Nun and Her Love, Chapter 9

 The alarm beeps waking up Tshegyel. Irritated by the sound, stretching his arm, he grabs the phone. Opening only one eye, he looks at the phone. It’s 8.45AM. He has to be in the office by 9. Now, he is the chairman in one of his father’s companies. Forcing his sleepy body off the bed, he goes to the window. Drawing the curtain, wide open, he takes a glimpse of the city. Thimphu is getting crowded with lots of buildings. He has plan to construct a building but now he is worried about getting land.

Walking away from the window, he nears the cupboard when his phone beeps, with a reminder. Taking towel, he goes back to the bed. Picking up the phone, he reads the reminder. It’s says, 12^th Anniversary. Keeping down the phone, he looks around his room, walls filled up with photos of Euthra and him. On the tables, the photo frames glitter. Taking one of the frames in hand, he says, “Euthra, happy anniversary.”

He expects the picture to respond but sadly it does not. Keeping down the frame back on the table, he cleans it with a cloth. In it, it’s a picture of Euhtra and him taken on their engagement day five years ago. This was the last photo taken together. Five years, Euthra left him at the Semtokha junction. The next day, he found himself in the hospital. Only after a week, he recovered. Then, he tried to find Euhtra but he could not. She just vanished. Even her family did not know about her. For last five years, he always prayed to meet her once but no miracle happened.

The knock on the door wakes up Tshegyel from his memories of Euhtra. Walking away from the photos, he goes to the door. Tashi, one of the housekeepers, stands at the door.

“Yes, bro.”

“Sir, Dasho is calling you.”

“Okay.”

Closing the door, he disappears into the bathroom. Washing face as fast he can, then he gets back to the bedroom. He wears gho. As a chairman, he has to be punctual. He has to be sincere. Taking his phone from the bed, he walks out of the room. Walking down the staircase, he heads directly to father’s room without taking breakfast.

Sitting on the couch, dressed in gho, his father welcomes him with a warm smile. Greeting him, he sits downs when his mother appears from the bedroom, dressed in kira. They wear traditional dress only for special occasions. Which means, are they up to something today?

Standing up, he greets mother and sits down. Looking at him, his father says, “We are hopeful that you might have made the decision by now. So, let’s go and meet Yethro’s parents today.”

“Decision?”

Tshegyel asks politely, hiding his anger behind his fake calmness. Yethro is father’s best friend daughter. Last year, they had introduced her to him. They met a few times. But, he has made no decision.

Looking at his silence, his mother says, “You cannot wait for Euhtra, your whole life, right?”

He does not respond.

Then his father says, “She is gone. Please, forget her and move on.”

Standing up, looking at them, he says, “I need time.”

As his mother positions her mouth to say something, he walks out of the room. Without eating breakfast, he walks out. Gentle breeze welcomes him outside. Driver greets him and opens the door for him.

Having travelled for a few minutes, finally he is in front of the office. Parking the car, the driver walks in front of him, taking his laptop. Walking into the lobby, he goes to the receptionist. She stands up respectfully.

“Any words about Euthra?”

She shakes her head. He walks up the stairs thinking about his parent’s words about Yethro. He has felt nothing for Yethro. All she wants is Euthra but where is she? His heart says that she is still alive. There was no accident reported that night on the Thimphu-Trongsa highway. Finally, he is in front of his office. Before getting inside, he calls the marketing officer. Asking him about the company status, he walks into the office. Sitting down, he rotates his chair. Had they been married, by now they would be blessed with children. A happy family. His friends tease him about the late marriage.

Knocking the door, his personal assistant, Lhamo walks in with files in her hand. Greeting him, she keeps the files on the table. Taking the files, he goes through them and signs. Giving back the files, he asks, “What is it, Lhamo?”

Bowing her head down, she says, “Dasho, we received a letter seeking donations for charity.”

“Which charity?”

“It’s from Ani Euthra.”

The sound of this name, startles him. Standing up immediately, he says, “Where is the letter?”

He stands looking outside as Lhamo walks out to get the letter. He keeps walking to and fro along the window, catching his pen in hand.

“Euthra?”

As Lhamo returns with the letter, he rushes towards her. Taking the letter from her, he reads it. Looking at Lhamo, he says, “Google about this charity organization and give me the details.”

“We already checked that,” says Lhamo, taking out her phone.

Then she says, “This charity helps old aged people those who are discarded by their children. It was started by a nun, called Euthra. Here are the photos of the organization.”

Taking her phone, he checks the photos. After scrolling down, finally he gets the picture of the nun. He directly checks her eyes and it’s Euthra, her head shaved and wearing a red robe.

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 10 Tomorrow @9PM

Nun and Her Love, Chapter 8

Making a turn from the main road towards Euthra’s bungalow, Tshegyel parks the car in the space nearby the garage. Stopping the engine, he looks around and he does not find the car of Euthra’s father but a new car is being parked in the garage. He sees no person around the house. The surrounding looks serene. It’s dusk now. He looks at the mirror. He is not sure what to do in this kind of situation. His marriage got cancelled and this morning, Euthra left saying, “Your family deserves better than me.” Both parents just said, “Let’s give her time.”

