन्यो। 

सुधिन, हरिहर र सुर्यले प्रोसेस सुरु गरिहाल्ने सल्लाह गरेर निस्के। अरुले भने पछि डिसिजन गर्ने भन्दै बाहिरिए।
सुधीन कोठामा पुगेर सबभन्दा पहिला बुढीलाइ फोन गरेर सल्लाह गर्छ। डिग्री सकेर घरमा सासु ससुरा संग बस्दा कहिले निस्कन पाइएला भनेर कुरेर बसेकी सबिनालाई के खोज्छस कानो आँखो भनेजस्तो भयो।  उसले तुरुन्त अप्लाई गर्न सुझाई।

"हजुरलाई फुर्सद मिल्दैन भने बाबा आमा संग सल्लाह गरेर मलाई बोलाउनुस। सबै डकुमेन्टहरु तयार गर्न मा सहयोग गर्छु," सबिना स्फूर्तिकासाथ सल्लाह दिन्छे।

"अहिलेलाई म आयल्सको तयारी गर्दै गर्छु। आबस्यक पर्यो म बोलाउला नि काली। लभ यु। गुड नाइट। "
"गुड नाइट…. आफु चै नि , खुब गोरे भएजस्तो ", मायाको लोली मिलाउदै भनि उसलेपनि।

सुधीन पढाउने कुरामा अलि कम र डकुमेन्ट को तयारीमा बढी समय दिन थाल्यो। "फाइनलको रिजल्ट निस्कने बेलासम्म त पुगिन्छ हिउ सोर्न, केटा केटिहरु पास हुन् कि फेल बालै भएन। साला कत्रो प्लस टु को स्केल दे जस्तो पास हुन पर्यो सबै।  गदा लाई नुहाएर गाइ हुन्छ कोइ ," मनमनै भुन्भुनायो।

पर्सिपल्ट एस एल सी देखिका सबै सर्टिफिकेटहरु बोकेर नोटोरि गर्न तिलकसिंह ठकुरीको ल फर्ममा गयो। तिलकसिंहले कागत पत्रहरु पल्टाई पल्टाई हेरे र टेबलबाट क्याल्कुलेटर निकालेर ट्याक ट्याक नम्बर थिच्न थाले। "यो सबैको दस हजार हुन्छ।  पैसा तिर्नुस र यो सबै यहि छोड्नुस। मैले सकेपछि तपाईलाई खबर गर्छु ", उनले निर्धक्क भएर भने।

"मिलाउन मिल्दैन सर अलि अलि ", सुधीनले सोध्छ।

"कहाँ तेस्तो हुन्छ। खासाको माल जस्तो। ट्रांस्क्रिपटहरुको अझ महँगो हुन्छ, मैले सबैको एउटा रेट लाइदेको छु ," उनले चस्मा हातमा लिएर सानो कपडाले लेन्स पुस्दै बताए।

"हस, सर म संग सबै पैसो छैन, भोलि आउछु " भन्दै सुधीन निस्कन्छ त्यहाबाट। बागबजारको भित्रि बाटो हुदै पुरानो बसपार्क रेग्मी मम  पशलभित्र पस्छ। एक प्लेट बफ मम  अर्डर गर्छ। "साला जिन्दगि पैसो बिना केहि हुदैन। मुजी दुइ चारवटा अक्षर ट्रांस्लेट गरेको दस दस हजार। मैनाभरी पढाएर दुइ हजार बच्दैन।" ऊ कपाकप मम खान्छ र फेरी निस्कन्छ डिल्लीबजारतिर।

बिजुलीको तारको जगल्टा भिरेका साइनबोर्डहरुमा आँखा डुलाउदै पिपलबोटसम्म पुग्छ। के खोज्दै हिड्यो त्यो पनि भुल्यो त्यहाँ सम्म पुग्दा। कतिबेला वोन वे मा पसेछ त्यो पनि ट्राफिक पुलिसले समातेपछि मात्र होस् पायो।

-लाइसेन्स निकाल।

-किन निकाल्ने?

-साँचो निकाल।

-तेरो बाउको हो ?

-मुजी ठुलो हुन्छस ?

-भए त के गर्छस।

-वोन वे मा छिर्चस अनि आफै साढे पल्टिनछस। हेल्मेट निकाल।

-तेरो ससुराले किन्देको हो र अर्डर गर्छस। बाटो तेरो बाउको हो?

-साप यो मुजी निकै ठन्किदो रछ जाक्दिम लयर खोरमा।

-भो भो एक सय निकाल र गैहाल यहाँबाट -अर्को फुली लाउने पुलिसले आदेस फर्माइस गर्यो।

सुधिरले पकेटमा हाथ हालेर दस को नोट निकाल्छ र इ ले यत्ति हो, पैसो खान पल्केका मुजीहरु ", कसेको मुठी पुलिस को नाकै निर पुर्याउछ।

-छोड्नी र भनेको यो ठन्केको मुजी लाई ?

-के गर्छस? अठ्याएर बस्छस। जा जा तेस्लाई समात। गतिलो मुर्गा फसे जस्तो छ।  यो  मुजीलाई  छोड्दे।" फुली लाउनेले आदेस दियो।

कहिले रिस नउठ्ने कुल सुधीन आज ट्राफिक पुलिस संग निकै जोर्कातोर गर्यो। उसले मनमनै सोच्यो " साला सोझो देखे सबैले हेप्प्दा रचन। आज आँट गरेको अलि अलि पैसो बच्यो। पैसो खानलाई वोन वे बनाउछ साला चोरहरुले।हिजो सम्म त टु  वे थियो।"

फरक्क फर्केर किर्तिपुरतिर उकालो लाग्यो। कोठामा पुगेपछि फेरी निस्क्यो चोकतिर चुची खानलाई अर्थात् चुरोट र चिया। भत्केपाटी जाने गल्लि को दायाँपट्टि नेवार्निको चुची पसल छ त्यहि पस्यो। राम्रो संग कान सुन्दिन नेवारनीले तर जवानी तप्प चुइएला जस्तो छ अंग अंगमा। टोलभरिका साँढेहरु कतिबेला चुइन्छ र चाटौला जस्तो गरि झुम्मेका हुन्छन। त्यहि भेट भयो सुर्य र हरिहरसंग। " आज चुची मात्रै हैन तुम्बा तानौ है साथि हो।  भोलि शनिबार हलो जोत्नु छैन कसैलाई", सुर्यले प्रस्ताप गर्यो।

सबैले सहमति जनाए।

-साउनि तुम्बा छ ?

-केछ ?

-तुम्बा छ तुम्बा ?

-गुम्बा पनि यहाँ हुन्छ ट। ऊ टेटा दक्षिणकाली जाने बाटो टिर होला नि।

-"हैन तुम्बा क्या तुम्बा ऊ त्यस्तो चुस्ने पाइपसंगको," सुर्यले अर्को टेबलमा तान्दै गरेको इसारा गरेर देखायो।

- "ए! ट्यो टुम्बा भनेको। टेसो भन्न पर्डैन अघिनै। "

अर्को टेबलमा राल काडेर बसेका एक हुल साँढेहरु गलल हाँसे। बाहिरबाट एउटा लुते कुकुर भित्र छिर्यो र तिनै साँढेहरुको गोडामुनी बसेर जिब्रोतानेर रयाल काड़यो।  म म को बाफिलो भाँडोतिर आँखा लायो । सबैको आँखा ति भट्टीवाली नेवार्निको पोटिलो पुठोमा गाडिएका थिए।  देखेनन कसैले त्यो लुते ग्राहकलाई।

"अन्त कतै छैन गोप्य ठाँउ? त्यो जिनिस त गोप्य रुपमा खानी होला नि", सुधिनले सुर्यलाइ भन्यो।

"छोड ति आदर्शका कुरा। मान्छेहरुले यहाँ घूस त हाकाहाकी  खान्छन, जाबो कोदोको जुस लुकेर खान पर्ने। के अर्कै विचार छ ?"

"छोड विचार सिचारका कुरा।  बरु तिमीले नोटरी गर्यौ त ?"

