Lhazom, Chapter 4 , The Final Chapter

When I reached Lhuentse, people were celebrating the new year 2017. Arriving there at 6PM, along with my friends, we went to hotel and spent the night drinking and smoking. I told my best friend, Namgay Wangmo and Yeshi Peldon about my break-up with Lhazom, as they were close to me and understood my feelings and they always supported me.

Drinking all night, trying to forget her, then the next day I went to Mongar and stayed drinking and smoking with friends. Lhazom’s sister called me and asked me, “Where are you?”

I replied, “Mongar.”

Every time, my phone rang, I wished it was from Lhazom. Going to a karaoke in Mongar, I sang, ‘MELAM TSAM GI THAY WA DI.”

 After 3 days stay at Mongar, I went to my village, Dungkar in Lhuentse. Love from family made me to forget her a bit but I couldn't stop drinking and smoking. By then, she blocked me on Facebook, as I kept begging her. My friend used to call me, “beggar” and ‘psycho.”

 I was late for school. Getting a bus ticket from Mongar, I went there. That night, I received a call from her number. I could not express how happy I was to see her number flashing on my phone. Tears started to fill up and my heart grew lighter but I didn’t answer the call. She kept calling me. She started to call me from different phone numbers. Thinking it was a new number, I answered the call but it’s was Lhazom’s voice, sending thrill down my spine.

At last, I answered her call crying, “Please, don’t call me.”

Listening to me silently, she replied, “I am sorry.”

Hanging up the phone, I crashed the phone by throwing it up against the walls.

The next day, I started my journey off to Punakha. On reaching, Bumthang, I didn't go outside. No smoking and drinking, as I realized that I cannot be rude to myself. I stayed with no phone for three days. Then, I bought a new phone. I told my friends that I didn’t want to study and didn't attend class for two weeks. My friends missed me a lot, especially Namgay and Yeshi. They kept calling me, asking me to attend class but I didn't.

After four days, I received call again from Namgay, “Please, Karma come and attend class.” As soon as I hung up the call, Deki’s number flashed.

She said, “Let’s rejoin.”

I replied, “I cannot understand you.”

Listening to her voice, my tears started rolling down. I didn’t understand her. I was trying to but could not.

The next day, I went to class with my friend Dorji Tshewang. On seeing me, Namgay Wangmo rushed towards me, hugging me tightly. Exchanging greetings with Kinzang, I said, “I am hurry.”

Taking me to a hotel, we ate lots of food and I told them about Lhazom calling me about the rejoin. I sought their suggestion, whether I should accept or not?

Looking at me graciously, keeping her spoon down on the plate slowly, Namgay said, “Karma, you are not a football but if you still love her, you can rejoin.”

Two months later, I heard that Namgay Wangmo had been loving me since class eleven. But I was busy running after Lhazom and blind to see her love for she never confessed.

But I am very happy, for Namgay Wangmo is still my best friend and I don’t know where my fate will take me, as I wait patiently as the memory of Lhazom fades away from my both heart and mind as the days go by.

Original Story: Karma Chophel

Edited by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)