Early in the morning, I reach the villages of Khandbari carrying information. Even though I am old, I have not stopped running around carrying newspapers. I always have a newspaper in my hand, a bag on my shoulder, and a smile on my face. This is my identity. Even in my old age, I have to earn money to eat, I cannot leave work. Because, I have to run the house. I am now 75 years old. However, household chores have not left me.

I live in a mud house built four decades ago with wood and mud. My family has two sons and five daughters. Like a normal family, I also have many desires. But my income is very low compared to my desires. I have faced many struggles in my life, and today I am still walking on the same path of struggle. I have seven children, but the worries about the future are the same.

The desire to travel the city is still alive in my heart. But work, expenses and age have made the desire as heavy as a bag on my shoulders. I studied up to 7th grade. I did not study beyond that. I went to Madhesh. I could not study after getting lost there. Since I could not study, I have a great desire to send my children. I do not plan to send my children abroad. I married my first wife at the age of 27. After my first marriage in Khotang, I got married four times due to life circumstances. As the family grew, the responsibility of earning a living also increased. I had to raise, educate, and clothe everyone. Where is the easy part? But both of us worked hard so that there would be no shortage even in old age. I am now with my younger wife.

I earn about five hundred a day by distributing newspapers and doing ordinary work. Since the newspaper is published only once a week, this income does not come every day. I earn about 15 thousand a month. My wife Sharda works in the hospital canteen. The household expenses are met by combining the income of both, but the impact of inflation always worries me.

I spend about 10 thousand a month on household expenses. A packet of salt has reached 30 rupees in the market, a kilo of sugar is 110 rupees. The price of rice is even higher. Meat, fruits, sweets are only for festivals. It is difficult to eat daily.

In my house, clothes are bought only when they are torn. New clothes come only during monsoon, festivals or when there is no work. Even my children cannot buy new clothes as they are told. They manage their school and college expenses by earning their own money. The mud house built 40 years ago is still in the same old condition. The house made of wood and mud is getting dilapidated over time. My other big concern is the land documents. The rent has been paid, the resignation has also been approved. But there is no title deed. Without a title deed, it has been difficult to repair, build a house or get any government facilities.