II. Moments of Bliss ************************ Jetlagged and bewildered, I woke up to the sound of the heavy monsoon showers in the twilight once more. I wondered if I really were in Kathmandu or just another ghetto in Connecticut. I hoisted the curtains to do a reality check. Even in that darkness and rain, I could make out those irresistible growing corns in our "bari" that would probably be ready in a month or so. I reached for Seto Bagh, that had been enthralling me lately with its romantic incense that blended perfectly with the pearl drops from heaven. I didn't know when I passed out but when I woke up, the sky had cleared out for a dazzling day and aroma filled mechi chiya stood next to my bed. I was still very much a mami's boy. "la babu chiya khadai yo sunn" my mom reached for the player and hit on play and she went away to do her daily chores. I sipped the warm tea as one of the most melodious and captivating female voice oozed from the player. "Phool ko ankha ma phool nai sansara, tara ko ankha ma tarai sansara". those mere two lines and I not only became instant Ani Cheyong's fan but those two lines put my whole life into perspective. As I was brushing my teeth that morning, I suddenly realized that i was letting tap run on its own like I used to do Oh my! I just remembered the painstaking experience people have to go undergo everyday just to get enough water for drinking and cleaning. At least we are lucky, we still have some water; I have now met several people who have been buying water for several months. All those heated discussions on building an utopian Nepal suddenly seem very trivial. As I got out of the house, I was met with an astonishing sight. The alley where I resided were full of stores from cold stores, meat shops, tailoring, hair cutting and even a beauty parlour. Sadly, I didn't find any children playing marbles, chungi or skips anymore. oh well! everybody moves on with time. Further down, "bhagwati than" was well guarded with metal fences while gahana pokhari looked majestic with its decorative silver laden fence all around and clearer water for a change. Only grave reminder on what our country is going through was the police post where an officer stood alertly with his rifle protected by barbed wire fences all around. The police headquarters in tangal looked pretty much the same, while Deep dai's beloved "chatte Ganesh" had transformed into a decorative, regular sized temple. Of all the things in KTM, traffic probably has scared me the most. It seems like all the drunken bulls from spain are here and heading right towards me everywhere I go. I have to confess I haven't had the guts to get on one of those jam packed new sajha buses of KTM that link every corner of the city. Seeing the names of each and every alley and galli, that I am still getting used to, I wonder how giving directions might change in today's ktm. perhaps instead of " ooo tyo ganesh ko than bata sidai janus, ani pipal ko bot bata baya patti, ani teenta seto ghar aaucha, ani tyasko daya ko pasal ma falana ko ghar kata ho bhanera sodnus" to "gahana marg bata sidai purba teera, ani kotal marga ma ni purba ani mahadev galli ma daya" WOW! to be contd...