There is a beautiful village named Swarnalok, a place that never lacks people who dream of seeing the world. Some believe their village itself is their entire world, while others long to step beyond and witness the vastness outside.
Under the warm, gentle sunlight, there lived a small family—father Kumar Khadka, mother Maya Khadka, son Shiva Khadka, daughter Swarna Khadka, and their grandfather. Each of them carried different dreams and desires within their hearts. Some wished to stay close to their family forever, some dreamed of becoming doctors, and others wanted to explore the world beyond their village.
It was the month of Ashar. The schools were closed, and everyone in the village was busy planting rice. Sixteen-year-old Swarna, however, was captivated by the beauty of her village. She would hum sweet melodies in her soft voice while wandering around, observing different corners of the village. As she walked, her eyes often drifted toward the hills in the distance, imagining what lay beyond.
She had noticed that some foreign tourists occasionally passed by near the hills. Curious and fascinated, she wondered about them. After a long time, when tourists finally arrived in the village, she felt both surprised and happy. Gradually, a desire grew within her—to get closer to them, to understand them.
One day, driven by curiosity, Swarna quietly followed the path toward the hills. She reached a place where tourists had gathered. What she saw there left her astonished. But back at home, worry had begun to grow.
Her father, Kumar Khadka, returned tired from the fields. Seeing that Swarna had not come back from fetching water as usual, he became anxious. The family had no idea where she was. As hours passed without any news, their worry deepened. Kumar hurried out, asking villagers if anyone had seen her, but no one could say where Swarna had gone.
The night grew darker. Fear and helplessness filled the air. With no other choice, Kumar decided to search near the hills. Soon, other family members and villagers joined him, carrying the weight of concern in their hearts.
Meanwhile, Swarna had reached the place where the tourists were. They spoke to her gently, asking about her and her family. Though nervous at first, she listened carefully and began to understand them. They told her about the world beyond her village, about distant lands and new experiences.
Back in the village, Kumar and the others followed the path toward the hills. Despite their search, they found no trace of Swarna. It was already early morning, around seven. Exhausted and heartbroken, they began to lose hope and prepared to return home.
Just then, a sweet, familiar melody reached their ears.
It was Swarna's voice.
Her gentle song echoed through the hills, filling their hearts with sudden relief. Overwhelmed, they paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, then hurried toward the sound. Soon, they reached the place where she was.
The moment Swarna saw her family, she ran toward them with joy and emotion. Tears filled her eyes as she embraced them tightly. The family held her close, their worries melting away.
Around them stood many unfamiliar faces. At first, Kumar feared the worst—that his daughter had been taken away. But soon, he realized the truth.
They were not kidnappers—they were foreign tourists visiting Nepal.
Among them was a helpful tourist guide who explained everything. He reassured Kumar that Swarna was safe and had simply wandered there out of curiosity. Swarna, too, told her family how she had lost her way and how these kind people had helped her.After spending some time together, everyone shared stories and laughter. As the moment of farewell arrived, they decided to return to their own paths. Before leaving, everyone praised Swarna's voice, admiring its sweetness and saying she had the potential to become a great singer in the future. Hearing this filled the Khadka family with joy, and they returned home with pride and happiness.For a moment, the fear turned into gratitude, and the Swarna's family felt warm again with the return of their beloved Swarna.
After reaching home, Swarna's father gently advised her not to go anywhere without informing the family and to focus on her studies and homework at home. With that, he returned to his work, and others also resumed their daily responsibilities.
As evening approached, the entire family returned from the fields. Swarna's mother, Maya, was busy preparing dinner for everyone, and Swarna lovingly helped her, sharing small tasks and supporting her with care.