It has been a full moon night the other day, the beginning of the Annual Cultural nite which was held every November for three successive nights at the college auditorium. Like the other night the cool unforgiving luminescence from the waning moon washed the Punakha valley unobstructed from the starry sky.
Tonight, the shadowy figures could be seen all around the campus: some boys sneaking down the road to the market; some staggering up the road till they reached at the parking area from where a pebbled path bifurcated towards the hall and other towards the dormitory. It is definite to any observers that outsiders have no reason to wait and ponder which way to take unless they were college boys returning after a relishing visit to Kelden Bar beyond the gate. It would not be a welcoming display if the warden shone his1980s Eveready torch on everyone coming up the road and moreover he would have missed a great deal of amusement in the hall too.
A thunderous clap and an outburst of applause reverberated at intervals from the hall. Even the shrill whistling was not withheld as if to proclaim one’s audacity of the authorities’ presence. May be the solo by Ugyen Gyeltshen was quite exemplary, may be the skit by Taag House was a good comedy or the dancers were at the best showdown. Everyone must have had their own reasons to clap and shout for each item staged one after another.
Rinzin Dorji was not among the enthusiast, body and soul. He was sitting outside behind the auditorium on the cool grasses watching the participants making their hasty exits and entrances from the backstage door. Some emerged shouting triumphantly as if they had won a gold medal of some kind, while some giggled and murmured to each other as they exited.
‘This went well,’ one exclaimed with an odd gesture.
‘I didn’t get confused this time’ another said.
‘Karma did a little mistake while…’ yet another remarked.
‘Congrats! You’ve done well,’ someone was congratulation somebody earnestly.
The tents were pitched outside the hall; one was crammed with home science girls selling tea and snacks, while other was a storeroom for the paraphernalia of things required for the programme which was now half the way down the list of items.
Rinzin was beginning to count ten when his roommate Tshewang Dorji appeared from amidst the hustling and bustling group near the stall tent.
Her part is just over,’ Tshewang informed, squatting alongside Rinzin who appeared restless with his right fingers strumming over the left knuckles. ‘I told her to come alone near that electric pole. Go now.’
Rinzin stood hastily and sprinted towards the pole that stood at the bend of the road some twenty yards from the hall. ‘At last I can coax her, tell her how much I love her, only I must be plausible and truthful.’ He was brooding incoherently. ‘But why did she oblige so easily after all these days of blatant denial?’ He mused, confused at the turn of events. He grinned to himself, ‘it is rather difficult to understand woman and their queer idiosyncrasies; they behave in all shades of manners of course!’
Eight months ago, in March, when Chador had entered the class ten minutes after their language teacher, she had become everyone’s cynosure. Nevertheless none saw what Rinzin saw in her, none had felt lifted off their feet as Rinzin did. When asked to introduce herself Chador mumbled shyly. She had come to Punakha along with her father who was a Forest Ranger at Zhemgang. That day Rinzin’s Language session ended reflecting over Chador’s elegant gait, penetrating sweet smile that suffused over the prettiest face, the honeyed voice and cascading dark hair. It was love at first sight.
Swifter than his fascination could weave its way towards the untouched chord of his heart he had sent four letters of introduction, starting with; ‘I like you-‘ then the next, ‘ I love you-‘ then begging still more with, ‘I love you very much please-‘ and the last one had said, ‘you are in the recess of my heart, my idol of worship, my breath, my soul-‘ and so-so.
Yet all the epistles remained un-replied. Every attempts on his part to approach her himself or by his friends were confronted with cold response. Chador was as stubborn as Rinzin was optimistic. As days passed Rinzin began to feel defeated and torn. His days were fleeting in longing admiration; in poignant dreams and deathless impatience.
A light breeze whistled past Rinzin’s well-trimmed hair. A ghostly shadow of the willow tree was cast over the road before him. Chador appeared out of the shadows and sat near him, pulling her knees against her bosom. It was incredible that she had consented to his proposal to this meeting at an unusual time and place, unexpectedly. He did not feel uncomfortable at all. Perhaps the moonlight was not adequately bright to reveal every line and curve of expression on her face. He had no time to ask why he felt strangely at peace when he should be timid and uneasy. Somehow it was like sitting at the table in a favorite restaurant with one best friend!
There was an explosion of applause in the hall. Rinzin suddenly felt alert from his reverie. He had to shatter the ice between them. ‘I-‘ he began , ‘I am happy you agreed to talk at least. I…’ Chador looked straight in his eyes cutting his poor prologue.
‘I know- I know you love me. I have hurt you so much. What else do you want to say?’ she questioned sternly.
