Uncertainty and trauma have become part of everyday life in Nepal. The aftershocks continue, landslides and flooding have followed, and soon the monsoon rains will come. Vinaya Ghimire has managed another update this week, from his farm in Nepal. He's thinking, and trying to restore order from the chaos that surrounds him. |
We know the past, we are living in the present, but the future is always unknown. Let me put it another way, we know about yesterday, we are living today, but tomorrow is a mystery. We can never be sure about the future, or tomorrow so to speak.
There is an interesting dialogue in the movie Troy (2004), Helen says to her lover Paris that she is not afraid of dying but she is terrified while thinking about tomorrow. What she means is she is afraid of incidents that will occur in the future. There is a 007 movie played by Pierce Brosnan. The movie is titled “Tomorrow Never Dies.” I cannot remember the release date of the movie, but the title is very striking. |
The unknown tomorrow makes us afraid of everything. There have been more than three thousand aftershocks since April 25 earthquake. There have been huge damages to our property. However, my family is safe and sound. The wellness of my family gives me a sense of satisfaction, nevertheless, I fear of unknown tomorrow.
What if my farmhouse with the cracks in the foundations falls down? What if the cracks in my city home deepen and the house becomes unlivable? What if the building where we have our restaurant cannot stand more tremors since it is already weakened by continuous tremors?
According to the United States Geological Survey, Nepal is in an earthquake-prone zone. Nepal lies just between the tectonic plates of India and Tibet. Any movements in these plates will create great disturbances in Nepal. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is more prone to earthquakes than the rest of the cities, towns and villages. In the last few years, Kathmandu valley has been the earthquake impact zone a couple of times. However, the tremors were weak and there were no major damages.
A powerful aftershock
During the first few earthquakes and aftershocks, I was much worried about the safety of my family trapped in the earthquake zone. However, I was not afraid of death or dying. I told everyone that this is temporary and soon it will pass away.
Nepal Earthquake 1934
Nepal Earthquake 2015
It was early afternoon. My mom and I were in our farmhouse. I was lying on the bed trying to have an afternoon siesta. When I felt the tremor, I cried loud, “Mom, get out of the house.” Then I ran downstairs, crossed the front yard, and stopped only when I reached the farm yard. I did not wait to see if mom was following me. When the tremor passed I realized, I had run without wearing slippers and I was wearing shorts, and mom was near me. I had seen death close a couple of times, but I had never been so afraid of death until this time.
When I felt more normal again, I called my wife, who was at her parents’ house. “I was lying on the bed. I thought the tremors would soon pass, thus, I did not move,” she said.
My father and sister had arrived on the farm a few days ago, and at the time of the earthquake, they were in town. I called them and got the news that they were safe.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near Kathmandu. My brother and sister’s family was in Kathmandu. Soon I got the news that all of them were unhurt. The earthquake was 7.3 magnitude.
The survivors
However, now it feels like Heaven because my entire family is on the farm.
I survived the earthquake. We all survived the earthquakes. We are even rebuilding our lives.
Thanks to my virtual friends for their financial, moral and emotional support. I thank God for giving me so many wonderful friends.