Nausin Agony: A Tale of Rural to Urban Migration

Last Updated: November 27, 2023

Embark on the heart-touching story of ‘Nausin Agony,’ a poignant narrative that unfurls with the Rural to Urban Migration of the entire population from the beautiful village of Nausin, nestled in the lap of the great Himalayas, to the city. Curious to delve into this emotional journey? Let’s dive in.

The great Himalayas is touching the blue sky. Small waterfalls from the icebergs are dissolving into the river Ganga. A sheet of white clouds is covering the sky. It is uncertain to tell about whether the thunder of the clouds may turn into raindrops, or the sun may come out from them. The rustle of the waterfall and the sweet sound of birds captivate everyone. The pine trees are kissing the sky, and these are enhancing the beauty of mother earth. The fragrance of the soil is so powerful that it can alive a deceased person.

There is a beautiful wildwood village named Nausin amid these stunning mountains. The village is in between of forest. The forest is full of pine trees. Apart from it, there are many types of small and big trees and plants. Nature has been seated in the lap of this small village as the nymphs in heaven.

A few years ago, the village was full of human activities, and there were at least twenty families. Today, this village has become empty before the eyes of grandma. Even today, the house remains in its place, but humans do not appear there. Now in this village, one can only listen to the sound of trees, wild animals, and birds.

Now a single dim lamp of grandma’s house flickers in this village. The entire village shines in full moonlight. However, in the darkness of Amavasya (the day of the new moon), a dim lamp flickers in the entire village. Today in the darkness of Amavasya Even, this dim lamp is receiving power from an unknown source and lighting the whole village.

There is no other desire in the grandma’s eyes except to see people in the village. She is still confident that one day people will return, and the village will become full of festivals.

Grandma is above seventy years old. The sadness due to the migration of the village can be seen on her face. There are wrinkles on her forehead and a hump on her back, but she is so energetic that she can cover several kilometers within a few minutes. Even at this age, grandma has tied a cow in her courtyard. She says, “No cow means no calm.”

Grandma’s son Chander is a professor in Delhi. Before marriage, he used to visit the village occasionally. But since he took his wife along with him, he has reduced his visitation. Chander came to his birthplace several times to take grandma with him, but she refused to go. He had returned each time with disappointment.

Today morning, Chander came to the village with a firm resolution to return to Delhi with his mother. Seeing Chander, the old grandma could not stop her tears of happiness.

She is hovering around her son like a bumble-bee around the flowers, and he is enjoying the love and care of his mom.

Grandma – Son, you must be tired due to the long journey. Wash your hands and drink some milk.

Grandma warmed the milk and poured it into a glass. Giving milk to Chander, she said – how come? At last, you got time to meet me. I thought you had forgotten me.

Chander – Mother, I am so involved in work that I could not find time to come. Now I will go to Delhi with you. The whole village is empty, and you are alone here. So we all will live together in our new house in Delhi. 

Grandma – Dear, I have enjoyed my whole life in this beautiful village Naosin. Now, how can I leave my motherland at the last stage of my life? What is there in the city? I have a dream that you should return and take care of this house.

Chander – Mom, this village has no job, no road, no schools, and not a hospital. Even today, one has to walk four to five kilometers to get goods from a shop, and the hospital is so far that patient will die before getting treatment. It is tough to live here.

Grandma – Do not forget; this soil is your mother, and you have grown up on this soil. Today you are showing the ego of earning money by counting the shortcomings of the village. ​​​​Now you do not like the schools here. Do not forget; you have read from this school, and today you are in such a good position. Now tell me, what are the shortcomings of this school? You are looking like an elephant while only sitting and eating. Now, even in walking two steps, your breath starts to swell. These are all signs of lazy city people. See me, how strong I am, even in seventy years. I can cover four to five kilometers in just a few minutes. Chander, you are a fainthearted person and want to run away from the village’s struggle.

Chander – No one can argue with you. I do not know anything; tomorrow morning we are going to Delhi. Pack your bag and baggage.

Grandma (shouting angrily) – I will tell you about the drawbacks of the city. Do you get clean air in the city? Do you get pure drinking water? Pollution is everywhere in the city. I don’t know how people live in this dirt?  The polluted place is not suitable for me.

