Nepal, Feb. 17 -- Even though the whole day, a midsummer day, had been swelteringly hot, the atmosphere drastically cooled off as the fat old sun began to set. The gentle breeze teased the flower buds and the branches of the trees were thrown into a sudden oscillation. My hair, too, was swaying with it.

It was quiet and I was coming home from my college. Precisely 5:15 pm on the clock. After I got past the area where there used to be a lot of trees, I had to cross the main road before I would get home. Usually, there would be a crowd of people on one edge of the zebra crossing. I used to cross the road without much thought, without looking at anybody. Who and for what would anyone care to look at people who are just strangers anyway?

Bu...