Last night I
retired to bed at around 10.30. I had a mind to talk to my sister, Tapasi, who
has been with us for the last 10 days or so. Unfortunately, I must have fallen
asleep as soon as I hit the bed due to the sheer fatigue and exhaustion of the
last few days. I slept soundly and woke up feeling quite refreshed in the early
hours of the morning. I realized then that today my sister, someone I have
always adored, admired and secretly worshiped, was leaving for Kolkata and there was no knowing when she would be coming back to Bhutan or if she
would be coming back at all. I did not really know how the next few hours fled
by and soon it was time for me to get ready for school. Once inside the school,
I found that it was exactly 8 o’clock in the morning and I had to make a call
to Mr.Thapa to come and pick my sis and wife ( She was also accompanying my sis in connection with the surgery that her mother is going to undergo on the
8th of this month).
I decided to
make the most of my early arrival at school by trying to obtain the cell number
of Mr.Thapa from his daughter in class-IX. I looked for her in class-IX D but
she was not yet there. So I requested one of her friends to send her to me as soon
as she came to school and went back to the staff room.
During the
Assembly, I earnestly prayed to God to see to their safe return to Kolkata. I
had reasons to be worried as my sister was only granted a stay of a week in
this majestic country, despite my making a request in the Road Permit Form to let her
stay here till the 4th as her return ticket has already been booked on
the 4th. But the Regional Immigration Office in Phuentsholing must
have had their own reasons for letting my sister stay here till the 1st
of this month. I was worried if I had done the right thing by not asking anyone
for an extension of her stay for two more days or not. The simple truth of the
matter is I did not want to trouble any more people, something I seem to be
doing a lot of late.
The assembly
concluded with Principal reminding our students to take their studies far more
seriously than they are doing for the time being. As I headed towards my class,
I was getting a bit tensed up. Only yesterday I had to request Principal Sir to
let me go to the bank as I had to fund transfer. Sir had acquiesced very
gracefully as always. How would he feel about it if I had to ask for his
consent once more today to see my sis and wife off? How would I feel in his
shoes in the first place?
Anyways, the
first period ended quite fast. I had the second period with Standard-X. I
decided as I entered the class, to be absolutely honest with them. There was no
point beating around the bush. So I talked to them about my predicament. The class
was transformed the very next moment. Rinchen Tshewan asked for my book to
write the questions on the board. And off he went writing the questions in a
flash.
I felt
guilty, so I spent the next quarter of an hour explaining what they were to do.
It was already 9.45 by then. Just before coming up on the first floor to
standard-X, I had met with Sushmita, Mr.Thapa's daughter, and obtained her father’s number from her.
I called him to remind him to pick my wife and sister up from near our
quarters. At one time I even thought of taking the risk of going out without
informing Principal. But I realized the very next moment that it would not be
proper. Sir has always been very understanding and supportive. I was getting
quite restless, so taking all the courage in my hand, I decided to inform sir
about my desire to see them off, fair and square!
Sir was busy
with a visitor and a couple of students by the time I had removed a corner of
the curtain to peep in his office for his consent. On noticing me, he asked me in and
before I could stammer out my request, pronounced,” You want to go for one period,
no? Go ahead ….”
His response
left me speechless. How did he know where I was going? Why did he not ask lots
of questions like some others? I felt relieved and very grateful at the same time.
I also realized then that I must not take advantage of his business.
So I tried explaining my plight: "Sir, my mother-in-law is undergoing an
operation. My wife is leaving for Kolkata by the 10.30 bus and I just want to
drop her at Karma Hotel ………."
The next
minute I was out. As I was scampering to my quarter, my better-half called me. She
sounded really worried. They were already out on the main road, yet there was
no sign of Mr.Thapa! But he is a man of honour and within the next two minutes
or so, I could see his Maruti 800 speeding towards us.
No sooner
had we got inside than the van was flying off like a jet. We did not have to
wait long for the first bus as it reached Chimakothi before time. I decided to make the most of this opportunity by paying the cable charges, while the passengers got off for some refreshment
or snacks. By the time I came down, both my sis and wife were comfortably
seated inside the bus. I bent down to touch my sister’s feet. This sweet sis of
mine has always stood by me through thick and thin, and therefore come all the way from Kolkata for the sheer love
she has had always for her youngest bro!
The bus had
started moving out by then. I rushed to thank Madam Sonam for helping me with their
tickets and was back to school by 10.35!
Right after the recess, I had a class with standard-XISc’A’ and wasn’t I
happy to be back doing what I like doing most? I enjoyed teaching them as much
as they enjoyed, they told me later, learning about how to transform sentences
by the interchange of one part of speech with another.
Thank you, God
for all your compassion and helping hand. For not letting me take advantage of
anyone’s love and trust and finally for letting all of us have a meaningful and
pleasurable lesson. After all who can deny that everything is pre-destined?
