Page 60 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

The redness spread down to his face as he gnashed his teeth. “You son of a bitch!” He drew his dagger and ran
straight into me.
I rushed out in time. “Help! Somebody, help me!”
As he chased after me, his razor-sharp dagger glinted under the rays of the morning sun. “What do you think I
am?”
I ran behind the academic block and back into the classroom. “Help me, guys. Tazin is after me with a knife.”
Kunzang said, “Under the table! Girls, on the table, quick!”
As girls scrambled to the table, I peered through under the table, holding my breath.
Soon Tazin peeked in through the door and said, “Where’s that smart-ass Uncle.”
“Heaven save me, please,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“He isn’t here,” said Kunzang. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s not your department, miss,” he snapped. “Mind your business.” He again rolled his eyes around the room
and traipsed away.
Kunzang was modest and helped everyone with problems. She leaned on the door and peeked out. “He is gone.”
I crawled out of the table and held my chest. “Gosh, that was close.”
“What happened?” asked Kunzang.
“Nothing. You know his temper.”
In the evening, I met Tazin in the dining hall. He threw me a coruscating grin.
“I am sorry, Tazin,” I said. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“That’s okay.” He guffawed. “Don’t you ever repeat that.”
I nodded and left.
The next time I met him, I made sure I didn’t offend him.
The Curriculum Studies lecturer, Mrs. Tashi Wangmo came to observe my lesson. Micro-teaching. She settled
down at the last bench and opened her file. “Now begin, Dorji.”
I cleared my throat. “Good morning, students.”
“Good morning, sir,” replied my mates, trying to sound like students.
The lesson went well, especially the Gaining Attention, Introduction, and Lesson Development. In Checking &
Understanding, I asked a few questions.
“Kundem, why does the water dry up?” I wore the best grin to please Mrs. Tashi. “Answer me.”
“Um, it evaporates,” she answered.
“Good,” I said. “Where does it evaporate?”
She blushed. “In the air.”
“No,” I said. “Can you guess some other answers?”
She glared at me. “You tell me, where does it evaporate?”
“Well…” I gulped. “As you said, it evaporates in the air.”
Others burst out laughing and Mrs. Tashi Wangmo noted down in her file.
“Dorji, to my office, please,” said Mrs. Tashi Wangmo.
“Oh, no!” I said, shuffling after her, “I had it now.”
In her office, she said, “Everything went well, but—”
“But Checking & Understanding was a fuss, right?” I said to myself.
“Don’t ask such questions to your students in the real classroom.” Frowns that drew across her brow
accentuated laughter she was trying to control. “Students would get confused. That’s it, otherwise, it was fine.”
In the recess, I sat beside Kundem. “That must have hurt you. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to disparage you.”
She rolled her eyes.
The institute sent us for teaching practice. We had the school of choice from Paro, Thimphu, and Chhukha. So, I
consulted Lambu about it.
“Lambu, are you going with me?” I said.
“Master told me to join him,” he said. “You can join us if you like.”
“Do you think Master would let me?”
“Why not? He said he would talk to you.”
I sighed in relief. “Oh, really?”
Master was short but handsome. He held a black belt in Taekwondo. In the afternoon, he said, “I think we
should go to Isuna Community Primary School, what do you say, guys?”
“Where is it?” I asked. “How far from here?”
“On the way to Chuzom,” he replied. “About ten miles from here.”
“How far from the road point?” I said.
“Maybe, half an hour from the bridge.”

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