Rinzin continued, ‘ I perceive you are not interested in such affairs. Perhaps you are afraid of something or someone. Are you?’ he was speaking without looking at her.
She grinned in annoyance, ‘you are nagging me too much…why do..?’
‘Too much!’ Rinzin almost yelled, ‘I just said I love you; I didn’t do anything wrong. We are still strangers aren’t we? Sorry if I have disturbed your studies.’ He said ruefully. Chador was peeling away an orange fruit as if to behave deaf to Rinzin’s plea.
‘why do think Namgay and Wangmo were expelled from the college for-? She blurted almost stuttering
‘Because they went beyond normal affairs-‘there was a weight of indigence in his voice.
Chador interrupted, ‘What ever!i don’t want to get involved in such affairs. I want you to forget me from now on. No letters too.’ She said with an inconsiderate tone.
‘Forget! How can I? I love you. Why are you doing this to me.’ He was begging ferociously. Chador remained silent, fiddling the peeled orange in her hands.
‘Is it wealth?’ He asked, steaming with impatience. She stared at him demonstrating cold expression.
‘Rank and influence?’ he prodded further feeling defeated.
‘No! Please don’t mention that again?’It was her turn to plead then. Rinzin bit his lips looking for words to prove his worth. ‘May be I am not as handsome as…..’ It was unbelievable that he was saying all these silly things. It was mere desperateness.
‘What are you saying? I said I am just not interested Rinzin.’
‘Is somebody restraining you from this friendly affair? Or are you engaged?’Rinzin was becoming excruciatingly bold.
‘No! Nobody is restraining. Am not interested!’ She said with a note of a Judges’ final decree.
‘You are so obstinate, so heartless. I don’t understand why?’ he clasped his palms on his face, hurt.
‘Why?’ She raised her eyebrows, bit her lips and barked, ‘ Because I am here to study, because I want to get through the board exams, because I am too young for such stupid things, because I don’t want to disgrace my parents, because I have-“ She paused abruptly, trembling as she sighed a deep shaky breath. Her eyes glistened with tears.
Rinzin remained motionless, feeling guilty. Yet strangely he yearned to know more.
‘Because what?’ He tempted again. For him eight months of admiration was a pretty long time to bear.
She wiped her tears, ‘because-‘ she was gazing on her toes, ‘because I don’t like you. I don’t. it was the last thing he had anticipated to hear. He became dumbstruck.
Two black dogs began to bark at the approaching shadow of a Layap woman. ‘I am fighting a losing battle. Nobody will worship you like I do.’ He thought
‘Do you really mean it?’ It was the only question that came to his mind. Chador flung the orange peel at the dogs. It went flying over the Layap woman’s head into the darkness. She rose to go. Rinzin caught her on the left hand and pulled her down without a slightest hesitance.
‘You know what you are saying? You will never repent more, I am telling you.’
She broke away from his grip with a jerk. ‘Rinzin!’ She yelled. It was the first time she called his name.
‘What?’ He replied, shocked to hear her call him by his un-respectful name.
‘Why don’t you forget that I actually exist here? And remember I will never regret for this-‘ She walked away towards the comforting crowd of her friends. Rinzin sat rooted against the pole hidden by the shadow of the willow tree. There was nothing he could think about, nothing to brood on, nothing to fancy about. He was fighting back masculine tears he never shed in years.
‘You are the meanest creature I’ve ever seen.’ He said more to the electric pole than to Chador who already disappeared into the crowd.
There was a faint creaking noise of a door being opened, ensued by a cacophonous disturbance. Rinzin flicked open his eyes nostalgically. His classmates were pouring into the classroom hastily taking their seats behind the rows of desks. They were returning from the dining hall after a sumptuous lunch.
‘Rinzin you missed eggs today again. Last time….’ Pema Wangchuck said proudly smacking his lips.
Rinzin’s desk mate Phurba remarked, ‘Still here! I thought you had gone to market.’
‘I didn’t sleep well last night, so…..’Rinzin’s words trailed away.
Chador walked in flanked by her friends Tshering and Dema laughing over something they had talked about. Dema broke off from chador and came towards Rinzin who gave a feeble but friendly smile. As she passed his desk, she slipped a folded paper into his hands. He almost missed a breath. Phurba who sat near him nudged Rinzin with his elbow.’Atlast’ He hinted. Rinzin opened the paper under the table with trembling fingers. His face blushed. Not everything that was written was of interest, except the phrase which was in bold letters ‘ I love you.’
His heart leaped into his throat chocking him. Tears began to fill his sad eyes. Of course at last the eight months ordeal has come to an end.
