Nge Michu, Chapter 2

Parking the car in the front of the hotel Druk, Khandu takes out a box from the front seat and locks the car. Getting inside, going directly to the counter, he books a single room. Taking the key, he walks up to the third floor. Unlocking the door, he gets inside. Switching on the light, he keeps the box on the bed. Room is clean but he is worried about something. Checking his phone, he locks the room and walks down back to the counter. The boy at the counter looks young.

There are a few customers in the lobby. Looking hesitant, he walks to the counter when the boy says, “How can I help you sir?”

“Umm.”

Khandu looks around when the boy stands looking at him.

“Sir?”

“I need some help bro,” says Khandu, his face going red.

“Okay. How can I help you sir?”

Going silent for a while, finally Khandu says, “How do you celebrate a birthday?”

“Birthday sir?”

“I mean, I am planning to celebrate my wife’s birthday, so the procedures?”

“Oh.”

After listening to the boy as he tells him everything about the birthday celebration procedures, Khandu thanks him and waits at the lobby when finally, his phone rings. Standing up, he goes outside, as Tshoki appears in front of the hotel, looking very beautiful, taking his breath away for a moment. Greeting her, he walks her inside, when the boy at the counter looks at them, looking very confused. As Khandu smiles at him, the boy shows him thumbs up, as they walk upstairs.

Unlocking the door, he lets Tshoki inside first. Getting inside, she stands inspecting the room when he follows her. Latching the door, looking at her, he says, “Please sit on the bed.”

Looking shy, Tshoki nods and sits on the bed holding her phone. As she sits down, he takes the box and place it on the small table beside the bed. Unwrapping the cake, he sticks candles on it when Tshoki looks at him smiling. Then he lights the candles and taking the table in front of her, he asks her to blow the candles when his phone rings. It’s his wife. Switching off the phone, he sings birthday song. Cutting a slice, she gives him and then he puts a slice in mouth, touching her lips softly.

Then he takes out a new box and gives her, when she unwraps the box and takes out a new Samsung phone. She screams out of happiness and hugs him tightly.

“You are so sweet. Thank you so much, my love. I Love you.”

Holding her tightly on his chest, caressing her hair, he whispers into her ears, “Welcome, love. Love you, too.”

As she switches on the phone and starts playing with the phone, he calls the counter for dinner. Sitting next to her, he looks at her happy face, when the waiter knocks. Keeping the food on the table, he looks at her, “Tshoki. Dinner?”

“Oh!”

She keeps her phone aside and brims with surprise as she sees varieties of dishes on the table. Eating dinner, talking about her days, he finally calls the counter. Then, a few minutes later, there is knock at the door. Going to the door, he gets drinks and keeps it on the table, when Tshoki says, “I am not going to drink.”

Making an innocent face, Khandu goes near her and says softly, “Love, it’s your birthday. Without drinks, there is no charm. A little.”

“No!”

“Pease!”

He keeps pleading and finally Tshoki says, “Only a little.”

Glass after glass, eyes get reddened and Tshoki loses her balance, when he looks at her pretending to be drunk. Going to her, he touches her hand slowly when she says, “Not today.”

“Please, baby.”

At Taba in Dema’s house, she is about to sleep after eating dinner when Tshoki’s phone rings. Frightened by the ringing, she looks at the phone and remembers Tshoki’s words to lie. Going to the table, she picks up the phone and keeps staring at the number. It’s her sister. Finally, she answers the call.

“Aunty, Tshoki is here at my home studying with me. Just now, she is in the toilet,” says Dema, her voice cracking and hands trembling.

Luckily, Tshoki’s sister hangs up the phone saying, “Okay, Dema.”

Thinking that she saved Tshoki today, keeping the phone on the table, she arranges her books when she hears knock. Frightened, she walks to the door and opens it when Tshoki’s sister stands there looking very angry as if she is going to swallow her alive.

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 3 Tomorrow @9PM