Kuchoe Ama! Chapter 4

Her head aches. Eyes are swollen. Aum Wangmo stands at the counter feeling exhausted. Unlike other days, today there are no sign of people walking inside for breakfast though it’s time. She has been waiting since the dawn. Looking outside through the dusted window pane at the workers heading towards the quarry plant, she waits. Last night, she could not sleep. Not at all. Though, she was drunk, she saw some truth in the words manager’s personal assistant (PA). She has no idea about the workers at the quarry but she does know a few. She heard other people talking the manager and his girlfriends. Having spoken the words, PA left saying, “Money can be earned but life once destroyed is gone for good.”

She tried to sleep after Deki disappeared into her room, without finishing her food. Dema’s phone was switched off. She dug into the suitcase beside her bed and found the family photo album. She cried flipping the album. She sought forgiveness from her late husband. She does not know what to do. Should she not force Dema into marriage? If she doesn’t, she looked for ways to pay back the money but she cannot find one. She has no lands to sell being from a poor family background. She has two brothers but they will be no help to her as she has not helped them when they asked for help. Now what?

The sudden door creak startles her. It’s Zeko. One of the senior most workers of the quarry. He smiles at her. Going to one of the tables, he sits down. Grabbing the TV remote from the table, she walks towards him. Standing in front of him, she asks, “How have you been?”

Turning his face towards her, he takes the remote from her hand.

“Is my breakfast ready?”

“Yes.”

It’s 8.30AM. Usually, Ap Zeko is the last person to eat breakfast from her canteen. Today, he is the only customer. Thinking about this, she walks to the kitchen and gets his breakfast ready when she overhears murmurs from the counter. Thinking that it’s noise from the TV, she ignores placing the fried rice plate and suja on the tray, when the noise becomes louder. Grabbing the tray carefully, she walks into the counter. To her surprise, standing beside Zeko, the manager looks at her. She stops walking holding the plate. Looking away from her, he looks at Zeko, “What are you doing here? Go to work.”

Switching off the TV, Ap Zeko stands up and walks out obediently with his head bent low. As soon as Zeko leaves the room, then the manager cum owner of the quarry, Ap Tshenchap sits down on the chair, stretching his boots on the tables. Leaning his back against the chair, looking at Aum Wangmo, he shouts, “It’s rude to keep your customer waiting.”

Not knowing what to do, she stays frozen when Deki walks into the room. On noticing her, turning his face to her, he stops Deki.

“Shhh, come here!”

Deki stops suddenly and stands at the midway to the kitchen when Tshenchap calls her again.

Walking slowly towards him, she stands in front of him bending her head low, eyes on his shoes. Taking his feet off the tables, he looks up at her.

“I heard, Dema is not here last night. Someone saw her at memorial chorten with a boy. So, tell me where was she last night?”

Tshenchap asks Deki, his face becoming red.

On hearing these words, not being able to take these words, Aum Wangmo turns her face and takes a step towards the kitchen when the manager shouts, “Shhh, come here!”

Without listening to him, she disappears into the kitchen. Keeping the tray on the table, she kneels down on the floor heart going numb. What has Dema now? Why is she doing that to her? These questions bombarding her head, she feels like vomiting.

Stretching his hand up to Deki’s chin, he forces her head up.

“Deki, you are a good girl. Just tell me the truth. Where was Dema last night?”

Face covered with hair hanging down from her head, taking long breaths, Deki stays silently, expecting her mother to walk towards her and say something.

“Deki? Can’t you hear me? Where is Dema?”

The sudden knock on the door wakes Dema up. Opening her eyes, a little, she observes the room brightened and warmed by the morning rays streaming through the windows. She turns back and finds the empty pillow next to hers. Where is he? Throwing away the blanket, she gets off the bed. Picking up her clothes, she heads towards the toilet thinking that he is inside. Sadly, he is not there. Walking back to the bed, she puts on the clothes. Walking to the window, she looks outside. She finds the street filled with people moving up and down. Walking back to the bed, on the table she finds a note with a few words scribbled on it.

Lifting the paper, she reads, “Dema, I think your mom needs you more than me. If possible, help her. We are not made for each other. Chophel.”

Crumpling the paper, she shoves it away on to the floor. Switching on her phone, she dials his number. Switched off. Picking up her bag, she walks out. Walking past the waiter standing at the door, she rushes down the stairs. Walking outside, she walks through the crowd hiding her face towards the City Bus Parking. Getting inside a taxi, she says, “Damchu.”

Back at the canteen, having stood in front of him for a long time, not being able to tolerate his mean behavior, Deki finally speaks out.

“Why are you doing this to my family?”

“What am I doing?”

The manager smiles at her, with his anger disappearing from his face. Playing her hair, as he is about to speak, the door bangs wide open. Face reddened, eyes filled with tears, Dema stands at the door. Hearing the noise, Aum Wangmo stands up and rushes to the counter. Dashing her feet in front of Dema, catching her hand she pulls her inside.

“Where were you?”

She asks looking at her face.

Turning his face to her, Ap Tshenchap says, “Look at her! How can I accept her now?”

Happy Valentine!

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 5 Tomorrow @9PM