That one day in
Nepal
Bhoooooh!!! I, was,
sliding from a steep snowy mountain. Flipping rapidly and my stomach felt the
downward acceleration due to the gravity pulling me so hard. My spatial
movements kept changing due to the increase in force. I felt the Adrenalin in
my stomach. I screamed and I was nowhere to go and nowhere to stop, just falling
so low. I, on spur of moment, thought about my beloved ones who might be
waiting for me. What would people say to them? That I just slipped from a steep
mountain and died? No, that will be even more dreadful! What about the dreams I
weaved so many years about my future? I
murmured to myself, please help me, let me stuck somewhere, with some life
pitying on me. I just rolled, hurting. My life is gone, am so sorry! Am so
sorry, I thought, and I was about to thrash onto the ground. I just shut my eyes
so strong that I shouldn’t witness my scary death!! I apologized to my body and
soul!
It was 2’0 P.M in a
cozy room of Kathmandu Gardens, one of the vintage hotels in Nepal. I, all of a
sudden, opened my eyes, sweating so badly though the weather was deep chill
outside. I was aghast about the dream I just slipped out from. It was a dream!
I grinned! I had to bank on my blanket and rewind the dream, so many shots and
scenes, just like a Hollywood horror action thriller, almost nailing the
character into death!
I kept my eyes open and thought about the day
when I asked permission to travel to Nepal to my father.
He said “Nepal? So far? I can allow you if you
throw a satisfying answer to me.” I agreed upon and he asked “Would you be
adventurous or a good traveler?” I chose “good traveler.”
A good traveler! I
swiftly shut my eyes…..
“Good traveler”? Is there a term “a good
traveler?”. No. Just a “traveler” who ought to be good on his travel. Yes, I
will be apparently a traveler because Nepal happened for a reason. I had to
escape from thoughts haunting me. I wanted to bring me out from a betrayal
ditch and make me believe that life is still beautiful!
I do not want this
to turn into a travelogue or a minute list of what I was doing the whole eight
days in Nepal! I just wanted that one day in Nepal to pen down, to share and
let know!
Though that eight
days gave the most beautiful days in my life, that one day gave the toughest day
in my life till date. Just toughest until it turned out to be the opposite!
Fortunate?
Unfortunate? Might vary to different eyes!
It was that last
night, when we were packing our bags to come back to India, I found that I had
already lost my one and only possible Identity card somewhere in Nepal. I grew
icy. I searched all nook and corners of my surroundings but, yes, I had really
lost it. I have lost many things before but this was something very crucial to solve
about especially when I did not own a passport.
It was already late
night to go out and search all way I had passed. After so many useless
discussions, I paused at “What next?” The only option is to register a
complaint and seek help at the Indian Embassy. That was not the actual problem.
My co-travelers have to leave the next day. I was a bit upset on what to do in
a country not familiar to me, language not familiar to me. Okay, I thought, I came
here to lose myself over and here it has happened. I slipped into my bed with
no less thought. All kind of questions, I’ll miss my flight, I have to manage
it all by myself with no sufficient money I have, with no mobile to communicate.
Like a chick cracking its shell, I had to crack myself from the comfort zone
and forced me to think what next.
I did not know when
did I sleep and to my wonder I did not remember any dreams that I should have
seen at such situations rolling in my life. All my friends were all set to go
to the airport. Sadly, they bid a good bye with great positive words with
worried faces.
So, it’s me then,
alone at the hotel. The first thing I did was to collect my copy of the identity
card from the receptionist. Hopefully, that copy might help me out, I thought!
I locked up my bags in the clock room and requested the receptionist to help me
out with a cab. With a few needed items, I got into the cab.
“Hi madam, Good
morning” wished Aleex. He looked pleasant. He spoke a different slang of English.
He was an Ukranian.
I requested him to
drop me at the Indian Embassy. On wheels, I was wondering about the
consequences of being careless and honestly I was playful thinking about how my
friends would tease me telling this. I said Aleex that I lost my ID. Hearing on
to the problem, he reminded me of the fact that I may not be able to travel
back the same day.
Suddenly, my face
turned dark. I started shedding tears. “Try your best madam, plead, they might
consider” he said. I thought I was a bit bold when it comes to travel but
proving wrong, i was afraid when I felt alone.
“Madam, are you
alright?” Politely, asked Aleex .
Sooner we reached
the gate of the Indian Embassy. Three to four policemen inquired about my
coming. I requested Aleex to wait and I rushed into the office. I was eased
when I saw a tamilian officer at the entrance. He asked me not to worry and go
inside to clear the temporary travel ID. With great anticipation, I went
inside. There was a long queue with so many different people, all possessing a
tensed face. After a few minutes, got my turn to ‘plead.’
“Sorry madam, you can’t
travel today. You have to wait until tomorrow for the temporary travel ID” said
a strict officer wearing a big turban and with a rude mustache.
I pleaded with the
exact reason that I had no people connected in this city. He shouted at me and forced to give way to the
next rushing seekers.
Tomorrow? That can’t
happen! Where would I stay? What will I tell to my parents? How will I manage
with less money? All these questions took a pause when I heard a loud voice. It
was the same man I hated the most at the moment. I ran to him expecting an
answer favourable to me.
