Unsatisfied...

Have you ever walked on the streets of Kathmandu in the evening? It’s not much of the walking you do as much of pushing and shoving. If you notice closely, you will see all types of people walking all around you. There are young kids and old people, poor and rich, fashionable and not so fashionable. But they all have one thing in common; they don’t observe each other at all. Everybody is busy in their own thoughts. But there is a chain of subtle noticing going on.

Two beautiful women dressed in their best attire are walking, probably 2 a gathering or a party. They are busy gossiping about how they loved necklace they saw a woman wearing on the other side of the road. There is a beggar who is sitting at a side of the road reaching out his hand begging 2 the passersby. He is dirty; even he can’t remember when he had a bath. His clothes are shredded. As the two ladies pass through, the beggar can’t take the eyes off them. The beggar is thinking of his sorry life and imagining being rich. Oh! How lovely would it be 2 have a house, a family and all the happiness? A little girl walking, holding hands of her parents, notices the beggar. The innocent child who knows nothing about the problems of the world points 2 the beggar and asks her mom, “Why is that man sitting on the street and all dirty?” The mother immediately shushes her little child and the parents walk faster. They don’t want 2 give their hard earned money, be however little, 2 a beggar. The parents have their child 2 feed; her future 2 take care of. They can’t waste their money on some hungry beggar. Behind the family is a handsome man noticing the family. He looks smart wearing a shirt and tie. But in his face you can see he is tired. All his life he wanted 2 be successful, working hard every day. Now he on the way 2 be successful. But looking at the family, he wishes he also had a happy family, because deep down he is lonely. He wishes there was a loving wife waiting for him 2 come home and children 2 hug him 2 ease all the pressure of the work. As he reaches up 2 the beggar, he slips a single note in the beggar’s bowl and walks away. Across the street, there is an old man sitting on bench. He is looking at the man in suit and tie. The old man, he doesn’t even remember how many summers he has seen. He is weak and a store house of diseases. Looking at the man, he remembers his youth and all the adventure he has had. With death ever near, he would do anything 2 live his youth one more time, do all the great stuff and mend everything that he regrets. An old woman comes up 2 the bench and sits down next 2 the old man. She is his wife and they smile at each other. On the other side of the road, a beautiful girl in her late teens is waiting for someone. She seems fashionable wearing a beautiful dress. . She is looking at the old couple. She dreams of having a lovely husband and they live happily as the old couple sitting across the street. She and her prince charming want 2 live happily ever after just like in fairy tales.

The chain goes on and on until the road clears at night. Then only silence remains with the exceptions of some vehicles. But there is another new day just around the corner where the passersby look at random people thinking how they wished 2 live another’s life.