" ए ए त्यो रतन कुर्मी थेन हाम्रो ब्याचको,  हो त्यसको दाईको ल फर्म छ कालिमाटीमा। उसैले गर्दिन्छु भनेको छ मिलाएर।  मैले हिजो नै सबै डकुमेन्ट छोडेको छु। बरु तिमिपनि जाउ भोलि। मेरो नाम लिनु नि। "

साउनिले दुइओटा सिल्टिको जगमा तुम्बा लेर आई र उनीहरुको टेबलमा राख्दी।एक प्लेट सेकुव पनि मगाए। तुम्बाको तालमा भबिस्यको राम्रै रेखा कोरे गफको लयमा।

भोलिपल्ट सुधीनले घरमा फोन गर्यो र बाबालाई सबै कुरा बतायो। उसले बुहारीलाई केहि दिनको लागि काठमान्डू पठाईदिन पनि अनुरोध गर्यो। सुधीनको बाबा गाउको सामान्य किशान थिए।  उनलाई बिदेश जाने कुराले खुसि नै लाग्यो किनकि बिदेस गएर छोराले पैसो कमाउला , अरुहरुले जस्तै उसले पनि तराइमा घर घडेरी जोडला, दुखका दिन हराउलान भन्ने लगेको थियो।

सबिना अर्को हप्ता काठमाडौँ पुगी। डकुमेन्ट तयारि गर्नेमा लागे दुबैजना। विभिन्न सरकारी कार्यालयहरु तथा बैंकहरु धाउन थाले। बल्खुमा ओरिजिनल सर्टिफिकेट निकाल्दा झन्डै हात हाला हाल भएन त्यहाँको कर्मचारी संग। आज गयो, भोलि आइज भन्छ।  भोलि गयो पर्सिलाई भन्छ। अफिस खुल्छ ,कर्मचारी छैन, कर्मचारी आउछ फाइल छैन। हाकिमको ढोका ओरिपरि बिचौलियाहरुको झुण्ड बिहान देखि बेलुकासम्म। पासपोर्टको लागि सिफारिस लिन  गाँउ गयो, सचिब सदरमुकाम हुन्छ। सचिब खोज्दै सदरमुकाम गयो, सचिवको लेटर प्याड र छाप गाउमै हुन्छ। कर्मचारीको रुखो बोलि, काममा ढिला सुस्ती, तिर्नुपर्ने शर्विस शुल्कको कुनै निस्चित मापदण्ड नभएको, कर्मचारीको लाहापर्बाहिले गर्दा डबल डबल शुल्क तिरेर काम गराउनु पर्ने झंजटले गर्दा ऊ झन्डै डिप्रेसनको शिकार बन्न पुगेन। बल्ल तल्ल ऋण गरेर बिस लाख बैक ब्यालेन्स देखायो त्यो पनि झन्डै दुइ दुइ वर्षसम्म महंगो ब्याज तिरेर।

छ महिनाको प्रोसेस दुइ बर्ष लम्बियो। अन्तत ऊ  क्यानाडा पुग्यो। आकाशबाट  काठमान्डूको धमिलो क्षितिज हेर्यो। मन धमिलो भयो। काठमान्डूलाइ गार्ड गरेर सदियौ देखि  खडा पहाडहरुतिर आँखा डुलायो। मन धमिलियो। अघिपछि हेर्यो। युद्ध अपराध गरेका कैदीहरु जस्तै थुप्रै थिए जहाजभित्र। निस्प्राण थियो यात्रा।     जहाज  निरन्तर उडिरह्यो बादलमाथिको आकाशमा। ऊ कहाँ सक्थ्योर  जहाज संगै संगै उड़नलाई, केवल उसको शरीर उडीरहेको थियो। ऊ त उतै कतै खेल्ने चौतारी, खोला, पाखा र पखेरातिरै अल्मलिएको थियो। आफ्नै बाबा, आमा, दाइ, भाईबैनी र साथीभाईहरु संग संगै ।  बेला बेला झस्किन्थ्यो र नयाँ दुनियाको कल्पनामा हराउथ्यो। सुरुसुरुमा रोमान्चक लागेपनि लगातारको उडानले गर्दा यात्रा कठिन बन्दै थियो।

बाइस घन्टाको लामो यात्रा पश्च्यात सुधीन र सबिना क्यालगरी एयरपोर्ट झरे।  उनिहरुसंगै यात्रा गरिरहेका थिए सुर्य र बिनिता।  उनिहरुसंग पाँचबर्षे छोरा पनि संगै थियो। होचो होचो कदको थियो सुर्य। नर्थफेसको डाउन ज्याकेट त्यसमाथि ऊनको कानेटोपी लगाएको ऊ साचिनै मंगल ग्रहबाट आएको जस्तो देखिन्थ्यो। हातमा दुइ दुइ वोटा लगेज समातेका उनीहरु जता जता आफु अगाडीका मान्छेहरु जान्छन उतै उतै जान्थे। प्रतेकपल्ट एयरपोर्ट छिर्ने बेला सबै थोक टोकरीमा राखेर मटल डिटेक्टर भित्रबाट छिर्न पर्थ्यो। टि टि गरेर रातो बत्ति बोल्यो भने माओबादी युद्धको बेला पुलिसले सर्च गरेजस्तै तलदेखि माथिसम्म प्याट डाउन गर्थ्यो। त्यो ठाँउ क्रस गरेपछि युद्ध जितेजसरी भित्र पस्थे, लाइनमा ठिङ्ग उभिन्थे र कान टाँठा पार्दै चलाख पुर्बक काउन्टरतिर हेर्थे।   अंग्रेजीको मास्टर सुधीन अंग्रेजी हल्ला मात्र सुन्थ्यो तर केहि बुझ्दैनथ्यो।

"नेक्स पिलिज ", बुढी बुढी गोरी आइमाईले सुधीनतिर आखाँ लाउदै बोलाइ। सुधीन काउन्टरतिर बढ्यो।  पछि पछि गई सबिना।

"क्यान आइ सी योर पासपोर्ट प्लिज !" मुसुक्क हास्दै भनि उसले।

"यस माई पासपोर्ट हेयर" भन्दै पासपोर्ट र इम्मिग्रेशनको  फर्म टेबलमाथि राक्यो।"

गोरिले पासपोर्ट ओल्टाईपल्टाई हेरी र "कति पैसो ल्याएको छ ? कति डलर ? कति ड्राफ्ट ? कति सामान ? के के सामान? कहाँ बस्ने ? सबै कुरोको निधिखुधि पारि। उसले बुझेन भने झर्को नमानि दोहोर्याइ तेहर्याई सोध्थी। सुधीन नबुझेर बेला बेला बिचरो मुख लाउदै सविनाको मुखतिर हेर्दथ्यो। कनी कनी भएपनि उत्तर दिए दुबैले।
"वेलकम टु क्यानाडा", फेरीपनि मुसुक्क हाँस्दै भनि गोरिले र ल्याण्डिङ्ग पेपर हातमा दिई। त्यसपछि उनीहरुलाई क्यालगरी देखि एडमन्टन जोड्ने फलाइट सम्म आफैले हिडेर बाटो देखाई उसले।

बाहिर लगेज कलेक्सन गर्ने ठाउँमा सुजन र बिनोध उनीहरुलाई पिकअप गर्न आइपुगेका थिए। दुई बर्ष अघि क्यानाडा छिरेका उनीहरुको छाला अलि चम्किलो र रातो देखिन्थ्यो। एकपल्ट जोडसंङ्ग हात मिलाए र दुइ पल्ट सम्म झड्कारे काम्रेड शैलीमा। सुजन र बिनोदले उनीहरुको लगेज समाते र बाहिर निस्के। पहिलो पल्ट -२२ डिग्री सेल्सियस को जाडोले स्वागत गर्यो गाला चिमोटेर। फटाफट छिरे गाडीभित्र र गफ गर्दै बिनोदले हुइकायो गाडी र पछि पछि सुजन।

तातो थियो गाडी भित्र। बाहिर सेतै थियो, धुलो आयोडिन नुन छरेजस्तो जताततै। गाडीमा सानो इस्क्रिन झुल्डियको थियो अगाडी सिसामा। तेही सानो स्क्रीन मा रोडको नक्सा थियो भने एउटा महिलाले यता र उता भन्दै बाटो बताउदै थिई।'यो जी पी एस हो। यसको फलो गरेपछि हराइदैन। नत्रभने यति धेरै बाटाहरु छन् कि बाटो बिरिन बेर लाग्दैन। यो भयो भने नयाँ ठाउँ जहापनि जान सकिन्छ," बिनोदले भन्यो।

सुधिनका जोडीहरु झ्यालबाट बाहिर हेर्दै रनभुल्ल परेका थिए। "कति धेरै बाटा हुन् , कति फराकिला।  गाडीहरु पनि सबै एकनासले कुदिरहेका," मनमनै भनि सबिनाले। त्यो रात उनीहरुलाई खासै निन्द्रा लागेन किन भने नेपाल र क्यानाडाको समयमा बाह्र घण्टा जतिको फरक थियो। यसैलाई जेट ल्याग भनिदो रैछ, सुधीनले बल्ल यसको अर्थ बुझेको थियो। राति सम्म उनीहरुले गफ गरेर बसे। बिगतका रमाइला कुराहरु गरेर हाँसे। भोलिपल्ट विनोदका बुढा बुढी बिहानै काममा निस्के। सुधीनका जोडी दिनभरी सुते। बेला बेला झ्याल बाट बाहिर हेर्थे।  जताततै हिऊ।  खासै बाटोमा मान्छेहरु नहिड्ने। उनीहरुलाई रमाइलो नरमाइलो के लाग्यो थाहा पाएनन्।  उनीहरु सुन्यमा थिए।  सुधीनलाइ छिटो छिटो उठेर स्कुल जानु थिएन। के गर्ने कसो गर्ने यो नया ठाउँमा उ अन्योलमा थियो ऊ।  सबिना भने दिनभरी जसो निधाईरही।

बेलुका राति भएपछी बिनोधको जोडी आए हातभरी प्लास्टिकको झोलामा सामान बोकेर। " ग्रोसरी गरेर आउदा ढिलो भयो।  सोरी यार, " बिनोदले सुधिनलाई भन्यो।

