Swarna slowly began to feel that her dream of traveling the world was impossible. She tried her best to bury that wish deep inside her heart, but instead of fading away, it only grew stronger with each passing day and night.
By then, her school had reopened. One day, the teachers announced that the school would be organizing an educational tour, and students who wished to join had to submit a certain amount of money.
At that very moment, the words of her mother and grandmother echoed in her mind. Their practical advice and worries came rushing back to her. Because of this, Swarna could not gather the courage to tell her father about the school trip. With a heavy heart, she returned home in silence.
Watching all her friends happily talk about going on the trip made her feel deeply hurt. The pain of not even being able to ask her family about it began to weigh on her.
Slowly, her behavior started to change.
She began eating less, sitting alone for hours, getting angry over small things, and often picking fights at home. Her family was surprised by this sudden change. As these habits repeated day after day, everyone in the house became worried and exhausted.
No one knew what had caused such a transformation in Swarna.
Wanting to see her smile again, each family member tried in their own way to cheer her up.
Her father would sometimes buy her favorite pink clothes.
Her mother lovingly cooked the dishes she liked most.
Her grandmother sang sweet folk songs to comfort her.
Her elder brother even joked around and teased her to make her laugh, but instead, Swarna would argue with him and send him out of her room.
She had stopped speaking properly with her mother, father, and grandmother as well.
Little by little, Swarna was drifting away from her family, and this deeply worried everyone.
Since she had also stopped eating properly, her health began to decline. Her body grew thinner, her eyes looked dull and tired, and she became increasingly weak.
At last, the situation became too serious to ignore.
The Khadka family decided to take her to the hospital immediately.
After examining her, the doctor informed them that Swarna was suffering from depression and advised that she should remain in the hospital for a few days.
Four days later, Swarna began to recover slightly. She was now able to speak a little.
The doctor, with a gentle tone and kind behavior, slowly asked her what had been troubling her.
Feeling safe enough to open her heart, Swarna finally spoke.
"When I stay at home, I feel suffocated," she said softly. "I want to go somewhere, anywhere outside. Whenever I see tourists traveling, I too wish to become one of them and explore the world. But when I share this with my family, they tell me it is beyond our means. I tried to kill my desires, but I couldn't. And because of that, I no longer feel like talking, laughing, or playing with anyone. I only want to be alone."
Outside the room, her father Kumar was quietly listening.
Just then, Swarna said something that struck him like a thunderbolt.
"Perhaps if I had been born into a wealthy family, they would have understood me, and my wishes would have come true. But sadly, I was born into a poor and ununderstanding family where people know nothing beyond working in the fields. Maybe I did something wrong in my past life, and that is why I am suffering now."
As soon as she said this, she broke down into tears.
Hearing his daughter's words, Kumar could no longer hold himself together.
The bag of fruits he had brought for her slipped from his hands and fell to the floor.
At that moment, he felt like the poorest and most helpless father in the world.
Unable to face his daughter, he quietly turned around and went back home.
After returning, he sent his wife Maya and their son to the hospital, saying he had some urgent work outside.
Maya was surprised because Kumar had never placed anything above family before, but without saying much, she took their son and went to the hospital.
After some time, they brought Swarna back home.
But Kumar was nowhere to be seen.
Maya assumed he must still be busy with work in the fields and continued with her chores.
Late in the evening, Kumar finally returned home.
Maya had already fed Swarna and was waiting for him.
When she asked why he was so late, Kumar simply replied that he had been busy with work all day.
He then said, "I have already eaten outside, you should eat and sleep."
But Maya did not believe him.
She looked at him carefully and asked, "What has happened to you today? You have seemed so broken since morning. You always come home on time, but today you are late. And I know you haven't eaten anything. Tell me, what happened? Has our daughter's pain now reached your heart too?"
Hearing this, Kumar finally broke down.
With tears in his eyes, he told Maya everything he had heard from Swarna in the hospital.
"What kind of father am I," he cried, "if I cannot fulfill my own daughter's dreams? It would have been better if I had never become a father at all."
Seeing him in such pain, Maya too could not stop her tears.
That night, neither of them could sleep.
Early the next morning, Maya hurried into Swarna's room and felt relieved to see her sleeping peacefully.
She then went to prepare breakfast.
Kumar, too, woke up early and went out for a walk around the village.
Days passed.
Then one week turned into two.
Swarna's birthday was drawing near.
Every year, she would be full of excitement for her birthday.
But this time, there was no sparkle in her eyes.
This sadness spread through the Khadka family like a shadow.
Every year, Maya and Kumar loved hearing Swarna stubbornly ask for gifts, dresses, and toys.
But this year, she had asked for nothing.
In fact, it was almost as if she had forgotten her own birthday.
Still, Maya and Kumar were determined to make her smile somehow.
Maya could not think of any plan.
Just then Kumar said, "I know how to make our daughter happy."
Saying this, he quietly stepped outside.
Maya kept wondering what he might be planning.
At that moment, a guest arrived at their home carrying some wooden handmade items.
It was Hak Bahadur Shamsher, Kumar's closest friend since school days.
He had come from a nearby village to meet Kumar for some work.
He kindly asked about Swarna's health and handed over the wooden gifts he had brought.
Just then, Kumar returned home.
Seeing his old friend after so many days, he was genuinely happy.
The two friends sat together and talked for a while.
Afterward, they warmly invited their guest to share a meal.
Once the meal was over, Hak Bahadur wished Swarna a speedy recovery and took his leave.
Kumar walked with him for some distance to see him off.
Watching the cheerful expression on her husband's face after so many difficult days, Maya felt a quiet happiness bloom in her heart.