Page 59 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

In less than two hours, I arrived at my brother’s place. Though summer heat seared my skin, I traveled just to
meet my brother and his family.
“What a coincidence,” said my brother. “Yethrolma is home.”
I wiped the sweat from my head and stared into his face. “For summer vacation?”
“She is sick.”
“Oh, really? I think I should visit her.”
“You should, but take heed of her mom.”
“Don’t worry,” I said.
The next day, I went to Yethrolma’s house. Her mom was stacking firewood in the lumberyard in the backyard.
“Hi, Aunty?” I said.
She gasped. “Hello.”
“How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“How is Yethrolma?”
“She is a bit sick. Come in, please.”
Yethrolma was panting in her bed. The pain was visible on her pale face.
“Hi, Yethrolma,” I said. “How are you doing?”
“I am okay.” Her voice, low and warm, was as soothing as her glistening eyes. “Summer vacation?”
“Yeah.”
“Please sit,” said her mom. “I am going out for important work.”
“Thank you, Aunty,” I said. “I would attend to her till you return.” I turned to Yethrolma. “So…”
She grinned as she tried to hide the pain. “What?”
“How are you doing at your school?”
“Okay.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “How are you doing there?”
“Good,” I said. “I missed you all these years.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Really?”
“Yeah, I missed you terribly.” I looked straight into her eyes. “Not a day went by that I didn’t wish for your safe
life. Didn’t you miss me?”
She nodded. “I thought we’d never see each other again.”
“How could I forget you? You’re everything to me.”
“Then why silence all these years?”
“What? You haven’t received my letters?”
She took my hands and fiddled with my hands. “Not even one.”
“Never mind,” I said, rubbing her frail hands. “I am glad we met today.”
“Don’t leave me,” she said, blinking her tearful eyes. “Never!”
I pecked on her forehead and said, “I won’t.”
She napped in my arms until her mom returned.
“Hope you like cucumbers?” said her mom.
“Yes, Aunty,” I said, stroking Yethrolma’s sleek hair. “It’s my favorite.”
She peeled it, sliced it into pieces, and placed it before me in the steel plate. “I am going back to complete my
work. Please stay here until I return.”
“Take your time, Aunty,” I said. “I will stay with her.”
As the first hint of the evening sun creased the horizon, I said, “You are my first love. I can’t imagine living
without you.”
She snuggled into my arms and sobbed. “I am going back to school tomorrow.”
“Why tomorrow?” I asked. “You have not improved yet.”
“I have missed many classes.”
I hung my head. “You sure you wanna go tomorrow?”
She nodded.
As she slumbered on my lap, I stroked her hair till her mom returned. I laid her head on the pillow and slogged
out. Knot in my chest, I muttered, “Bye, Yethrolma. Safe Journey.”

***

Tazin was next to me in the underground gents’ toilet, peeing in the yellow-stained urinals. He was short and
quick-tempered. He looked funny when he hunched.
I slogged to the door and pointed my finger at my nose and whistled. “Tazin.”

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