“Pay an amount of
1000 Nepali Rupee and get your receipt. Come tomorrow by 10 AM and you can get
your travel ID” Dot
Tears rolled again
and again. The tamilian officer tried to put his soothing words but nothing
geared my head. “Don’t worry, madam” he said. But I must worry because I had only 300 nepali
rupee with me and a few Indian currency. I rushed to Aleex and requested him to
take me to any of the atm centres.
I tried pulling
cash but failed so many times. To my misfortune, I came across the most
betraying facts on my atm card “Not valid for payment in Foreign Exchange in
Nepal and Bhutan”
With no phone I had
no idea what to do next because life has eased out things so far with all
necessary things right near to me whenever I needed. This kind of incident has
never happened to me. I was stuck! I stood for a while. The only light of hope
was showered on Aleex who was waiting for me in the cab. I got into the car and
with a straight face I asked “Aleex, I am stuck here with no cash in hand, I
have to pay an amount of Rs 1000 Nepali Rupee here and I couldn’t use the card.
Can I borrow it from you?”
He immediately
searched his purse and managed to give me what I asked for. I thanked him with still tears shedding. I rushed into the office and paid my fee
and got the receipt. Okay, work done and what next?
I asked Aleex to go
back to the Hotel. On the way back, I had no idea of how will I return his borrowed
money. I was preparing to convince him or I even made sure that my gold ring is
right in my finger. Overthinking had dried out the fuel in my head. I remained
silent.
We reached at the
Hotel!
Sometimes, situations
take us to a cliff that we think the only option is to jump. But many a times,
something magical happens and life gives a chance.
I saw Mr and Mrs
Salik, the organizers of our tour to Nepal, waiting for me at the lounge. By
the time, I have started to adapt to the situation. The first thing I asked her
was to help me with 1000 nepali Rupee. She immediately took out the purse and
gave the money. I ran to Aleex. I gave a hug and I said Thank You and handed
over the money along with the money i had. He was kind enough to inquire about my savings to survive that
day. Though a big No, I said “YES”. “Madam,
be ready at 10 AM tomorrow, I will come and pick you up to the Embassy”he
smiled.
When I was stuck
with my current situations, he already took effort to make me think of going
home the next day. Great man he was!
I rushed back to
the lounge and explained what had happened in the great Indian Embassy.
Using the hotels
wi-fi connection, I called one of my bestie and asked to transfer an amount to
Mr Saliks account. Within minutes he did that for me. Mr Salik, when got
credited, gave me the cash in hand to make me feel safe. By the time, my another
bestie booked my flight tickets for the next day. You know, that’s why they are
tagged “Besties”. Almost most of the problems were solved by then.
I felt relaxed. Then
the situation seemed fortunate to me. I got one more day in Nepal to roam around,
experience people like Aleex and most importantly experience the aloneness!
With not a single familiar face, I started walking through streets.
I visited Mr and
Mrs Saliks home. I had traditional drinks and food, I met people, I felt the cold,
I walked, observed, and I was happy that I got lost.
Here the golden words
from Alchemist go so apt “When you want something, all the universe conspires
in helping you to achieve it”
I wouldn’t have got
a chance to dump the thoughts that haunted me if this aloneness chance had not
happened. I would return happy as any tourists, with memories of Nepal. But
some other time, thoughts may peep out leaving myself unclear.
Aloneness was
healthy! Aloneness brought smile! Aloneness makes us think more, realize that
this is what life is all about!
I slept tight with
great belief that no thoughts will ever bother me again! The next day, as promised,
I saw Aleex waiting for me at the Hotel. He greeted me with a great smile. With
all set, we drove to the embassy to collect my temporary travel ID. The strict
mustached man handed over the slip and said “Sorry for the inconvenience. If
I were partial to you, do you think the people behind you would accept it?” I
just smiled and rushed to see the tamilian officer. I thanked him for his nice
words when needed. With temporary Id safe in my hand I got into the car.
“To the airport ,
madam? Asked Aleex.
He knew it! We had
a long conversation on how he reached Nepal from Ukrain. Chased out of poverty
and hunger, he started his race in life. He joined as a cab driver in Nepal. Though
faced with a lot of bitter emotions, he has gripped to humanity!
He drove into the
shortcut and narrow roads of Nepal streets to show me more. I saw locale
dimensions of typical Nepal. Wasn’t I fortunate?
By 12 PM, I reached
the airport. I seriously did not know how to thank Aleex. He took my luggage
out of the cab. I wish to see him when chance put me there once again!
I got into the
flight. Past 7 days had been beautiful but past one day was just Happy for me.
Thoughts over rolled on human beings, situations that prove that we are human
‘BEINGS’. I saw Nepal so small under my vision and was happy that my identity
is somewhere resting in the land of NEPAL!
Who knew that my
dream at the opening scene could be an instinct and wanted to tell me that
before thrashing on to the ground you had chance to slip just like that with
the help of people I do not know!
Yes, I was a
traveler. The last one day has proved it to be! Lost in Nepal for a day was a
small incident but small things makes life beautiful!
-
Susuwrites/
Nepal Diaries/