JUNE 21, 2015
Kathmandu, A busy, crowdy, noisy and self-centered capital city of Nepal. In its very heart lies the holy city of temple and shrines "Kathmandu Durbar Square" Often called as "Basantapur"."OYE KAHA VETNE????" ( Where shall we meet??), when my friends used to ask this, we used to have same answer "Basantapur!!!!!" our favorite junction to meet.
And by-chance today, I reached the same place after 2 months of devastating earthquake. As I entered the premises of Basantapur, I was shocked. I never expected even in my dreams that once a beautiful, busy & noisy place, full of tourists and locals would turn into a deserted place which is awfully placid.As I turned my head towards the MAJU DEGA temple, which used to be the junction of ours, I could see just a big pile of bricks, mud and waste woods as remains of temple.Sadly I climbed the stairs of temple remains and reached the place where we used sit most, with tea in plastic cup, laugh and crack lot of jokes. As I stayed silently in the broken stairs, maelstrom of memories flooded inside my mind.
Suddenly, I remembered the word "MOTE"(means Fatty/Chubby).There was a small, roughly aged 10 or 12, swarthy & chubby with rugged shirt and pants,probably from low income class family who used to deliver tea to us at that junction.Every time he used to say "Dada chiya aayo"(means here comes the tea bro).We used to give him money for the tea and always used to say "MOTEEEE" (FATTY) & tease him. With his staring eyes and angry voice he always replied the same dialouge"Aafai moteee holaniii"( means you are fattyyy not me) and he used to run with money and just disappear into crowd.With the sip of tea, we gossiped, laugh, make fun of each-other in those foot stairs of the temple. Sometimes we even used to disturb the ecstasy of love couples who tend to loose control and try to kiss (may be more) in secret corners of temple by shouting "Police Aayooooo" ( Cops are coming to bust you) to restrain their erotic explicit actions in public.(note:- kissing & erotic activities in public place is prohibited in Nepal).
Wow!!!! that was soo much fun to doooo. Watching those silent couples, researchers, artists, painters, tourists on their own quest all over the place were such amazing memories. Remembering one saying "oye tyo chinese hola" ( he/she must be Chinese) pointing to a mongol faced tourist . Next says"Hoina korean hooo" (nope must be korean).Another intercepts , Khub ho japanese huna sakxa"(wrooongggg might be a japanese). Another says "sap thaha xa ta harulai... "heer ta ja nidhar ma kun des lekheko xa hehehe"( to find out go and see in their forehead may be its written there hehehe) and we all brust into laugh. Mean while other used to say "Oyeee tyo KHAIRE lai heera ta tatoo and dead lock kapal khataraaaaa raixa"( look at the white tourist with brown hair=KHAIRE, with tatoo and dead-locked hair-quiteeeee amusing.)
And Now, these all thing are gone..... paradise lostttt.
Soon I cannot tolerate the torture created my whirlpool of nostalgia inside my mind and there was nothing to soothe my nerves.I stood up and give a glance to that place again and I felt like i have lost my eyes.Those eyes to see these heavenly beauty, amazing experience and peaceful ecstasy that had always entertained us.Will I see that MOTE again?? Is he alive??? Will this place restored back to its life? Will those lost eyes come back again????? I kept on asking myeself????? For now I dont have any answerssssssssss...........
Comments
It is heartbreaking when I see a place of happy memories crashed. I guess the taste of beauty once aquired, can be felt even with closed eyes. "Will this place restored back to its life?" a timeless question ( we can also use right now) , for which I am inclined to say~ of course! Places and things may always be restored, I think it is a human life that can't ever revolve back. That's why we'll have our chins up and look forwards with hope for new, much better times.
I always love your writing style, how you described all things in detail.
Amazingly written Reeyaz, love it
So sad about the tragedy in Nepal. I hope the people of Nepal especially the people of Kathmandu will rise again.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit Kathmandu a few years back. I had the pleasure of visiting Bakhtapur, the ancient city. To visit and see with own eyes all those magnificent buildings are really awesome. It's really a marvel to know that the forefathers of Kathmandu had built those ancient buildings. Thus, I'm sure the new generation of Kathmandu will prevail and rebuild the city.
REEY@Z it's so great that you shared all these memories here. I can't imagine how hard it's to start over again after all these terrible earthquakes that destroyed so many lives and historical monuments. Of course, the human loss is more important, but these buildings were part of the place's history and an unique World Heritage that it can't be replaced again. I hope you can always keep all these memories of how was that place before such a terrible loss. Thanks again for sharing your memories with us.
This is a terrible loss to history and the people of Nepal. Sometimes when tragedy happens we are left to rebuild and hold on to the memory of it. It is good to always remind ourselves of the good that we have so that it will not be lost in the hearts of the people. Thanks for sharing a part of your life here through this historical place.
@AReality.... Thanks for you comment. Yes we have one of the oldest culture of the world and Kathmandu used to be one of amazing place to be. How ever we can hope it will be back to its original status with in few years.. and then u can visit here hehehe.
@Rhaani.. Thanks for your concern... Dont be so sorry... Its okay....Lots of destruction here but we still are hopeful and we will stay right back on our feet.
@Malkeet bro... Thanks for your special comments.. We all have special places that triggers some wonderful memories.As of mine that place was nostalgic. And yes it will take years to recover.. but I hope some day me and my friends can gather in same place and cherish our memories again.