Nun and Her Love Chapter 6

It’s sunny outside. Playing her favourite music, Euthra tries to close her eyes and sleep but she cannot. She was awoken last whole night. She watched her favourite Korean drama, but she could not watch. Then she tried browsing net, but she felt restless. She could not call Tshegyel nor she received call from her. Yesterday was the only day in her life, where she felt so lost. Just lost. Firstly, getting her wedding cancelled and secondly, Shaycham’s words about the old woman being her mother. She didn’t believe her yesterday and even now she does not believe her but those words give her no peace

Shaycham pushes her door and walks in. Leaning on the edge of her bed, she says, “Ashim, come and eat breakfast.”

Looking at her, she replies, “No appetite.”

“Come on, Ashim! You didn’t even eat lunch and dinner yesterday,” says Shaycham, pulling her hand.

“Please, leave me alone,” says Euthra, taking back her hand angrily.

“I understand that you don’t believe my words but ask parents once because they are coming today,” says Shaycham, standing up sadly.

“What?”

Euthra shouts and jumps off the bed.

“Yeah!”

Taking her towel off the hook, she rushes to the toilet. Looking at the mirror, she says, “Why are my eyes red?”

Brushing her teeth as fast as she can, she gets out of the bathroom after splashing her face with cold water directly from the tap. She always washes her face with warm water. But today, she broke that rule. Changing her night dress, opening the cupboard she takes out some new clothes. Without even looking at the mirror, getting dressed up in blue jeans, she walks out of the house grabbing the car key.

As she walks out, she dials Tshegyel’s number. Keeping her phone to ear, she nears the car. He is not responding the call. She dials again, catching the steering wheel. Then she sees her leg with bathroom slippers. Ignoring that, starting the engine, she waits.

Finally, Tshegyel answers.

“Tshegyel, please can you wait outside your house? It’s urgent.”

Euthra speaks into the phone and hangs up. She has no idea, if he will wait or not. She speeds down, thinking about the old woman. What if she is really her mother? Was she adopted?

Though not expected, Tshegyel waits in front of his building in sweat pants and wearing a slipper. Braking the car slowly, she lowers down the window when Tshegyel looks at the broken headlights.

“Can you get inside?”

Looking up at her, he asks with a puzzled look, “What?”

“Get inside.”

She insists. Then catching the door, he climbs up and sits in the front seat. As he closes the door, she releases the hand brake and speeds up, when Tshegyel sits back looking stunned. Speeding through the town, overtaking other cars by honking, she crosses the gate, thanking the commuters for visiting Thimphu city. Then, Tshegyel asks, “Euthra, can you say something?”

She ignores him and keeps speeding.

“Euthra?”

She does not reply.

“If this is all about yesterday. On behalf of my father, I would like to apologize. He was upset, so told you unpleasant things. Can you stop the car and talk about it?” says Tshegyel, his body moving side to side, as Euthra drives down the Thimphu-Phunstholing, highway, with the speedometer reading, 70km/hr.

“Just enjoy the ride. Lets’ talk about those things when we reach Paro,” says Euhtra, as the Chuzom bridge comes into their sight.

“What?”

After half an hour of driving, Euthra goes directly to one of the restaurants in Paro town, where her parents are taking rest after the plane’s landing. Getting out of the car, without saying a word to Tshegye; she rushes into the restaurant pushing the door forcefully, alerting the receptionist gossiping at the desk.

Sitting the sofa at the corner, her father is looking down on the phone. Next to him is her mother looking exhausted. There is no sign of the old woman. Maybe she has been kept in the restroom. Running as fast as she can, she stops in front of them, her slippers dashing hard on the floor. Catching a glimpse of her, her father stands up immediately. Opening her arms wide, she jumps on to his chest.

“Missed you, Apa.”

He says no words. Getting away from him, she asks, “Where is Angay?”

“Oh, she is still in Delhi, undergoing treatment,” says her father, looking at her feet, “slippers?”

“Haha.”

Going next to her mother, she hugs her but her mother stays silently without even looking at her.

“Ama, Shaycham mentioned something about Angay being my mother, just curious,” says Euthra, fixing her eyes deep into her mother.

But her mother does not respond, keeping her head down.

“Ama?”

Lifting her head up, her mother looks at her; eyes brimming with tears, “It’s true.”

“We adopted you,” says her father, catching her hand gently, when a monk walks in front of them and says, “Lama says she can be cremated only after seven days.”

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 7 Tomorrow @9PM

Nun and Her Love, Chapter 5

Walking slowly into the altar, her heart full of devotions, Euthra, standing in front of the statues, folds her hand and seeks blessing, closing her eyes. As a matter of fact, her life has been so beautiful and she lived like a Princess. Even her friends envied her sometimes. Many people call her, “Talented.” She was very popular since the primary school, firstly because of her beauty, secondly her excellent academic performance and thirdly her talents. Her photos on social networks cross thousand likes within a minute as if she is a celebrity and many boys are after her.

