Page 53 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

A week later, I went to the Royal Institute of Health & Science to attend an interview for Health Assistant.
“Next candidate, please,” said a female voice from inside.
I shuffled in and bowed.
The panel had five interviewers rotating on their chairs.
“Your name, please?” asked the man at the extreme left.
“Dorji Wangdi,” I replied in a poised manner.
“Where are you from?” asked the woman in the middle.
“I am from Trashigang, ma’am.”
“Trashigang?” asked the other guy next to the woman. “From the rice bowl of eastern Bhutan?”
“You are right, sir.”
The fattest man on the extreme right—who always grinned at my responses—said, “What do we call rice in
Dzongkha?”
“It’s chhum.”
“Chhum?” he said, nibbling on betel leaves. “Are you sure?”
“Um…” Butterflies tickled my stomach. “I think so.”
The woman burst out laughing as other panelists exchanged glances.
“No, no, I think it’s called Rae,” I said.
“Chhum or Rae,” said the woman.
“Um, Chhum.”
Nobody spoke for at least one minute and I squirmed in my chair with embarrassment.
“Amusing,” she said. “You are selected.”
“You may leave, please,” said the fat guy. “The result would be displayed on the notice board after one week.”
A few days later, Tenzin left, he said, “I am going to Jigme Sherubling High School. You can stay here as long as
you like.”
“How generous of you, Tenzin,” I said, gripping his hand. “Had it not been for you, I would’ve—”
“What are friends for?” he said. “Feel at home. My brother-in-law is a good man.”
“I am ever grateful to you,” I said. “Thanks, buddy.”
I accompanied him to the bus terminal.
The next day, Mr.Wangdila returned home from his duty. He had bought some rice and vegetables that would
last for a week.
“Sir, can you keep my money with you?” I said. “I got four thousand five hundred. I might misuse them.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he said. “Take it from me whenever you want.”
“I kept five hundred and gave him the rest.
Two weeks later, I went to Lobesa to attend an interview at the Natural Resource Training Institute, but I caught
a nasty cough. There, Rinzin adjusted me in his hostel room. He was my senior at Mongar High School. In mid-
classes, he would come to see me.
“You okay, man?” he said.
“I still got a high fever,” I said.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll get you hot water.”
“And some paracetamol, please.”
He returned with paracetamol and a mug of hot water. “Just one paracetamol, please.”
But the cough didn’t subside, so I missed the interview.
I shook Rinzin’s hand. “Thank you, buddy, for everything you have done for me. I am never gonna forget this.”
“Please don’t mention,” he said, shaking my hand. “Take care and all the best with your interviews.”
“Thanks.”
My host, Wangdila wasn’t at home. His immediate neighbor gave me the key. There were a few pieces of
shriveled chilies and onions in the kitchen. I bought a few kilos of rice and scrimped on one meal for the rest of the
days. Soon, the kitchen ran out of stock. So, I went to Cousin Dema’s place for lunch every day.
One afternoon, I went to Yangchenphug High School football ground. A friendly match was going on.
A man wobbled up the path and said, “You are a goalie, aren’t you?”
I let out an involuntary gasp of surprise. “How’d you know that?”
“Who wouldn’t know you?” he replied. “We played many games before as opponents.”
“Oh, really? You’re—”
“I am Leewang,” he said. “Can you play in our team, please?”
“But you have a set of players.”
“We don’t have a goalie.”
“But you have a goalie.”

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