"She would walk forward with her long hair flowing down the hill, making a soft sound. I couldn't see anything except her hair. I just walked behind her."

We walked through the forest, caves, and waterfalls all night. When I tried to comb her hair, she would pull me forward. When I was tired and could not walk, she would smile and show me her teeth, and I would get the strength to walk again. When I could not climb a cliff, she would give me her hand, and I would climb the cliff on my own. I always get that kind of strength. Only when I feel tired, I always call out to Lemlame. I keep thinking that I would be able to meet Lemlame again.'

Village stories. Forest stories. Sister Sarule told me about her childhood experiences. One evening, Lemlame took her.

The month of Baisakh, which is also my birth month. Nana Lalita said, 'School Bhu.P. There is a student reunion program, let's go.'

Sakela Rural Municipality, Province 1 is a place where I spent my childhood studying and walking. I have to go to this place again and again. But it has been almost 10 years since I went. Many things made me feel a sense of longing.

I dared to forcefully release my life, which was like a tree tied by many waves and problems, and said, 'Yes'. Since the program was for two days at the school, I decided to attend only the second day. Because I believe that there is no such welcoming environment for literature there. But I realized that I was wrong when I got there. I felt guilty that I had to go on the first day. Baba Shalik Rai, the president of the program organizer 'Vidyarthi Manch', said, 'Enough'. Since I had only arrived on the last day, I was greeted with insults from my aunts, friends, and teachers. Well-wishers' insults are like that, they cover them with insults and decorate them with gifts of respect and love. Within a few moments, they honored me with endless applause. They blessed me. I offered them a few copies of my novel 'Thangra'. I told them about my writing. Principal Shivendra Rai felt bad for not having presented my topic in the previous day's mass. The meeting that started with insults ended with great goodwill and love.

Like an animal that had escaped from its bonds, I returned to my in-laws' house through Maiti-Mavali. The traditional festival was going on under Temke. The market was full. When I went to the hill to see Ramita, I was repeatedly invited to the stage for hospitality, I was missed. When I reached the stage a little later, I was insulted again. Solti-Soltina, Samdhi-Samdhenas asked, ‘Why didn’t you accept the hospitality?’ and handed me a pitcher full of local liquor. It was easy to say, ‘I didn’t have any prior information, sir.’ Millet porridge, fenugreek seeds, corn cobs, wheat wine, paha, asala fish… Oh, there was no limit to the taste and pleasure. The sweetest thing in that place was the tap water. It was really sweet, slightly sweet. And whatever I ate was delicious.

While filling the same market, while pointing to the same Dubowala path that went around Nagweli Para, my dear Sunila Swangecho said, ‘Let’s also do a Mundum Padayatra.’

I said, ‘Yes, I will form a group.’

When I actually reached the market and talked to one or two people, the members of the local ‘Women’s Empowerment Committee’ planned to go on that trek a few days later. We also joined in. But the next day, Sunila did not go. It was raining a little. But people from other places were still walking on buses and bikes for that trekking route. I asked Panu Rai, a member of the group, ‘The rain is getting heavier, should we go on the trek?’

‘Aan… Didi, what is rain?’ Even if there is lightning, you have to go.'

Another member, Nira Rai, also added, 'You have to experience not only happiness but also sadness. After carrying plastic to cover yourself, corn-soybean snacks and energy drinks (alcohol), you will feel safe.'

The organization's members were advised to go with 18 members. When we walked, there were only eight of us. It was a foggy morning. Only close friends were visible. Our eyelashes were wet from the cold of the mist. We were standing in between and offering energy drinks. Those who don't drink laugh at us. It is not clear that the trail, which is still under construction, is good. It has become very good and enjoyable. I am a traveler who has traveled that path even when it was a dirt road. But at that time, I was old enough, and I used to walk along the riverbanks dancing and singing. Now Saktina. Fortunately, the road has been made very easy. Some stone steps and stairs are not continuous but a winding path. The path is covered with muslin carpets. Around Chimal, the city of Gurans. The surrounding views from the highlands and the most delicious thing is the clean air.

‘I heard the news that the President laid a carpet worth lakhs in the office, but we are walking on a better natural carpet,’ Nira Rai said while walking. It was truly a joyous walk. I took a deep breath. If we go to the final point, Salpa, Silichung, it will be a six-day journey, but if we go only to 3300 meters high Mangyung/Mayyung, it will be a three-day journey. If you walk slowly, it's a two-day journey. But once you reach a beautiful place, you don't feel like leaving. It would take three days if you walk dancing and singing.

