Unknown Woman

Young man, early forties, who, having lived challenging childhood life, ventured towards finding the meaning in his miserable life. Tanker driver Mr. Tawjay was heading towards Thimphu enduring the long series of Gurma (religious songs) from his 20th century’s tape recorder. He was neither jolly nor happy man, always sunken grief thinking about the past memories and what kind of life he would lead in his future life. After having crossed Khekila he stopped his tanker and stepped out to string bundle of Lungdhar (Prayer flag) hopping to thrive good luck within his miserable life and for his longevity. Getting into his tanker he craned his neck outside window to see if the sun is still at the mountain peak. Frantically he presumed that the time of dusk is nearing, so he unlock his tanker’s engine and rushed toward Chumey valley with growling of his tanker in every bent of road due to damaged silencer pipe . So after having reached to Chumey he decided to park his tanker until tomorrow morning because he cannot drive further since his Turbo Tanker got clashed with A-star the day before and got its headlight beyond repair.

Cladded in warm jacket, shoes and black muffler around his neck Mr. Tawjay got into the Bar-Cum-Restaurant named Zangmo after having heard the giggling of group of people. He joined the group of people around Bukhuri grabbing the hot steaming cup of suja. He could even sense the reek of whisky and rock bee. Sometime at the corner of his mind he also pray for the blissful life when he sees other men enjoying a lot with drinks and spending money in the luxurious manner. For a while he joined the laughter broken out by the crude joke cracked by the man with beard, seemingly of mid forty holding a cup of beer, almost in verge of loose body balance. With the smiling approach that man neared a woman, seated at the back of group near the bukhuri, who was carrying a plumpy and cute nine year old baby in her lap. With his commanding voice he said,” come baby, let’s go to bed”. But woman was lost in fear and couldn’t reply even a single word to him. Mr. Tawjay felt so pity on her. He sighed for a while and tried to approach that man and he interrupted,” it’s our duty to understand the human rights, don’t bully those people who are in trouble, rather help them man”. the man shouted thudding his glass to the table nearby and said,” There are Jangchub Sempas amongst us”. The laughter resumed applauding their hands.

So, he gently greeted that woman with welcoming smile. Tawjay asked,”where do you come from? Where do you live? “And finally,” why are you here in the midst of wild and drunken man?”. “I live in Thimphu but I had a problem with my husband and I am right here facing the miserable fate” was the immediate reply and she was trying her best to the fullest to hold her tears from rolling down and she blinked back. So he related his life and felt so pity on her life.

He approached counter and did entry and ushered that woman to the room numbered 12. After consoling her he asked what do she wanted for her dinner’s menu. She hesitantly demanded Koka Chawmin. He rushed back to the counter and demanded for Koka Chowmin and one bottle of horlicks for her baby. He lingered around the bhukuri until the Chowmin was ready. He headed back hurryingly into the room with the plate of Koka Chawmin. Surprisingly out of blue sky woman was missing. He searched each and every corner of room and seen his bag rummaged. So he rummaged through his bag and sensed the missing of important “Parcel” sent by his landlord. In the mid chaos he vividly remembered his landlord’s very words,” please do not misplace this parcel, I have laptop in this. Do take care.” The than parcel was sending to landlord’s daughter studying at RTC in second semester first year. He cried for help and yelled out. But last resort he could managed was to cover his head and sob under it with various kinds of thoughts. That was his terrible situation ever. He regretted over not asking even her name and contact address before the incident.

After the news were been to his landlord he was terminated from the driving job and currently he was jobless. The image of that unknown woman still haunts his thoughts every moment in his life. Saddest was the Tawjay’s life ever. He always peep through window looking at the cumulus cloud cutting the silhouette of the bright sunshine of Narang Village thinking about the UNKNOWN WOMAN !!! And the ROOM NUMBERED 12.