Page 111 - TEARS OF SUFFERING
P. 111
TEARS OF SUFFERING
The surrendered militants were paroled to the Indian
government. The cadavers were flown to the Thimphu.
Samphel and his parents rushed to the crematorium
when they got the news.
Apa and Ama’s hair had turned grey. Au Lham was a
spinster, still serving them. Samphel was with his two
kids. They stood before Gopa Ugyen’s cadaver and
sobbed.
Tshoden was at the crematorium with her husband to pay
tributes to the fallen soldiers for their sacrifice. Married
to an entrepreneur, she was now a mother to a pretty
daughter. She saw Samphel standing before a cadaver.
“Why is Samphel standing there?” She went closer to
Samphel. “Hi Samphel, what brings you here?”
He pointed at the cadaver. “That’s Ugyen.”
Tshoden covered her mouth with her sleeve and shuffled
back. “Oh my god!” She stood there, watching the
cadaver.
Royal families and people from all walks of life were there
to pay their tributes. They tossed a khadar each into the
incinerating pyres. Monks recited the funeral prayers.
The religious instruments sounded mortal. Life appeared
meaningless and paltry. The bodies engulfed in the blaze
after the anointment. Soldiers triggered guns in a parade
and saluted. Everybody cried.
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