6th April 2013
Starting early on a Sunday morning, I reached Balkhu at 6.15
a.m. After collecting a strip of Avomine, a bottle of water and some wai- wai, I
waited for my cousin’s arrival. She arrived soon and we purchased two tickets
to Chapur (Chandranigahapur) on the spot (Rs. 600/person), loaded our stuffs
above the Sumo Jeep and had a nice cup of tea in the nearby shop.
At around 8 a.m., we became ready for our journey. The jeep
carried 10 passengers. Occupying the second row in a sunny morning, we headed
towards Chapur. It was my first long journey after returning back from the UK and
the first Terai experience ever. I was excited to travel and Dakshinkali looked
peaceful. The rounded roads reached Kulekhani after a few hours where we got
off for lunch. Enjoying sel tarkari and clicking few pictures, we again readied
ourselves for the journey.
It must have been about 11 o’clock. The heat welcomed us in
the midday. The curvy roads and terrace farming were over and we knew we were
in Hetauda. Through Bara and Makwanpur, we finally reached Rautahat. Chandranigahapur
was not far by. We got off and caught a rickshaw to Judibela as walking seemed not
possible in the scorching heat. The rickshaw driver charged us Rs. 150 and
landed us safely in our destination.
Our visit surprised my cousin’s family. However, we received
a warm welcome. They were busy in their farm planting sugarcane. We took rest
for a while and had lunch. Grown up in the urban area, I was delighted to eat and
drink the homemade products. Milk, yogurt, mohi, banana, rice, lentil,
vegetable –all were produced at home. Moreover, I was glad to see three cooking
alternatives - electrical heater, gobar gas and traditional wood. Terai looked
well facilitated than the capital where fuel shortage has become a part of
life. We showered in the tubewell and started preparing for supper. Tired as we
were, we slept soon after eating and washing the dishes.
The next day we woke up early with cattle. Carried few
buckets of water from the tubewell to the kitchen, had cups of tea and milk one
after another and started preparing the meal. After eating, we boiled turmeric,
chopped it into small pieces, and left it to dry in the hot sun. Since afternoon
was very hot and was supposed to be a nap time, we rested for a few hours. I used
this time to read two slim books by a Nepali writer Ka.Di. After the lunch, we
went to nearby mill carrying sacks of wheat and rice grains to grind. I had a
chance to take a glimpse of true Terai there –the Madheshi people, their houses,
their way of living and their language. We left our belongings in the mill and returned
back. Mosquitoes were plenty in the dark and load shedding schedule was similar
to the Kathmandu town.
Tuesday was a religiously fasting day for me and my cousin. We
showered early and worshipped the Lord Ganesha. Rest of the day followed
routine of previous days. Other days were similar too. We were busy preparing
koseli for Kathmandu – potato chips, bhujia laddoo (lai), kurauni and ghee. I visited
few people there with my cousin and knew more about Terai. According to them,
Terai is not good for people who cannot tolerate mosquitoes, snake and heat. Otherwise,
it’s a nice place to live.
On the Friday morning, the jeep picked us up from our place.
We loaded our stuffs and thanking my cousin’s family for their hospitality,
left the place at 8 a.m. I had a mixed
feeling of longing to be in as well as a desire to escape from Kathmandu. The 5-hour
journey was pleasant. The cool environment of the valley seemed welcoming. However,
the big housing apartments and crowded residence seen from the jeep view were
suffocating to look at. Bearing in mind that we live in the center of Nepal and
that we cannot escape from the reality, I was eager to be at home.
