The jeep climbed through the hills along a rough mountain road that twisted around one turn after another. The road was uneven and broken in places, making the journey slow. Snow still covered the higher peaks, bright against the sky, while the landscape kept changing with every turn. After around two hours, the jeep could go no further. The rest of the journey had to be made on foot.
A small river ran alongside the path. Sometimes it was close, sometimes it dropped below the trail and disappeared from view, only to appear again further ahead. The path was uneven underfoot, with loose stones and stretches where it narrowed along the river. It went up and down with the land, making the walk slower, but there was always something to notice along the way.
Small crabs moved between the rocks near the water and disappeared whenever anyone came close. An abandoned house stood quietly along the path, leaving behind the feeling that someone had once lived there. Women were working in the agricultural fields, carrying on with their day’s work, while children moved along the paths with goats. The landscape seemed to have its own rhythm, far removed from the world we had left behind.
After several kilometres on foot, we reached the community centre. The purpose of the visit was eye care. The discussion began around eyesight, awareness and the importance of looking after one’s eyes. As the conversation continued, people shared their experiences and questions came up. What had started as a planned programme gradually became a conversation with the community.
Eventually, the meeting ended and the return journey began. By the time the group reached the house of the host, the long walk and the day’s travel had begun to catch up with everyone. The family welcomed them and asked whether they would like to eat something.
Most of the group politely declined. One person said yes.
A short while later, a plate of hot pakodas arrived. Whatever had happened to everyone’s appetite while answering the question had clearly disappeared by then. After such a long journey, everyone was hungry. The plate was finished in no time, and the tiredness of the day suddenly seemed a little easier to bear.
Another morning. Another winding road.
This time, the destination was a different village, but the purpose was again to talk about eye care. The subject had already been decided before reaching the village. But once the conversation began, it moved in a direction that had not been expected.
Water.
For the people living there, access to water was not a secondary issue that could wait until after a conversation about eye care. It was part of everyday life. There were immediate questions that had to be dealt with every day, and water was one of them.
The discussion slowly moved away from the subject that had brought everyone there. Eye care was important, but it was not the only thing occupying people’s minds. There were other needs, other difficulties and other realities that could not simply be put aside because they were not part of the day’s programme.
We had gone there with one purpose.
The road had other plans.