Page 30 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Bum bum bum…….”

The song ebbed as we traversed further. At the fall of the dusk, we arrived at Trongsa town. Coach took us to a
lodge below the road.
Early the next morning, we resumed the remaining journey. It was worse though we arrived at Thimphu before
the dusk. Coach took us to Yangchenphug High School.
The school caretaker showed us the multi-purpose hall. “Make yourself comfortable, boys. If you need anything,
tell me.”
“Thank you,” we said.
“Boys, I want you to stick around here,” said Coach. “Is that understood?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Captain, take care of the boys. You are accountable for that.”
“Yes, Coach,” said the captain.
Soon after Coach left, the captain said, “Where would be the kitchen?”
“Up there,” said Jambay.
“Friends, carry the stuff to the kitchen,” said the captain.
The cook had started the fire. He was busy chopping vegetables. “Which school, boys?” he asked.
“Mongar High School,” I said.
“Use that oven,” he said. “It’s vacant.”
Dinner was served at 8:00 pm. The potatoes tasted bitter and saltless. Even the rice was half-cooked, but nobody
complained. I gobbled up, for hunger gave me the taste and relish.
The next day, Coach took us into town.
“Uncle, this is Lungtenzampa,” said Baggio. “It’s a long bridge, isn’t it?”
I glanced over the stretch and arched my eyebrows in pretense. “Yeah.”
“And you won’t believe how big the town is,” he said.
“Really? How big is the Thimphu town?”
“See it to yourself.”
More than the bridge and the buildings, I was concerned about where I was stepping. Back then, there was a
rumor that the ruthless gangs would dash and bash innocent people.
Coach turned back and whispered, “Don’t even try to quarrel with anyone, okay?”
“Yes, Coach,” we whispered back.
I paced faster to keep up with my friends whenever cocky boys approached.
People had told me that the clock tower was towering, but it didn’t surprise me. Maybe, I had overestimated its
size.
We walked downtown and to the Lugar Theatre. The thunderous sound boomed out from inside the hall,
piercing my ears.
I had not watched a movie in the theatre before. So, I grinned at Baggio. “How much would a ticket cost?”
Baggio shrugged. “Maybe thirty.”
“It’s fifty,” corrected Lhabchu. “Do you think we should watch a movie?”
I whispered, “Maybe.”
“Boys, let’s go to Changlingmethang,” said Coach. “Our match is the day after tomorrow. So, we must see the
pitch.”
“Yes, Coach,” we said and plodded after him down the aisles, and to the football pitch.
Back then, we could enter the gate even at night.
“Gosh, it’s huge,” I said. “Full of sand.”
“Yeah,” said Baggio. “We played last year. It’s hard to play in the sand.”
“Don’t worry, boys,” said Coach. “We will do our best.”
After dinner, the captain whispered to us, “Let’s go for a night show.”
“Night show?” I said. “You mean a movie?”
He looked around and said, “Let’s go.”
“But Coach told us not to go anywhere,” I said.
“Who cares?” he said. “He is not with us tonight.”
Everyone changed their dresses, so I put on my faded jeans. In the theater, people whistled and clapped. I felt
dizzy as illumination from the projector hit the screen.

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