Exposure first and final chapter

In the tranquil village of Dhungey Gau, nestled among Nepal’s lush green hills, the first rays of sunrise painted the sky gold and pink, illuminating quaint houses with sloped roofs and vibrant gardens of marigolds and jasmine. Birds chirped a gentle symphony as Sumeru, a man in his early 30s with shoulder-length hair tied in a neat bun, prepared pancakes in his cozy kitchen, their sweet aroma mingling with morning air. His adopted daughter, Sumi, an 8-year-old with pigtails clutching a stuffed bunny, bounded in, chirping, “Papa, good morning! Ohayo!” Sumeru’s face softened into a warm smile. “Ohayo, my princess. Sleep well?” he asked, sliding a plate of honey-drizzled pancakes before her. As Sumi munched happily, syrup smudging her cheek, Sumeru’s thoughts drifted to his past in bustling Dharan, where honking cars, crowded streets, and sizzling sekuwa stalls filled his memories. Shaking off the shadow crossing his face, he untied his black apron, muttering about the village’s quiet charm, so unlike the city. Together, they stepped onto the wooden porch of their modest home, marked by a sign reading “Sumeru’s Home,” where Miso, their fluffy white cat, watched with glinting eyes. “Bye, Miso!” Sumi waved, giggling at the cat’s single “meow.” They walked down a dirt path lined with wildflowers, Sumi skipping ahead as Sumeru carried her backpack, the emerald hills stretching under a clear sky. At the stone-walled school, Sumi ran to her friends, leaving Sumeru to glance at a red car pulling up, a woman’s obscured face sparking recognition before he dismissed it with a wistful laugh, “She’s not her… haha.” His life in Dhungey Gau unfolded simply: tending tomatoes and cucumbers in his field, fishing with Sumi by a crystal-clear river, their laughter echoing against the village’s ancient stone walls and sprawling trees. “This is the Stone Village,” Sumeru thought, recalling his grandfather’s tales from his childhood in Dharan. “I dreamed of its stones, its stories. Now, here we are.” His modest wealth—earned in his twenties and inherited from his parents—kept their home well-maintained, needing little but Sumi’s joy. One afternoon, Sumi beamed, “Papa! I made new friends!” Sumeru knelt, smiling, “I’d love to meet them, princess.” he told that they had a parent-teacher meeting, in school he went to school to attend it .he saw his daughter laughing and reading in classroom from outside he smiles and went to the meeting hall and sits in a seat .amid chattering parents, a mid-30s woman with striking features sat beside him, freezing his greeting. Their eyes locked,( they were past lovers ) exs hearts thudding, as Sumeru’s trembling hands spilled water and Miko, twisting her scarf, avoided his gaze. Excusing himself, he splashed water on his face in the bathroom, muttering, “Get it together, Sumeru.” As parents filed out, Miko’s soft voice called, “Sumeru?” He turned, facing her nervous warmth. “Hey,” she said, forcing a smile. “How are you?” His curt “I’m good” met her faltering “Great,” but as he moved to leave, she called, “Oh, hero…” The word stopped him, memories flooding back. In their high school days, sunlight streamed through classroom windows as a younger Sumeru, wavy hair framing his shy grin, caught Miko’s radiant gaze. Their connection grew through stolen glances and teasing, cemented when Sumeru dove into a water tank to save her golden cat, emerging to her shining gratitude: “Thank you for saving my baby.” Classmates chanted, “Hero! Hero!” That night, her text, “Oh, hero…” lit up his phone, sparking late-night chats filled with laughter. Their love blossomed in Dharan’s vibrant streets, sharing sekuwa, stealing their first kiss under a glowing streetlamp, snapping playful photos, exchanging heartfelt gifts, and celebrating birthdays with laughter and cake. They dreamed of a future together, planning a family, naming their child Sumi and a cat Miso. But cracks formed: Miko’s ease with others stirred Sumeru’s jealousy, and their paths diverged—she a beautician, he