I go every morning for jogging uphill towards mudhkhu. It is daily routine.The road climbs with gentle slop up to the Mudkhu pass at the northen part of Kathmandu valley.It was chilled winter morning last year.One could see layer of frosts everywhere on the ground.My friend Mandal,Amar and Pusp were also jogging together with me on that day.We were running up hill.I was perspiring hard and so were my friends.Mandal had arrived recently from Lukhnow so he was bit unware about the situation here in Nepal.He had seen the rigourous checking on the highway heard numerous deaths and sabotages by security personnel and moists but didn’t have much idea how to respond to them.Seeing morning so clear with snow peaks on the northen horizen and forest with sunrise, once he had proposed us to shout aloud with delight.But we all denied telling the situatian is not good. On that day,we were carrying bags with empty bottles to bring water while returning from Mudkhu.There is a small stream near Mudkhu which is an extra source of water for thirsty Kathmanduits.As we reached on the top of the hill borther Amar proposed us to have tea by the roadside.We all agreed.We had to cross the check-post to go to tea shop.we were carrying bags and jogging slowly.As we know empty vessels make much noise, the empty bottles inside our bags were producing rushling noise .One of the security personels who was busy preparing tobacco and was unaware about our presence suddenly grasped his sub-machine gun which was hanging on his right shoulder hearing rushling sound nearby and nearly pulled the trigger.Mandal was in the front line.He was there amazed and motionless with that sudden reaction.One move and he would pull the tringger.But it was by great luck he didn’t pull.Had he not lifted his head to stare us coldly then we would be dead man with headlines reading “Terrorists have been shot dead”.A boy who came from Lukhnow and wanted to shout full throat seeing beautiful scenary in the highland was silent.
This december when Amar and pusp have already left for Dubai to work as sales assitants in Emarat petrolium company, again Mandal and I decided to make one last jog together towards Mudhkhu before his visit to Singapore for further studies. This december is quite cold. Seems winter has approached early this year.We slowly started to run uphill talking about his future plan.Since things have changed so much after the April revolution in Nepal, we were at great ease. After climbing long slope, we arrived at the Mudhkhu pass where last year we were nearly shot dead. Mandal looked at me as though he was groping for words to say something.After sometime he smiled broadly as there was no security personnel and barriers.And he patted me.It was really beautiful morning with freedom. Freedom from fear and distrust freedom from tears and toils. April revolution has become as tall as Mt. Everest giving delight to every Nepali. Hurray!!!!!!
Miss you Amar dada, Pusp , Mandal and Deep and all those pals who shared love with me in the room. Thank you all.
