Page 41 - TEARS OF SUFFERING

TEARS OF SUFFERING

Samphel held him back and said, “Don’t worry about her.
She’d have done everything.”

Ugyen often glanced at the kitchen door, butterflies
lurching in his stomach. The doorbell chimed soon. Au
Lham opened it. Ama had returned from her friend’s
promotion party.

Eyes popping out, she stared at the boys. “I just can’t
believe it!” she exclaimed.

Sitting beside them, she conversed with the boys. Soon,
everybody broke into peals of laughter. Ugyen laughed,
too, amidst great hesitation. Ama often glanced at Ugyen,
and that made him fidget. It was only after Ama had left
for her room that Ugyen redeemed his composure.

Deep inside, Ugyen still held the irrational fear that the
unforeseen outcome might emerge any time—like he had
encountered at his uncle’s place—treating him well in the
beginning and persecuting him later. He trusted nobody
now, and he’d vowed not to become a victim again. He
was predetermined of one thing, should anyone in the
family maltreat him—abscond the family once and for
all.

The next morning, Samphel woke up and looked for
Ugyen. He jumped out of the bed and rushed to the living
room when he didn’t find Ugyen. To his respite, Ugyen
was in the kitchen, helping Au Lham.

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