Chander – I do not know anything; tomorrow morning, we are going to Delhi. Tie your luggage.

Chander (teasing grandma) – You will not get clean air and pure water in the city, so tie them along with your goods so that you do not have any problem.

Grandma – I will not go at all, whatever happens.

Throughout the day, grandma and Chander were busy in little fights and hot discussions about the pros and cons of moving to Delhi.

Finally, grandma gave up and said, “Okay, I am ready to walk with you, but I too have terms. I will stay in your city home only if the atmosphere of the city will favor me. Otherwise, I will return to our village, and you will not stop me. If you accept my terms, I am ready to walk.”

Chander – Okay, mom. I accept all your terms. Once come with us.

Grandma does not want to hurt Chander, so she agreed. As the day passed, the grandma’s restlessness grew. By dusk, the sun hid behind the hills, and pitch-darkness enveloped the valley. Countless stars have appeared in the sky. The moonlight is erasing the darkness and illuminating the village.

Grandma – Food is ready Chander, come and eat hot dinner.

Chander washed his hands and mouth and reached the kitchen. Grandma served a plate to him with ragi (Koda) chapatti, chaunsa pulse, ghatwani of gahat pulse, bhatwani of bhat pulse, and jhangora-pudding (kheer). Seeing the delicious dinner, Chander jumped with joy. Without wasting a single moment, he started to eat.

Chander – What a delicious meal! I am eating such food for many years. Even today, there is magic in your hands. Mom gives me your hands; I want to kiss them.

Grandma – Your habit of tantrums has not gone away yet. Eat food with quietness.

Chander – Mother, why don’t you eat with me?

Grandmother – First, you eat; I will eat after you.

Chander – Eat with me. Otherwise, I will not eat. I am not a guest. Don’t do formalities with me.

On Chander’s repeated pleas, Grandma’s heart started to melt, and finally, she took dinner with Chander. After eating the food, Chander put the cot on the courtyard and fell asleep under the open sky by covering a sheet of moonlight. Grandma finished her works and went to sleep. Listing the sounds of animals at midnight, Chander’s woke up. Jackals were crying, bears were screaming, and the tiger was roaring. Chander trembled with fear and left the courtyard. He went inside the room to sleep. 

The world is indulging in the ocean of sleep, but Grandma’s eyes are still open. Who can imagine what is she thinking at this moment?

Today, Grandma woke up before sunrise. The rays of the sun have scattered their redness across the world. The world is chirping with the sweet sound of the cuckoo. The rustle of the trees and the cool breeze is blowing. Chander dissolved in these pleasing colors of nature. He feels as if his childhood days returned. He lost in his childhood memories – he and his friends would spend the whole day swinging in mango trees and enjoying juicy mangoes. They used to take a dip in the river all day. Chander has so engrossed in memories that he could not listen to his mom.

Grandma- Chander, where are you?

Chander – Mother, nowhere, I am admiring the beauty of the mountains. Some old memories are refreshed.

Grandma – That’s why I am saying what is in the city? Stay in the village. This beauty is not in the city.

Chander ignored grandma and said with a smile – Mom, I am ravenous. Please make some good breakfast.

Chander picked up the pitcher and walked toward the waterfall.

Grandma – Wait, I am also coming.

Grandma followed Chander. Today, Chander enjoyed the bath under the fountain with the sweet musical sound of this fountain. After filling water, they returned home. The grandma quickly served the Garhwali breakfast- Ragi (Koda) Chappati with butter. Chander again ate plenty of food.

The grandma left the cow at her relative’s house in a neighboring village. Chander packed the luggage got ready.

Now it was the time to leave the house. Grandma had to leave her abode. The grief of separation from home could be seen on her face. She looked at the house once sadly, then the entire village with moist eyes.

Till yesterday, a lamp lit in Nausin, which used to illuminate the entire village. But today, that lamp has no light. The nature in Nausin has slept, covering the sheet of darkness on Amavasya (the day of the new moon).

Works Cited

1. Attribution to the featured image for this post: Yamkasikorn, Sippakorn. Shallow Focus Photo of Person Carrying Plants . Pexels, 13 Dec. 2019, https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photo-of-person-carrying-plants-3377332/. Accessed 16 Jul. 2022.