Page 80 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“How long does it take on foot?”
“It took me all day. Started at 5:00 am from there.”
“Oops,” he said. “That’s far.”
“Terrible journey, la. It’s my first time.”
Two miles ahead, my travel mates waved at the truck.
“There they are,” I said. “My travel mates.”
“Your travel mates?”
“Yes. Let’s take them, please.”
“But why are you not with them?”
“I couldn’t pace up with them.”
He clucked his tongue. “Really?”
“Give them a lift, please.”
The eldest waved as we reached near them. “Samdrup Jongkhar, please.”
The driver didn’t stop.
“Why not?”
He didn’t respond.
So, I craned out and waved at them. “Take your time, guys.”
We arrived at Samdrup Jongkhar before the fall of the dusk.
“Where’re you getting down, young man?” asked the driver.
I peered out and saw the RICB colony. “Here,” I said. “How much is the fare?”
“No need,” he said. “Assume it is a lift.”
“Oh, thanks for the lift.”
He nodded and drove away.
I trudged to my brother-in-law’s place. Even after a tiring day, I had a troubled sleep. “Where will I manage
money from? Five hundred ngultrums is not enough for a taxi.”
The next day, I went to the District Education Officer. “I need your help, sir.”
He removed his reading glasses. “What kind of help?”
“I need money to go home. My granny has passed away.”
“Um, how much?”
“Fifteen thousand, sir.”
“Take five thousand.” He drew out a bale of notes from his table. “Return it later.”
Right away, I went to the Bhutan National Bank Limited office, next to the RICB colony.
“How can I help you, sir?” said a young man at the counter.
I stretched out my long, lean-fingered hands to him for a handshake. “I am looking for a means to apply for a
loan. Available?”
“What type of loan? Vehicle Loan or Consumer Loan?”
“Which one is better?”
“Vehicle Loan is for cars and Consumer Loan is for your personal use.”
“Um, which has the lowest interest rate?”
“Consumer Loan.”
“I think I should apply for a Consumer Loan.” After filling in the form, I asked, “When would I get it?”
He skimmed the form. “Thirty thousand wouldn’t take time, but headquarters must approve it. So, it would take
at least a week.”
“That’s a lengthy process. Anyway, thanks.”
The next day, I traveled on the Bhutan Post coaster bus Mrs. Pema Yangdon had booked for me. She was my
brother-in-law’s wife, working at the Bhutan Post Office at Samdrup Jongkhar. We arrived at Trashing in the
evening. From there, I reserved a taxi for my village.
I could see my village from a distance. It looked macabre.
“Can you see your house?” asked Ata Norbu, a local cabbie from my village.
I peered through the windshield and shook my head. “Show me, please.”
“Over there. The one with smoke rising over the roof.”
Tears swelled my eyes. “Yes.”
My younger brother, Phub Dorji was waiting for me at the road point. He was squatting, with his chin on his
palms. Just as he saw me, his eyes glittered with tears. “She passed away, Ata!”
I embraced him. “Sorry, I couldn’t come to see her last winter.”
He wiped the tears and carried the vegetable carton. “Let’s go home.”
Grandpa tried to sit up in his bed. “Is that you, Dorji?”

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