Page 104 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Sir,” he said. “He’s come to ask for a transfer.”
The director smiled at me. “In the middle of the year? Why?”
“Dasho, my baby is sick,” I said. “I am taking him to his surgeon weekly. Without me, my wife can’t do
anything.”
The personal officer gave him the medical reports and the photo. “This is the photo of his baby.”
The director flipped through them and said, “Mr. Sonam, see if there’s anything you can do for him.”
We bowed and exited.
“I’ll talk to the Thromde Education Officer,” said the personal officer.
My lips parted way for an uncontrollable smile. “Thank you, sir. When should I come back?”
“Um, after one week.”
I bowed and exited his office. “Wow, there won’t be any other day as happy as today.” I looked up and closed
my eyes. “Thank you for your blessings.”
I reported to the personal officer after five days.
“You can go with this office order to the Dzongkhag Education Officer,” he said.
“I am so grateful to you for all that you have done. Now, I can attend to my baby.”
I took a taxi to the DEO’s office and knocked on the door. “Dzongkhag Education Office?”
A young woman raised her head from above the monitor. “He is on leave. Anything I can do?”
“The Ministry has sent me to talk about my placement,” I said.
“Pardon me?”
“Transfer case. I am looking for a school nearby Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital.”
“Schools under Thimphu Dzongkhag are far from Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital.”
“Oh, they are? How far is the nearest school?”
“Khasadrapchu Middle Secondary School is the nearest, I suppose. About twenty miles.”
“Twenty miles? That’s far enough.”
“Why don’t you visit it yourself?”
“Okay. Better see it to myself.”
“Yeah.”
“You should visit all the schools in Thimphu District.”
“Yeah, that’s better. Thank you, ma’am.”
The next day, Aunt Choden took us in her car to Tseluna Primary School. We drove along the rough road for
about one hour from Khatsaraphu town.
“No way, this school is much farther than Khatsaraphu Middle Secondary School,” I said.
“And we won’t get a taxi from here,” added Choki.
“We should visit Yangchen Gatshel Lower Secondary School.”
“Hope that’s near to the hospital,” said Aunt Choden.
“Where is it?” asked my mother-in-law
“It’s at Chamgang,” I said. “We must go north from Simtokha Dzong.”
The road was narrow, full of potholes. It took about half an hour to reach the top of the hill. From there, I could
see the school.
Mother-in-law crumpled her nose. “This school’s farther than Tseluna Primary School.”
I stared at the academic building partially concealed by the branches of pine trees. “What do you say, Ama?” I
said.
“It’s too far,” she said. “We should look for a school near the hospital.”
“Okay, I should approach the personal officer again.” Straight away, I went to the personal officer’s office. “Sir,
can you direct me to Thimphu Thromde, please?”
He smiled. “Why?”
“Schools under Thimphu Dzongkhag are far-off,” I said.
“I don’t think there is any seat in Thromde School. Why don’t you ask the TEO?”
The TEO was at his computer.
“Can I come in, sir?” I asked, knocking on the door.
He nodded. “How can I help you?”
“Transfer case, sir.”
“Transfer case?” He crinkled up his nose. “Teacher or supporting staff?”
“Teacher.”
“Why in the middle of the year?”
“Very urgent, sir. On health ground.”
He read the note attached to the office order. “We don’t have seats in Thromde schools.”

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