My husband was never there when I needed him. During our life together, he was away most of the time, crossing high mountain passes.

I stopped being insentient when I considered Bhauju’s life and began questioning my own mother, father and brother. In what way was my home different from the cemetery hill near the house? Why was it that my father – whom I saw as the most intelligent, good and loving person in the world – was like a frightening tiger to Bhauju?

I’m no good at accounting. But I’ve kept accounts of all the little debts owed me by the village in a box in my mind. And when people say they love the village, it makes me laugh. It makes me want to tear Bistini Bajai’s blouse in the middle of the night, and shake the village with my laughter.

Episode 4 of the La.Lit podcast is online! Contributing editors Rajani Thapa and Shlesha Thapaliya talk about the complexity of food, beyond what’s on your plate.

When a rumour spread in the village
that stars had drowned
in the river
he picked up his fishing line
and left in the early dawn.

Scissors run along the stitch
at times left
at times right
at times up
at times in a semicircle
and
create a recognizable shape

“If you really want kheer, you need two litres of milk for every quarter kilo of rice,” said an assertive voice that suggested a face with deep-set eyes. “For our rice we need about ten litres.”

Day One Location: Lanka Lanka is burning behind me. An entire empire made up of gold is now turning into ashes and a ghost. I try to calm myself, sink deeper into the leather seat...

Only Preeti and Sachi had no fears. They sat at the edge of the gorge, the one that divided their neighbourhood from Chundevi, and dangled their feet into its abyss as though nothing could frighten them this morning – not the dark trees below their toes, nor the darker flowers.