I. Metamorphosis
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Goosebumps were rampant when I reached Bahrain, the last transit before KTM. This was the first hand reminder of Nepal in almost five years. The waiting room was filled with hundreds of Nepalis with whom I wanted to share my excitement but I decided to save the loaded exuberance with my parents first. I also realized in years, what human flesh smelled like?smell of sweat, blood and tears that thousands of our compatriots have shed in the gulf region to provide to their families back home. I was overcome with guilt, for I was covered up in American Brand, a disguise that far represented by identity.

If I thought the waiting room was a mini Nepal, the atmosphere inside the aircraft was more vigorous than Asan Bazaar, which also made me nervous. I knew I wasn?t for a smooth ride as the passengers just didn?t get the importance of wearing seat belts before take off. They exhausted the alcohols served in meals, they rushed to the window to catch a glimpse of KTM at 35000 ft, even when we were as much as two hours from the destination, the only respite coming as a thunderous applause for landing in KTM in one of those humid and bleak mornings.

I was thoroughly exhausted as we walked from the plane to the airport from more than 21 hours on air. I just wanted to go home and sleep for a change. The reality dawned upon me as I observed the emptiness of the hallway, rudimentary amenities, sweltering heat, lobbies that lacked AC, paper towel less bathrooms, but I remembered what I had vowed to do before my trip?focus on the positives. And there was the first sign of rejuvenation, seeing my maami come from afar with a garland. I was nervous and shy as hell. Yes! I was shy, I didn?t know if I should bow down to her or hug her. Would I be too American if I went in for a hug? I bowed down anyway but my mom met me in an embrace. I felt in seventh heaven.

The first question that left my flickering mind was straight away ?maami, ma motako chu??
She observed me for a while and said ?darho jeu bhayecha?

I was relieved. After bowing and hugging my dad, we left the airport in a mini van kinda taxi, and right away the goosebumps turned into volcanic bubbles as we swerved towards gaushala. Nothing seemed to have changed, except the exponential crowd and the compact houses. The dusty tupsy turvy road, pollution, busy traffic, horns buzzing all around, dogs barking people shouting --. Thank god! Up the maligaon?s ukalo and my excitement reached its threshold getting the first glimpse of my beloved handigaon. It was a mixed bag. Cleaner, nicer and ostentious alleys with towering houses all around, but too many strangers, and I felt like a stranger once more as I did in my childhood returning home from hostel.

I rushed to see my grandparents and bowed to them. I felt awfully bad for they didn?t recognize me. After half an hour of dilemma and explanation, both of them burst into tears. I was dizzy, sleepy hungry, but I had to see around to satisfy my virgin mind. After a hearty meal of quati and farsi ko munta from our own bari, I decided I needed a nap badly.

It was transient as restlessness besieged me. Something had transpired that I just couldn?t figure out and it made me feel very uneasy. It was not only seeing my grandparents unable to recognize me, not only my dad who looked older in retirement but with unusual friendliness, not my mom?s hyper exuberance, not the absence of my sisters, not the parijaat that had been a cornerstone of my childhood that was missing from our yard, it was something else. I went to the bathroom and gazed at the mirror which I had done ten thousand times before I left for US. AH! There was the answer. The figure I was looking at wasn?t the same. He had transformed into an adult without my consent. And it made me a whole lot nervous. However, thankfully I was home, only place where I felt good about being nervous.

To be contd?

:)

Oys,

You have a great talent of bringing your thoughts and feelings to words.. very good at expressing.

I miss Kathmandu!

sweetP

Oys bro,

hini nasakya bhe tya ganesthan ma gayera Deep le samjhi rahanchha prabho lai bahnera chhata ma dhyang handim na ---

As always, a pleasure.

Would have enjoyed little more detail on Shibani bit. Maybe from U.S hola ni hai ta. :)

IndisGuise:)

P.S: Khai mero saman sano bhe lagi dinchu bhanera taap dine Oys? Haha. J/k.

Oys Chillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll mwaaazz*;)

Oys Chilli aka jalapeno pepper!
ehehe, Chilling out in ktm and still writing in sajha. KTz haru pura line lagya hola;) ki bihe sihe ni garyou? musee nadhata hai. Aniwayz have a nicest stay in KTM ani Timro tole ko maicha haru lai mero helloz bhanideu hai;)
Keep writing!;)

mich u mich u (8) Oys is such a sweetheart*<3 hehe..

