NGAIH AW........ SELUNG NA LIAP LOU AW...........

By ~ Paumuanlal Guite BaBs

Lamka leh a sehvel a siamsinna ziak leh sepna tuamtuam ziaka omte hong tung zungzungta ua, khosung a gamlum mahmah maita hi. Tape recorder nei teng inn ah lungzuan laate kikhah in khosung a paungaihna zang in “A tungnung, a tungnung, tungnungpen Mang thupi, hiai lei ah tangtawn in lem leeng hen halleluijah..” chih laa te hong kikhah ging zuazua mai a, lungleng thei mi tampite ading in a lunglen huai mahmah mai hi. Innkuan mun tuamtuam a kikhen vengvungte ading a kimuhkhawmna hun hoihtak ahi a, mi tampi ading a kipahna leh nopsakna hun ahihhangin kei leh ka khote uh khenkhat ading in bel mualliamsa hunte ngaihna apuang a, “Innkuan kim in Krismas zangnuam lai veng…….” chih kaan gen ding a om hetkei.

Kei pen tangvalnou pan, neuchik kahihlai in kanu leh pate’n hon omlouhsan uh ahi a, ka papite etkolna nuai a khanglian kahi. Ka papi’n hong deihsak mahmah hinapi in ka nupi pe’n in hong deihsak law hetlou ahihmanin aguuk in haksa kasa thei mahmah mai a, ahitazongin belh ding dang nei tuanlou kahihmanin a chih bangbang ua phunlou leh paulou a ka-om angai mai hi. Tangval himahleng inn nupi nna teng sepsak in ka om a, tuitawi, annhuan leh innsung nasep in ka buai thei mahmah a, ka lawm leh vualte kimawl khawng bang ka ann huan kawm khawng in ka en in a ka eng thei mahmah mai hi. Himahleh keizaw huchibang a lawm leh vual pawl man ding vual kahitakei hi.

Krismas hun ding hong naai hiaihiaita a, khosung a tangvalte leh papite bang satang hawl in gamlak ah kibuai thei mahmah mai a, nungak leh nupi tangzaang teng lah singpua tawh tuitawi tawh abuai thei mahmah mai uhi. Huchia satang hawl a ka omna uah chikmah a ka gintak ngeilouh leh ka tung aleng tung dia ka gintak ngei hetlouh sakhi lianpi takkhat ka kaplum kha a, ka kipak mahmah mai hi. Mi adin zaw sakhi khat man maimai himaithei, himahleh kei adin chu a thupi petmah a, ka sakhi kaplup bang ka zuutzuut kha zawzen hi. Khua bang mial dia kisata ahihmanin ka samat kho tangvalteng in zawng in kapai uhi. Lamdung a ka lungsim guuk in ka nuuinuui mai hi.

Khomual ka tun un ka kho nungakte uh bangzah hiam in honna vaidawn ua, tui bang honna pia uhi. Huaite lakah hoih kasak mahmah Chingte leng hong telkha a, nuihmaitakin “Kua a akaplumtu, a kaplumpen kei mahmah in tui kape ding…” chi’n hong nui selsal a, gammang kawm a etlawmtak a Ngeisok paakkhia bang kasa zawzen hi. Tui hongpia a, amah hong piak ahihziak hiam ka theikei, ka pian apan hiai banga tuui limtak, vot kelkel ka dawnkhak patna hi’n ka thei ahi. Ka tawl adam tuam mahmah mai a, ka lungsim guuktak in kithupisakna bang ka nei kha dek zawzen hi. Krismas sa ding man, nungak melhoihsak penpen in tui hong pia, hiai kan a ka thupi ni aom dia hia chi utmai ka hi.

December 23 nitak hong hita a, khosung a hiai/huai Saptuamte chih omlou in nungak-tangval teng in ADVANCE CHRISTMAS hun ka zang khawm uhi. Item tuamtuam hong sai ua, a kopkop a lasak kidemna bang hongsai ua, huaina ding in numei teng min lai ah hong gelhkhia ua, pasal teng in kidok hi. Lawmte’n hong dok ua, khut ka beeng zuazua mai uhi. Kei hun hong tung takin kava dok a, ka dok pen leng en ngam zawzen lou in a saitupa ka piak leh, “Muanpu in a koppih ding in Chingte a dokkha……..” chih hong puang a, mi’n a khut ana beeng zuazua ua, keibel ka kipah tawh ka zum tawh ka san gai a, zum sasa in Chingte tawh ka tukhawm uhi. Kei bel taang ngam vetlou kahihmanin aguk in ka gim mahmah mai hi.

