Warm Chiya on a Rainy Power-Cut Afternoon

बिहानीदेखिनै पानी झरिरहेकाले म ललितपुरको सानो कोठामा घरै बसेँ।

no romanization romanization

Since it had been raining since morning, I stayed at home in my small room in Lalitpur.

झ्यालको सिसामा टप-टप पानी बज्थ्यो, र शहर लगभग सुनसानजस्तै देखिन्थ्यो।

no romanization romanization

Raindrops tapped on the window glass, and the city looked almost deserted.

बत्ती अचानक गयो, त्यसैले म मेणबत्ती बालेर भाँडामा अदुवा-इलाइचीको चिया उमालें।

no romanization romanization

The power suddenly went out, so I lit a candle and boiled ginger-cardamom tea in a pot.

अनि भान्सामा पाइने जति आलु र बेसन भेट्टाएर छिट्टै पकोडा पनि तारेँ।

no romanization romanization

Then, using whatever potatoes and gram flour I found in the kitchen, I quickly fried pakoras.

बाहिर छाता समेत काम नलाग्ने गरी पानी पर्थ्यो, तर भित्र तातो बास्नाले मन हल्लिन्थ्यो।

no romanization romanization

It was raining so hard outside that even an umbrella would be useless, but inside the warm aroma soothed me.

त्यति बेला पल्लो ढोकाकी आमा हल्का मुस्कानसहित ढोका ढकढक्याउँदै आइन्, र भनिन्, "लुडो खेल्न मन छ?"

no romanization romanization

Just then the neighbor aunt knocked with a slight smile and said, "Want to play Ludo?"

उनको सानो छोरो पनि सँगै आएको रहेछ।

no romanization romanization

Her little son had come along as well.

हामीले चिया र पकोडा बाँडेँ, अनि सानोतिनो गफ गर्दै बोर्ड निकाल्यौं।

no romanization romanization

We shared tea and pakoras, and while chatting a little we pulled out the board.

सानै भाइले हाँसो छोड्दै पासा फ्याँक्यो, तर पानीको गर्जनले कहिलेकाहीँ हाम्रो कुरा ढाक्थ्यो।

no romanization romanization

The little boy burst into laughter as he threw the dice, but the roar of the rain sometimes drowned our talk.

झ्यालमा टासिएको ससाना पानीका थोपा बत्ती परेझैँ चम्किन्थे, र कोठा मेणबत्तीको तातो उज्यालोले शान्त देखिन्थ्यो।

no romanization romanization

Tiny droplets stuck to the window shone as if lit, and the room looked calm in the candle’s warm glow.

खेल लामो भयो, तर कसैलाई जितकोभन्दा साथ बसेको क्षण नै प्रिय लाग्यो।

no romanization romanization

The game went on for a long time, but we liked the time spent together more than the victory.

बेलुकीतिर पानी पर्न थामिएजस्तो देखियो, यद्यपि बाटाहरू अझै हिलो र फिस्ला थिए।

no romanization romanization

By evening it seemed the rain had stopped, although the paths were still muddy and slippery.

आमा फर्किँदा कागजमा बेरेर बाँकी पकोडा दिँदै मैले भनें, "यति पानी परेको भए पनि, आज घरभित्रै घाम लागेकोजस्तो लाग्यो।"

no romanization romanization

As Aunt left, handing her the leftover pakoras wrapped in paper I said, "Even with so much rain, it felt like sunshine inside today."