Page 99 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

I didn’t answer.
They shouted in turns. “Are you coming, sir? Hello?”
“You may go. Don’t worry about me.”
After a good rest, I climbed to the top of the hill. “Oops, finally.” It was like I was on the top of Mount
Everest.
The path took me to a village. The road stretched through the Reeshor village and down to the coal
mine at the bottom of the village. I hobbled along the road. Soon a truck rumbled up from behind.
I waved at it. “Samdrup Jongkhar, please!”
The truck stopped, and the driver gestured to me to clamber.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Where’d you come from?”
“Nganglam.”
“How long does it take on foot?”
“It took me all day. Started at 5:00 am from there.”
“Oops,” he said. “That’s far.”
“Terrible journey, la. It’s my first time.”
Two miles ahead, my travel mates waved at the truck.
“There they are,” I said. “My travel mates.”
“Your travel mates?”
“Yes. Let’s take them, please.”
“But why are you not with them?”
“I couldn’t pace up with them.”
He clucked his tongue. “Really?”
“Give them a lift, please.”
The eldest waved as we reached near them. “Samdrup Jongkhar, please.”
The driver didn’t stop.
“Why not?”
He didn’t respond.
So, I craned out and waved at them. “Take your time, guys.”
We arrived at Samdrup Jongkhar before the fall of the dusk.
“Where’re you getting down, young man?” asked the driver.
I peered out and saw the RICB colony. “Here,” I said. “How much is the fare?”
“No need,” he said. “Assume it is a lift.”
“Oh, thanks for the lift.”
He nodded and drove away.
I trudged to my brother-in-law’s place. Even after a tiring day, I had a troubled sleep. “Where will I
manage money from? Five hundred ngultrums is not enough for a taxi.”
The next day, I went to the District Education Officer. “I need your help, sir.”
He removed his reading glasses. “What kind of help?”
“I need money to go home. My granny has passed away.”
“Um, how much?”
“Fifteen thousand, sir.”
“Take five thousand.” He drew out a bale of notes from his table. “Return it later.”
Right away, I went to the Bhutan National Bank Limited office, next to the RICB colony.
“How can I help you, sir?” said a young man at the counter.
I stretched out my long, lean-fingered hands to him for a handshake. “I am looking for a means to
apply for a loan. Available?”
99