If you were to take a walk around Patan Durbar Square in the morning, you may stumble upon a middle-aged woman pushing a wheelcart brimming with badaam. A mother-of-three, Goma Bashyal, has been selling peanuts from her mobile shop for nearly two decades.

Much water has flown under the bridge since Goma Bashyal came to Kathmandu in 1997, from her hometown Beshishahar, in Dhading. But her profession is still intact. Although currently vending roasted peanuts, she also sells popcorn, cucumber, watermelon and papaya depending on the season.

After sending her children to school, Bashyal sets out with her cart at 10 in the morning. Her usual destinations are Lagankhel, Mangalbazar, and sometimes even as far as Gwarko. Once dusk falls, she directs her cart homewards to eagerly waiting children and husband. With her long working hours, her husband usually prepares the supper at night. “He is decent in the kitchen,” she says, her smile belying the truth.

Bashyal bags Rs 3,000 to 15,000 a day, yet, her profession is no cake walk. She is often harassed by the Municipal Police, with whom she is often playing cat and mouse. When caught, she sometimes has her wares confiscated.

This photo story is a portraiture of the joys and sorrows of Bashyal, and many like her, who, despite difficult circumstances, have managed to carve a niche for themselves in this crowded Kathmandu metropolis.

Text And Photos: Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi