Kalpana’s move to Kathmandu ^{CEFR B2}

This account, published as part of a Suburban Tales column by Pratibha Tuladhar, follows Kalpana, a young woman who left a rural town to live in Kathmandu after marriage. Before moving she practised beauty skills—threading eyebrows, waxing and facials—because friends said those skills would work well in the city and might help if she went abroad.

She now works at a beauty parlour from 10–5 every day. The job paid little but the owner promised tips and Kalpana was able to save 3,000 rupees a month after expenses. She had expected social time with other women and cheap street food, such as buff momo for 150 rupees (USD 1.13) or WaiWai with channa for 60 rupees (45 US cents). Commuting is a strain: crowded, sometimes humiliating bus rides cost her about NPR 5,000 (USD 38) monthly, and she often closes her eyes until the conductor calls “Balaju!”

Within weeks the parlour changed. Business slowed and the owner talked of selling or reinventing the place. She kept it open, added a sign saying “massage,” and converted facial beds into massage tables. The owner trained the three women, including Kalpana, in new techniques, and Kalpana sometimes worked with male clients. When a man requested an inappropriate service she left the room and called Didi, who said some clients are hard to please and replaced her.

Kalpana’s feelings are mixed. She worries about how her husband would react—he still believes she works only in a parlour—and she says, “He might kill me if he knows I’ve been working as a masseuse also. Marnu huncha.” She would leave for another job if possible, even to work as a housemaid, but for now her next steps are uncertain and tied to money and safety.