I got myself registered for the one day
refresher’s course (firing drill) at Deothang after consulting with my husband
since I didn’t have any other important work at that time. I was apprehensive
because I knew that most of the Desuups were busy with “Wang Duty” in
Phuentsholing and I hardly knew the Desuups listed for the refresher’s course.
To my dismay I could see only three female Desuups listed when the final list
was uploaded in the Desuung group page in facebook. Nevertheless I kept my hope
high because I knew I was going to make new friends and gain some more practice
in firing drill.
The tiring journey through the crowded Assam
road dimmed as I neared my native place. The greeting into the valley by the
sound of black necked cranes made the scene all more mesmerizing. My five year old
nephew was travelling with me to see his grandparents for the first time and
was full of questions about the new environment and the cranes. He was asking
about the Chorten Kora that he had seen in Noezhen Express in BBS and wanted to
know how big it was. He kept asking whether Chorten kora was as big as some
chorten (stupa) that we passed through on the way. When I said it was bigger
than that, he spread his arms and asked whether it was as big. I told him that
he would see it in few minutes as we were nearing the place, he kept stretching
his neck to see further in front of the car.
“Mam, Apa sir’s daughter is unconscious. She is
being referred to Jomotsangha but there isn’t a single vehicle at this hour”
said the caller as soon as I picked up phone. I was in dilemma as it was
getting dark and I had never driven at night owing to my poor vision and the
road to Jomotsangkha was very rough owing to constant rainfall.
“
I am coming to Apa sir’s place. Tell them to get ready” saying that I shut down
my laptop, grabbed the keys and rushed out as the baby’s life was at stake.
A man claimed that he
could summoned Ghosts and Spirits and dared his friends and neighbors to come
and see his claims. Many days passed and people became very curious. Everyone
wanted to see the ghosts though they were very scared. The man announced a day
for is ghost revealing show and many friends and neighbors flocked into his
house leaving behind the children at home to see the ghost.
I
always go home on weekends despite the condition of weather and last week was
no different from any other weekends. I had asked for the extension of my leave
since I had some work at Nanglam. After spending a night at Nanglam and
finishing my work there, I travelled back home. The weather was hot and dusty
and there was no sign of rain. Assuming that the weather might be same at my
station which is about 25 kms away, I asked my driver to drop me to my station
in the evening. My husband said that I should leave in the afternoon since the
weather is very unpredictable in the summer and agreeing to his suggestion I
got into the vehicle after lunch. Travelling through the rugged bumpy farm road
is not always a pleasant experience but I got no other option.
Once there lived a family of three black necked cranes and a horse in a small Himalayan Kingdom. The horse was a very powerful animal and wanted to rule over the kingdom but the cranes also wanted the same. Then began the hostility among the people because everyone sided either the cranes or the horse. There were very few who remained neutral. The resentment between the two even caused some families to drift apart for some time.
Once Transparency, Accountability and Professionalism sat together to grade the three individuals. They were going through the profile of a teacher, an engineer and an administrator.
As the days draw closer for me to move to my new destination I am gripped with the feeling of uneasiness. The first question that has been pestering me for the last several days has been “Will I be able to shoulder the responsibility that has been bestowed upon me?” I haven’t been very confident in convincing myself on appropriate response either which had led me to open some books which are usually referred by my husband. (I did not even bother to give those books a second glance earlier)
Unpredictable weather is one thing that I have to get used to here in the southern belt. The morning was bring and sunny with lots of dust around and the temperature was on ever increasing pace. I could smell the sweat that perspired from the children’s forehead in absence of the electricity that is supplied from across the border which is almost non-existence.
My orders to the new place of posting had been out for more than a week now. It was out on the 1st of March 2013 and it said that we had to report to the new place of posting without fail before the 10th of March. I had requested the ministry to reconsider my placement since there is acute shortage of teachers in my present Dzongkhag and the nearby schools are in dire need of some additional teachers. I had been informed that my case would be discussed in the HR Committee meeting and informed within a week time. Thus I wait for confirmation…