Nepal, April 4 -- As soon as I got off the bus, Seetamma used to be right there in front of me. She sold sunflower seeds and ber fritters. I don't know how much money she actually made from it, but every morning, without fail, she would arrive at the bus stop. She knew everything-who was coming to the village, who was leaving, which house had visitors, and who had traveled to which place for what purpose.

Four years ago, she used to set up her cart right here. But after a new bus stand was built in the village, Seetamma's cart disappeared. She never took money from me. In fact, not just from me-if anyone was hungry, she would give them whatever she had, whether it was ber fruits or sunflower seeds. Seetamma never sold just one kind of it...