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| Wife number 25 brings contentment | Wife number 25 brings contentment |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| After 24 failed marriages, a 49-year-old porter in eastern Nepal says that he has finally found happiness in his latest union. | After 24 failed marriages, a 49-year-old porter in eastern Nepal says that he has finally found happiness in his latest union. |
| The simple reason is that the landless labourer's latest marriage seems to be working out, unlike the previous ones. | The simple reason is that the landless labourer's latest marriage seems to be working out, unlike the previous ones. |
| Ramchandra Katuwal, of Khandbari municipality in Sankhuwasava, and his wife recently celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary. | Ramchandra Katuwal, of Khandbari municipality in Sankhuwasava, and his wife recently celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary. |
| He say that his marriage to Sharada has been a "journey of happiness". | He say that his marriage to Sharada has been a "journey of happiness". |
| Disastrous marriage | Disastrous marriage |
| And for Mr Katuwal, the trek before his latest journey was paved with pitfalls and potholes. | And for Mr Katuwal, the trek before his latest journey was paved with pitfalls and potholes. |
| He first got married when aged 26 at his home about 600km (373 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu. | He first got married when aged 26 at his home about 600km (373 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu. |
| From then onwards his life veered from one disastrous marriage to another. | From then onwards his life veered from one disastrous marriage to another. |
| A house is not a house without a wife Ramchandra Katuwal | A house is not a house without a wife Ramchandra Katuwal |
| His first wife set a precedent followed by many of her successors: she eloped with her lover. | His first wife set a precedent followed by many of her successors: she eloped with her lover. |
| "My second wife also ran away," he said, "and the third one too. | "My second wife also ran away," he said, "and the third one too. |
| From the succession of wives who came and went over a 16-year period, Mr Katuwal says that he can only remember nine of them clearly. | From the succession of wives who came and went over a 16-year period, Mr Katuwal says that he can only remember nine of them clearly. |
| "(Like other ex-wives) the 24th one also ran away. And I decided not to marry again," he said. | "(Like other ex-wives) the 24th one also ran away. And I decided not to marry again," he said. |
| But his resolve did not last and he wed 23-year-old Sharada seven years ago. | But his resolve did not last and he wed 23-year-old Sharada seven years ago. |
| Mr Katuwal says that he is now so happy he has vowed not to marry again. Instead, he wants to focus on his children's education. | |
| They go to a nearby primary school, one of them on a Belgian-funded scholarship. | They go to a nearby primary school, one of them on a Belgian-funded scholarship. |
| Slim, sturdy-looking and wrinkled, Mr Katuwal struggles to make ends meet. | Slim, sturdy-looking and wrinkled, Mr Katuwal struggles to make ends meet. |
| Even his small thatched-roofed house is built on a government-owned land. He says that the constant battle against poverty could well be why so many of his wives left him. | Even his small thatched-roofed house is built on a government-owned land. He says that the constant battle against poverty could well be why so many of his wives left him. |
| Mr Katuwal's work as a porter is a tough job for low pay. | Mr Katuwal's work as a porter is a tough job for low pay. |
| Porters in the Himalayan country are renowned for their strength - often carrying loads of more than 45kg for many miles in the mountainous terrain. | Porters in the Himalayan country are renowned for their strength - often carrying loads of more than 45kg for many miles in the mountainous terrain. |
| So despite the repeated failures, why did he decide to marry again? | So despite the repeated failures, why did he decide to marry again? |
| "I wanted to have a wife, because a house is not house without a wife," he said. | "I wanted to have a wife, because a house is not house without a wife," he said. |