The 1 ‘o’ clock bell rang like a distant howl of a destitute child and everyone remained quiet and settled when they saw lopen Dopey coming down the stairs.
Tonight, the shadowy figures could be seen all around the campus: some boys sneaking down the road to the market; some staggering up the road till they reached at the parking area from where a pebbled path bifurcated towards the hall and other towards the dormitory. It is definite to any observers that outsiders have no reason to wait and ponder which way to take unless they were college boys returning after a relishing visit to Kelden Bar beyond the gate. It would not be a welcoming display if the warden shone his1980s Eveready torch on everyone coming up the road and moreover he would have missed a great deal of amusement in the hall too.
A thunderous clap and an outburst of applause reverberated at intervals from the hall. Even the shrill whistling was not withheld as if to proclaim one’s audacity of the authorities’ presence. May be the solo by Ugyen Gyeltshen was quite exemplary, may be the skit by Taag House was a good comedy or the dancers were at the best showdown. Everyone must have had their own reasons to clap and shout for each item staged one after another.
Rinzin Dorji was not among the enthusiast, body and soul. He was sitting outside behind the auditorium on the cool grasses watching the participants making their hasty exits and entrances from the backstage door. Some emerged shouting triumphantly as if they had won a gold medal of some kind, while some giggled and murmured to each other as they exited.
‘This went well,’ one exclaimed with an odd gesture.
‘I didn’t get confused this time’ another said.
‘Karma did a little mistake while…’ yet another remarked.
‘Congrats! You’ve done well,’ someone was congratulation somebody earnestly.
The tents were pitched outside the hall; one was crammed with home science girls selling tea and snacks, while other was a storeroom for the paraphernalia of things required for the programme which was now half the way down the list of items.
Rinzin was beginning to count ten when his roommate Tshewang Dorji appeared from amidst the hustling and bustling group near the stall tent.
Her part is just over,’ Tshewang informed, squatting alongside Rinzin who appeared restless with his right fingers strumming over the left knuckles. ‘I told her to come alone near that electric pole. Go now.’
Rinzin stood hastily and sprinted towards the pole that stood at the bend of the road some twenty yards from the hall. ‘At last I can coax her, tell her how much I love her, only I must be plausible and truthful.’ He was brooding incoherently. ‘But why did she oblige so easily after all these days of blatant denial?’ He mused, confused at the turn of events. He grinned to himself, ‘it is rather difficult to understand woman and their queer idiosyncrasies; they behave in all shades of manners of course!’
Eight months ago, in March, when Chador had entered the class ten minutes after their language teacher, she had become everyone’s cynosure. Nevertheless none saw what Rinzin saw in her, none had felt lifted off their feet as Rinzin did. When asked to introduce herself Chador mumbled shyly. She had come to Punakha along with her father who was a Forest Ranger at Zhemgang. That day Rinzin’s Language session ended reflecting over Chador’s elegant gait, penetrating sweet smile that suffused over the prettiest face, the honeyed voice and cascading dark hair. It was love at first sight.
Swifter than his fascination could weave its way towards the untouched chord of his heart he had sent four letters of introduction, starting with; ‘I like you-‘ then the next, ‘ I love you-‘ then begging still more with, ‘I love you very much please-‘ and the last one had said, ‘you are in the recess of my heart, my idol of worship, my breath, my soul-‘ and so-so.
Yet all the epistles remained un-replied. Every attempts on his part to approach her himself or by his friends were confronted with cold response. Chador was as stubborn as Rinzin was optimistic. As days passed Rinzin began to feel defeated and torn. His days were fleeting in longing admiration; in poignant dreams and deathless impatience.
A light breeze whistled past Rinzin’s well-trimmed hair. A ghostly shadow of the willow tree was cast over the road before him. Chador appeared out of the shadows and sat near him, pulling her knees against her bosom. It was incredible that she had consented to his proposal to this meeting at an unusual time and place, unexpectedly. He did not feel uncomfortable at all. Perhaps the moonlight was not adequately bright to reveal every line and curve of expression on her face. He had no time to ask why he felt strangely at peace when he should be timid and uneasy. Somehow it was like sitting at the table in a favorite restaurant with one best friend!
There was an explosion of applause in the hall. Rinzin suddenly felt alert from his reverie. He had to shatter the ice between them. ‘I-‘ he began , ‘I am happy you agreed to talk at least. I…’ Chador looked straight in his eyes cutting his poor prologue.
‘I know- I know you love me. I have hurt you so much. What else do you want to say?’ she questioned sternly.
Rinzin continued, ‘ I perceive you are not interested in such affairs. Perhaps you are afraid of something or someone. Are you?’ he was speaking without looking at her.