Kidemna tuamtuam kong panta ua, kei tawh Chingte lasak hun hong tungtak in haksa kasa mahmah mai uhi. Chingte bang leng ana zum lawsam ahi ngei dia, mipi laka a daak khe ngam vetkei a, ka nih un anuai lam nga sa in laa kong sa uhi. Ka aw uh liing tuak ahihmanin hong kituak lehlam vanglak ua, ka tuailaipihte un  kou gintak kheel in siam bang honna sa vanglak uh ahingei dinga, khatna hong lasak velvol mawk uhi. Chingte tawh ka tutkhawm khakpatna ahihmanin tutdet ding bang ka ut mawk a, nuam kasa mahmah hi. Ka ki-en tuah taktak ngamkei ua, ka et chiang bang in amah hong et tawh ana kituak kha gaihgaih zel a, ka nih un kinuihsan in ka zum tuak mahmah mai uhi. Hiai bang hun nuam chikleh a om ngei nawn diam maw, tua Chingte tawh ka kipair khak uh tuchauh hilou in kumtawn daih ding khawng hileh chih lamlam lungsim ah aom vungvung mai hi.

Programme tawpdek in Conductorpu in tunitak hun ah kuapeuhmah in na koppihte chiat uh a inntan uh nava khak ding uh, tangval kuamah in nungak amah vuak a paisak louh ding chih hong puang ahihmanin kenleng ka tawp phet un Chingte a innlam uh ka zotpih ngal hi. Hiai nitak Conductorpa bang neizou hileng Award ka pe ut zawzen mai hi. Lampi ah a kihoupih ngam zawsam omlou in paulou-phunlou in ka kizui numnum uhi. Ka lungsim ah gen suk gawp mai ding ade aw chih bang ka ngaihtuah a, lah kithuah masakni a va gen pah zawzen kholou khawng hongsa lawkha inteh kachi a, kagen kei. (A houpih leng houpih ngamlou in ka itna thu leng bangchi gen ngam ding ka maizen diam ah…). Atawp tawp in Chingte te inn ka hongtung ua, gate ah “Ching, kana paiphot ding aw, mangpha aw….” ka chihleh, “UMuan, hong baang ding hong kisa a, na lunglutna lam hikholkei lengle khatveibek nong pawtsam kei dia…” hong chi a, Mangpha ka khak pah zawzen khak bang ka kisiik thak sim a, lah va luut ding nuamsa nawnlou kahih chian, “Ching, zaan lah sawt gawpta ahihchian nidang chia ka hong pawt ding aw…” ka chih leh aman leng “Umuan, na chih teitei leh ahimai keidia leh….mangpha hoihtak” chi’n innsung ah hong lutsanta hi.

Inn kapai sukpah a, ka lum ngal hi. Lupna tung ah ka ihmu theita kei a, ka samat lai a tui hongpiak dan peuh, ka lasak khawmdan uleh ka va khaak a agate ua a kampaute ka lungsim ah a omden a, ka mitkha in ka hunluiteng uh mu dundun mai a, ka ngaihtuah den a, kei kia bang in ka nuui heuhau zel hi. Lungkham chiang kia hilou a lungsim nopluat zawzen chiang bang aleng ki ihmu theilou zawzen ahi maw kachi mai hi. Hiai nitak apan Chingte ka itna puang deuhdeuh mai hi’n ka thei a, ka ngai petmah maita hi. Aman leng hong houpih dan apan lametna hong pe mahmah hin ka thei a, ahoihlam kipia in ka lungkim mahmah mai hi. Huchia ngaihtuahna paisautaka thil ka ngaih tuahtuah laitak in ka aak uh hong khuang a, sana ka etleh zinglam dak 4 ana gingta a, ihmut nadan om nawnkei chi in ka thoukhia a, kisuhalh in ka nupite thohma in innteng hahsiang in tuitawi, ann huan kana zou vekta hi.

