The Unsuccessful Lovers

Episode 2: Friends and Love; Truth or Rumour?

For both Bikki and Laxu, it was very risky to meet in solitude. Although there was no provision of CCTV cameras in the village, their family members and other relatives used to play the role of CCTV cameras. However, it would be very easier for them when they used to be with their friends for several works. Mainly, they would go to the forest for grazing the cattle and to cut the grass. Likewise, they would go to the tap and meet, talk, and used to stare at each other for a long time and give good smile. However, they never went to school together. Because that was a larger circle of friendship during school time. They were alert to prevent possible rumors. So, they had a circle of close friends to share their inner feelings. The nearest ones were Rishi, Jeevan, Durga, Chhabi, Sabita, Suk, and Malati. We can find the various layers of love affairs between their friends who are mentioned above.

Rishi and Durga used to belong to the poor family in comparison to Bikki's and Laxu's. However, their economic condition was not even so miserable. They were also of similar age. The year of birth of four; Bikki, Laxu, Rishi, and Durga was the same. It was 1990 A.D. As love does not count the money, prosperity, and sophisticated villa, they also used to like each other but nobody could express their love at first.

One day, they planned to go forest for cutting the grass. They set their journey to the forest. There were Bikki, Laxu, Rishi, Manisha, Durga, and Jeevan. After they had walked 10 minutes to the forest, Rishi remembered the love letter that was written to propose and give to Durga.

"I forgot to bring the lover letter that I had kept at my home secretly," Said Rishi.

            "Oh, is it?" asked Bikki.

            "Yes. What to do now?' replied Rishi

            Bikki said, "Where there is a will, there is a way. Let's germinate the idea."

            "Can you?" requested Rishi.

  "Now, you start running towards the home for the hasiya (an instrument of cutting grass). But hide the hasiya of your hand," laid an idea Bikki.

Rishi remarked, "Okay." (Then, he vanished from there soon.)

Rishi was a bit nervous when he came back but he had at least dared for that. Now, the love letter was with Rishi. After they reached the forest they scattered to cut the grass. Later on, it came to know that Durga accepted the letter. They also fell in love thinking to pass the rest of the life together happily. During that time, Rishi used to read at class eight and Durga at seven. Laxu and Bikki were also happy because they were best friends to each other and there would be easier or comfortable for Bikki and Laxu too in the days come.

However, the problem in Rishi and Durga's relation was that Jeevan also used to love Durga a lot. If Jeevan goes to Durga's house taking the marriage proposal, her family might accept that proposal. Because, Jeevan's family was well off, his father had joined in Indian police and he had a permanent job. So, Rishi often used to be scared thinking the same with Bikki. However, Durga was two years older than Jeevan. Bikki always consoled him telling him that money can never buy true love and it will be sinful work if her parents did that. However, Bikki himself also used to be in worry because many boys used to propose to Laxu to make their girlfriend.  

Suk, who was the classmate and even the intimate friend of Bikki loved Laxu one-sided. Although he had his girlfriend named Malati, he was longing for Laxu. It was revealed by Laxu herself because he was trying to give a love letter to Laxu from Sabita but Laxu didn't accept and shouted at her instead. Likewise, Ram also proposed to her but she directly rejected even his proposal. During that time, more than two dozen boys used to like her but she used to love only Bikki. Malati, who was an intimate friend and classmate of Laxu used to love Suk and at the same time, she used to like Bikki too. But, she was not being able to express her feelings because her best friend Laxu had already in a relationship with him. Bikki also did not use to pay attention to Malati. So, it can be said that willingly and unwillingly, Suk and Malati were also in a love affair. Once they had a great debate between them.

            "Do you love me or Bikki? asked Suk.

            "Do you love me or Laxu?" replied angrily Malati.  

Suk said, "You cannot travel keeping two legs in two boats. So, give me the final decision. I can no more tolerate it."

"The same thing applies to you as well," replied Malati.

Ram belongs to a middle-class family and used to have a sort of relation with Sabita. Sabita also used to be happy with that sort of relation although they were not in a love affair. Sabita was from a poor family and had no one special till the day for her. But, later on, Ram started liking Sohi, the nearest relative of Sabita. Sohi also gave a green signal to Ram and they started thinking that there were made for each other by the god.

The colorful life of Sabita was faded after Ram started to love Sohi. She regretted herself from his deceptive behaviour and started thinking that boys are selfish. As everything has the end, and Sabita's sorrows too. She met another very good and gentle guy named Chhabi. Interestingly enough, Chabbi was the classmate of Bikki and Ram and brother of Rishi. Moreover, Sabita was one year older than Chhabi and had studied one class upper than him. In this sense, Sabita was senior than Chabbi not only in age but also in education. As good people see opportunities in the problems and bad people see problems in the opportunities, they also focused on each others' positive points, although a few of their friends mocked their relation. Chhabi was very honest, laborious, and perfect in sports too. Everyone in the village used to praise his honesty, integrity, and disciplined manner. Sabita was delighted to have him in her life as a lover. They were already in adolescence and passing their life happily. The easier aspect of their relationship is that there was less chance of a denial from their family for their marriage. The difficult part of their relationship was that Sabita was already 18 years old and that was the suitable age for a Nepali girl to marry. If Chhabi would not be ready to marry her instantly, her family may force her to marry another person. They used to worry about this matter frequently.

"Will you be ready to get married when my family members forced me to marry?" asked                                                                                            Sabita.

Chhabi replied seriously, "If I lost everything nothing will be lost. If I lost you, everything will be lost. So, I am ready to take any action for being us together."

            "We should do struggle for that and you deserve it," agreed both.