She grinned in annoyance, ‘you are nagging me too much…why do..?’
‘Too much!’ Rinzin almost yelled, ‘I just said I love you; I didn’t do anything wrong. We are still strangers aren’t we? Sorry if I have disturbed your studies.’ He said ruefully. Chador was peeling away an orange fruit as if to behave deaf to Rinzin’s plea.
‘why do think Namgay and Wangmo were expelled from the college for-? She blurted almost stuttering
‘Because they went beyond normal affairs-‘there was a weight of indigence in his voice.
Chador interrupted, ‘What ever!i don’t want to get involved in such affairs. I want you to forget me from now on. No letters too.’ She said with an inconsiderate tone.
‘Forget! How can I? I love you. Why are you doing this to me.’ He was begging ferociously. Chador remained silent, fiddling the peeled orange in her hands.
‘Is it wealth?’ He asked, steaming with impatience. She stared at him demonstrating cold expression.
‘Rank and influence?’ he prodded further feeling defeated.
‘No! Please don’t mention that again?’It was her turn to plead then. Rinzin bit his lips looking for words to prove his worth. ‘May be I am not as handsome as…..’ It was unbelievable that he was saying all these silly things. It was mere desperateness.
‘What are you saying? I said I am just not interested Rinzin.’
‘Is somebody restraining you from this friendly affair? Or are you engaged?’Rinzin was becoming excruciatingly bold.
‘No! Nobody is restraining. Am not interested!’ She said with a note of a Judges’ final decree.
‘You are so obstinate, so heartless. I don’t understand why?’ he clasped his palms on his face, hurt.
‘Why?’ She raised her eyebrows, bit her lips and barked, ‘ Because I am here to study, because I want to get through the board exams, because I am too young for such stupid things, because I don’t want to disgrace my parents, because I have-“ She paused abruptly, trembling as she sighed a deep shaky breath. Her eyes glistened with tears.
Rinzin remained motionless, feeling guilty. Yet strangely he yearned to know more.
‘Because what?’ He tempted again. For him eight months of admiration was a pretty long time to bear.
She wiped her tears, ‘because-‘ she was gazing on her toes, ‘because I don’t like you. I don’t. it was the last thing he had anticipated to hear. He became dumbstruck.
Two black dogs began to bark at the approaching shadow of a Layap woman. ‘I am fighting a losing battle. Nobody will worship you like I do.’ He thought
‘Do you really mean it?’ It was the only question that came to his mind. Chador flung the orange peel at the dogs. It went flying over the Layap woman’s head into the darkness. She rose to go. Rinzin caught her on the left hand and pulled her down without a slightest hesitance.
‘You know what you are saying? You will never repent more, I am telling you.’
She broke away from his grip with a jerk. ‘Rinzin!’ She yelled. It was the first time she called his name.
‘What?’ He replied, shocked to hear her call him by his un-respectful name.
‘Why don’t you forget that I actually exist here? And remember I will never regret for this-‘ She walked away towards the comforting crowd of her friends. Rinzin sat rooted against the pole hidden by the shadow of the willow tree. There was nothing he could think about, nothing to brood on, nothing to fancy about. He was fighting back masculine tears he never shed in years.
‘You are the meanest creature I’ve ever seen.’ He said more to the electric pole than to Chador who already disappeared into the crowd.
There was a faint creaking noise of a door being opened, ensued by a cacophonous disturbance. Rinzin flicked open his eyes nostalgically. His classmates were pouring into the classroom hastily taking their seats behind the rows of desks. They were returning from the dining hall after a sumptuous lunch.
‘Rinzin you missed eggs today again. Last time….’ Pema Wangchuck said proudly smacking his lips.
Rinzin’s desk mate Phurba remarked, ‘Still here! I thought you had gone to market.’
‘I didn’t sleep well last night, so…..’Rinzin’s words trailed away.
Chador walked in flanked by her friends Tshering and Dema laughing over something they had talked about. Dema broke off from chador and came towards Rinzin who gave a feeble but friendly smile. As she passed his desk, she slipped a folded paper into his hands. He almost missed a breath. Phurba who sat near him nudged Rinzin with his elbow.’Atlast’ He hinted. Rinzin opened the paper under the table with trembling fingers. His face blushed. Not everything that was written was of interest, except the phrase which was in bold letters ‘ I love you.’
His heart leaped into his throat chocking him. Tears began to fill his sad eyes. Of course at last the eight months ordeal has come to an end.
The 1 ‘o’ clock bell rang like a distant howl of a destitute child and everyone remained quiet and settled when they saw lopen Dopey coming down the stairs.
No comments:
Post a Comment