Shree Paanch/ Nagarjun Diaries

Subtitle: To live, sometimes you have to survive.

Episode IV: The story of Apollo Kiranti:

Outside it is sunny. Hridayendra and Amy settle by a table. They are kind of isolated from the crowd gathered near the bride. Amy is exhilarated by the enormity of the wedding affair, the music and the vitality. This is the first Nepali wedding she has been to.

Amy: I've never seen anything like it.

Hridayendra: I told you I had a lot of relatives.

Amy looks around. Her interest is caught by the three men standing by the 'ghada' (huge water pots for good omen). Amy is amused: Hrid, what are those men doing?

Hridayendra: They're waiting to see my grand pa.

Amy: ...but they are talking to themselves.

Hridayendra: They are going to talk to my grand pa, which means they're going to ask him for something, which means they better get it right.

Amy: Why do they bother him on a day like this ?

Hridayendra: Because they know that no thakuri will refuse a request on his grand daugther's wedding day.

Amy (in a spooky low tone): Hrid, that scarey guy...is he also a relative ?
She has picked out Apollo Kirati (refer to previous episode)

Hridayendra: No. His name is Apollo Kiranti. You wouldn't like him.

Amy is excited: Who is he ?

Hridayendra: You really want to know ?

Amy: Yes. Tell me.

Hridayendra: You like samosas ?

Amy: I love spicy food, you know that.

Hridayendra: Then finish your samosas and I'll tell you a Apollo Kiranti story.

Amy starts to eat. She is now looking at Hridayendra eagerly.

Hridayendra: About twelve years ago after my grand pa lost his throne and palace, some people wanted to nationalize our shares in Yak & Yeti and Surya Nepal also. When Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' became the president of Nepal after the coup in 2012 and imposed totalitarian regime it was certain that everything we had was going to be confiscated. My grand pa engineered an opposition. In turn, Badal sent some YCL combatants to assasinate my father so that my grand pa would give up.

Amy: Oh my God !

Hridayendra: My grand pa sent Apollo Kranti after them. He tied the two YCL men hand and foot, and stuffed small bath towels into their mouths. Then he took an axe, and chopped one man's feet off...

Amy: Hrid...

Hridayendra: Then the legs at the knees...

Amy: Hrid, you're trying to scare me...

Hridayendra: Then the thighs where they joined torso.

Amy: Hrid I don't want to hear anymore...

Hridayendra: Then Apollo turned to the other man...

Amy: Hrid, I love you.

Hridayendra: ...who out of sheer terror had swallowed the bath towel in his mouth and suffocated.

The grin on Hridayendra's face indicates that he might have exaggerated a bit just to scare Amy.

Amy: Hrid, I never know when you're telling me the truth.
She sounds so innocent and naive. (Even I am falling in love with her )

Hridayendra: I told you, you wouldn't like him. Apollo Kiranti is one of the most feared men around here. His great talent, it is said is that he can do a job of murder all by himself, without confederates, which automatically makes discovery and conviction by the law almost impossible. Well I don't know whether the story I just told you is true but I do know that he is sort of a friend to my grand pa.

Hridayendra sips his glass of wine and continues: It is said that Apollo in himself is one of the great blocks that supports my family's business. He fears no police, he does not fear society, he does not fear God, he does not fear hell. He does not even fear or love his fellow man, but he has elected, he has chosen to fear and love my Grandpa...

Amy: He's coming over here !

Apollo comes toward them to meet Rajan Khadka halfway, just near their table.

Hridayendra: Rajan bua...Rajan bua, I'd like you to meet Amy Brown.

Amy is relieved that she didn't have to face Apollo.

Amy: How do you do.

Hridayendra: My uncle, Rajan Khadka.

Rajan: Hello Amy.
The king is inside. (privately to Hridayendra) He's been asking for you.

Hridayendra: hawas.

Rajan smiles and moves back to the house, Apollo ominously follows him.

Hridayendra holds Amy's hand on the table and draws it towards him.

Hridayendra: ...everything I have told you about my family...Amy, that's my family...(he grins)...that's not me.