𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙸𝚅: 𝚃𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙱𝚑𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚗

There was a strange feeling to wake up from the bed where I had been sleeping the previous night. Since my dad passed away, I had been sleeping with my only mom. In the school, I had my separate bed. As a little girl, I had never slept with the man on the same bed. I was still feeling shy that morning. Whenever I thought about the first night of my life with the man, I looked at my mother’s eyes. 

For my surprise, there was no response from my mother. She slept with my father and then, they have together given a birth to me. Now, I am inheriting the cycle of sleeping with the man, a man who was not my choice but my mother’s.

 

In few days, I and my mom went to the school. We completed legal process of getting out of the school.

“Thanks to all the teachers in the school. My daughter could learn till class nine because of all your support. Now, I have decided that I will take her home to help me. Without her father, life has becoming very difficult as I am becoming older year by year. I need my daughter to inherit the responsibilities”, she spoke to the principal of our school.

“Ama, it would be better for her to be kept in the school for few more years. Otherwise, she will regret. It is important for a girl to be educated if they are to become a good mother. But, if it’s your genuine request, you can take her with you”, principal permitted my mother to take me home.

We were soon at the hostel where I had memories with my friends. When I reached near the corridor, there were few of my friends coming to see me.

“Lhamo, are you joining the school today? We have been waiting for you. I hope you have recovered from the sickness?” One of them said to me.

I had no answer. Should I tell them that I dropped school? Should I tell them that I am married to someone? I just remained silent.

“She is not going to be a student anymore. I am taking her home. I would like to thank all of you for helping her during her difficult times. She will always remain grateful for having friends like you all”, my mother spoke to them like a well-prepared farewell speech.

“Aunty! Why are you taking her home? Is it because she is getting sick? I think it’s not a very interesting idea. There is a chance that she might recover fully from her sickness. We are always with her to support”, the bravest among my friends confronted my mother.

“I understand what you are trying to tell me dear. I know how much you worry about your friend but only few of you know that we have lost our father. As you can see, I am getting older and I need someone to look after me and our home. So, I had to take her along with me. I am so sorry!” My mother made it clear and soon, everyone was quiet. There was no further question.

“Lhamo, we will always miss the kind of friend you had been to us. We will miss you”, one of them hugged me. 

“Be a good girl like you always are. Don’t forget to come to school sometimes to meet us”, another hugged me. 

“Sometimes, prepare a delicious curry and come to have food with us”, all of them burst into a loud laughter. She was the fattest friend among my group mates. She would be ready everyday to make someone laugh. 

On that day, she made my mother to laugh among them. 

My friends helped me bringing out my things such as mattress and blankets. I had a small suitcase with limited number of cloth washing soap. I handed those to my group mates.

In less than fifteen minutes, we could load all my things on a bolero. I was about to leave permanently from my second home. 

I hugged all my mates and had to cry little. I didn’t know whether I could see them in the future or not. I would be a mother soon and a farmer. They would come as a teacher or lawyer or a doctor. I just ended the journey to all these professions.

I sat at the back seat of bolero. I could not stop crying for a while. My mother was looking at me from the mirror.

“Lhamo, you don’t need to cry. Everyone has a different way of leading a life. The end of school days doesn’t mean the end of life”, my mother spoke from the front.

“I also agree with your mom, Lhamo. There are thousands of graduates who could not get into government jobs. Now, I think that going to school is waste of time. Parents have to waste lot of money on education and they come back home with nothing. You have made the right choice by listening to your mother. Everyone in our village is pleased by the step you have taken”, the driver added to what my mom told me.

I decided not to answer. He, definitely didn’t know the feeling of leaving a school and friends. I remained silent as if I have completely agreed with his words. 

We reached home and unloaded the things. Tashi helped us to unload the things from the vehicle. By the time we had our evening tea, the watch on my hand read eight past thirty.

“Ama, I am thinking of moving to Thimphu after few months. As a Gomchen, we need more households to perform rituals. Many of my friends told me that they can earn a lot in Thimphu. After spending a year or two, we will come back”. Gomchen Tashi was talking to my mom about his plan of making money.

Immediately, I thought that he was money-minded but I had to calm myself down. Gomchens in village don’t get to work like other men to make money. In some communities, they are not allowed to work in the fields. The only thing they could do was perform a ritual and earn money.

I was waiting for my mother’s response.

“It is a good idea. In the village, we don’t have many households and you cannot earn well. Moreover, you cannot work for money as a lay monk. You can discuss with Lhamo”. Mother left the final decision for me.

“What do you say Lhamo?” Tashi was asking me.