भोलि पल्ट उनीहरु आफ्नै कोठामा सरे।  एक कोठाको यो अपार्टमेन्ट बिनोधले उनीहरुको लागि बुक गरेको थियो।
"हेर यहाँ गाडी आफ्नो नहुदासम्म धेरै गाह्रो हुन्छ। सधै गाडी चढेर सम्भव हुदैन यो चिसो ठाँउमा। तिमि पनि गाडी सिकेर छिटै लाइसेन्स निकान्न पर्छ। भोलि मेरो रातको काम छ।  दिउसो यताउति गर्नुपर्छ। सिन अप्लाई गरौला पहिला। त्यसपछि ग्रोसरी गर्न पर्यो। बैंकमा खाता खोल्न पर्यो। त्यसपछि मात्र काम खोज्न थाल्नु पर्छ। यस्तै हो आतिनु पर्दैन", बिनोधले कुटिल हासो हास्दै भन्छ।

भोलिपल्ट बाक्लो हिउ परिरहेको थियो। करिब एघार बजेतिर बिनोद आयो उनीहरुलाई लिन। खासाको नर्थफेसको जाकेट लगाएर दुवै बुढा बुढी निस्के बिनोधसंग बाहिर। बाहिर गाडीमा पुग्ने बेलामा सबिना हिउमा चिप्लेर  गर्लम्म ढली। दाइने कुइनो कालो आइसमा ठोक्कियो। लाजमान्दै उठी। "ओहो, यो जुत्ताले त हुदैन है भाउजु। स्नो बुट किन्न पर्छ।  नेपाल जस्तो हैन।  यहाँ त पाँच पाँच महिना हिउ पर्छ। ज्यान जोगाउनु पर्छ  है ज्यान",बिनोधले उसको जुत्ता हेर्दै भन्छ।

अफिसियल काम सकेर ग्रोसरि गर्नलाई होलसेल क्लबतिर  लाग्छन। दाल , चामल , नुन , तेल , मसला, चिनी, तरकारी फलफुल , बाथरुम को लागि पर्दा , क्लिनिंग सामानहरु किन्छन। मन लाएको सामान उठाउदै हाल्दै गर्दा पैसोको खासै याद भएन दुबैलाई। बिल तिरे $२४८. ०० क्यानेडियन डलर। झट्ट सम्झे नेपाली मूल्य २००००। सोचे मन मनले कहिले सम्म चलिंन्छ नेपलबाट ल्याको पैसोले।  उल्टो आउदा ल्याको ऋण छ दस लाख तिर्नलाई। " हैन बिनोद , काम चै के पाइन्छ हँ यहाँ ?

"काम खोज्नु पर्छ। अलिकति समय लाग्छ पाइन्छ।  सबैले पाएका छन त तिमिले नपाउने कुरो हुदैन। राम्रो काम नपाउदा सम्म भाडा पनि माझ्नु पर्छ है", हाँस्दै भन्छ बिनोदले।
"तैले चै के गरिस नि आउनासाथ ?"

"सबवे रेस्टुरेन्टमा काम गरेको, दुइ दिन पनि टिक्न सकिन। त्यपछि सुनिलले ग्यास स्टेसनमा सजिलो हुन्छ भन्यो।  अप्लाइ गरे अनलाइन, बोलायो।  त्यो चिसोमा बाहिर गैरहन पर्ने ग्यास भर्न धन्न ज्यान गएन यार।"
"ग्यास त सिलिन्डरमा बेच्ने होइन र भन्या ?"

" कहाँ सिलिन्डरको ग्यास भनेको हो यार।  ग्यास भनेको पेट्रोल र डिजेल हो। सुरुमा त मा पनि झुक्केको थिए तर अहिले त बानिपर्यो", बिनोधले हास्दै भन्यो।

"घनश्याम र कमल पनि त यहि छन् भन्ने सुनेको थिए , कता छन् उनीहरु ?"

" खै पहिले त सबै डाउन टाउन मै थिए। पछि घर किनेर कता कता गएका छन् खासै सम्पर्क पनि हुदैन। सुरु सुरु मा सबैले फोन गर्नी गर्थे आफुले पनि गरिन्थ्यो।  बिस्तारै बिस्तारै सबै बिजी हुन थाले।  फोन सम्पर्क पनि हुन छोड्यो। "

" ए ए केटाहरु घर किनी पो सके।  खै आफुले त जागिर पाउने नै कहिले हो यार। "

"आएको दुइ दिन भएको छैन के को भुट  भुटी हो भन्या अहिल्यै।  म त दुइ महिना कामै नगरी बस्या हो।"

"ल ल मलाई गाइड गर है यार तेरै भरमा आएको हु मा यहाँ ", सुधिनले भन्यो।

पन्द्र दिन पछि एउटा ग्यास कम्पनिले सुधीनलाई जागिर दियो। वेस्ट एडमन्टन को एउटा पम्पमा काम पायो उसले। पहिलो दिन घरमा गुगल म्याप हेर्यो। कागतमा बस नम्बर र लोकेसन नोट गर्यो र हिड्यो बस स्टपतिर। नेपालको जस्तो खलासीले  ठाउको नाम चिच्यौला भन्ने सोचेको थियो।  तर गाडी आयो, मान्छेहरु चढे। तर ऊ गाडी चढेन। फेरी कुर्यो पन्द्र मिनेट जति र बल्ल गाडी आयो।  ऊ हतार हतार गाडी चड्यो। पाँच डलरको नोट निकालेर चालकतिर हात बढायो।

" चेञ्ज प्लिज " चालकले उसलाई हेर्द्दै भन्यो।

" आइ हयाव नो चेन्ज ", विनोदले उसलाई पुन  पैसो दिदै  भन्यो।  उसले नयाँ मान्छे हो भन्ने थाहा पाएछ क्यार  उसलाई गएर सिट मा बस्न आग्रह गर्यो, पैसो नलिई। "होएन यु राइड द बस नेक्स टाइम, पिलिज क्यारी द चेञ्ज", उसले भन्यो।

बसमा जम्मा जम्मी पाँच सात जना जति मात्रै प्यासेन्जर थिए। पछाडिको सिटमा गएर बस्यो। बसभित्र सुनसान थियो। प्रतेक स्टेसनमा मान्छेहरु चढ्थे र ओर्लन्थे तर कोहि कसैसंग बोल्दैनथे। उ पनि चुपचाप झयालबाट बाहिर हेर्दै बस्यो। कतिबेला आउछ उ झर्ने स्टेसन केहि पनि मेसो पाएन उसले। एक स्टप अगाडी गैससकेपछि बल्ल थाहा पायो र झर्यो।  कता जाने मेसो पाएन।  जता हेर्यो उस्तै थियो।  सबै बाटाहरु उस्तै थिये। उताबाट आउदै गरेको एकजना काले लाइ सोध्यो र हिडेर पांच मिनेटमा ग्यास स्टप सम्म पुग्यो।  ऊ दस मिनेट जति ढिलो भैसकेको थियो। एउटा कालीले सोधी ," आर यु हियर फर द शिफ्ट ?"

"एस" उसले भन्यो।

"यु आर अलरेडी लेट। नेक्ट टाइम, बि ओन टाइम। आदरवैज  आइ ह्याव टु सेन्ड यु होम। "

काममा गएको पहिलो दिन नै उसलाई नमिठो लाग्यो त्यो घिन्लाग्दी कालीको बचन। उ स्कुल ढिला जादा प्रिन्सिपल झक्कुले हपारेको सम्झ्यो। " साला जता गएपनि कोइ न कोइको बचन सहनै पर्नी।" मन खिन्न भयो उसको।  केहि बोलेन। दिनभरी कालीले जे जे भनि तेही तेही गर्यो। नोजल उठाएर तेल गाडीमा हाल्न सिक्यो।  गाडीको सिसा पुछ्न सिक्यो। लुनि र टुनी चिन्यो। कस्टमरले 'असम' भन्दा नक्कली भएपनि हास्न सिक्यो। ग्यास स्टेशनमा सानो क्याबिन थियो।  त्यसभित्र बल्ल बल्ल अटेका थिए दुइजना, ठुला ठुला म्याकशिकन फर्सी जात्रा चाक भएकी काली र ऊ। खाली भएको बेला कालीले के के सोधी राक्थी।  उसले बुझी नबुझी जबाफ दिन्थ्यो। 

दुइ चार  दिन सम्म उ तेही काली संगै काम गर्यो।  अर्को हप्तापछि एक्लै काम गर्न थाल्यो।  ग्यास स्टेशनमा ग्यास मात्र हाल्नि होइन अरु पनि थुप्रै काम गर्न पर्दथ्यो। पप, चिप्स, चुरोट , गाइको सुकुटी, चुइगम, लाइटर बेच्न पर्दथ्यो।  चुरोटपनि थरि थरिका।  सबै उस्तै देखिने तर साइज फरक, स्वाद फरक। हैरान हुन्थ्यो ऊ।  पैसो फिर्ता गर्यो , गन्यो, खल्टो भित्रको भाँडोमा खसाल्यो।  कसै कसैले त गाडी पुछ्न लागाउथे अघि देखि पछि सम्म।  कसै कसैले एक दुइ डलर टिप्स दिन्थे। नेपालिमा कन्भर्ट गर्थ्यो  र मनमनै सोच्थ्यो कि महिनाभरिमा नेपालि पचास हजार जति त टिप्स हुदोरैछ भन्दै मक्ख पर्थ्यो। सधैभरि एकै शिफ्टमा काम गर्न पाइदैनथ्यो।  ऊ कहिले बिहानको शिफ्ट त कहिले बेलुकाको गर्दथ्यो। एक्लै काम गर्दा स्वतन्त्र थियो ऊ तर काम को लोड धेरै हुन्थ्यो। जति धेरै ड्यास बेच्यो उति धेरै बोनस पाउने चान्स हुन्थ्यो। तेही बोनस को लोवले गर्दा पनि उसले सकुन्जेलसम्म काम गर्यो।

