The Walk

AUTHOR: ANNONYMUS

Let me tell you about a ‘walk’ or say, a series of ‘routined-walks’. It might sound simple but deep in my heart somewhere, it still rules! Let me take you to when it all started.

I was born in one of the remote villages of Nepal, an isolated village with no transportation, communication, electricity, hospital and school. It was a beautiful small village. Although most of the people were uneducated, they had a conscience that their children should be taught. The nearest government school was one and half hour walk to another village where all of my friends went to study. But, my mother wanted me to send to private school. So, I was sent to my maternal uncle’s home as a private school was just some 20 steps away from there. His home was also a cozy place as the warmth of love could be felt from every member of the family. I was never alone there as a cousin of my age was always with me to play. No matter how much love and care I get there, you know, home is always home. I always missed my home.

However, there was a good part; I hadn’t had to miss my home for long- not more than 6 days. We had a public holiday every Saturday. I used to go home on Friday after school with Rajan dai. He was the only other person to study in that school from my village. His house was some 10 meters away from mine. Unfortunately, he left the school too later. Then, I was on my own and alone all the way to my home every Friday. It was not an easy journey, however, I managed it.

My parents used to ask me, “Don’t you fear walking alone to home?” I used say, “No. I am used to it.” But, I lied.

I still vividly remember the two hour long walk across some lonely places like a dreadful nightmare. To walk across three villages before I reached my village wasn’t the hard part but, to pass those dreadful lonely places (between those villages) was. There were three of them. Those three places had eerie silence, lots of trees (which blocked most of the sunlight) and no houses.

Every time, before crossing those places, I used to wait for some minutes hoping some people might have work to next village. Unfortunately, this good luck used to occur rarely. Then, I was on my own. I just used to run as fast as I can, trying not to think anything. I used to have a strong feeling that something is following me but would never look back. My heart used to palpitate as if it was going to explode out of my chest. And, with in no time, I used to reach next village. Again, the same process on other two dreadful places, run as fast as you can so that whatever is following you would not be able to catch you. Finally, I used to reach my village. A very happy feeling used to fill my heart.

I passed through this situation every Friday for 4 years, every time, with a determination that I wouldn’t fear and be brave. However, it never taught me how to be brave. But, it gave me the motivation that after every dreadful gloomy place   there comes a home if you can manage to run (walk) through.