He has no idea how to console her. Today, he spent whole day, looking for ideas to help Euthra. Unfortunately, no idea strikes her. Having thought for a day, finally he decided to talk with Euthra once. He just wants to be with her. Just be with her. He has no idea, how she will react.

Taking his legs out on to the ground, he pushes back the door slowly. Locking the car, he starts to walk along the tiled footpath connecting to the entrance. It’s getting darker and darker. Standing in front of the door, bending his head down; taking a long breath, lifting his head up, he knocks. He waits. Opening the door, Zam welcomes him inside with a smile. He has no idea, if she knows the situation this family is currently in.

Looking at her warm smile, Tshegyel asks, “Is Euthra inside?”

“Yes, she is.”

As she stands holding the door knob, he walks past her into the sitting room. As expected, Shaycham is on the couch, with her eyes on her IPad. Television is switched off. He has not sure if their parents are at home or not. Going near to the sofa, he seeks Shaycham’s attention, by calling her, “Hi?”

Startled by my calling, keeping her IPad down beside her, she turns back.

“Oh, Acho!”

Smiling at her, Tshegyel, speaks softly, “Parents?”

“Nope, they left to Sikkim,” says Shaycham, with a calm face.

Thanking her, he heads towards Euthra’s room, along the corridor brightened by the fluorescent bulbs. Luckily, the door is kept open. Pushing the door gently, he takes a glimpse of the room. He finds Euthra lying on the bed, her back leaning up against the wall. She has not noticed him opening the door so he knocks. Taking her eyes off her phone, she looks at him. On seeing him, she smiles.

“Please, come in.”

He walks towards her bed slowly, thinking about how to start the conversation. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, he looks at her. She stays silently, her body covered with blanket and phone on her hand. She looks weak. Having observed her silence for a while, finally, he says, “I am so sorry. I just want to be with you.”

Looking at him, she says, “Don’t be. I am not.”

“Had lunch?”

He knows that this is a silly question but he has to start talking. She needs rest but he wants to keep her busy.

“Nope.”

Then, what next? Should he take her out for dinner? He has no idea what to say next. As he looks around the room, finally, the calendar hanging down beside her bed catches his attention. Then he says, “It’s Saturday.”

“Oh, I forgot. Let’s go party, shall we?”

Euthra says her face glowing with excitement. Pushing away the blanket, she gets up and jumps off the floor. Looking at the mirror, she says, “I need to change, can you wait for me?”

Terrified by her expression and words, he walks out of the room saying, “Okay.”

Going to the sitting room, he stands observing the room. Shaycham is not on the sofa. He hears water splattering from the kitchen, so he assumes that Zam is in there. Walking towards the window, he stands looking outside through the window. It’s dark now. The Thimphu City below glitters, blinkering with street lights and home lighting. Then, Shaycham walks out of the bathroom. On seeing me, she smiles, “How is my sister? She does not talk with us.”

“She is fine.”

“Oh!”

Getting closer to him, looking through the window, Shaycham says, “Life is unpredictable. I never knew that Euthra was adopted but people always questioned me because we are different. Look at me, I am brown and she is snow white. She is talented and brainy but I am lazy and stupid. Thus, people insulted me. They made comparisons. Even Euthra calls me Nalay.”

As she ends her words, Tshegyel stands silently when Euhtra walks into the room, dressed in torn jeans, looking stunning. Observing her for a while, Shaycham shouts, “What is this?”

“I am going to party,” says Euthra, walking towards the table.

Looking very angry, Shaycham goes near to Euthra, shouting, “Are you insane? People mourn when someone is dead. It’s not time for you to party but pray for your mother. Shame on you!”

Ignoring Shaycham’s words, looking at the kitchen, Euthra shouts, “Zam, where is my car key?”

Getting out of the kitchen, taking a new box off the book shelf; Zam takes out the key and gives it her. Taking the key from Zam, she rushes out of the room, when Shaycham stands at the table frozen. Without saying a word, he walks out. Once outside, he follows Euthra. Getting inside the car, the headlight starts to glow as he near the car. As she backs out the car from the garage, he rushes towards the car. As she stops, he pulls the door. Jumping on to the seat, he looks at Euthra when she presses the accelerator suddenly, throwing him off the seat.

Speeding down the slope, reaching the town she drives through Olakha, then up to Semtokha junction. Stopping the car at the junction, she looks at him.

“I am sorry. We can never be together. I am very grateful to have met you. I hope, you will understand.”

Before he can say anything, stretching her arms, she hugs him tightly. Then she whispers, “I am going Trongsa to find my father. If I don’t return, please don’t be sad. If I return, let us be friends.”

“Euthra, take your time. I can wait for you. Even my whole life,” says Tshegyel, his eyes drowning in the ocean of tears.

Holding his face with her soft hands, Euthra kisses him.

Then, getting away from him, she looks at him saying, “This car was a marriage gift from my parents. I am happy, we rode it together.”

He looks at her, his heart aching as if it’s being hit by a bullet. As he stays stuck to the seat gasping for breath, Euthra says, “Please, go back home now.”

He opens the door and takes out his numb body off the seat. As he stands outside, Euthra pulls back the door and speeds away, the blinkers disappearing from his sight.

Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)

Chapter 9 Tomorrow @9PM