She feels lucky to have met Tshegyel back in the college. She loves him not because of his wealthy parents as many think she is but his personality. Even her parents are wealthy. He always makes silly mistakes and there was never a time, when he didn’t make a mistake. Whenever they meet, he makes a mistake, though unintentionally. Their interests match, both business-minded. Thus, did same course back in the college. Though, she was good in math, she opted for commerce.

She is hopeful that today, Tshegyel may not commit any mistakes. Today is their wedding. With mouth reciting prayers, she prays, “Kenchosum, I am very grateful for being kind to me till now and I seek your guidance and support hereafter. Bless me, Kenchosum.”

Having said the prayers, she opens her eyes. Getting outside with a feeling of being blessed, she walks directly to the sofa and picks up her handbag. Then she calls Zam.

“Zam?”

Getting out of the kitchen, Zam stands at the door, “Yes, Ashim.”

“Oh, I am going with Tshegyel. I will be back soon,” says Euthra, heading to the door, “and take care of Shaycham.”

Zam nods and looks at her, as if to say something. So Euthra asks, “You got something to say?”

“Good luck, Ashim.”

Thanking her with a smile, Euhtra gets out of the house, embracing the gentle breeze on her face. She checks her phone and it’s 9AM. She has not received call from Tshegyel this morning but he called her last night and said, “Euhtra, meet me at my house at 9 tomorrow before we go to the wedding hall.”

Walking towards the garage, she takes out the car’s key from her handbag. It’s her father’s car. Unlocking the car, she speeds down towards the town, where Tshegyel stays, as the Thimphu City wakes up for the day. Driving down, feeling irritated by the morning traffic jam, finally, Euhtra pulls over the car in front of a majestic building soaring high up as if to touch the sky. Getting out of the car, she looks up. For last seven years, she has been here only for three times. Firstly, Tshegyel brought her here to meet his parents as a friend in the first year, secondly as a girlfriend in the second year and finally, two months ago after their engagement. Today, it will be the fourth time. It’s for her wedding.

Walking into the lobby, greeting the receptionist, she goes directly to the lift at the corner. Getting inside, she presses number, ‘5’. Tshegyel stays in this floor and her parents on the fourth. His younger sister on the third. The second floor has a swimming pool and recreation ground for the family and the ground floor is used as a kitchen and has a coffee shop for celebrities.

As the lift stops, she gets out checking her hair on her phone screen. Going directly to the Tshegyel’s room, she knocks. A maid, standing at his kitchen with a broom in hand, attached to his sitting room, looks at her. Ignoring her stare, she raises her hand to knock again when the maid walks towards her saying, “Madam, Tshegyel is waiting for you on the fourth floor with parents.”

Confused by the information, walking away from the door, she dials Tshegyel’s number. He does not answer the call. Walking down the stairs, she keeps dialing his number but no response. Landing on to the fourth floor, she walks along the corridor, towards the room where Tshegyel’s parents use as sitting room. Standing at the door, trying to compose herself back from her angry mood, she presses the button. Breathing heavily, she waits.

Then, a woman opens the door, looking sad. Without saying a word, she walks inside. Tshegyel is sitting on a sofa opposite to her parents. On seeing her, his father smiles and stands up, “Oh, here she comes.”

Then Tshegyel turns his face and looks at her looking terrified. His mother does not say a word. She walks slowly towards them and stands near the sofa, not knowing what to say. Then looking at her, his father says, “Please, be seated.”

After listening to Tshegyel’s parents for a few minutes, Euthra stands up her mouth gasping for a breath of fresh air. She feels suffocated. Forcing her heated body down the staircase, she rushes out towards her car. Getting inside, she presses the accelerator.

Parking the car in the garage, she gets out without locking the car. She has broken the headlights. Walking to the door, she bangs. Opening the door, Zam stands stunned by her reddened angry face. Dashing her, Euthra goes directly to the picture frame on the table, beside the TV. Grabbing the frame, she swings it up against the wall breaking into pieces.

Then Shaycham rushes out of her room, looking horrified. Standing at her room’s door, she looks at the broken pieces. It’s a family photo. Then, her body falling down on to the floor, tears streaming from her eyes, looking at the broken pieces, Euthra shouts, “Why are you doing this to me?”

It’s has been five days, since she met her parents. After admitting, Angay to hospital, they left to India for her treatment the next day. They left without even talking to her. She has no idea why they had to take that old woman to India. She is old and old people are bound to be sick. No treatment will help their aged bodies. They have forgotten her marriage. Back at Tshegyel’s house, his father said, “I am sorry, I think your parents are not taking this relationship seriously. Today, it’s supposed to be your wedding day but there is not even a word from your parents. It’s an insult to my family.”

Holding her IPad in hand, Shaycham walks towards her. Keeping her hand gently on her shoulder, she says, “Ashim, I understand how you feel. But I want to say you something. The old woman who was here in our house a few days before was no other than your mother.”

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 6 Tomorrow @9PM