एकदिन एउटा क्यारेबियन मान्छे चुरोट किन्नको लागि पसलमा आयो।  बिनोदले उसलाई चुरोट दियो।  चुरोटको पैसो माग्यो।  उसले भन्यो," आइ डन्ट ह्याव अ पेंनि।" उ पैसो नतिरी सरासर बाटोतिर लाग्यो।  उसले फोन गरेर मेनेजरलाइ भन्यो। मेनेजरले उल्टै  911 लाइ किन कल नगरेको भन्दै गालि गर्यो। उसलाई काम गर्न मन लागेन।   रातिको बेला गन देखाएर कालेहरुले लुट्छन भन्दै साथीहरुले पनि बेला बेला डर देखाउथे। अब उसलाई त्यो जागिर नखाऊ भने दिनभरिको शिकार, खाँउ भने कान्छा बाउको अनुहार जस्तै भयो। माइनस तिस को चिसोमा पनि बाहिर निस्केर ग्यास भर्नु पर्ने, सिसा पुस्नु पर्ने। हग्ने ठाँउमा बसेर खाना खानु पर्ने। कसैले आएर ड्याम गोलि ठोक्नी हो कि भन्ने डर। सोच्यो " साला बिदेस भनेको पनि यस्तै रहेछ। " घरबाट फोन आउदा भन्थ्यो 'सबै कुरा राम्रो छ।  जागिर राम्रो छ।

अर्को महिना काम छोड्यो उसले। काम छोडेको दिन निन्द्रा परेन। बायोडाटा बनाएर दुइ चारवटा कम्पनिमा अप्लाई गर्यो।  स्टोर स्टोरमा जागिर  खोज्न निस्क्यो।  जताततै हायरिंग भनेको हुन्थ्यो। काममा कसैले पनि राख्दैनथे। घरबाट फोन आउदा सबै ठीकठाक छ भन्थे उनीहरु।  घरमा दुख देखाउन मन लागेन।  साथीहरुले फोन गर्दा पनि सबै राम्रो छ भन्थ्यो ऊ। उसले भन्थ्यो 'दुख देखायो भने सत्रु होस् या मित्रु सबै हाँस्छन। ' महिना दिन पछि एउटा इन्डियन रेस्टुरेन्टमा किचेन सहयोगी काम पायो। पहिलो दिन उसले साढे सात घण्टा किचेनमा भाडा माझ्यो, चिकेनको छाला खुइलायो, आलु उसिन्यो, छिल्यो।  यसरि खटेर काम यसअघी कहिले पनि गरेको थिएँ उसले। बेलुका घरमा फर्कने बेला कसैले नदेख्ने गरि दुइथोपा आशु तुरुक्क चुवायो।  अलि हल्का भयो टाउको। घरमा पुगेर सोफामा पल्टियो।

सबिना उसको नजिकै आएर टासिदै सोधी, " काम कस्तो रहेछ। "

ऊ केहि बोलेन।  सबिना उठेर किचनमा गइ र चिया लिएर दिई उसलाई।  उसले चियाको सुरुप लिदै भन्यो ," सबिना आज मेरो गोडा मालिस् गर्देउ है। "

उसको आखाँमा आँशु टिलपिल गर्दै थियो।  उसले दुख लुकाउने प्रयास गरेको थियो तर पनि उसको अनुहारमा बादल जसरि मडारिरहेको प्रस्ट देखिन्थ्यो।

"काम गारो छ भने छोड्दिनुस। अलि सजिलो काम खोज्नुहोला।  खान र बस्न पुगे भयो। अलि अलि आउदा ल्याएको पैसो पनि छ," सबिनाले उसको हात मुसार्दै भनि।

ऊ केहि बोलेन।  बेलुकाको खान खाए दुबैजनाले। सविनाले धेरै बेर सम्म गोडा मालिस गर्दि। ऊ कतिबेला निदायो थाहा पनि पाइन उसले।  एकपल्ट उसको अनुहारमा हेरी। सानो बालकको  जस्तै निर्दोस थियो उसको अनुहार।  आफ्ना ओठहरुलाइ बिस्तारै उसको निधारसम्म पुर्याई र सुस्तरी माया गरि।  बत्ति निभाएर गर्लम्म अँगालो हालेर सुति। सुधिनले घाँटीमुनि बाट हात छिराएर अँगालो मार्यो। " धेरै पिर नलेउ बुढा, आफै रोजेर आको त हो नि", थप चुम्मा दिदै भनि सबिनाले। तातो तातो आँशु बगेर सुधिनको पाखुरासम्म पुग्यो। देब्रे हातले गाला मुसार्दै दुबै आँखालाई पालै पालो माया गर्यो उसले।

सानुमाया

"हो हो! त्यो सपना हो।  सपना मात्र भैदियोस।  त्यो हुन सम्भव छैन । ति मान्छेहरु सबै नाटक गर्दैछन। ऊ … मेरो मान्छे मलाई  एक्लै छोडेर जानै सक्दैन।  ऊ... त्यसैले हो मेरो… मान्छे…  ", कपालको रौ खुल्लै छोडेकी, हरियो लुङ्गि एकसरो पटुकाले कम्मरमा खुकुलो गरि कसेकी, आखाँ गोलभेडा झैँ राता र सुन्निएका, न होची न अग्ली, उमेरले बिस बाइस जस्तै देखिने एउटी महिला एक्लै बोल्दै थिई। उसका कुराहरु कसैले पनि  बुझ्न सकेका थिएनन्।पल्लो गाँउबाट  रुनमाया दिदि पनि आएर हिजोदेखि संगै बसेकी थिई।  घरका सबैजना अलमलमा परेका थिए।

सानुमायाको लोग्ने कतार गएको हिजो पाँच वर्ष पुगेछ। गाँउभरि गाइगुइ चलेको थियो आज। सानुमायालाई सबैले अनौठो मुखाकृति गरेर मात्र हेर्दथे, तर कोहिपनि केहि बोल्दैनथे।  दिनभर  अनौठो ब्यबहारहरु देखापरेका थिए उसमा । एक्लै बोल्थी।  एकान्तमा टोलायर बस्थी।  झर्केर बोल्थी। फोन समाएर घन्टौ सम्म एकोहोरिन्थी।  

" के सपना सपना भनेकी तैले? तेरो अनुहार पनी सुकेको चुलेत्रोको पात जस्तै भएको छ! भन्  सानु के भयो तलाई?", रुन्मायाले सोधी ।

सानुमायाको आँखाबाट दुइथोपा आँशु  कर्कलाको पातबाट शितको थोपा खसेजस्तै गरि खसे ।  ऊ  केहि बोलिन।

"हिजै  देखि यसलाई खै के भएको छ नानि हाम्लाई पनि केहि भन्दिन। रातिमा पनि एक्लै बोल्छी। हिजो राति छोरासंग होला कुरा गरेको भनेकी थिए।  कहिले पनि अरुको  चियो चर्चो नगर्नि म, यसैको पिरले हिजो ढोकामा गएर चियो गरे नानि।  यो त यस्तै यस्त्यै के के बर्बराउदी  रैछ। रातभरी निन्द्रा लागेन।  मनमा कुरा खेलिरहे। छोरा संग पनि धेरै भयो फोन नभएको।  उसैले फोन गर्थ्यो बेला बेलामा ", सानुमायाको सासु  लालमातिले  टाउकोबाट मुजेत्रो  झिकेर आँसु पुछ्दै   भनिन् ।

"रनेले फोन नगरेको कति भयो आमा ?" रुन्मायाले सोधी।

"दशैँको दिन फोन गरेको थियो। गाँउभरिका सबैलाई सोध्यो। 'काम कस्तो छ? दुख छ कि छैन?' भनेर सोधे।

"आमा, कामको कुरा नसोध्नुस।  काम गर्न गाह्रो  त भैहाल्छ जहाँ  गएपनि।  गाँउघरमा घासदाउरा, भिरपखेरा गर्दा पनि त दुखै थियो। हजुरहरुलाई पनि त दु:खै छ आजसम्म।  मेरो पिर नगर्नुहोला।  स्वास्थ्यको ख्याल गर्नुहोला भन्थ्यो। " लालमतीले सुख्क  सुख्क  गर्दै भनिन् ।

सबैजना सानुमायाको खोपी बाहिर घेरिएर बसेका थिए ।  लालबहादुर घरमा थिएनन्।  उनि हिजोदेखि गाउमै हराएका  थिए।  यो परिबारको लागि खासै नौलो कुरा थिएन।  यसको अर्थ यो पनि होइन कि उनलाई परिबारको बारेमा चिन्ता छैन।  गाँउघरमा सबैको समस्या बुज्दै हिड्नु र सकेको सहयोग गर्नु उनको कर्म थियो ।

"आँमा,  खै मैले त ठुल्बालाई देख्दिन त, कता जानु भाको छ र ?" रुन्मायाले यताउति हेर्दै सोधी।

"खै नानि, ठुल्बाको आनीबानी तलाई थाहै छ।  स्कुलको कचरी छ।  मुख्याले "बेलुका आउनोला सल्ला गर्न छ" भनेका थे  रे।  खै के को सल्ला हो बिनासित्तैको ?  घरमा बुहारीलाई यस्तो भएको अलि अलि भानि  था छ। आउन पर्नि  हो। " 

तिमीहरु सब्बै मेरो राम हेर्न आएका हौ। हेर ! यी हेर। मलाई खाऊ। सबै मिलेर चोक्टा चोक्टा पारेर खाऊ",  सानुमाया एकोहोरो बोल्छे। 

 

के बोलेकी छौ तिमि ? होसमा त छौ ? के भयो तिम्लाई  ?” रुन्मयाले उसको हात समाउदै सोधी ।

सानुमायाँ केहि बोल्दिन। उ एकोहोरो माथितिर हेर्छे।

लालमती गोठतिर लाग्छे । आज बिहानै देखि गाईबस्तुले केहि खान पाएका छैनन।  ठिक समयमा गाइबस्तुलाई घासपानी गर्ने  यै थी। लालमायाले एकमुठो  सुकेको खर भारबाट निकालेर भैसीको भकारो मा राखिदिन्छे।

पल्लो घरकी कालिका दिदि र उनको छोरा पनि घरमा आउछन् । कालिकाले नै हो बतुरी दिदिसंग हिजो रातो बाकसमा कतारबाट लाश आएको छ रे कसको हो थाहा छैन भनेर भनेको। त्यति बेला सानुमाया आगो लिन टुप्लुक्क पुगेकी थिई कालिकाको घरमा।   

 

"बरै नि के भयो सानेलाई", कालिकाले सनुमायालाई साने भनेर बोलाउने गर्छे ।

" खै के भयो भनौ।  कुरा सोरका गर्दिन।  खाना पनि खाकी छैन हिजोदेखि।  सबै जना अलमल परेका छौ ' रुनमायाले भनी। 

सानुमयाले एकतमासले कालिकाको अनुहारमा हेर्छे। उ केहि बोल्दिन।

" कतै देबी देवता पो लाग्यो कि ? अलि जान्ने मान्छेलाई देखाउन पाए पनि हुन्थ्यो गाँठे । देउरालीका राईला काकाले ट्याक्कै पार्चन  भन्ने सुनेकी छु।  एकचोटी देखाउदैमा केहि बिग्रने होइन केरे  ",  कालिकाले रुन्मायाको  आँखामा  हेर्दै भनी ।

त्यतिकैमा सानुमाया ओछ्यानबाट जर्फराउदै उठी र आगनको डिलमा पुगि।  सबैजना अलमलमा परे।  आगनको तलपट्टी उखुबारी थियो।  हेर्दा हेर्दै ऊखुबारीमा फाल हाली  सानुमाया ।

" ए लौन अब यो मर्छे।  कसैलाई गुहार माग" भन्दै रुनमाया पछि पछि दौडिन्छे।  उखुबारीको पुछारमा भोगटेको  रुख थियो। त्यहि रुखको फेदमा रुनमायाले सानुमायाको हात समाउछे।

उसका हातखुट्टा थरथरी काँप्छन् ।  कालिका पनि पछि पछि साथ दिन पुग्छे।  दुबैजनाले उसलाई तानेर घरको पिडि सम्म लेर आउछन।

गाँउमा केटाकेटी बाहेक कोहि  छैनन्। लालमती रुदै बाटो तिर भलाक्छिन् ।  लालबहादुर अहिलेसम्म घर आएका छैनन्। गाँऊमा गुहार माग्नेजस्तो मान्छे पनि कोहि छैन।

त्यहि बेला वरिपरिबाट दुइतिनजना  महिलाहरु जम्मा हुन्छन। सबैजना एक अर्काको कान कानमा सासै सासले कुरा गर्छन। सबैले एउटै प्रश्न सोध्छन," के भयो तलाई ?"

सानुमायाँ केहि बोल्दिन। रूदारूदा उसका आखा राता भएका छन्। सुन्नियका छन् । त्यतिकैमा उसले  हात जोडसंग झड्कार्छे र उम्किन खोज्छे। कालिका र रुन्माया दुबै जनाले उसलाई जोडसंग अठ्याउछन्।

“यदि यस्तै गरिस भने साने तलाइ हाम्ले नाम्लाले थामॉ बानेर राख्चम ।” कालिकाले जोडसंग पाखुरा अठ्याउदै भन्छे।

रात ढल्किदै जादा सबैको मनमा एकखालको अत्यास बढ्दै जान्छ। के गर्ने , कसो गर्ने कसैले केहि मेसो पाउदैनन। सानुमाया झन् झन् उखर्माउलो गर्दैछे।

केहीबेरपछि लालबहादुर टुप्लुक्क आइपुग्छन। सबै मान्छेहरु जम्मा भएर कोकोहोलो मच्याएको देखेपछि उनको होसहवास उड्छ।  बिहान घरबाट निस्कने बेला सबै ठीकठाक थियो।  एक्कासी के भयो भनेर आत्तिदै यताउता  भलाक्छन्।

" हैन के को भिड हो यहाँ ? कसलाई के भयो ? " उनि हतारिदै सोध्छन।

लालमती भित्रबाट बाहिर निस्कन्छे।  आफ्नो लोग्नेलाई घुरेर हेर्छे। " हैन यो छोरोमान्छेको केहि ठेगाना नहुने। बिहान भाले बास्दा निस्केको मान्छे यतिखेर घर आउछन् ।  बुहारी हिजोदेखि केहिपनि खाएकी थिन।  लाटो भूतले छ्लेजस्तो भैकीथी। हजुर गएको एकैछिनमा  बर्बराउन थालि। हेर्नुस न यसलाई के भयो।  कतै लामा झाक्रीलाई देखाउनि हो कि ?" लालमतिले सबै कुरो एकै सासमा भनिन।

लालबहादुर पनि अक्क न  बक्क परे।" हैन ठुलो बा देउरालीका राईला काकालाइ बोलाउनेकी भनेको। कतै देबी देवता लागेको भए उनले झारफुक गरेर पनि निको पार्छन रे भन्नि सुनेकी छु। " कालिकाले कुरो थपी।

लालबहादुर  नजिकै उभियर मायालु नजरले सानुमायाको मुख हेर्छन।  उनि केहि पनि बोल्दैनन। सानुमाया पनि अर्कोतिर अनुहार फर्काएर बस्छे।

लालबहादुर आफ्नो झोला र छाता दलिनको एकछेउमा झुण्डाउछन र सरासर भित्र पस्छन।  लालमती पनि पछि पछि लाग्छिन।

लालमतिले बुढालाई बुहारीको बारेमा सबै बेलिबिस्तार लाउछे। उनिहरू के गर्ने के नगर्ने अलमलमा पर्छन।

“हैन बुढा छोरालाई एकपल्ट फोन गर्ने हो कि? सधै हप्ता दिन बिरायर फोन गर्दथ्यो। यसपाला किन नगरेको होला। "

लालबहादुर अलमल पर्छन।  "खोइ सधै उसैले  फोन गर्थ्यो।  मलाई त फोन गर्नी मेसो पनि छैन ", हातमा मोबाइल लिएर अलमल पर्दै भन्छन।

बाहिर हल्ला बद्छ।  लालबहादुर हतारिदै बाहिर निस्कन्छन।  सानुमाया फेरी बारितिर भागिछे।  रुनमाया र कालिका पछि पछि दौडदै रहेछन।

"लौ न नि , यो त भीरतिर पो जदैछ।  लौ न कसो गर्नी होला। "

लालबहादुर पनि पछि पछि जान्छन।  करिब दुइसय मिटर जति तल खर्सुको रुखमा पुगेर कालिका र रुनमायाले सनुमयालाई समाउछन।उनीहरुले बल्ल बल्ल लतारेर घरसम्म ल्याउछन ।

सबैजनाले सल्लाह गरि  सानुमायालाइ डोरीले बानेर कोठामा राख्छन।  कालिका र रुनमायाले उसलाई कुरेर बस्छन कोठामै।  लालबहादुर लामालाई बोलाउन देउराली तिर लाग्छन।

केहीबेरमै देउराली राईलालाई लेर आउछन लालबहादुर।  गाँउमा सबैले उनलाई राईला बाजे भनेर बोलाउछन्।

राइलबाजे धुपधजा र अछेता जम्मा गरेर आफ्नो बिधि गर्न तर्फ लाग्छन।  अलिबेर अछेता मन्साइसकेपछि टाउको हल्लाउदै भन्छन " छिछि छि म तारेभिरको कालोमसान हुहुहू।.… म तलाइ छोड्दै छोडदिन। हुहुहुह … हह्हः "

" के चहियो भन् हामि दिन तयार छम् ,अन्जानमा गल्ति भएको भए माफ गर", लालबहादुरले हो मा हो मिलाउछन्। 

" हहह्ह …. मलाई कालो बोकाको रगत चाहिन्छ …. हह्हा …. हुहूहुहुह्ह …  " यस्तै यस्तै के के भन्दै  जान्छन लामा बाजे।  धेरै बेरमा रोकिन्छन।

" हेर भाइ, थाह पाइहाल्यौ तारेभिरको मसान लाएको रैच।  यो त अफ्ठेरो पो छ।  बेलैमा पुजा गर्न पर्यो।  कालो पाठो कता पाइन्छ बरु भोलि नै खोज्न परो।  अहिले म खरानी फुक्दिन्छु।  एक जोडा धजा फाल्दिन परो अहिल्यै।" लामा बाजेले भने।

