Page 58 - TEARS OF SUFFERING

TEARS OF SUFFERING

6 THE PANG OF PARTING

Ugyen now grew up by degrees into a capable youth
under the provident eyes of his surrogate parents and
brother. Though Doctor, Ama and Au Lham were kind
enough to him, he thought he couldn’t live without his
brother, Samphel. But Samphel had limited time as he
had qualified for Sherubtse College. It was the only
college in Bhutan that offered the highest academic
degrees. Soon, time conspired to separate the two
intimate brothers.

Ugyen's eyes welled up with tears as he thought about the
imminent parting, even though he was an intrinsic part
of the family. “How can I live in this house in the absence
of Au?” He paced the room back and forth. “What do I
do now? Leave this place? But where would I go? Where
would I find a better place with a kind family like Apa
and Ama?”

He lived in a house like a palace with everything he
needed—most importantly parental love— and he could

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