“Ice-cream Tonight”

“Sis, I heard result is out, can you look into mine, I will message you my index number” came panting voice filled with anxiety and impatience. “Just now I am having lunch, I will go check right after lunch”  said I and ended the call. Anxiety and curiosity filled my stomach so full that taking another bite is just out of question. So I did my dishes and hurried to office. The way to office never felt so long. With each step my heart beat increased and curiosity raised its bar.

After what it felt like hours (which was actually 10 minutes), I was in front of my desktop. I opened Bhutan news and there the names of toppers were announced corresponding to the scored percentage. I could not find the site where the results were displayed. I asked my friend and came to know that the site is currently not loaded and it will be coming out shortly. So I was compelled to wait again ( worst thing I ever have to do).

My waiting was finally over when my friend messaged me with a link. Following the link I came to a page where I have to punch in the index number. After having punched what felt like never ending 12 digits index number, I waited for the page to display the result. I remained still with my pupils fixed straight on the displayed page. What should I do next, should I call her or not, should I say my net isn’t working or should I just say that the result is not out yet, those were the questions jumping in and out of my head while my eyes still scanning the marks from top to bottom.

While I remained battling with my thoughts, my phone rang and the incoming call displayed my sister’s name. Since I could not talk at that moment, I pressed the red button and started to message her marks with shivering cold fingers. About ten minutes after sending the message, I decided to call her. “Hello” came a low spirited voice filled with anguish and sadness. My heart sank, lips dried and throat tightened, I thought I won’t be able to speak a word. The loathsome part of being an elder sister is when one has to comfort and shower your warm words to the little one’s when actually you yourself are the one in need of it. So there I went with my words, “Ong Yangchen, did you get my message”. “Yes I got it “came back the plain reply. “ I am glad that you have managed to get PCA this time, so congratulations dear” I blurted out.

“My English mark is very low, I won’t be able to get admission in any of the college” came the crying voice. “ Oh that is not the problem dear and more over you only need a pass mark in English( that was a lie because many college demanded a minimum of 50 marks in English), I am sure there are many college that will welcome you. Don’t worry; you will be able to enjoy your study in a very good college. Stop thinking about your marks and prepare yourself for your college life. Common dear you are going to be attending a college and I assure you that you will have a very good college life. So just be happy and eat well. Keep healthy and take care of yourself tubga dear” was everything I could say to comfort

.

“Yaya Azhim…byee” she said with the biggest sigh ever. “ok bye, catch you later” I said and ended the call. The next moment I found myself going through the Criteria for admission into Tertiary Education Programmes for the Academic Year 2015. Scanning through the criteria for each college, I decided I have to eat ice-cream tonight.

I want a Bear

loud ringtone of my phone disturbed my sleep but was happy to see the name displayed on the incoming call. “I love You” said my dear Druksel over the phone. The words as sweet as the voice of the speaker himself made my heart beat the rhythm of a joy. “Love you too dear” was my immediate reply with an intensity filled with love and affection. “What are you doing… asked my darling. “Ummm…since its Sunday, I am still in my bed dear”, said I. “ok ….when are you going to get up and go for shopping”, he asked. “After lunch dear” I said confused why he would ask about my shopping.

“What you up to?” I asked him. Just back from Sonam’s place came back the reply. “Oh ok ….What have you been doing at your friend’s place this early” I asked without realizing that it was already past 11:00 am. “We were playing” said he. With the phone in a loud speaker mode, I woke up still hearing to what he has to say. He went on explaining about the game that they played and how he won over his friend. I congratulated on his victory and said I am proud of you. “Well dear, I need to wash up now, will catch u later” I said. Ok he said. I was about to end the call when suddenly I heard him speak something loudly. Unclear about what he said, I asked him to repeat the last sentence.

After few second’s pause, he said “I want a bear”. Still not believing my ears I asked again and I found my ears heard it right, he wants a bear. Wait a minute; he wants what…a BEAR…I said to myself. Then I said “Dear I know I stay at a place surrounded by jungle but there is no zoo out here and more over I am so scared of that beast, I cannot bring you a bear”. “I want a bear… I want a bear…Sonam has a bear….his daddy brought him…I want a bear….he has a brown bear…very big …I want a brown bear….” were innocent cries from my little Nephew. I scratch my head trying to grab a meaning of what he was saying. Sonam has a big brown bear so Druksel wants a bear…a big brown bear….oh a “TEDDY BEAR” I said and laughed out at my stupidity. “No Aunty, I want a BIG BROWN BEAR” said my sweet heart.

