Itahari, Oct. 26 -- year-old Manju Sardar returned home to Itahari after two years of working as a domestic helper in Kuwait, she was full of plans. She had finally managed to get two months of leave and flown home at the end of August.

Trips around town with her husband and daughters, the first Dashain she would celebrate at home in two years, decorating their newly built house with lights for Tihar, making rangoli to welcome Goddess Laxmi and whatnot.

At the centre of all those plans was one simple wish: to spend time together as a family of four, whole and happy under one roof. But those plans ended abruptly on September 9, when her husband, Mohan, was shot during the Gen Z protest in Itahari.

"I had come home with so much happiness...