लालमतिले आँटीमा गएर धुपधजा लिएर आइन।  लालबहादुरले धजा बाहिर लगेर कुट्मेरोको हाँगामा बानिदिए । लामा बाजेले खरानी फुकेर दिए।  लालमतिले खरानी लगेर लगाइदिइन बुहारीलाई ।

केहिबेर स्थिति  सुनसान भयो ।  अब सानुमायालाई निको हुन्छ कि भन्ने लाग्यो सबैलाई। लामाबाजे पनि खानपिन पछि लागे घरतिर । सानुमायाले पनि  एक चोइलो आटो खाई।  रात अलि ढल्की सकेकाले लागे सबैजना सुत्ने तरखरमा। रुनमाया घरतिर लागि भने कालिका त्यहि सुत्ने भई।  

भोलि पल्ट स्थिति सामान्य बनेपछि कालिका पनि आफ्नो घर गई।  सानुमाया  उठेर सधैजस्तो गाइभैसीलाइ पानि तताउन गोठतिर लागि। सबैले राईला बाजेलाइ धन्यबाद दिए। लालमतिको अनुहार अलिकति भएपनी उज्यालो भयो। 

भोलिपल्ट घाँस काट्न खरबारी गएकी सानुमाया अबेर सम्म पनि आइन घर।   सबैजनाले खोजे उसलाई।  कहाँ कहाँ खोजेनन, तर कहिपनि भेटेनन्। लालबहादुरले छोरासंग सम्पर्क गर्न खोजे तरपनि सकेन सम्पर्क हुन।  डाँडाघरे  मने र देउरालीको सन्ते लागे सानुमायाको माइतितिर खोज्नलाई। सानुमाया  माइत पनि गएकी थिइन। 

खोज्न गएकाहरुले  सबैकुरो सानुमायाको बुवालाई भन्न  सकेनन् ।  यत्ति भनेकी "सानुमाया घरमा छैन।  "

त्यसपछि उनीहरुले सानुमायालाई खोज्न काफल्टोला, भिरमारा, जैथुम्का जताततै पुगे।  केहि खबर पाएनन्।  कसैले भने भीरबाट खसी ।  कसैले भने बौलाएर  हिडी।  गाँउभरी हल्ला फैलियो।

लालबहादुरले लगातार छोरासंग सम्पर्क गर्न खोजे तर पनि सम्पर्क हुन सकेन।घरको फोनबाट छोरासंग सम्पर्क नभएपछी उनि हरिलालको छोराको पसलतिर लागे छोरालाई फोन गर्न।  अझैपनि उसको फोन उठेन।  हरिलालको छोराले कम्पनीमा फोन गरे।  कम्पनीको एकजना कर्मचारीले उ  एक्सिडेन्ट 

छोरी हराएको खबर थाहा पाएपछि धनेका बुढा  बुढीको होस् हवास् उड्यो।  निद हराम भयो।  सबै मिलेर खोजे उसलाई।  दिन, हप्ता हुदै महिना दिन पुग्यो अह कतै भेटिइन सानुमाया। गाँउमा सबैले माया मारे। 

एकदिनअचानक  गाँउमा कसैले खबर ल्यायो  सानुमाया त नारायणघाट बजारमा नाङ्गै थि अरे। एक कान दुई कान मैदान भने झै हल्लाको डडेलोले गाऊ खर्लप्प पार्यो। 

लालबहादुर र भिरमुनीको  ज्ञाने कामी भएर एकबिहानै लागे बाटुलीचौर बसपार्कतिर। नारायणघाटको बस छुट्नै लागेको थियो। चढे  हुटको सिटमा  टिकट काटेर। केहिबेरमै बस छुट्यो कुइरिमन्दल धुलो उडाउदै। 

बेलुका सात तिसमा बस नारायणी नदीको पुलको मुखैमा रोकियो। 

“ ल ल नारायण, नारायणघाट, झर्नुस, झर्नुस!” खलासी चिच्यायो जोडसंग। लालबहादुर र ज्ञाने झरे बसबाट बत्ताउदै। 

“बाजे कति खानोको र?” जोक गर्ने पाराले बोल्यो खलासी। लालबहादुरलाई झनक्क रिस उठ्यो तर केहि बोलेनन्। बसबाट झरेपछि कता जाने, के गर्ने अलमलमा परे दुबैजना। ब्यस्त शहरमा चिने जानेको कोहि थिएन । राति भैसकेकोले मान्छेहरू तछाड मछाड गर्दै थिए। कसैसंगपनि फुर्सद थियन सोधेको जवाफ दिन। मैला कपडा, निन्याउरो अनुहार देखेर होला होटलका दलालहरू पनि आएनन् नजिक ‘हजुर’ भन्नलाई।

पोखरा बसपार्कतिरबाट एउटा रिक्सा आयो बत्ताउदै उनिहरू भएको ठाउतिर। छोला जस्तो गरी रिक्सा रोक्यो। “ बस्नुस हजुर, कहॉ जानुपर्ने हो?”, भन्यो रिक्सावालाले। रक्सिको गन्ध ठुस्स गनायो लालबहादुरलाई। मतवाली भएपनि उनले रक्सि कहिले पिएका थिएनन्।  

“ होटलमा जानी हो। अली सस्तो खालको”, ज्ञानेले भन्यो।

“ बस्नुस हजुर, चिन्ता गर्नै पर्दैन। मैले चिनेको होटल छ । राम्रो, सस्तो”, खिस्स दात देखाउदै बोल्यो रिक्सावाल। दुबैजना बसे रिक्सामा। रिक्सा बत्याउदै लाग्यो नारायणीको तिरैतिर दक्षिणतिर । भित्री गल्ली सागुरो हुनुको साथै रिक्सा, साईकल र मोटरसाईकलले ठेलमठेल थियो। कतै सानुमायालाई देखिन्छेकि  भनेर टाढा टाढा सम्म हेरे लालबहादुरले तर देखेनन् नाङ्गो शरिर। देखे जिस्कदै गरेका युवायुवति असरल्ल बाटो वारिपारी। देखे भुस्याह कुकुरहरू सडकका पेटीहरूमा सुतिरहेको। 

रिक्सा एकोहोरो घन्टी बजाउदै र भिड छिचोल्दै बत्ताइरह्यो करिब पन्द्र मिनेटजति र रोकियो एउटा भत्किनै लाएको  घर अगाडी। भित्ताहरूमा जिन्दाबात र मुर्दाबातका नाराहरू कोरिएका, कतै रंग खुइलियको। सटर तान्ने पेटिनिरै दुईवटा लुते कुकुर सुतेका।

 " होटेल चम्पा " साइनबोर्ड झुन्डिएको थियो धुलो र माकुरो जालोले छोपेको। 

होटेलको  काउन्टरमा चम्पा पान चपाउदै थिई। बाहिरको टेबलमा दुइ चारजना चुल्ठेहरु रक्सि र सेकुवा खादै थिए। लालबहादुर र ज्ञाने पनि बसे नजिकैको टेबलमा।  रिक्सावालाले पचास रुपैया माग्यो उनीहरुसंग।  साउनीले एक गिलास रक्सि दिएर गाला मुसारि रिक्सावालाको।  

रिक्सावालाले एकै सासमा सिनित्त  पार्यो। 

" ल तपैहरु ढुक्कसंग बस्नुस।  मेरो आफ्नै दिदि हो।  दिदीले मिलाएर दिनुन्छ", खिस्स दाँत देखाउदै हेर्यो  चम्पातिर। 

चम्पाले छड्के आँखाले हेरी र खिस्स हास्दै भनि ," अझै दुइटा कोठा खाली छन् है।  फेरी अन्तै बतुराउलास् ।" 

चम्पाले लालबहादुर र ज्ञानेलाइ लगी कोठातिर। उ  कोठामै बसी उनिहरुसंगै। लालबहादुर र ज्ञानेले  चासो दिएनन्।खिस्रिक परेर फर्की।  

एकाबिहानै लालबहादुर र ज्ञाने  निस्के होटलबाट बिनामेसै। दिनभरी ड़ूले नारायनगढ   बजार।  सानुमायालाई  देखिन्छ कि भनेर सडकका पेटी पेटी चाहारे।  थुप्रै पागलहरू देखे बजारको गल्लि गल्लीमा।  तर देखेनन् सानुमाया लाई।  

खोज्दै खोज्दै बसपार्क पुगे।  बसपार्क को पछाडी एउटी महिला निर्बस्त्र हिड्दै गरेको देखे।  उसको पछि पछि एकदर्जन जति झुत्रे केटाहरु उसलाई जिस्काउदै लखेटी रहेका थिए।  लालबहादुर झसङ्ग भए।  परैबाट नियालेर हेरे उसलाई।  अनुहारमा चोटै, चोट, खोटै, खोट भएकोले चिन्ने नसक्ने अवस्थामा थिई त्यो महिला। अलि पर पुगेपछि ढुंगा टिपेर हान्न लागि केटाहरुलाई।  केटाहरु भागे।  उ एउटा सागुरो गल्लि भित्र पसी।  लालबहादुरले ज्ञानेलाई नजिकै गएर हेर्न र उ सानुमाया  हो कि होइन चिन्न भने। 

ज्ञाने त्यो  महिलाको बाटो पछ्यौदै गयो।

त्यो महिला  एउटा फोहोरको थुप्रोबाट एउटा कपडा निकालेर सरिरमा बेर्दै थिई । ज्ञाने नजिकै गएर नियाल्यो।  त्यसपछि  उसलाई पक्का विश्वास भयो कि त्यो महिला सानुमाया होइन।  

