“A girl living in a rented house”

“A girl living in a rented house” Prem Krishna Shrestha A decade ago, a girl was living in a rented house which I owned. I continuously lived together with her in a same flat of the house. So my attention grew up on her day by day. At the time, I usually thought if our love spread endlessly like this, my heart would burst like an overly filled balloon which can burst any second.

I was son of landlord living in the flat on one side while on the other side she lived. The infinite love for her was at the very core of my heart. Sometimes when I met her suddenly, I would like to say, “Come on Derawali, Why do you sleep in different room? Let’s sleep together in my room, my lovely darling, my lovely queen. Be Gharwali from Derawali. ”

Although various imaginations occurred into mind, it was far impossible to apply all of them. I could not say and do as I desired. She laughed joyously whenever I met her. I usually questioned her, “Where do you go, Derawali?” She never annoyed with my question. She used to speak turning her kind face towards me instead, “Didn’t you see also my dress? Look me.”

I am not paying attention to your uniform. I am looking just for you. ” Derawali cheerfully laughed at my answer. I was tremendously lured by her smile, manner, respectful behaviours towards me, her advices, and every thing. At the time, I helped her in every works. Even if we got any amount food, we shared each other and I usually said, “Come on Derawali, take this food. “I paid her school fee, room rent, and other expanses.

I spent all my money for her. In such a way, I became Derawali, making her Gharwali(house owner) although the house was mine. However, I never dared to propose her. At the time, I was afraid of social dignity since my sister in law was also Derawali. I was well known that my mother would deny to bring younger sister in law as she believed in caste system. While my relation with her was about one year, my mother called me and said, “You have to live now into old house.

Your elder brother and sister in law will run the new house.” With my mother, I couldn’t ask why she told me. Then I felt over panic and I questioned myself how my mother could know my relation with Derawali. Tears came around my eyes as I couldn’t get the chance living with her near by.

Then I was shifted into the old house for a few months. After four months, when I went back to the new house, I saw the colour of her room’s curtain was already changed. A woman came out of the room but she wasn’t my Derawali. While a woman who was coming out of the room opening the red curtain of the door, I said myself,” Hey Derawali !I still miss a lot both of you and the green curtain as much as before.”

Days passed. My elder brother was addicted with gambling. It pushed our family facing massive economic crisis. Due to this, our houses were also mortgaged. We were unable to pay off the bank loans. So our both houses were sold. I went far leaving all memories of Derawali to someone else and tried my best to forget her. I wanted to bring the door with me but I couldn’t do so. I was overwhelmed with the Derawali despite being Derawala. Nothing is impossible in the world.

Suddenly I met the same Derawali at New Road. She cheerfully laughed as well as before. Looking at her laughing, I thought my dream would complete soon. Our relation would be bond. Without any hesitation, we approached each other. Showing my friendship, I asked her, “Hey Derawali, Where do you live nowadays?” “Don’t tell me Derawali. I am also Gharwali nowadays. We have a small house in Lubhu. ” Showing her angry face making big eyes, she said. I thought myself how Derawali got drastic changed after just buying a two floor house in Four Anna in Kathmandu.

“Did you get married?” “What do you think?” She didn’t answer clearly. I didn’t see the Sindoor in her hair parting but I could guess she lost her virginity. She answered nothing at all. “You sold your house, didn’t you? Where is your rent room nowadays? Derawali, now Gharwali, questioned me. I thought myself she knew every thing. Only I spoke, “Kalimati”. After hearing the word kalimati, I remembered the rude threatening word of landlord, you should vacant the room. Then I asked, “Don’t you have a small rent room, Gharwali?” After hearing my question, she laughed loudly.

I knew that perhaps she became so happy since I was addressing her by the word, Gharwali. In fact, time is so strong. We all are bound by the perimeter of time. Now, you won Kathmandu, I am defeated. I thought and asked myself, Is it necessary? But why did she take revenge on me in such way? After laughing near about five seconds, she spoke, “Sorry, recently, there is not vacant room for you.” I found her every thing went changed.

This time, I found only selfishness on her nothing more than that. How can I beg her heart as she who can’t give me a room? Thinking that, I moved back to my rent room. At the time, she, Derawali now Gharwali, might be looking at me with wider eyes until reaching afar distance. Then I was getting the flash back of past recalling words, wicked, innocent, and unexpressed woman and my cracked expression, come on Derawali, why do we sleep separately ? My queen lovely darling, sleep together in a same bed etc. Be Gharwali from Derawali. My whole eyes, covering with all the memories of Derawali, this time, I am searching a rent room in this suffocating Kathmandu city.