December 24 ni ahita a, khosung a pasal teng sa-at ding in biakinn lam ka zuan nainai uhi. Katun in sa ana em ta ua, mi leng ana tam mahmah maita hi. Ka mit ataikual pah a, numei tuitawite pawl omna lam ah aguuk in Chingte ka zongzong mai a, ka muzou hetkei hi. Ka muhlouhtak in ka tha bang adah zawzen hi. Huchia ka guuk zonzon lai in ka nunglam apan “Umuan, hong tunghakna chia, singpi dawnpah aw” hong kichi a, kenle nunghei a ka etleh amel leng mu nailou in a singpi ka sukbuaksak kha a, kisuanglah kawmtak a ka ettouh leh Chingte ana hi a, hong nuihsan a, “Umuan, kisuanglah hetkoh, adang kava lathak ding” chi’n hong kiheisan pah hi. Hong painawntak in singpi hongpia a, “Umuan, zannitak I omdan teng ngaihtuah kha khop ing a ihmu thei mahmah lou keive..” hong chi a, kenle “Ching, kei kia ding ka kisak leh nang leng ana huchi sam nahi maw….” ka chi a, huaiteng kihouman in ka mai ah sa-at ding hong koih ua, nasep kapatpah angai maimah hi.­­­

 

PART II

Ngaihpente melmu kawm, melh cheuhcheuh kawm a nasep hi a gimhuai ding himhim a omlam ka theikei hi. Singpi bang ka duh thithe mai a, Chingte in hong piapia maileh chih bang ka ut mahmah hi. Ka mailam ah singpi bawl a buai mahmah uh ahihmanin ka gal etet mai a, aman leng hong na guuk etet ahisam ding a, ka ki-entuah kha gaih zel ua, ka kinuihsan zel uhi. Loukhoh chiang khawng in I maban ah hong tutu leh loukhoh kihaat mahmah ding in ka um zawzen hi. Ka sa-at ding tam mahmah hinapi in ka zou zungzung mai hi. Huchia Chingte melh kawm a sa ka at-at nalam in ka theih hetlouh kalin ka khut ana aat kha kahi ngei ding a, ka tutna mun ah sisan hong tam mahmah mai hi.

Ka khut a si hong taakkhiat zungzung chiang in ka lawmpa Thangpu in ana mupah ahingei ding a, Chingte kintak in hongsam hi. Chingte ahihleh kou khote Nurse zou neihsun ahihmanin ka kisaktheihpih mahmah khat uh ahi. Chingte inleng hong delh phei pah a, damdawi khong vala in hong nuhsak ngal in hong tuamsak pah hi. Ka khut a tuamsung teng Chingte mai kana enkha den a, Chingte inleng nervous sim ahingei dinga ka khut natlouhna nasan hong tuam kha zawzen a, ka lawmta un ki-entuah in ka nuui ekek uhi.

Hoihtaka hong tuamsak zoh in sa lah aat thei ding hi nawnta lou kahihmanin innlam pai mai ding in ka kisata hi. Ka paidek leh Chingte in, “Umuan, hong na ngak ou, kong khasuk dia, na inn uah Tetanus khawng in kong kaap ding” hong chi a, kenleng “Na hong kaap dam ut taak in hithamtham e..” kachi a, huchi’n ka nih un ka kizuuisuk uhi. Inn ka tungphet un ka nupi’n hong na mupah a, “Muanpu, thadah selua va ki aatkha maw? Na khut sa dan a mu maw? Sum neihlouh tawh hong ki-enkol zou lou ding ahi aw..” hong na chihkhum pah momot a, ka maizum tawh ka lu bang lian huaihuai hileh kilawm in ka thei zawzen ahi. Chingte mai leng ka en ngam nawnkei a, haksa kasa petmah hi. Thakhat in Chingte hong dingkhia a, apawt vengveng hi. Nuam kasa hetkei a, Chingte omlouh beek a hong hichih hileh bel poi kasa hetkei ding hi.

Anung sawtlou in Chingte ka lawmpa Thangpu tawh hong luut nawn ua, “Umuan, kong kaap ding aw..” chi’n nemtak in hong gen hi. Ka khasiat bang hong suak zawzen a, ka khotheih tuung, ka nu hong sihsan ma deuh a kikaap lau a ka kah ekek lai khawng ka mitkha in amu dundun mai hi. Chingte hong hehpihna thupi kasa mahmah mai a, gen ngamkei mahleng ka itna a pung deuhdeuh mai a, kei ading in lungkham-lungziin kibehlap deuhdeuh ding ahi chih ka thei mahmah hi. Chingte tung ah ka kisuanglahna alian deuhdeuh mai a, kenle “Ching, ka kipaklua. Himahleh ka dinmun na theihsa ahi a, ken bangmah hong hihzou hetlou ding kahi aw..” ka chihleh Chingte inleng “Umuan, nang panpihkhak vualzawlna banga ka ngaih ahi a, nangsang in kei ka kipak zaw..kisuanglah hetken aw..” hong chi a, a hon khotuahna tawh ka dinmun teng tawh ka ngaihtuah khawm chiang in pasal himahleng kideek zou nawnlou in ka biang ah ka mittui hong luangkhe keuhkeuh a, ka kinep hetlouh in Chingte in hong nuulsak hi.