an engineer. Sent to Humla for a week, Sumeru worked tirelessly, unaware of Miko’s growing loneliness. Returning to Dharan, he learned of his parents’ fatal car accident, collapsing in grief. His desperate calls to Miko went unanswered; scrolling TikTok, he saw her with another man. Confronting her via a friend’s phone, she admitted, “He’s my new boyfriend,” leaving Sumeru shattered, walking away in the rain. Under the banyan tree, Miko asked, “Why’s your hair so long?” Sumeru shrugged, “Just felt like it.” Her hesitant, “How’s your wife?” met his low, “I never married. My parents… died in an accident. And Sumi… she’s my adopted daughter.” Years ago, on a rainy night, Sumeru witnessed a car crash, rushing to save a family. The mother was dead, the father, Sanokaji, dying, begging, “Adopt my daughter… she has no one.” At the hospital, only Sumi survived, waking to ask for her parents. “They’re working far away,” Sumeru lied gently. “I’m your papa now.” Her name, Sumi, echoed his promise with Miko, stirring a faint smile. “Destiny, huh?” Back under the banyan tree, Miko’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I didn’t know… I’m so sorry.” Sumeru nodded, his voice soft. “It’s okay. Life moves on.” His gaze pierced her. “Why, Miko? Wasn’t my love enough?” Her face crumpled. “I was young, Sumeru. I missed you, and your silence hurt.” In her memory, during Sumeru’s Humla trip, Miko waited in her bustling salon, her phone silent. A TikTok message from Adesh, praising her beauty, sparked a smile. His daily messages filled her loneliness, leading to a vibrant market meeting where his charm and gifts captivated her. In a crowded restaurant, his public proposal swept her away, and she said yes, posting pictures online. When Sumeru called, guilt froze her; she blocked him, later admitting to his friend’s call, “He’s my boyfriend.” Collapsing in sobs, she knew she’d betrayed their love. Under the banyan tree, she confessed, “Adesh was exciting, bold. I thought that’s what I wanted. I was wrong. I lost a diamond chasing gold.” Sumeru’s eyes softened, his voice trembling. “Miko… I’m sorry. I was late, too caught up to see your pain. I doubted your love, cursed you in my heart. I stalked your social media for months, hoping to understand, even after, kept checking, kept hurting.” Miko’s tears spilled. “I did the same, Sumeru, watched you with Sumi, but guilt ate me alive.” His voice broke. “I never moved on. I live with Sumi, but in my heart, you’re my wife, even now.” Miko sobbed, “Adesh… he died years ago, a rare disease. I’ve been alone, carrying this regret.” They collapsed into each other’s arms, tears streaming, finding peace in their pain. “For the last time, we met again,” their shared thoughts echoed. “Destiny wasn’t ours, but this moment was enough.” WE mEET again they told each other . Sumeru pulled away, wiping his eyes, and approached Sumi at the school gate. Kneeling, he slung her backpack over his shoulder. “Princess, what do you want for dinner tonight?” he asked warmly. Sumi’s eyes lit up, and she began to yapp excitedly, “Oh, Papa! Maybe noodles, or momo with spicy sauce, or maybe sekuwa like last time, and can we have mango juice? Or ice cream!” Her chatter filled the air, but Sumeru’s mind drifted, lost in memories of Miko: their first kiss under a glowing streetlamp, her laughter as they snapped silly photos, the warmth of exchanging birthday gifts, her eyes sparkling as they planned a future with a child named Sumi and a cat named Miso. He smiled faintly, heart heavy with love unfulfilled. They walked hand-in-hand down a stony road, the sunset bathing Dhungey Gau’s hills in golden light, Sumi’s voice a cheerful hum. Behind them, Miko stood under the banyan tree, her bittersweet smile glistening with tears. “They’re happy,” she thought. “That’s enough.” The vast hills stretched before them, the sky ablaze with orange and pink, as sad piano and strings swelled, carrying the weight of love lost and peace found, fading to silence with the gentle rustle of wind and distant birdsong.