“Ok ok dear, Aunty will come with a BIG BROWN BEAR for you tubga. If you want a bear you have to be a good boy and listen to your mommy ok” I said. “Ok aunty I will be a good boy, I will listen to mommy and eat properly. I won’t make my clothes dirty. I won’t go and play in water. I will be good. When are you coming here?” said Druksel all excited. “I will ask your mom whether you are behaving well or not ok. I will be there next week” I said. “ok aunty.. it is time for you to go for shopping right…byee ” he said. “Ok byee dear be a good boy” I said and ended a call.

He wanted a bear so he was curious about my shopping thing, I said to myself clearing my confusion from earlier.

"Silent Whisper"

As curious as it has always been,

My heart saturated with anguish of fears,

My eyes welling up for the cascade of tears,

There I stand searching for a reason to be seen.

As coward as ever,

Though eyes sees new rays of hope

Yet mind reflecting on old wears and tears

Stagnant lies my foot afraid to lope.

Confused and moped here I stand,

With a soul in search of new destiny,

But a mind battling for its command,

So I ask for an answer of certainty.

Is it time I let go of my fears?

Is it time I welcome a change?

Is it time I resort to new direction?

Is it time to open that closed heart?

…………………………………

The question still remains “Is it Time?”

Nameless But Not Tasteless.

The surrounding environment is being polluted with the sound of coughing and sneezing, not to forget the equal contribution of virus through it. Cough and cold has become viral just like a fashion trend with increasing no of people catching up with it every day. In such case, I too wasn’t any exception, so landed up being one of the victims. My days felt so tiring and night seems endless darkness where I lay blaming my immune system for every cough and sneeze.

It was on Wednesday when we were declared holiday as there was a blessing at Trongsa Dzong. Due to my sheer bad luck I could not go to receive the blessing. So I remained curled up on sofa with my drowsy eyeballs fixed on the TV. I happened to watch a program on a food channel, “Zee Khana Khazana”. In that program, a chef was explaining the recipe of a dish. I keenly with all my attention observed the ingredients and cooking process of that dish. The ingredients were locally available and I noticed that I have got all the needed ingredients in my kitchen. The process seems simple, easy and pretty fast.

If I am to stay idle without any work then undoubtedly I am going to fall asleep. I clearly remembered my mother saying that sleeping during day time when suffering from cough and cold will do nothing better but to worsen it. So I thought instead of sleeping, I will give a try for the dish I have watched a moment ago. So turning off the TV, I placed my steps towards kitchen. I recollected the recipe and found that I could easily remember the process so I ventured into cooking this new dish.

After about forty five minutes the dish was ready and so I asked my Grandpa to taste it. I was really nervous about the comments that my grandpa would throw about the dish. Biting my nails out of nervousness I remained silently waiting for a nice comment from him. Fortunately my grandpa was happy with the dish and ate it all very well saying that “You must have watched the process very attentively otherwise it would not have turned out this well. By the way what is the name of this particular dish”. “Ya…I forgot the name of the dish…haha” was all I could say sticking out my tongue.

What I have learned was that; "idealism leads to experimentation" and my experiment on the nameless dish turned out to be a success and though the dish was nameless, it was not tasteless...:)

Lunch Time Chit-Chats

Sometimes life turns out to be really funny. It was during one of our normal lunch break when three of us; Sangay, Aue kesang and me were chit chatting while snacking on some junk foods. While chatting, I happened to log into my facebook account and there I saw that one of my friend has uploaded the photo of that captivating, awesome looking and salivating chocolate cake. I just felt like taking out that cake tearing the screen of the computer. Realizing that such feeling is totally an absurd, I controlled my cravings but then my mischievous inner self wanted to enjoy some scene. So knowing that Aue kesang loves chocolate cake more than I do, I intentionally showed her that photo. After that there is nothing more interesting than to watch her expression. Her chinky eyes rounding into a wide circle, her mouth opening up naturally as if to bite the screen, her hand was very quick in handling the mouse to zoom the photo. I could clearly and with much vividness feel her craving for the chocolate cake and why won’t it be as it was lunch time when her stomach was already growling and on top of that I showed a photo that took her lust for the cake to the next level. Sangay and I laughed our heart out gazing at her expression. After sometime Aue kesang came into reality from her world of fantasy which was build with the imaginary chocolate cakes. “I miss my college days when I used to have hearty chicken rolls from KFC at Bangkok” expressed Sangay. “Haha …now it’s your turn huh” was the line from my mouth flowing out not realizing that I myself so wanted to eat a Pizza. So I said,” well I want to have a pizza more than anything else”. Both of them gave a huge laugh and said we shall just stop building the castle in air and enjoy the “wai wai” an instant noodles, guava, and a tea that we have in front of us. Lost in our chit chats and laughs we didn't realize that our lunch breaks has been already over. So we wrapped up our eating and when I was about to leave for my office Aue kesang said, “ Isn't that funny and paused”. So I stopped my step to listen to what she has to continue. After some seconds she resumed saying “it is indeed funny how the life can play tricks with the situation, when I was at Paro after graduation, there were cakes available abundantly in different bakery shop but I could not eat as I was out of money during those days. But now I have money to satisfy my demand but again the situation here is that there are no bakery shops selling cakes.” To that I nodded and said “ Imbay mo.. Aue ( yes.. indeed a truth.. sis) but we should understand that some things are never meant for us and the situation remains the same although the time and place changes” with that I resumed the steps towards my office.