Nitaklam hong hita a, biakinn ah daak hong ging in michih a annbel chiat uh pua in biakinn lam ah ann ne ding in kithalawp takmai in a kuan zungzung uhi. Himahleh kei bel ka maizum lua a, Chingte meel mahmah leng mu ngamlou kahihchiang in ann ne ding in kava kuan ngamkei hi. Ka sungkuante bel va kuanvek ua, inn ngak in kana om mai hi. Hong pai kiik un ka gil kial tawh ann hong puak ngei ding ua kinemtak in ka nupi kiang ah “Nupi, na saneek uh alim hia?” chia ka ze dot leh, “Lim mah e, nang ann ne aleng hong pai ngaplou in a neek leng ne ngap kei niteh chia ann leng hong tawi lou kahi uh..” hong chi a, ka gilkial tawh ka hehtha bang asuak zawzen hi. Himahleh kamkhat pau leng kam thum beek a dawn a om ding kahi chih theilua kahihmanin bangmah ka gen tuankei hi.

Huchia ka omlai in naupang khat hongpai a, “Umuan, na lai ding” chi’n hong pe gaih hi. Ken leng bangthu a mahmah de aw chi’n ka enpah hi. Ka etleh “Umuan, khomial ma in hong kuantou inla ka inn uah hong tawn teitei in aw, hong na ngakden ding kahi…. From Chingte” chih teng akigelh hi. Kei leng kipahtawh ka phur mahmah mai a, a lai ka muh zohzoh in lengkhawm ding in ka kisa ngal hi. Ann nekhawm a kuan a nunungte pawl lampi ah hong pai panpante tawh kei lengkhawm dia kuan ka kituak uhi. Mi’n “Muan, koi ahoh dek e?” khawng hong na chih chiang un lengkhawm a kuan vachih ding lah baih lawlai ahihchian ka gen ding bang ka thei zawzen kei a, pawt halh maimai ding chih peuh in ka dawng hi.

Sawtlou ka painung in Chingte te inn ka tungtou hi. Chikmah a ka maingal na ahihlouh manin luut ding bang ka lin mahmah mai a, lah Chingte hong ngetna vuaksuak sak genlouh a meel mahmah leng mu utlua kahihman in kong kiu in kava luut hi. Chingte in hong muhphet in “Umuan, tuni ann ne a hong kuanlou maw? Ken hong na zongzong ing a kong muhlouh phet chia ka lungsim nuamlou a naupang khat lai kongpiaksak ahi..” hong na chipah hi. Kenleng “Ching, hong hawh utlua hinapi inga man zoulou, mi nunga va kuan lah nuamsa nawnlou inga” chi’n ka dawng thuktei sam hi. Chingte inbel hong theisiam mahmah mai a, “Umuan, ka muh a ann na nek keileh ka lungnuam hetlou ding ahihmanin na ann ding kong tawisak a, na neek ding ahi..” chi’n ann hong thuuk hi. Keileng thumu kisa in ka gilkial tawh ann ne di’n kava kisa ngal hi.

Ann kong ne a, ka gilkial lua ahingei dinga, neek petmah in ka ne hi. Huchia ann ka neeklai in Chingte kidiik hileh kilawm in ka thei a, ka etphei leh a mittui ana nuul a, kideek zoulou ahidia “Umuan, tuni lou ale na gilvah ngah ngeilou ding neive maw, kong hehpihlua, na gilkial nikhua in hongpai gige in aw..” chih toh hong kah khum ek a, ann leng ginatak in ka ne thei nawnkei. Ahitakin loukhoh na kigim thei mahmah ahihchian annkam limthei mahmah a, himahleh ka nupi’n “Ann na haihai tawh nang kuanu-kuapa vaakzoh ding e” hong chihsan pahpah ahihmanin gilvah in ann ne ngam ngeilou mah kahi. Chingte hong deihsakna leh hong hehpihnate in ka lungsim tengteng alata a, amah lou thildang ngaihtuah thei ding vual kahi nawnkei hi.