मनमनै सोच्यो 'कति धेरै पो रहेछन्  यो शहरमा पागलहरू ।'

लालबहादुरको नजिकै गएर भन्यो, ' त्यो आइमाई सानुमाया होइन।  मैले नजिकै गएर हेरे।  त्यो आइमाई बाउनि हो। उसको नाक चुच्चो छ। सानुमाया तेती अग्ली पनि छैन।"

हिड्दै हिड्दै हाकिम चोक पुगे उनीहरु।  बर र पिपलको चौतारीमा सितल खादै थिए एकजना बुढो मान्छे आएर उनीहरुको नजिकै बस्यो। उनीहरुलाइ चिन्तित देखर होला सायद उसले सोधपुछ गर्यो। उनीहरुले पहाड घर र मदेस दुवैको बारेमा कुरा गरे। 

त्यो बडो भलाद्मी जस्तै लाग्ने मान्छेले उनीहरको कुरा सुनिसकेपछि पुलिस चौकीमा खबर गर्न सल्लाह दियो।  उसले नजिकै भएको पुलिस कार्यालय पनि देखाइदियो। 

लालबहादुर र ज्ञाने पुलिस चौकी गए उतिबेलै। उनीहरुलाई के भन्ने, कसो गर्ने मेसो भएन। 

अलमल परेको देखेर बाहिर गार्ड बसेको पुलिसले सोध्यो , ' हजुरहरु के कामले आउनुभएको होला ?"

"हाम्रो बुहारी घरबाट हराएकी थिई एकमहिना पहिले। यता छे रे भन्ने सुनेर खोज्न आएको। " लालबहादुरले दबेको स्वरमा भने। 

गार्डले उनिहरुलाइ महिला पुलिस भएको ठाउमा पुर्यायो र सबै विवरण भरेर बुझाउन लगायो। 

अधबैसे महिला पुलिस उनीहरुलाई आफ्नो अफिसमा बोलाई र प्रश्नहरु सोधी। 

नाम : सानुमाया 

उमेर : २२  वर्ष 

उचाई : हजुर जतिकै होला हजुर 

मानसिक अवस्था : के भनौ हजुर! हराउनु भन्दा अघिल्लो दिन मसान लाको थियो।  कालो बोको पनि भोग गरेकै हो।  सोर नभएको कुरा गर्थी। 

हराएको मिति : २०२० /१० /०५ 

खत : दाइने गालामा चन्द्रमा आकारको खत 

लगाएको कपडा : हराउने बेला हरियो बुट्टा भएको लुङ्गि  र रातो बुलुच  लगाई  थी । अहिले नाङ्गै छे रे भन्ने सुनेको हजुर। 

महिला पुलिसले फाइल फर्काइ फर्काइ हेरी। " हामीहरुले  हिजो एउटा महिला अचेत अवस्थामा फेला पारेर उद्धार गरेका छौ।  उसलाई बलात्कार भएको हुनसक्ने संका छ पुलिसको। उसको सरिरमा कुनै कपडाहरु थिएन। अहिले उसको  भरतपुर अस्पतालमा उपचार हुदैछ।  होसमा आइकी छ रे अहिले।  उ केहि बोल्न सकेकी छैन।हामि अनुसन्धान गर्दै छौ।  तपाइहरु भोलि आउनुस।  अहिले जान सक्नुहुन्छ", उसले भनि।

लालबहादुरको होसहवास उड्यो।  उनीहरु केहि बोल्न सकेनन।  हिडे लुरु लुरु बाहिरतिर। 

उनीहरु फेरी पनि त्यहि चौतारीमा बसेर यता उति भलाक्न लागे।  हेर्दा हेर्दै अध्यारो हुदै गयो।  कता जानी , कहाँ बस्नी केहि मेसो पाएनन्।  हिजो मात्र उनीहरुले आँठ सय  होटेलमा बुझाएका थिए।  भात खाने र घर फर्कने पैसो पनि बचाउन पर्ने थियो उनीहरुलाई।  हिड्दै जादा एउटा खाली पाटीमा पुगे।  त्यही पाटिमै रात बिताउने विचार गरे उनीहरुले।

एकैछिनमा दुइजना अधबैसे केटा र केटि आइपुगे उनीहरु बसेकै ठाँउमा। उनीहरुले आँखै अगाडी छट्पट गर्दै  के के सुघे।  केटाले नाडीमा सुइ घोप्यो। केहीबेरपछि केटा र केटि नाङ्गै भएर नजिकैको झाडीभित्र घुसे।रुखको आड लाएर केटो उभियो। केटि उसँग मुख जोडेर उभिई।  यस्तो हर्कत त उनीहरुले  गाँउमा कसैले गरेको पनि देखेका थिएनन। आधा रातमै हिडे त्यहाँबाट ।

हिड्दा हिड्दै नारायणी नदिको पुलमाथि पुगे।बाटोको दुबैतिर एकदुई कुकुर बाहेक  सुन्य थियो। बाटोमा  रात्रिबस एकतमासले हुइकीरहेका थिए पुलै हल्लिनेगरी।

नारायणी नदीको पुल काटिसकेपछी  एउटा सानो छाप्रो भेटे उनीहरुले।  यहि छाप्रोमा बाँकि रात कटाउने विचार गरे। छाप्रोभित्र जुनको उज्यालोमा मनाबकृति देखे जुटको बोरा ले बेरिएको अवस्थामा। नजिकबाट नियालेर हेर्दा सास फेरेको थाहा पाए।  धुलो र मैलो ले गुन्द्रुक जस्तो परेको कपाल, कालो मोसोले पोतेजस्तो अनुहार , जुट र पलास्टिकको बोराहरूले बेरेको शरीर, घुडा देखि तल नाङ्गै। डोला डोला तिघ्रा र अनुहारको आकृतिले महिला हो भन्ने लाग्यो उनीहरुलाई। देवीहरुका पोस्टर, कोक् र रक्सिका खाली बोतल, प्लास्टिकका झोला, धजा जस्ता देखिने बस्तुहरु उसको कोखैमा थिए। कठै! यो अवस्था देखेर मनमा तुफान चल्यो लालबहादुरको। नराम्रो संग चिसो पस्यो। 

'कतै सानुमाया त हैन यो ? ' फेरी मनमनै भन्यो 'हैन' सानुमाया त अस्पतालमा छे।  भोलि उसलाई भेट्नुछ  पुलिस चौकीमा।'

लालबहादुर र ज्ञाने त्यहि नजिकैको पाटिमा गएर बसे।  एकैछिनमा एउटा रिक्सा तेही छाप्रोनिर रोकियो।  हेर्दा 

 कालो, पातलो  त्यो रिक्सावाल सरासर त्यो छाप्रोभित्र  पस्यो र  जुटको बोरामा बेरियकी महिलालाई  चलाउन लाग्यो।  एकैछिनमा बोरो तान्यो र चरनाम नाङ्गो  बनाइदियो उसको शरिर। ऊ घरि घरि आफ्नो लाज ढाक्न खोज्थी दुइ हाँतले तर त्यो मान्छेले घरि घरि छातीमा र दुई खुट्टाको बीच भागमा हात घुसार्थ्यो। उसले भुइबाट बोतल निकालेर उसको टाउकोमा प्रहार गर्न मात्र के लाएकी थिई, त्यो व्यक्तिले उसको हात च्याप्प सम्मत्यो र भुइमा लडायो। त्यसपछिको दृश्य लालबहादुरले  हेर्न सकेनन्।  कहिले नखसेका आँशुका ढील्का तप्प खसे भुइमा।  "ओहो के नर्क जस्तो रैछ यो शहर", मनमनै भने  उनले। 

धेरैबेरमा रिक्सावाल पुन: रिक्सामा चढ्यो  र लाग्यो पुरानो कारखाना भएको भवनतिर। भर्खरकै केटि जस्तै देखिले त्यो महिलाले  पुन बेरी जुटको बोरा र रुन थाली एकोहोरो।  त्यो सुनसान रातमा उसको चोटलाइ सुन्ने कोहि थिएन त्यहाँ। नारायणी नदीको एकोहोरो सुस्याहटसंगै  बिलायो उसको आवाज क्षितिजतिर। एउटा लुते कुकुर उसको छेउमै गएर सुत्यो। त्यो महिलालाई कुकुरको बढी भरोसा लाग्यो र पुन पल्टी त्यो कुकुरसँगै। 

केहिबेरपछी पूर्व दिशामा सुनौलो क्षितिज देखिदै गयो।  त्यो महिला पनि आफ्नो समानहरु प्लास्टिकको बोरामा हालेर हिड्न थाली।  बिहानको उज्यालोमा अनुहार प्रस्ट देखियो।  उसका पुष्ट छाती ढाक्ने बस्तु केहि थिएन।  कम्मर देखि तल जुटको बोरालाई प्लास्टिकको रसिले कसेर जनतन लाज ढाकेकि थिई ।

" तिनिहरु सबै उडे उ हेर हेर ! मेरा भगवान आउ मलाई लिन।  हेर हेर उ. . . "  उ एकोहोरो चिच्याउन थाली।

