Grandma’s garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
हजूर आमाको करेसाबारीमा मकै, कोदो र तरुलको खेतीले टम्म भरिएको थियो। सबै भन्दा लोभलाग्दो चाहीँ केराहरु थियो।
हजूर आमाका धेरै नाति नातिनाहरु भएता पनि वहाँ मलाई नै मन पराउनु हुन्थ्यो। वहाँ प्राय जसो मलाई आफ्नो घरमा बोलाउनु हुन्थ्यो र आफ्नो केही गोप्य कुराहरु पनि खोल्नु हुन्थ्यो।
तर वहाँले मलाई केरा कहाँ पकाउनु हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा चाहीँ गोप्य नै राखेकी थिईन।
Grandma’s garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma’s house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, “It’s my magic basket.”
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. “What are the leaves for, Grandma?” I asked. The only answer I got was, “They are my magic leaves.”
एकदिन मैले हजूर आमाको घर बाहिर एउट ठूलो छ्वालीको टोकरी घाममा सुकाई राखेको देखें। जब मैले यो के को लागि हो भनेर सोधें, वहाँको जवाफ थियो: यो मेरो जादू को टोकरी हो। टोकरी को छेउमा हजूर आमाले त्यहाँ धेरै केराका पातहरु ओल्टाई पल्टाई गर्नु हुन्थ्यो।
म उत्सुकताले भरिएर सोधें, यी पातहरु के का लागि हजूर आमा? वहाँको केवल जवाफ थियो: यिनीहरू मेरा जादूमयी पातहरू हुन।
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma’s house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, “It’s my magic basket.”
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. “What are the leaves for, Grandma?” I asked. The only answer I got was, “They are my magic leaves.”
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
“Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare…”
“Don’t be stubborn, child, do as you are told,” she insisted. I took off running.
हजूर आमालाई देखेर मलाई धेरै रमाईलो लागिरहेको थियो अनि केरा, केराका पातहरु अनि छ्वालीको टोकरी। तर हजूर आमाले मलाई केही सामान लिन भनेर आमा कहाँ पठाई दिनु भयो। हजूर आमा! तपाईं जसरी तयारी गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ नी! मलाइ पनिदेखाउनु होस् न?
जिद्धी नगर्नु, मैले जे भनें त्यही गर्नु हजूर आमा चिच्याईन, त्यसपछि मैले त्यहाँबाट दौडिनु पर्यो।
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
“Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare…”
“Don’t be stubborn, child, do as you are told,” she insisted. I took off running.
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
“Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where…”
But the only answer I got was, “They are in my magic place.” It was so disappointing!
जब म फर्के हजूर आमा बाहिर बसिराख्नु भएको थियो तर त्यहाँ न त टोकरी नै थियो, न त केराहरु नै।
हजूर आमा टोकरी र केराहरु कहाँ छन्?
तर वहाँको मात्र जवाफ थियो, त्यो सबै जादूमयी ठाउँमा छन्। वास्तवमा त्यो साह्रै नै दुखदायी क्षण थियो।
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
“Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where…”
But the only answer I got was, “They are in my magic place.” It was so disappointing!
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma’s big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
दुई दिन पछि, हजूर आमाले मलाई आफ्नो खाटबाट वहाँको टेक्ने लौरो ल्याउन भन्नु भयो।
जब मैले ढोका खोले, पाक्दै गरेको केराको कडा वासनाले मलाई आकार्शित गर्यो।
भित्री कोठामा हजूर आमाको छ्वालीको ठूलो टोकरी थियो जसलाई एउटा पुरानो सिरकले घ्वाप्लक्क छोपेको थियो। त्यसलाई मैले विस्तारै उचालेँ र त्यो लोभ लाग्दो वासनालाई सुघेँ।
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma’s big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
Grandma’s voice startled me when she called, “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick.”
I hurried out with her walking stick. “What are you smiling about?” Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
जब मेरी हजूर आमा मलाई, त्यहाँ तिमी के गर्दै छौ भनेर कराईन: म झसँङ्ग भएर तर्से। छिटो गर! मेरो लौरो लिएर आउ। वहाँको टेक्ने लौरो लिएर म छिटो छिटो वहाँ भएको ठाउँमा गएँ।
तिमी किन मुस्कुराई रहेकी छौ? हजूर आमाले मलाई सोध्नु भयो।
वहाँको प्रश्नले मैले वहाँको जादूमयी ठाउँको रहस्य पत्ता लागेकोमा निस्केको हल्का हाँसो हो भन्ने कुरोको अनुभूती गर्न गाह्रो भएन।
Grandma’s voice startled me when she called, “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick.”
I hurried out with her walking stick. “What are you smiling about?” Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
अर्को दिन जब हजूर आमा मेरी आमालाई भेट्न आउनु भयो, म हतार हतार वहाँको घरमा फेरी एक चोटी केराहरु हेर्न को लागि गएँ।
त्यहाँ एउटा राम्रोसँग पाकेको एउटा झुप्प थियो। मैले एउटा टिपेर आफ्नो कपडा भित्र लुकाएँ। फेरी टोकारीलाई राम्रोसँग छोपिसके पछि म घरको पछाडी गएँ अनि त्यसलाई छिटो छिटो खाएँ। त्यो नै अहिले सम्म मैले चाखेकी सबै भन्दा गुलियो केरा थियो।
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn’t help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
अर्को दिन जब हजूर आमा करेसाबारीमा सागसब्जी टिप्दै थिईन, मैले ढोका बाट झ्वाट्ट चियाएर केराहरू हेरे। प्राय सबै राम्रोसँग पाकेको थियो। त्यहाँबाट चार वटाको एउटा झुप्प नलिईकन म चल्नै सकिनँ। जब म बिस्तारै ढोका तर्फ अगाडी बढ़ें, मैले बाहिर मेरी हजूर आमाले खोकेको सुनें। मैले केरा आफ्नो कपडा मूनी छोपेर बिस्तारै हजूर आमालाई छलेर अघि बढ़े।
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn’t help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
दोस्रो दिन हाटबजार लाग्ने दिन थियो, हजूर आमा बिहानै उठिन। वहाँ सधै पाकेको केरा र तरुलहरु लिएर बजारमा बेच्न जानु हुन्थ्यो।
त्यो दिन मैले वहाँ लाई भेट्न जान हतार गरिनँ। तर लामो समयसम्म त्यसो गरिरहन पनि मलाई सम्भव थिएन।
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
त्यसपछि साँझमा आमा, बुबा र हजूर आमाले मलाई बोलाउनु भयो। किन हो भन्ने कुरा मलाई थाहा पाउन गाह्रो भएन। त्यो रात जब म आफ्नो ओछ्यानमा पल्टें, मलाई थाहा थियो कि म अब कहिल्यै हजूर आमा, आमा, बुवा र कसैबाट पनि चोर्न सक्ने छैन।
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
