Encounter With Wangmo's Mother

"Hi Son!" My mom waved at me with her motherly smile. She was so thrilled to receive me. She had come before the arrival of the bus. That's really made me feel fortunate. Mother is a living God. Do you agree?

"Hello!" I waved her back smiling though I was completely exhausted travelling about 200 kilometres. I dismounted from the bus and she hugged me. Everyone was staring at us and smiled.

"Oh! Great bond." One of the persons commented.

"Thank you!" I acknowledged. My mom was more delighted and smiled the stranger back.

"Hello!" The stranger greeted us.

"Hi.'' I replied.

"You know I never got such a lovely chance to be with my child like you got." She said, almost brimmed with painful tears. Her name was Yandey. I felt extremely sorry for that mother as well as extremely happy to know how much she loved her child. It's universally accepted fact that nobody cares his or her child than themselves.

"Why? What are you talking? Where is your child?" My mom asked, pitifully.

"When I say this, I feel like crying." She replied, almost bursting into tears.

"I know that! What happened? Tell me. I am too a mother and I have that ability to understand." Mom solaced her. I was blank. I couldn't utter anything and remained staring at them.

"I know. I had only one child. She was studying in class Sherabtse College. Recently, she went to Thimphu for some works and then...." She stuck on the process. She turned her face away. I knew she was shedding her silvery tears.

"C'mmon!" Mom encouraged her.

"Then....it was unanticipated! S-S-she committed suicide!" She cried, her tears were running down her cheeks. My mom hugged her and consoled her level best.

I was thunderstruck. Sui-suicide? Committed suicide? Thimphu and recently? I was pale and shivering.

"Committed suicide? Thimphu?" I asked her, awe-struck.

"Yes! She committed suicide. My dear pearls! " She replied, covering her face with her palms.

"Her? Name?" I got more suspicious.

"Yes. My only daughter, Wangmo." She replied astonishingly. She looked at me inquisitively. Oh God! Didn't she know me?

"Wangmo? Last year she was here only, right?" I tried to sound normal.

"Yes. Do you know?" She looked directly at me.

"Yes. I do." I replied. "She was really a good student."

"Yes. She committed suicide! With her death, all our hopes and dreams were fired to ashes." She said.

"Don't worry Yandey. It's the Karmic play. We cannot do anything. Be strong, don't loose hope!" Mom patted her shoulder and she hugged her once more. We waved her and came to our dwelling.

At home.

"Dawa! Are you home?" My dad hugged me tight and kissed on my cheeks.

"Yes Apa!" I replied and once again hugged him. He was very delighted to have me back. I knew how desperately they missed me.

"We missed you, Alu. Especially me!" He said and gave a lovely smile to my mom. I remembered my aunt and uncle. Love is inexplicable!

"Me too!" She laughed. We all laughed heartily for some time.

"Me too, mom and dad!" I replied and hugged them both.

Dad brought us tea and some biscuits on the plate. We all drank and I went to my bed for short slumber.

8:30 p.m.

''Chechey , come for the dinner!" Yelled my mom.

Though I was exhausted, I replied, "Wait a minute! I will be there."

When I entered the sitting room, the aroma of a roasted chicken diffused into my nose. Instinctively, saliva started to assemble onto my mouth.

"Wow! Chicken?" I rubbed my hands.

"Yes! You naughty!" Replied my dad.

We had a wonderful dinner that day. There was no doubt how pleased they were to meet me. The trade of smiles is worthy to bring in. Every time they looked at me, there wasn't absence of divinely smile.

"You maybe tired. Go and rest. We will talk tomorrow evening." Mom told me . We all kissed each other and I went to my cell. I was extremely fortunate to have Lhasang in my life though officially we are not committed. But that's not too far. I kept on gazing at her photo which I kept as my wallpaper.