लालबहादुरले बेसरी नियालेर उसको उनुहारमा हेरे र भने " ज्ञाने त्यो त सानुमाया जस्तै छ त।  हेर त अलि राम्रोसंग।"

ज्ञाने उसको अलि नजिक गयो।  जब त्यो महिलाको अनुहारमा खत देख्यो त्यसपछि उसलाई त्यो सानुमाया हो भन्ने पक्का भयो।  उसको हंसले ठाउँ छोड्यो।  उसका खुट्टा लुला भए।  अब कसरि यो कुरा लालबहादुर लाइ भन्ने।  उसलाई रिंगटा लाग्यो।  रातिको त्यो दृश्य उसको आँखामा कसिंगर झैँ बिझायो।

एकैछिन पछि त्यो महिला मुलबाटोको बिचमा उभिएर पूर्वदेखि आउदै गरेका  गाडीहरुलाई  हात देखाउदै रोक्न खोजि तर गाडीहरु एकतमासले हर्न बजाउदै भागिरहे उसलाई छेल्दै।

ज्ञाने लालबहादुर भएको ठाउमा गयो र त्यो मानशिक सन्तुलन गुमाएकी  महिला सानुमाया नै भएको बतायो।  लालबहादुरलाई एकैचोटी सयौ बरुलाले चिले जस्तै भयो।  " हरे शिव के देख्नु पर्यो यस्तो सपनामा पनि नचिताएको", उनले भने।

उनले ज्ञानेलाई सानुमयासंग  गएर कुरागर्न भने। ज्ञाने सानुमायाको नजिकै गयो र उभियो।  तेतिन्जेलसम्म  सानुमाया नारायणीको पुलको पूर्वतिर बस रोक्ने ठाँऊमा  पुगिसकेकी थिइ।

पहिले त उसले कतै आफै चिनेर बोल्छे कि भनेर उसको अघिल्तिर गएर उभियो ज्ञाने। सानुमायाले उसलाई देखेको नदेखे गरी। बोल्ने हिम्मत आएन उसलाई।  धेरैबेर नारायणी पुलको रेलिंग समातेर उभिरह्यो ऊ। केहीबेरमा हिम्मत बटुलेर उसले बोलायो , " भाउजु। "

उसले कुनै रिस्पोन्स गरिन।  उसले आफुसंग भएका कवाडी सामानहरु एक एक गर्दै नारायणी नदितिर झर्ने बाटोमा फालिरही धेरैबेर सम्म।   बिहानको बेला भएकोले साईकलवालाहरुको भिड बढिसकेको थियो। पैदल यात्रीहरु पनि बाक्लै यताउति गरिरहेका थिए। कसै कसैले "बिचरा! को होलि, यस्ति भर्खरकी केटि छ" भन्दै जान्थे भने कसैले उसको नग्न शरीरको छाती र खुट्टातिर हेर्दै र हास्दै जान्थे।

 ज्ञानेले पटक पटक बोलायो तर कुनै प्रतिक्रिया देखाइन उसले। भुईमा भएको  काठ टिपी  र हावामा दायाँ र बायाँ नचाउदै  नारायणगढ  बजारतिर दौडी। मान्छेहरु "बौलाई आई " भन्दै चिच्याउदै भाग्न थाले। 

ज्ञाने लालबहादुर भएको ठाउमा फर्कियो। उसले सानुमाया कसैलाई पनि नचिन्ने अवस्थामा भएको सुनायो।  उसले भर्खरै सानुमायाले गरेका क्रियाकलापहरुको  बारेमा पनि बतायो।  दुवै जना केहीबेर चुप बसे।  उनीहरुलाई के गर्ने के नगर्ने केहि उपाय आएन।

सानुमायासंग आफुले नैअगाडी उभिएर कुरा गर्ने बिचारले लालबहादुर ज्ञानेको पछि पछि लुरु लुरु सानुमाया गएको दिसातिर हिडे। उनीहरुले दिनभरी देवघाट , गणेश मन्दिर , हस्पिटल लाइन , कम्पास चोक, हाकिम चोक , पुरानो , नया बसपार्क कता कता मात्रै खोजेनन उसलाई। तर हावामा प्वाँख उडेसरि हिडेकी सानुमाया कहाँ पुगी उनीहरुले भेट्न सकेनन।  दिनभरिको खोजिले  केहि पत्तो नलागे पछि उनीहरु पुन पुलिस चौकीमा शरण  लिन पुगे।  आफुहरुले सानुमायाँलाइ देखेको र ऊ संग छुटेको सबै वृतान्त सुनाए।  उनीहरुले राति सानुमायाँसंग रिक्शावालाले गरेको बलात्कारको घटना पनि सुनाए।

पुलिसको लागि यो कुनै नौलो थिएन।  दिनदिनै जस्तो गाँउ  गाँउबाट  मानशिक अवस्था बिग्रेकाहरुलाई  ल्याएर बजारका गल्लि गल्लिमा छोड्ने चलन सामान्य बनिसकेको थियो।पुलिसको जानकारीमा  भए अनुसार भरतपुरमा मात्रै सयौ भन्दा  बढीको संख्यामा पागलहरू छन्।  कतिपय त भारतीय मुलका पनि थिए।  पुलिसले सानुमायाँलाइ खोज्ने सामान्य आस्वासन दिएपछि उनीहरु पुन सडकमा निस्के।

 तीन दिनसम्म सडकमै सुतेर सानुमायालाइ खोजेपनि भेट्न सकेनन्। यदि भेटिहाले पनि के गर्ने ? के उसले चिन्ली आफ्नो ससुरालाई ? कहाँ हुन्छ उपचार ? राँची भन्ने त सुनेका थिए उनले तर कसरि लैजाने त्यहाँ ? कति पैसा लाग्छ उपछकेहि उपाए नलाग्ने देखेपछि  उनीहरु  घर फर्कने विचार गरे। 

एकहप्ता पछि  देवघाटको एकजना सन्यासीले सानुमायाँलाइ घाटमा मान्छे पोलेको ठाँउमा  कोइला टिप्दै गरेको देखेछ।  एउटा नाङ्गो शरीर  मध्यरातमा यताउति गरेको देखेपछि उनलाई सुरुमा त भुत प्रेत हो जस्तो लाग्यो।  जुनेली रातको उज्यालोमा त्यो मानाबाकृति प्रस्ट देखियो।  नजिकैको कुटीमा बसेका ति दयालु संन्यासिले भोलिपल्ट देवघाटमा रहेको एउटा मानब कल्याण संथालाई खबर गरे। नबजिबन फ़ाउन्डेसन नामक त्यो  संस्थाले सानुमयालाई देवघाटको पुलनजिकै प्लास्टिक बटुल्दै गरेको अवस्थामा फेला पार्यो। उतिबेलै पुलिसलाई खबर गरि उनीहरुले सानुमयाको उद्दार गरे।

नवजीवन संस्थाले सानुमयाको जिम्मा लियो र उपचारको समेत व्यवस्था मिलायो।  भरतपुरको शिक्षण अस्पतालमा सानुमायाँको उपचार हुने भयो।

भारतको राँचीमा पन्द्र वर्ष सेवा गरेर भरतपुर अस्पतालमा आएका डाक्टर अखिलेसले सानुमयाको उपचारको जिम्मा लिए। सानुमयालाई नुहाईहुरी उसको प्राथमिक उपचार सुरु भयो। उसको  शरीरभरी भएका घाउहरुमा औषधि उपचार गरि उसलाई तेही एउटा कोठामा राखियो। सानुमायाँलाई उसको नाम , घर, परिवार, को? कहाँ ? सबै सोधियो। तर उसले केहिपनि सम्झन सकीन। एकोहोरो हेरेको हेरै गर्ने, बेलाबेला हाँस्ने , चिच्याउनी गर्थी ऊ।
डाक्टर अखिलेसले इलेक्ट्रोकन्वुल्सिव ECT अर्थात् दिमागमा करेन्ट  लगायर उपचार गर्ने कुरा नवजीवन फाउन्डेशनकी शुस्मिता परियारसंग गरे। उपचार गर्ने क्रममा जे जसो परेपनि आफु दोषी नठहरिने गरि कागजमा दस्तखत गर्न लगाए।

भोलिपल्ट सानुमयालाई सुइ लगाएर बेहोस पारियो। उसको टाउकोको रौ काटियो र इलेक्ट्रोड अर्थात् बिजुलीको तार टाउको मा झोसियो। यसरि पन्द्र बिस पल्ट उसको टाउकोमा करेन्ट लगाइयो। सानुमायाले फुस्रा आखाँ देखाइ तर उ होसमा आइन। लामो समयसम्म होशमा नखुलेपछि एकजना नर्सले आइ सी यु मा राख्ने सल्लाह दिई। तर आई सी यु को फिस महँगो पर्ने र यो बेहोर्ने कोहि नभएकोले उसलाई यतिकै दिनभर बेहोस अवस्थामै राखियो। राति सानुमायाले सास फेर्न छोडी। शुस्मिता परियारलाई बोलाएर अस्पतालले सबै वृतान्त बतायो। लाश जिम्मा लगायो। सानुमायाको लागि रुने  कोहि थिएन त्यहाँ।किन मोरी? कसले मार्यो? किन मार्यो ? प्रस्नहरु सोध्न कोहिपनि आएनन् त्यहाँ।  न अस्पतालमा ढुंगा मुडा गर्न नै  कोहि  आए। 

सानुमायाँको इहलिला समाप्त भयो।