Page 132 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

The next morning, students and staff walked me to the school gate. My chest knotted as I turned back
and glanced at the school.
“Well, Mr. Pechen, do your duty well, as always.” I shook his hand. “See you in the distant future.”
“See you, and safe journey, sir,” he said.
“Thanks.” I turned to Mr. Somgyel. “You are my guide and a source of inspiration. I’ve learned a lot
from you. Thank you, sir.” I slogged past him after a warm handshake. “Thank you, Mr. Tengyel, for
assisting me with the school administration.”
He gripped my hand and shook it. “I am sorry for whatever I may have done to you.”
“Forgive me if I ever offended you. See you.” As I shook hands with the students, one after the other,
tears brimmed my eyes. “Study hard, students. Let’s pray we meet.”
Their little faces fell. Some turned away with tears, and a few knelt onto the ground. As I shuffled down
the steps, they sang:
“Majo majo, chhe tsu ghi ko zha mey
Ma… jo... chhe... tsu ghi... ko… zha… mey…”
A surge of crushing pain pierced my heart. I leaned against the tree and wiped the tears. “Gosh, wish I
could walk away.”
“Chhe tsu jo dha lu lay shom bay jo ma ray
Shu… lay… jel wai… melam… yedh...”
Their mellifluous voices resonated through the mountains. The farther I walked, the louder they sang.
So, I propelled without turning back. As I distanced from them, their voices faded away. Before I
disappeared into the dense forest, I turned back to them. They seemed like bustling ants on the hill far
away, waving their hands and shirts.
I waved both my hands. “Adieu!”
At Nganglam, Tshering Zangmo and Pema Dremey invited me for dinner. Over dinner, we conversed
about transportation.
“A friend of mine agreed to transport your things,” said Pema Dremey.
“Thanks for the arrangement,” I said.
“But we can send them after only one week. Revenue & Custom would verify them.”
“I will wait at Thimphu.”
The next day, I started my journey in a truck. I closed my eyes to relish the unimaginable blissful
moment of the rest of my life. “Phew! I am finally relieved!”

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