It was my last week in Kathmandu, and I was crying inside thinking soon I would have to leave Kumar forever. Already I could not imagine my life without him. I called long-distance and begged for more time off and managed to extend my trip by another 2 weeks just so I could spend more time with him but eventually it got to the point where I had to leave or risk losing my job.
In the last month I had spent all of my time with Kumar exploring so many beautiful places, sharing our love and dreams. Not only did I spend time with him but also his family who lived near Pashupatinath temple.
I was surprised when his mom took a liking to me, having heard so many horror stories about Indian and Nepali moms acting horribly to potential daughters-in-law, even threatening suicide if their son married a woman of a different caste, even more so if she was a foreigner. I figured her kindness was probably because I had no real chance at marrying him -- I was his fling with a foreigner before marrying the high-caste Nepali girl(a virgin, naturally) his mom would pick out for him. Despite how kindly she would act to my face, deep inside I knew she felt I was like another species and he would never go against her wishes. It tore my heart apart thinking of him marrying another girl, but I took small comfort in knowing that he probably would not love her but was only bound by duty to his family. It was a system which I could never understand and it broke my heart. For the time being I was treasuring the time I was spending with Kumar -- whatever happened with our relationship, I knew there was no way I could ever forget him.
One morning Kumar said he was taking me to Nagarkot, a beautiful, quiet scenic spot high on a hill east of Kathmandu where you could have incredible views of the Himalayas. .
"I know you have been wanting to go there with me but we haven't had the chance. I want to take you there now -- I promise you will never forget this day in your life. It will be magic."
"With you every day is magic. I have never been so happy in my life."
In the afternoon we took a bus to Bhaktapur and then found a taxi to take us up the hill. We both sat in the back seat, huddled together as the taxi navigated the bumpy mountain road, the radio playing the latest Kollywood blockbuster soundtrack. The sky was clear and blue and the scenery was incredible -- rolling hills covered in lush greenery and in the distance a glimpse of snow mountains.
"You can't imagine what I want to do to you when I get you alone up there." Kumar whispered softly as he ran his hand along my leg.
"I think I have some idea." I was so excited I felt like tearing his clothes and mine off that very moment.
When the taxi came to the main market area we were besieged by touts grabbing at our bags, each offering to take us to the 'best guest house in Nagarkot' where they'd give us 'best price, special for you'. Kumar brushed them aside, telling me he had already made all arrangements.