When I wake up, most of the residents of Bhairahawa are asleep. Some meet me on my morning walk, enjoying my own tunes. I cycle from my home in Siddharthanagar-12, Rupandehi, to Buddha Chowk. Other friends like me have already arrived there. Newspapers from places like Butwal arrive at Buddha Chowk. I collect those newspapers and deliver them to the doorsteps. Sometimes I spend my time distributing newspapers until 10 am and sometimes until noon. This has been my daily routine for 20 years.

Even though I live in the district headquarters of Rupandehi, my family has never been at peace. I am now 40 years old. I have been earning my living by distributing newspapers. Since my grandparents' time, I have had to do some work to run the household.

I passed 10th grade from Bhanu Secondary School in Bhairahawa. At that time, there was happiness in the house when I passed SLC with 55 percent marks. However, due to family responsibilities, I could not continue my studies. I had the dream of studying. But, I did not complete it. My studies also fell through. There was no work. Then I got a job distributing newspapers on a bicycle. At that time, there was a wave of reading newspapers. The number of customers was large every day. So I used to go from house to house with a bundle of newspapers tied to my bicycle. At the age of playing and having fun with friends, I chose the cool morning air.

I first started distributing newspapers from Milan Chowk in Bhairahawa. After that, my journey has spread all over Bhairahawa along with Buddha Chowk, Devkota Chowk, Bank Road, government offices and bus parks. The friends who distribute newspapers are still with me. Like me, my friends Mahesh Dhawal has been doing this work for 12 years, Santavali has been doing it for 25 years, Vasant Yadav has been doing it for 25 years, Krishna Khanal has been doing it for 20 years.

Nowadays, distributing newspapers is not enough to feed us. That is why everyone is also doing some extra work in the afternoon. We gather in front of Sabita Mini Market in Buddha Chowk in the morning. After collecting the bundles of newspapers that we have to distribute, we all part ways after having a cup of tea.

Like me, my friends Mahesh Dhawal, 12, Santavali, 25, Vasant Yadav, 25, and Krishna Khanal have been doing this job for 20 years. The work of distributing newspapers is not easy. While walking around the market, sometimes stray and stray dogs chase me. In winter, there is a risk of accidents because the fog makes it difficult to see from a distance. Sometimes, in the rain, you have to distribute newspapers while protecting yourself. At such times, even if you protect the newspapers, you get wet. In the summer, you have to sweat profusely.

Once, I got off my bicycle at a house in Milan Chowk in the market to deliver newspapers. At that time, a thief stole the bicycle and ran away. It felt deserted for a moment. But, I did not give up. After the bicycle was stolen, I could not distribute newspapers for two days. I was worried about how to get a bicycle. On the third day, I continued my profession by buying an old bicycle for 1,500 rupees.

Despite working hard for ten years, the financial situation of the family did not change as expected. The sadness did not leave. And after consulting my family, I decided to go to Saudi Arabia. I decided to go abroad. But I did not have money. And I took a loan of 50 thousand rupees and set off abroad. For the happiness of my family, I left the city. But, my heart was in Bhairahawa. I worked hard for 6 years in the desert of Saudi Arabia. But, when I did not earn as much as I expected, I returned home. When I returned from abroad, I had brought 225 thousand with me.

Now, I collect newspapers published in Rupandehi in the morning and deliver them to every corner of the city. After distributing them in one go in the morning, I reach our bookstore in Milan Chowk. From there, I take Naya Patrika, Kantipur, Gorkhapatra, Kathmandu Post, Nagarik and other national newspapers and go out to distribute them. I return home at 11 am and have lunch with my family. Then, in the afternoon, I go to the Lumbini Press Club office. I am also the office secretary of the Press Club. The Press Club work in the afternoon has covered my expenses.

I earn around 12 thousand rupees a month by distributing newspapers. The Press Club also pays me 12 thousand rupees a month. I have taken a loan of 1 million rupees from the cooperative and built a house this time. Now I have to pay 26 thousand rupees a month to the cooperative in installments. My earnings are not enough to pay the cooperative installments. That is why I only have delicious and simple food occasionally. When I am in trouble, I try to find a loan and run.