She ignited a third fag in a row. She was inhaling the smoke as if she could throw out her guilt in return of something she did she was not supposed to do.It was a broad day light and a soaring summer compelling anyone sweating through out the forehead to the chin. It looked like she was thinking something but it also looked like she was not willing to face her own thoughts hunting her mind.
"For f*** sake" ! She abruptly uttered herself.
She was already waiting for more than 45 minutes for a scheduled pick-up at Tribuwan International Airport (TIA). It was never this late before even though it was a strike call out This was not her first visit to Nepal from the Netherlands. But, she was less bothered whatever was going on with the schedules of pick up.
A Boy approached her and asked as if he was a driver, 'Ma'am, do you need a taxi?'
She was sunk in her own thoughts inclining straight down to the direction her eyes took and was indifferent to anything or anyone.
The boy repeated, 'Hello, Ma'am, do you want to go to Taxi?'
She could not be unresponsive this time but gave an abrupt look frowning her wrinkling forehead and smiled and probably knew that the boy was doing great in his broken English; 'do you want to go to Taxi?' She just smiled her both lips joint.
'What's your name?' She became interested in his countenance.
'What?' Boy reacted with the tone of 'why'.
'I mean, what is your name?', she sounded apologetic.
'My name is Sundar. My friends call me Sundare. I am 12 years old. I live in Gaushaala. I have two sisters.My father died. I work here. I can give you taxi. I need some money.' The boy literally sounded like he finished all the English he knew.
She felt cold inside but she did not know why.
'Wow! That's great. Come, have a seat and we talk.' She found a company for her wait.
He understood, grinned and decided to accompany the 'Amrikaane'. He first put his small bag full of Chinese watches, the fake-golden chains, necklaces and sighed like a maturing adult after sixties and said, 'OK Madam.'
"Do you know why is this strike today?' She asked as he managed himself a comfort.
'Yesterday, Maaobaadi called out a strike and I think today, other party is doing this to object yesterday's strike.' He answered as if all the political parties sent him an acknowledgement.
'Oh, wow ! This sounds interesting. Who's turn is tomorrow then?' She did not expect the right answer though.
'I think, Maaobaadi again.' opened his mouth wide.
Both laughed out loud with great synchronicity.
Both stopped again. Looked at each other and starting smiling again.
'Hilarious' She swallowed the saliva and asked again, 'Do you go to School?'
'Yes Ma'am, I sometimes go with my sisters at half-time to sell the chocolates.' He smiled.
That was quite unanticipated answer from that innocent child. Why do the children of this age not go to school? Why are they doomed to labor their livelihood at this age? For god sake, why are they 'selling chocolate'? Do they have any chocolates left for themselves at the end of the day? The loyal answer of Sundar caused an absolute bitterness in her heart. She felt quite guilty for something she din't even know, why? But, she knew Sundar is not the only boy in the world who suffers such alignment from their fundamental rights as a human being. At once, she kinda forgot she was in the conversation with Sundar, but then she managed herself to get back to normal when different voice uttered her name.
'Ma'am, I am very sorry for delay.' The apologized politely.
The voice belonged to the hotel manager where she stayed every time she came to Nepal and spent her time in Kathmandu. That was her favorite nexus to begin the connection to Nepal in her arrival and departure both and she knew all the staffs working for last three years as well.
'That's fine Muku. I can understand but the wait was more than I thought I would.' She took it easily.
'I know and I am really sorry again. It was hard to struggle the strike because the driver drove a van with red number plate and we realized after the rioters responded with the stones and bricks. So, we had to escape the crowd and get a green plate.' Muku explained almost the whole story.
Sundar was listening the conversation with quite an attentive ears and was creating mosaic expressions in his face. It looked like as if he was trying to learn some more English from the conversation. But, it all skipped before he could store them in his memory.
'OK, little man. It's time to go now. I am very pleased to meet you.' Her gestures were naturally loving. 'And take this for yourself and your beautiful sisters.' She gave him a note of brown color.
Sundar thought it was ten rupees' note. But, to his surprise, it was five hundred rupees and he felt like the happiness would blast out of his heart.
'Madam.' He probably wanted to thank her.
She turned her head while finding the seat belt, 'Yes, Sundar'.
'You know why my sisters are beautiful? Because I am also Sundar'. He laughed out loud with great pleasure and started to run.
Angela looked amused and confused when the van started moving slowly. But, she would certainly ask Muku what did Sundar mean anyway. While van was taking a turn in the round-about toward the main entrance, she again saw Sundar returning to collect his stuffs he almost forgot at the place they sat together......To be continued.