Happy Anniversary

Time sure flies by quickly and it is already a year since I have joined this organization. 10^th September 2013, is a day that blessed me with my current job and place. I really feel lucky to get a job in less than three months after graduation when I have seen many graduates struggling hard with the job hunting process for more than six months. For this, my heartfelt gratitude and deepest appreciation goes to the prestigious engineering college of a country; “College of Science and Technology” and the alumni of the college who were successful in maintaining the status and up keeping the fame of college with high esteem in the professional market.

With the new environment, new people and new responsibility, my journey of job life till date were filled with numerous experiences. Though it has been only a year, I feel I have learned quite a lesson that helped me grow technically as well as personally. I have been engaged with different people with varying personality. From those with good heart, I noticed how beautiful the life is in the company of those good people. From those that are not so good, I have learned that ignorance is bliss and I am good away from their company.

I have been confronted with situations that demanded my patience, proper judgments, careful observation and quite often negligence. Some of my judgments led me to a proper decision while some left me with regrets and repentant. Most importantly I learned that one should not jump to a conclusion over an instantaneous judgments, be it a situation or a person.

Distance makes heart grow fonder and I give my full support on this statement. Being away from family, I always longed for togetherness filled with happy moments. But being away from family also made me realize their importance and my love and care towards them grew even stronger. Though away by distance yet I have always kept them close in my heart. Family stands on the top of list when it comes to priority chart in my life. Any help and selflessness from my side will never be enough to pay back for their support and presence in my life.

I have observed happy and warm welcomes but I also witnessed sad farewells. As it is clear that we live to die and so we do meet to depart. I have realized the impermanence and changes that are inevitable in life. What we have got is the present moment and it is in our hand whether to waste it over negative thoughts or cherish it creating sweet memories with positive attitude.

My one year experience in the job was filled with mixture of feelings. There was happiness and laughter, satisfaction and fun yet sadness and tears, fears and discomfort. All in all it was a package of emotions. So I wish myself and my fellow batch mates a happy 1^st job anniversary and I hope the following days will bring much more happiness and challenges that will root in us a strong foundation to bear with much bigger challenges we are bound to face in life once we move away from present location. There is so much to be learned henceforth.

Music-My Favourite Companion

If I go by the dictionary meaning; “Music is an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotion in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and color”. But for me, music is the closest companion that never leaves my side. I tend to cling on to the music and associate with it every situation trending in my life.

When I’m happy and high spirited with the satisfaction of accomplishment and achievement, a strong and intense music takes my happiness to the next level. When I’m gloomy and void of energy rendered lost and entangled amidst confusion, an inspirational music tends to boost my energy and direct me towards my goal. When I’m feeling low and all broken unable to get myself a proper stand, a motivational music shows me the brighter side of life and a reason to come out even stronger than before.

 When I gets stressed out and agitated confronting with anger and frustration, a soothing music helps me cool down and retain the normal myself. When I land up stuffed with the emotions of despair yet unable to burst it out, a melancholy music just sets the mood and I could feel the outburst of tears down my cheeks and finally remain light at heart. When I fall victim of insomnia and remain helplessly waiting for the sleep, a sweet melody always works as a lullaby and gets me proper sleep.

Even the boring basic chores seem to be easy and delightful if taken up in the presence of music. Washing clothes and dishes seem much more fun with the rhythm of music. Cooking food tends to be enjoyable with the taste of music. Cleaning and dusting rooms becomes exciting in the harmony of music.

The best part of music is that it never bores me. I would rather say that music never failed to save me from boredom. It was always at its best to accompany me. It seems to me that I will never get enough of it. The more I listen to music, the more I wish to remain lost in its beautiful creation. 

“Music is thus my favourite companion”.