Page 102 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

I lit the biggest butter lamp on the altar and stood in supplication as tears welled up in my eyes. “Ken-cho-suma,
bless my baby, please. Only you can save him, please.”
I prostrated and slogged out to circumambulate the temple. Rain drenched me to the skin, but I continued until
Sonam Lhazin returned from her house.
“My mom invites you for tea. Come, please.”
“Thank you, but I am getting late for school.”
“Please, sir,” she said, glancing at my face. “Don’t worry, your baby will be fine.”
“Thanks for your concern.” I slogged after her, wiping the tears with the sleeve. “I hope so.”
“Please come,” said her mom, and served me tea. “I am sorry about your baby. What happened to him?”
“It’s the intestine, Aunty. He can’t poop.”
She clucked her tongue. “How is the baby now?”
“He is in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital. He will be operated on at 8:30 am today.”
After a long conversation, I plodded down to my place. Sonam Lhazin came out and watched me. “My sincere
prayers for the baby, sir.”
I turned back and waved. “Oh, thank you, Sonam.”
After school, I went to Yangmalashing to phone Choki. My hands shook as I dialed her number. I took a long
breath.
“Hello?” said Choki.
“How is the baby?”
“He is okay. The operation went well.”
I sighed a deep relief. “What was the case?”
“Rectum prolapse.”
“Any discharge plan?”
“Dr. John said after one week.”
“Thanks, heaven. Sorry I couldn’t make this time too. The summer vacation isn’t far now.”
“Are you coming?”
“I am coming. Take care of the baby. It’s getting dark. I must go back now.”
Soon after the last exam was over, I left for Nganglam. There I phoned Choki. “I am coming tomorrow.”
“Okay. Travel safely.”
The next day, we arrived at Phuentsholing early. So, I took a taxi to Paro, and as soon as I alighted from the taxi,
I scurried to Aunt Choden’s house.
My mother-in-law was rocking a chubby baby in her arms, outside. Its hair was long and chick. I smiled but
couldn’t ask whose baby it was.
“Direct from Nganglam?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “Where’s Choki?”
“In the kitchen.”
I sneaked in and whispered into her eyes. “Doing dishes?”
She turned back but didn’t smile. “What took you so long?”
“I took so long? I am coming straight from Nganglam,” I said, glancing at her overweight body. “You’ve gained
so much weight.”
“So what?”
“You look like a sumo wrestler.”
She gawked.
She was slim the last time I saw her. I couldn’t control it. So, I chortled, glancing at her plump body.
“Are you not happy with my body now?”
“Sorry. Just that I am a bit surprised. Ha…ha…ha… Aunt Choden has fed you like a swine.”
She chortled.
“Where’s the baby?” I asked.
“You mean Rinchen?”
“Rinchen?”
“Our baby. I told you over the phone, remember?”
“Oh, you did?” I scratched my head and grinned. “Oh, yes! You did.”
“Rinchen Zangpo. Khyentse Rinpoche named him.”
“Oh, really? It’s a beautiful name. Where’s he?”
“With Mom, outside.”
Eyes popping out, I said, “But that baby has long hair and—”
“That’s Rinchen Zangpo, our baby.”

102