Ann nekzoh in Chingte leng hong kisapah a, khua bangleng mial simta ahihmanin leengkhawm na innlam zuan in ka kizui kheta uhi. Chingte tawh tut nana a tukhawm ding chih ka thukimna uh himahleh a mun ka tun tak uh chiang in ka Upa pa un “Tunitak nungak leh tangval kuamah tukhawmsak lou ding, kagaal ettuah kawm a laa sa ding..” hong chi a, ka tup uh ka tangtun zoukei uhi. Ahitazongin a first line tuak ah ka tukha ua, ka ki-en tuah theiden ua, tukhawm lou thouthou ding inleng nuam kasa mahmah veve uhi. Zaan dak 12 hong ging in Upa pa mah in pawttheihna hun hong pia a, huchi’n innkong lam ah zuntha ding khawng in ka pawtkhe nainai uhi. Chingte in hong zuanphei a, kenleng amah ana ngak in ka nih un ka kizui pawt uhi.

Innkong bel ana vot mahmah mai a, Chingte inleng vot salua ahingei dinga hong liing keuhkeuh hi. Kenleng ka puanza silhlai lakhe zok in Chingte ka tuamlum a, singpi awmte kiang ah mei kava awipih hi. Singpi awmte leng koutegel hong theisiam mahmah uh hile kilawm in “Nou tegel mei ana en unla, kou kava kisuhalh ding uh” chi’n hong pawtkhiatsan uhi. Ka nih un ka tukhawm ua, thil tuamtuam khawng houlim in nuam kasa mahmah uhi. Hunchiam hong bei a, Upa pa’n nungak-tangval teng hong samluut nawn hi. Kouleng thumangtak in luut ding in ka kisapah ua, chihleh vangphathuaitak mai in Upa pa’n “Singpi awmte om nailou ahihchiang un noutegel in ana en phot lai unla, hong man chiang un hong luut pan un” hong chi zenzen a, ka nih un ka ki-entuah ua, kipak tak in ka tutna mun mah uh meikiang ka zuan nawn uhi.

Ka tutkawm un ka houlimna uh ka sunzom nawn uhi. Nitak masalam a ka lasak khawm dan khawng uh, ka omdan khawng peuh uleh ka zumthu khawng uh gen in kou tegel in kua lengkhawm lamlam leng ka phawkkha nawn vetkei uhi. Hichibang a hun lemtaang mu gige theile ung a nuam mah ding, kha hoihvak zawmah tawh nungak-tangvalte ading, abiik in kei leh Chingte a ding in chu a khiaklah huai mahmah mai hi. Singpi awm tuanvaite bang hong pai nawnkei henla, a inn uah va ihmu sukmai le uh chih khawng ka ngaihtuah mai hi. Ken leng hiai kaan a hun lemtaang a om nawn de aw, Chingte kiang a ka itna thu leel suk mai ding ade aw, chi’n ka ngaihtuah hi. Bang e pasal! chih lungsim tawh ngaihzawng a neih leh neihlouh beek dotkhiat teitei ding himai ka chi hi. Huchi’n kenleng aw liing pelhpelh kawm in “Ching, tangval na nei hia?” chi’n ka dongsuk ektamai hi……..

PART III

Chingte inleng hong en a, nuikawm a hong dawng dia a kisak laitak in “Kare, nou tegel inleng nuam ana sa gawpta nahi ding uh e?” chi’n singpi awmte’n hong chiamnuih phei ua, ka thugen uh sutzop theih ding vual ahinawn takei hi. Poi kasa mahmah a, va pawt photlai ua singpi kana awm na ding uh va chih theihvual lah hilou, ahizong hehtha suah huai sim mahmah mai hi. Chingte in “Umuan, poina e maw, I dam dia awl in hiai sang a hun lemchang zaw ah I gen thak nawn ding aw..” hong chi a, kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham e..” chi’n leenkhawmna innsung lam zuan ding in ka kizui khe nawn uhi. Innsung kava luut ua leh miteng in kou tegel kia hong na mitsuan uh abang zawzen a, ka zum mahmah mai ua, zum selua tutna ding bang mupah lou in milak ah ka ding kha nilouh zawmah uhi.

