Page 65 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“A lecturer?” I said. “No way.”
“Great idea,” said Bajim. “But whom should we ask?”
“Follow me,” said Palden. “I’ll talk to them.”
We went to the lecturers’ colony. The doors were all locked. We moved to the last door.
“Oh, this door is not locked,” said Palden.
“Somebody, knock on it, please,” said Bajim.
Palden hunched to knock on the door but stopped. “You knock on it, Uncle.”
I shook my head. “You knock, Bajim.”
Bajim tiptoed and knocked on it. No response.
“Harder, Bajim,” I said.
Lop Ngawang Tenzin, with his lips red from nibbling betel leaves, craned his head out. “Yes?”
“Sorry for disturbing, sir,” said Bajim, “but it’s urgent. We need money to go home.”
“We’ll return it, Lopon,” I said.
He scrutinized our faces and said, “My wife would lend you. Wait here.”
We waited outside, beaming at each other, but he didn’t return.
“He won’t lend us,” said Palden, glancing at the door. “Let’s go.”
Disappointed, we turned away.
“Boys,” said Mr. Ngawang. “I got three thousand, but you must return, okay?”
Bajim took it. “Sure, thank you, Lopon.”
We hurried to the hostel room and shared the money. Palden and Bajim left for Thimphu right away. The same
evening, I went to Cousin Dema’s place to book the home ticket.
After the summer vacation, we collected the money and returned to Lop Ngawang Tenzin.
Soon the inter-class football tournament began. My class got through to the final. After the match, we returned
to the hostel, discussing how we should play our final. On the way, I saw our defender, Namtshe kick-starting his
Bajaj scooter.
“Wait, Namtshe,” I shouted down to him.
He removed the ignition key. “Yes?”
“Can I ride it?”
“Um, okay. Don’t go far.”
I sped along the smooth road that led to the airport. Zest surpassed my fear. At the gate, I turned back, but the
engine died. So, I kick-started again and sped up way back.
Namtshe waved at me from the roadside. “Stop, Uncle.”
I zoomed past him. At the junction, I maneuvered the curve but went straight to the wall. Screech!
“Ouch, my leg!” I limped out of the gutter and squirmed on the road.
Namtshe lifted the scooter and double-checked all the parts. “Drat, you crashed my scooter.”
“I am sorry,” I said. “I couldn’t control it.”
He kick-started the scooter and raced away.
Kelzang Tshering, another childhood friend, came running to me. “You okay, man?”
“Ouch! My right calf hurts,” I said, grimacing. “I think the muscle is torn.”
He peeked at it and said, “There is a wound.”
“Really?” I said, feeling relieved. “How big?”
“Yeah, nothing much to worry about.”
I turned back and peeked at it. A caterpillar-shaped blister appeared across the lower part of the calf. And the
lacerated skin on the front part of the shin bone throbbed. The pain was excruciating. I limped up the path to my
hostel room.
Lambu was washing his plate at the water tap. “What happened?” he asked.
“Scooter accident.”
“Scooter Accident?” he said, mouth wide open. “Where the hell you got the scooter from?”
“Namtshe’s.”
“Namtshe’s? That’s gonna hurt you a lot, buddy.”
“Just a scratch.”
“You’ll see it.”
I cleansed the wound with Dettol liquid and bandaged it. The next morning, the bandage was stuck to the dried
wound. I tried to stand up, but the shrilling pain flinched me to bed. I got up measuredly. Blood seeped out of the
bandage. I limped down the winding steps for my classes.
From the last bench, Namtshe crossed his arms and frowned at me. He let a grunt out of the corner of his
mouth.

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