---
The journey began.
Silently.
---
Mukesh sat inside the bus.
His head resting in his mother's lap.
---
The bus started moving.
Slowly.
---
Outside—
mountains stretched endlessly.
Green hills.
Cold air.
Beautiful views.
---
But—
he didn't look.
---
His eyes stayed closed.
Most of the time.
---
"…I don't even feel like seeing anything…"
he whispered.
---
His mother looked down at him.
Her fingers gently moving through his hair.
---
"You should look outside…"
---
"…No…"
---
"Why?"
---
"…I don't feel anything…"
---
Silence.
---
Sometimes—
his eyes would suddenly roll upward.
For a few seconds.
Uncontrolled.
---
His mother immediately held his face.
---
"Mukesh…?"
---
"…I'm fine…"
---
"Tell me honestly… are you okay?"
---
He didn't answer.
---
Because both of them already knew.
---
The bus kept moving.
Hours passed.
---
Night slowly covered the mountains.
---
And then—
the bus stopped.
---
A small place.
In the middle of nowhere.
---
Mountains on all sides.
A single building.
Light glowing from inside.
---
People got down.
Talking.
Eating.
Living.
---
His mother stepped down.
---
After a few minutes—
she returned.
Holding food.
---
She stood near the window.
---
"Here… eat something."
---
Mukesh turned his face away.
---
"…I don't want to eat…"
---
"It's been so long…"
---
"…I can't…"
---
"Just a little…"
---
He closed his eyes.
---
"…I said I can't…"
---
Silence.
---
His mother didn't force him.
---
She sat down.
And slowly started eating herself.
---
Not because she wanted to.
But because she had no other choice.
---
Three months.
---
Almost three months—
he hadn't eaten properly.
---
Only water.
---
And still—
he was somehow alive.
---
After some time—
the bus started again.
---
Night grew deeper.
---
Mukesh lay still.
His head resting in her lap.
---
Like that was the only place left in the world.
---
Morning came.
---
The bus stopped.
---
Dhangadhi.
---
His mother helped him stand.
---
His body couldn't support him.
---
Each step—
felt like falling.
---
She held him.
Almost carrying him.
---
They reached the border.
---
Gauriphanta.
---
Crowded.
Noisy.
---
And full of monkeys.
---
Mukesh sat quietly on a bench.
---
His mother went to buy tickets.
---
She came back—
with a small packet.
---
"Take this…"
---
He didn't even look.
---
"…I don't want anything…"
---
"Just try…"
---
"…No…"
---
She paused.
---
Then sat beside him.
---
For a moment—
she closed her eyes.
---
Tired.
---
Mukesh slowly placed his head on her lap again.
---
Just then—
a monkey jumped.
---
Snatched the packet.
---
And ran away.
---
His mother sighed.
---
"These monkeys… always trouble people…"
---
A small pause.
---
"They say… if a monkey scratches you… it's lucky…"
---
Mukesh didn't react.
---
Luck…
felt like a joke.
---
The bus started again.
---
The journey continued.
---
But halfway—
the bus stopped.
---
Problem.
---
The tyre was damaged.
---
Around them—
only jungle.
---
Tall trees.
Wind.
Silence.
---
Nearby—
a small tea stall.
---
People waiting.
Eating.
---
A cut tree lay on the ground.
---
His mother helped him walk there.
---
They sat.
---
Mukesh slowly lay down again.
His head in her lap.
---
"You shouldn't lie down all the time…"
she said softly.
---
"Try to walk a little…"
---
"…I can't…"
---
She didn't argue.
---
She opened a bottle.
---
"Drink some water…"
---
He took a small sip.
---
Just enough.
---
Nothing more.
---
Time passed.
---
The bus was fixed.
---
They got back in.
---
And the road started again.
---
Long.
Endless.
---
Next morning—
they reached Delhi.
---
A city full of noise.
Movement.
Life.
---
Everything—
that he had lost.
---
His mother bought a train ticket.
---
Holding onto hope.
---
Even now.
---
Mukesh looked ahead.
---
"…Where are we going…?"
---
His mother didn't answer immediately.
---
Then softly—
"Somewhere… you'll be okay."
---
Mukesh closed his eyes.
---
"…Okay…"
The train hadn't started yet.
But the journey—
was far from over.
End of Chapter 16