The day we left home, we reached the foot of Mangyung. There was a homestay a little lower and a barn stay a little higher. We went to the homestay. There was a duck pond next to it. There was also a duck, and a pair of plastic duck boats were tied to the shore. Around it was a dense forest. Below that forest was Saru and Neera's village. When Dilpa came to Dilpa after getting married, we became neighbors. After dinner at the homestay, we sat on the bed and massaged each other's feet with the mustard plaster that Saru carried, and she told her the story of how Lemleme took her. We listened to her story with our hair standing on end in fear. She said,

‘I was eleven years old. I had gone to bring the goat back home. Someone called me. I went. I knew I had come to bring the goat back, the goat was about to eat the wheat. After taking the goat, I would have to eat a bigauti at home. I would return soon. But when she smiled, I would follow her. She would take me to some cave, I would suffocate. She would smile. She would run to the hut and give me her hand, I would also run to the hut like that. I would walk straight to the mountain. I felt a supernatural joy as I could walk behind her on a mountain that I could never climb. I would follow her, wishing that I could always remain so powerful. But in such a long company, I could see nothing more than her beautiful teeth, lips, and curly hair. I tried many times to touch her, but somehow she would not be touched. When I tried to touch her forcibly, I would see her angry lips and I would flinch. The morning sun touched my face, and she disappeared. I was shocked and started looking for my goat. I was afraid that she might have eaten the wheat. But people from all over the village were scattered all over the forest looking for me.’

She is left alone to get lost in that place. Others have also disappeared for three or four days. I was very happy to hear their stories. It was like watching a whole ‘horror’ movie.

Now, listening to such stories may scare people who are thinking of going on a trek in the wilderness. I will clear this up. No matter how much we believe/disbelieve in gods, we should not have any problem if we accept that ‘some spirits are active, in whose trap we may fall at some point’. The problem arises when people try to control spirits and make them their slaves. But spirits are not slaves of anyone. Those who are worshipping and worshiping with the demands of ‘Make me rich, burn the people I dislike, make me the best without working’ etc. are truly reprehensible and foolish beliefs. Spirits do not do such corrupt things. The bodies of those who show the game are those who are born with certain symptoms - such as trembling, seeing shadows in the dark, etc. It is not known to this day that such a soul accompanies a person who walks without seeing the shadow in the dark. If someone sees a shadow at night, that person may have some strange feeling when they reach such a place. It seems that this also applies to Saru. It is said that if such a person indicates in advance that he is going to that place and says 'do not cause any trouble', there will be no trouble.

On our journey at this time, Kisan Kumari Rai, the secretary of the organization, made the three-day journey almost two days. When she said, 'I will reach home by 11 pm, let's go' without stopping at the shelter, my legs trembled and became tired. The opinions of those who could and could not walk were divided. The journey was very difficult - it seemed like a few hours. The leisurely and the hurried ones were annoyed with each other. But the hurried ones waited for us, saying, 'If you come here, you should return here.' We were together. In the end, it was good. After reaching home, two or four of us went into the forest to pick mushrooms, some went up the hill, and I went to the hospitality with Pavitra Kulung.

This year, I went to Pokhara to participate in the Nepal Literature Festival organized by Ncell Foundation and Buddha Air at the invitation of Fineprint Publisher Ajit Baral. I had the opportunity to participate in the Tikapur Festival at the invitation of writer Mahesh Bikram Sah. These festivals had a special charm. The slogan of the Tikapur Festival was 'Uder, Guder, Tayer'. Indeed, we were given the pleasure of flying to Nepalgunj, then by bus, and finally by boating on the Karnali River. The flat land, market, and culture of the indigenous Tharu were truly indescribable. Indigenous dances, banana dishes, and the service of a well-equipped hotel. The hospitality of Tikapur, which always remains in our hearts, is something to remember.

Oh, we are talking about the Mundum trekking. If we were to do that trip, the question of how much it would cost, what would be the cost, time, and weather, arises. To put it briefly, from Kathmandu to Chakhevas by bus, it would cost Rs. 2500, and from there to Silichung, if we were to do a week-long fun trip, it would cost us Rs. 6,000. When I reached the height of 3300 meters in Mangyung, I had spent Rs. 1700 after eating homemade lunch.