Dak 2 hong ging a, Upa pa hong dingtou in “zingkhua hongvaak pah ding ahita a, Krismas pii ni ding ahihtawh I nguai kha ding ua, leenkhawm hiaitan in I khaak phot ding ua, singpi dawn in kuapeuh innlam I zuanta ding uh” hong chi hi. Chingte tawh koubel baih kasa mahmah lai ua, kizanhak leh leng ka kham naikei ding uhi. Ahitakin itna thu himhim bangmah genkei mahle ung Chingte tawh bel ka kingai mahmah tuak uh hi’n ka thei ahi. Chingte leng kei tawh lou in bangmah a utkei a, midang tawh kizuih a midang tawh leenkhawm ding bangleng a ut hetkei hi. Huchi’n singpi khawng dawn in pai diing in ka kisata uhi. Huchihlai in Chingte in “Umuan, ei hiai ah I zanhak suk mai diam?” hong chiphut hi. Kenleng “Ching, hilou e. Upate thau nilh ahi ua, I zahtak a, a thuthu I man ding uh ahi. Huaiziakin eileng I pai phot ding a, damleh zingni-thaini chiang khawng a hiai sang a leng nuamzaw thamtham ding ahihman in huaichiang in tunitak sanga anuamzaw a hun zang ding ihi” ka chi hi. Chingte inleng “Umuan, na gen adik. Na chih bangbang in I pai ding aw” hong chi a, huchi’n kou leng Chingte te inn lam zuan in ka pai uhi. Bangmah kallou in a gate uh ka tung ua, Chingte in “Umuan, tunitak beek hong baangve maw” hong chi a, kenleng “Ching, ka dinmun na theihsa ahi, huaiziakin hong theisiam inla, awl in kana pai dia, damleh zingchiang in I kimu nawn ding aw…” chi’n mangpha kikhak in ka paisanta hi.

Chingte ngetna nial hi haksa kasa mahmah a, himahleh a thu mang leng ka inn ua tazou nawnlou ding kahi chih ka theih mahmah ziak in Chingte thu ka mang ngamkei a, ka nulehpa tawh khosa hilai leng zaw hiai bang a hunnuam khawng Chingte tawh zangkhawm den thei ding hi inga maw chih khawng peuh ngaihtuah in ka hinkhua haksa kasa mahmah mai hi. Inn ka tun leh kong ana kikalh a, ka kiuhkiuh hangin hong in ka omta kei a, verandah ah zankhua ka zatmai angai hi. Ka puanza lah Chingte in silhsuak kha ahihchiang in vot kasa mahmah mai a, innkong ah kei kia in khitui-naptui tawh om in ka liing keuhkeuh mai hi. Kei leng hiai a khovot thuaka zankhua zang thouthou ding ka hihleh chi in hanmual lam kava zuan a, ka nu leh ka pa haan ah giak leng nuamzaw inteh chi in a haan tung uah kava lum hi.

Ka theihlouh kal a ana ihmu kha kahi ngei ding a, numei hon pau ging in hong phawng a, ka daak khiat leh khua ana vaak hoih mahmah mai hi. Keileng kintak a ka dintouh leh numei hon hongpai kamu a, amau leng lamdang hongsa mahmah mai ua, ka kianglam hong zuan uhi. Chingte telkha ngei di’n kana lamen mahmah a, himahleh a telkha kei a alawmnu Mercy bel hong telkha hi. Mercy in hong muh phet in “Umuan, nang zing khangkhang a hiai ah hanmual a bang hih e?” hong chipah a, kenleng “Mercy, Krismas bang hong hih mawkleh ka lung leng a ka nu leh pa haan vehna va nei kahi” ka chi hi. Himahleh Mercy in hong na thei mahmah ahidia “Umuan, hong khem koh, hiai a giak na hi, na puannak nung khawng ah leng a kithei mahmah, bang lungkhamna nei e?” hong chi a, “Mercy, lungkham zenzen lou e..” chih teng in ka dawng thuk a, ka kikhen uhi.

