Page 51 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

Jigwang chortled. “You mean Epilepsy?”
I nodded, still panting. Gazing at the ceiling, I wondered how I narrowly escaped from great trouble.
“Had dinner?” asked Baggio.
“No,” I replied.
I could hear disrupting clamor from the other room.
“What’s the matter with them?” I said.
“YHS,” said Jigwang.
“What happened to them?”
Baggio lay down and softened the pillow. “Drunk. Go to sleep or another trouble for you.”
“Phuentsholing has got to be crazy,” I said.
Jigwang giggled from under his blanket.
The next morning, Yangchenphug High School and Motithang High School boarded their buses. The final was
in the afternoon. We shook hands with Dagana High School and entered the pitch. It didn’t seem like a final match.
The score was three each in the first half and we ran into extra time, and then to the penalty shots. We scored,
and they scored, too.
“All the best.” I high-fived their goalie and stood on the goal line.
“Goalie,” said Coach and showed me a thumbs-up sign. “All the best.”
“Uncle,” said Baggio and signaled me to dive to the left.
The ball hit the crossbar and deflected. I slapped Dagana High School goalie another high-five. Baggio took the
last penalty shootout. He kicked the ball to the right side of the post and it went straight into the net. The referee
blew the whistle. The stadium erupted into a cacophony of cheers.
I gave a massive bear hug to the Dagana High School goalie. “It was nice playing with you. We all won.”
He hugged me too. “Thanks, goalie.”
After the prize award, Dagana High School left. It was a heart-touching farewell.
“All aboard,” said Coach. “We’re driving into the town.”
We waved our flag. “Pelden Drukpa, Gyalo! Mongar High School, hip, hip, hooray!”
As a stunning girl watched us from the roadside, I sang to her:

“Afi bum dhi ngalu tadhe nu,
Mata mata nga ngo tshao me
Chhe gi bay zha tawda lu
Chhe lu ken chi yeod rang dra.”

Others chorused:

“Chhegi bayzha tawda lu
Chhe lu ken chi yeod rang dra.”

She grinned and waved back. After a round, Mr. Tashi pulled over the bus beside a cafeteria.
Coach got up and said, “Boys, let’s have tea.”
After tea, we returned to our room for dinner.
The next morning, we boarded the bus. As Mr. Tashi hauled our luggage to the roof, we clapped and sang.
“Okay, boys,” said Coach, rolling up his sleeves. “Nga nimchi thromkha jodha, ready?”
“Yes, Coach,” we said, clearing our throats.
He nodded his head. “One… two… three…”
We began:
“Nga nimchi tromkhar joda
Nge nye ndro nyim dang chhed chi
Nga gayi gayi molu tau dha
Mo gi dong pha gi di ya si….
Ma ga rung tsu lok ta na
Nga chhelu raychi ma zo.”

As the bus moved, we waved to the cooks. “Thank you all!”

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