..

what can i say man..........i just read this and having been a part of ur ktm trip.....albeit a very small part .....sad for me......it feels so fking good to read ur stuff man......takes me down memory lane literally..........wish i could write like u but hey u'll do for now......am a senti like u i guess......and well....what can i say...u got that flow in u man....i don't care what ur dept head thinks abt ur writing but i bet there ain't one nepali who has writte better than u.........the samrta upadhyas and manjushreee thapas might ahve best sellers or whatever......i'd rather read ur stuff anyday...and as i said...if i ever get enough money or know the right ppl to have this published...i'll be doing it....and minting Rs off it too:P.....anyways man....it was great reading this series and hope to read more and more........i thought for sure there's be one part abt the godavari trip and was looking forward to that and suddenly the thing stopped:P....hehe anyways loved reading every bit....and it was all worth it considering its 2 at night here and i got exams in a couple of days:P.....

will indulge into the chroncle tomorrow. i's almost time for me to go to bed.
:=)

just to add last words
request to Sitaraji , Rhtym ji , ashu ji for new pieces. I share these writing with my friends at work during luch time ( all whites). sometimes give away the printed version.
thaks!

oys,

fantastic...I am in awe of your penmanship. Honestly, I would prefer the night life of kathmandu than a broadway show or loitering down sunset boulevard. Never been home ever since I am here....brought back memories...

kudos,
John

Oys_chill...Wow!!!!, I must say. I've something to enjoy this afternoon.:)

I've a question btw. I like topsy turvy.:)
You are one of those amazing writers. Hope to hear more from you.

OYS, your handigaon chronicle is weekly or daily ..........

------------------
So there it is--handigaon chronicles is not infinite. I feel pretty weak today, not physically. I don't know if i am mentally prepared to come back. It'll take some time to realize that birds won't be chirping in the morning anymore nor will aromatic tea make its way to my bedside. There won't be delicious cooked food in the kitchen in the morning and evening, nor will I run into long lost friends walking down the street.I just hope I won't succumb after sometime participating in the blaming game alongside scholars. If you ask me what has been the most important thing for me returning home besides realizing the importance of family, relatives and REAL friends, I'd say I have found myself here. It has made me realize who I really am, where I come from, and above all in what role do I fit in this picture.
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Oys,

I just came back from Nepal and got a chance today to read this piece from yours. Truly, there can never be anything like home where you are born and brought up. I can relate the memories of my trip with your chronicles....
Thanks...
Long live Nepal...my country my pride....

This patriotic song by Raju Lama is playing in my mind...

"Timilai ma bhulna sakdina...
Jahaan jaaun, timrai yaad aairahanchha...
Yo khola, yo naala, yo pahaad bhanjyaangle malai bolaairahanchha.....
mero nepal, mero nepal, mero nepal
mero desh malai laagchha pyaaro"

"Talking about peace, I have never slept so peacefully in the last six years than I have in the last month. No insomnia, no violent dreams--just peaceful sleep everynight. What could one ask for in life to be able to go to bed everynight and fall asleep instantly? Isn't that satisfaction everyone seeks in life."

Verytrue Oys_chill....

Oh my!
What a journal ! Potpourri of emotions. Simple yet thought provoking.
Yeah, I recall my Baba mentioning the name "Ramdev" in his emails with instructions of some Ashanaas that he wanted me to do on a regular basis. Thanks to Ramdev for his effort to motivate people towards Yoga.

Oys.. you remind me of my good ol' days in Architecture school. Oh.. those were the days. Always rush.. we hardly had time to hang out with friends and family. Those sleepless nights for weeks in preparation of presentation.. tyaha mathi competition ko pressure. Those frustrated faces, teary eyes after hit by sarcastic remarks from jury.. but at the end it was worth spending 5 golden years of life.

Hillarious yet true.. the ways we give direction. Good observation or should i say comparision.

"So there it is--handigaon chronicles is not infinite. I feel pretty weak today, not physically. I don't know if i am mentally prepared to come back. It'll take some time to realize that birds won't be chirping in the morning anymore nor will aromatic tea make its way to my bedside. There won't be delicious cooked food in the kitchen in the morning and evening, nor will I run into long lost friends walking down the street.I just hope I won't succumb after sometime participating in the blaming game alongside scholars. If you ask me what has been the most important thing for me returning home besides realizing the importance of family, relatives and REAL friends, I'd say I have found myself here. It has made me realize who I really am, where I come from, and above all in what role do I fit in this picture. "

Very well written.. enjoyed the read thoroughly. Please do keep coming.. in anticipation,
I remain,

Fill your days with smiles...

up up and away!!!!WOOHOOOO!!!hehehehe

anyways oys bro...whoever made this post go up..thanks to him/her..:oD..cos i just realised i hadnt finished it hehe..but did it today ;o) ...from start ;o)...

and if u ask me..fate i tell u!!;oP ...got a break and well got 5 mins now..and well had a great break thanks to u ;o)...and some memories ;o)...u know recallin..nice ones ;o)...hehe...

anyways gotta go make more memories ;o)...so have a good day :oD..and this is pretty late..but cheers for sharing ;o) hehe..

good day again :oD..and dyam this rush!:@ hehe..
*gone*

"Perhaps it was the rain and the naked wire, I got shock of the lifetime. 240 volts of electric current shook me in the middle of the street without me being able to express anything."

This chronicle was such a beguiling that it didn't make me realize a small error. :) Since I was little agitated by the materials covered in the class, thought of going through the chronicles for the third time. Instead of 240 volts of electric current ,should be 240 amperes of current since current is measured in Amps...Just a note!!!!

I immensely enjoyed for the third time as well.:)