Page 38 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

Bu nga dhoe yi mashey ga
Bu nga dheo yi mashey ga.”

I remembered my dad again. I had not moved from him that far before. Wiping tears off my cold
cheeks, I joined them:

“Lay melam thro dhi yoed ba chin
Lha Pelela lu zom gai may
Lha Pelela lu zom gai may.”

Hours later, a few girls were harvesting buckwheat at the roadsides. The white headscarves and the
intricate yathra (woolen) jacket gave them the look of a model on a YEEWONG cover.

“Bom...Bom….
Chowa mindhu mey
Bu nga yang gawai nim chi sharni yoe
Ho…ho, burga yang gawai nim chi sharni yoe.”

As we clapped and sang louder, they waved at us.

“Waiiiiii…Toyota gari lek rung rang
Numkhor tang ni melek bay
Taxi rokho en rung rang
Numkhor tang ni sem lek bay.”

Lhabchu, continued:

“Bum bum bum…….”

The song ebbed as we traversed further. At the fall of the dusk, we arrived at Trongsa town. Coach
took us to a lodge below the road.
Early the next morning, we resumed the remaining journey. It was worse though we arrived at
Thimphu before the dusk. Coach took us to Yangchenphug High School.
The school caretaker showed us the multi-purpose hall. “Make yourself comfortable, boys. If you need
anything, tell me.”
“Thank you,” we said.
“Boys, I want you to stick around here,” said Coach. “Is that understood?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Captain, take care of the boys. You are accountable for that.”
“Yes, Coach,” said the captain.
Soon after Coach left, the captain said, “Where would be the kitchen?”
“Up there,” said Jambay.
“Friends, carry the stuff to the kitchen,” said the captain.
The cook had started the fire. He was busy chopping vegetables. “Which school, boys?” he asked.
“Mongar High School,” I said.
“Use that oven,” he said. “It’s vacant.”

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