Page 14 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Why?”
“No idea, but he tortures everyone at home,” he said. “Wish he dies soon.”
“Don’t curse your dad, Shyam,” I said. “Life is ephemeral.”
“Seriously,” he said. “I abhor him.”
“How could you say that?” I said. “You will regret it, buddy.”
His glowering eyes showed no regret. “I won’t.”
I shook my head for his obscene behavior.

***

Mongar town was a beehive of activity. People paced around the street, looking for fresh vegetables. Feeling
bored, I stalked down to the gate. The majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance brought peace to my mind.
As the breeze ruffled my hair, weirdness crept up on me. “Oops, this life sucks.” I turned back for home, but
something in a heap of garbage, below the road, caught my attention. I traipsed closer and squinted at it. “A ten-
ngultrum note?” I pulled it out and held up against the sun rays. “Wow, today is my day.” I grinned and dusted it.
“What is that?” asked Jaga from behind.
I hid the note behind my back and stepped back. “Nothing.”
“Something is in your hand,” he said. “Show me or else...”
“It’s just a—”
“A note?” He said, pouting his lips. “How much?”
“Ten.”
“Ten?” he said and scurried away. “Wait right here.”
But I would not wait for something not good. So I ran home and latched the door and peeped through the
window to see if Jaga was following me. He lived next door. Callous and shrewd by blood, he interfered with others
in their affairs.
Heart thudding in my chest, I leaned against the door and peeped through the interstice. “Only if he doesn’t take
my money.”
But he knocked on the door. “Hey buddy, open the door.”
When I didn’t respond, he shouted through the interstice. “I said open the door!”
“No way,” I said. “Why should I?”
“If you don’t,” he said, “you will face a vile ramification.”
“Why must I? I have done nothing wrong.”
“Disco wants the money,” he said. “And you know who he is.”
Boys in the town feared Disco. A real devil. He abused us for defying his orders.
“Who?” I said. “Why does he want my money?”
“I don’t know.” His voice vibrated through the interstice. “He just wants the money.”
“But I found it in the garbage,” I said. “Why are you doing this, buddy?”
“Do as I say if you don’t want trouble.”
Just as I opened the door, he surged in and prowled around. “Where’s the money?”
“That’s my money.”
His covetous eyes glowered under his bushy eyebrows as he chortled. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I won’t give it.”
“Then I must relay this to Disco,” he said.
“As you wish.”
He stormed out and slammed the door behind and returned half an hour later. “You sure you don’t want to
surrender the money, buddy?”
“I won’t,” I said. “Never.”
“Then you’re in trouble.”
I shot him a steady glare. “Whatever.” I peeped through the window as he stomped down the road.
But he returned. “Why don’t you surrender it, buddy? See, you would be scot-free.”
“I am always scot-free,” I said, glaring at him for his persistent intrusion. “Drat, why don’t you stay out of this
bloody business?” A surge of disgust overwhelmed me.
“I warn you,” he said. “Disco won’t spare you.”
“I don’t care.”
“You would soon face the consequences,” he said. “Wait and see.”
“Go to hell.”
He stomped away. “You’re dead meat.”

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