Page 66 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Come with us,” he said. “We’ll put up at my brother-in-law’s place.”
Mr. Wangdila smiled. “You may come with us if you like.”
I hesitated for a moment and said, “Thank you, sir.”
“Please follow us,” said Tenzin.
Blushing, I carried my backpack after them to the taxi parking. After ten minutes, the taxi stopped at
the terminal point. From there, we walked through a dark street for five minutes.
“Should I put up with them?” I said to myself. “But where would I go?” As I traipsed after them in
silent footsteps, I looked for a means to sneak. “Oh, no! Where am I going?”
Mr. Wangdila opened the door. “Come in, please. It may not be a perfect place, but you will feel at
home.”
I crept in after Tenzin. “Oh, thank you, sir.”
A week later, I went to the Royal Institute of Health & Science to attend an interview for Health
Assistant.
“Next candidate, please,” said a female voice from inside.
I shuffled in and bowed.
The panel had five interviewers rotating on their chairs.
“Your name, please?” asked the man at the extreme left.
“Dorji Wangdi,” I replied in a poised manner.
“Where are you from?” asked the woman in the middle.
“I am from Trashigang, ma’am.”
“Trashigang?” asked the other guy next to the woman. “From the rice bowl of eastern Bhutan?”
“You are right, sir.”
The fattest man on the extreme right—who always grinned at my responses—said, “What do we call
rice in Dzongkha?”
“It’s chhum.”
“Chhum?” he said, nibbling on betel leaves. “Are you sure?”
“Um…” Butterflies tickled my stomach. “I think so.”
The woman burst out laughing as other panelists exchanged glances.
“No, no, I think it’s called Rae,” I said.
“Chhum or Rae,” said the woman.
“Um, Chhum.”
Nobody spoke for at least one minute and I squirmed in my chair with embarrassment.
“Amusing,” she said. “You are selected.”
“You may leave, please,” said the fat guy. “The result would be displayed on the notice board after one
week.”
A few days later, Tenzin left, he said, “I am going to Jigme Sherubling High School. You can stay here
as long as you like.”
“How generous of you, Tenzin,” I said, gripping his hand. “Had it not been for you, I would’ve—”
“What are friends for?” he said. “Feel at home. My brother-in-law is a good man.”
“I am ever grateful to you,” I said. “Thanks, buddy.”
I accompanied him to the bus terminal.
The next day, Mr.Wangdila returned home from his duty. He had bought some rice and vegetables that
would last for a week.
“Sir, can you keep my money with you?” I said. “I got four thousand five hundred. I might misuse
them.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he said. “Take it from me whenever you want.”
“I kept five hundred and gave him the rest.
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