Page 77 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

As always, I lagged as we climbed down the next mountain. I trudged along the serpentine course of the river.
Pebbles scrunched beneath my feet and the river made a persistent gushing sound. Crunching hit my ears from
behind, quickening the already rampant pounding of my heart. Alien and scary. I often glanced around to see if
beasts were after me.
The path soon wound its way up the hill, disappearing and reappearing among the swaths of towering trees. Way
up, the smoke rose and roofs glimmered. “A village? Would that be Choekhorling?”
A clump of tattered prayer flags surrounded a small stupa that stood below the village. The smoothened trunk of
the tallest prayer flag was inscribed with the names of the dead, in Dzongkha. The flags fluttered lugubriously in the
warm afternoon breeze.
“May their soul rest in peace!” I muttered, squinting up at the flags.
People had gathered beside a temple and the drums and cymbals made loud rhythmic sounds.
“Good afternoon, sir,” greeted a boy.
“Good afternoon,” I said, puffing. “What’s going on here?”
“A ritual, sir. Where are you headed?”
“Samdrup Jongkhar.” I leaned on my staff. “How far is SJ from here?”
“It’s a long way. You must cross two more mountains and a big river. You’ll reach Dewathang. From there,
Samdrup Jongkhar is eighteen km down.”
“Gracious heavens,” I said, wiping the beads of sweat from my neck. “Is there a water tap around here?”
“Over there behind the temple, sir. I am your student. Can’t you remember me?”
“Really? Sorry, short-term memory. What’s your name?”
“Jamyang.” He led me to the tap. “I was in Druk House.”
“Oh, really?” I scooped water from the wooden barrel and gulped it. “Bye.”
“Safe journey, sir.”
I slapped my chest to regain the coughing. “Thanks.”
Way up the hill, the three brothers were resting on a rock. As always, the two brothers scrunched up their faces.
“You shouldn’t drink water while climbing a mountain,” said the eldest. “It will exhaust you.”
I frowned at him. “How could I not drink when I am thirsty?”
The youngest pouted his lips. “Water will exhaust you.”
My heart burned with fury, as much as the sun burned my skin. “Stop badgering, would you?” I lay on the
ground until the cantankerous brothers left.
“Please don’t mind them, sir,” said Sangla. “They are only concerned about their tomorrow’s journey. Come, let’s
go. We got a long way.”
Atop the tallest mountain, the two brothers were sitting on a flat rock.
“I am hungry,” I said. “Should we have lunch?”
The two brothers pretended unheard, but Sangla replied, “We’re not hungry. You can have it.”
“Why not?” said the eldest brother. “It’s a long way, Sangla.”
Annoyed at his arrogance, I took out the lunch box from the backpack. “Please sit,” I said.
“Here, Uncle,” I said. “Take this, Sangla.”
I was not full, so I laid Parle-G biscuits on the tiffin. “Biscuits, please.”
The eldest got up. “I am full.”
“Sangla?” I said.
His teeth glittered in his open mouth as he said, “No, thanks.”
Going down was more difficult. My knees and ankles ached on the rough ground. The downward path looked
like stairs. I was cautious not to trip over the roots which had twisted along the path. At certain places, sunrays
darted through the leaves. Tree shadows fell across the short meadows. Up in the azure sky, buzzards fluttered in
the warm noon air. Except for the birds, not a soul could be seen around.
Have I gone deaf? I thought.
Trees swayed as if a giant creature hurtled towards us. Crack! My heart thumped under the chest.
“What was that?” I whispered. “Elephant?”
“I have no idea,” said Sangla. “Looks like a beast.”
As another sound cracked out, I held my chest and muttered, “Guru Rinpoche kheno!”
Further down, the path remained hidden under the overlapping bushes. Fresh dung was scattered all around.
The eldest brother whispered, “Elephants roam around.”
“You mean we are in trouble?”
“Maybe.”
My legs trembled. We had not schlepped down far when I saw a black creature hurtle towards us.
“Bear!” I blurted, flinching back.

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