Inn ka paisuk a, kongkhaak luutpan ka nupi’n “Muanpu, zankhovak a pawt anuam hia? Kintak in ann hong huan inla, na huanzoh chia tuitawi inla, inn zuut ngal oh…” hong na chipah hi. Kenleng “Nupi aw, kong paihak kha ua, nana hoih ihmut lua ua hong phawng ngamlou kahi. Ann hong huan pah ning aw..” chi’n awl in ka gen a, hong sawlteng ka sempah hi. Ka papi haatlai a, lupna tungkia a hun zanglou hileh zaw amah beek in hong theisiam mahmah ding hia maw ka chi hi. Ka lunggel ngaihtuahna a saang mahmah mai a, ka ann huan kawm in ka mittui hong luang mawk hi. Ka mittui pawt ka nupi’n ana mukha chiitchiat a, “Muanpu, zankhua a pawt, inntung nasem dia kong sawl leh kap ngamlai maw, huchi ding na hihleh na omna ding mun dang va zong mai ou…tuni leng inn ana ngakden aw, hong kikhop leng ngaikei, innkhang a singtum ana ekh aw..” hong chih beh zawmah lai hi. Ka thuak hi a haksa mahmah mai, kei gentheih bangin midang a genthei a omsam diam maw ka chi vungvung mai hi…………

Ann te ka hong neekzoh un ka nupi’n kikhawmlou a inn a nasep ding hong guan ahihchian kikhawm utlaw mahmah sam napi in inn ngak in ka om hi. Ka lawm leh vual teng puan hoih taktak silh a Bible tawh biakinn lam zuan diamdiamte ka muh chian ka eng thei mahmah mai a, kei ading inleng khatvei tei ni hong taang leh ka uut mahmah mai hi. Ka nupi te kikhawm dia a kuan zoh un ka nasep puan silh in innkhang huan ah singtum lianpi khat ekh ding in heipi tawh ka kisa hi. Mi kikhop vekziak ahingei ding a, khua a daai mahmah mai a, ka sing ekh ging bang ngaih mahmah hi in ka thei ahi. Ka kho-ul tawh ka mittui tawh buak in hong buak a, ka tha a gim mahmah mai hi. Gimlua ka hihmanin ka khawl a, ka gei ah singliim nuai ah ka tuu a, biakinn a ka tuailaipihte Krismas tawh kituak a a lapawlsak khawng uh kaza a, amau lak a teelkhak bang ka ut mahmah mai hi. Hizong ka utlouh lampi ka zuihphot angai zel hi.

Thakhat in “Umuan….” chih aw kaza a, ka daakkhiat leh Chingte ka mu hi. “Ching, mi kikhoplai a nang hiai a bang hong hih zenzen e?” ka chihleh “Umuan, ken hong mulou inga azong dia hong kuan kahi” hong chi hi. Bangmah genzom man nailou in Chingte mah in “Umuan, ka lawmnun hong gen a nang zannitak inn a pailou a haanmual a va giak maw?” hong chizui ngal hi. “Ching, ka paileh ana ihmu khin ua va phawng ding lah ut nawnlou inga huailam va zuanmai kahi..” ka chihleh Chingte in “Umuan, poina e maw, kou inn ah hong paizaw leteh maw, na hinkhua haksa hina maizen e maw, tuni kumkhat a I ni poimawh petmah na ngawn ua nasepsak a na omtel, ka pawsiam kei..” chi’n ka mai ah hong kap hi. Kenleng “Ching, huchi zenzen lou e, Pathian in kei adia nopna ni hong suak sak pah na ding ahi, na hong hehpihdan ka thei a, kei hinkhua sangin leng na hong hehpihna ziakin ka khasiattha a suakzaw” ka chi a, kei leng kideek zou tuanlou in ka kap suk hi.

Huchia ka kihouhou sung un kikhawmte hong tawpta uh ahingei ding a, ka ni aw ka zapah hi. “Muanpu, nang nasem ding a inn om hilou maw, nungak tawh kiheel ding a kong omsak kisa maw?” hong chisukpah hi. Kei leng ka kisuanglah petmah mai a, Chingte kiang ah, “Ching, poisakna inleng ngai kenla, awl in nana pai zaw mai diam? Damleh nitak leengkhawm ding in ka hong tawntou pah ding” kachi hi. Huchi’n Chingte inleng “Umuan, kong hehpihlua, keiziak a taai thuak nahi maw, hong ngaidam inla, awl in kana paitou dia, nitak leengkhawm teitei ni aw..” hong chi hi. Ken leng “Ching, kisuanglah ken, kei ziak hizaw ahi, nang nopsakna louhna ding omlou ahi…” ka chi a, huchi’n Chingte leng awl in a innlam uh zuan in a paitouta hi.

Kei leng inn ah ka luut a, innsung luutpan ka nau (ka papite tapa neihsun) Lalboi in “nangpa leng mi pangbel a om a, nungak hoih tata bang theiviau, tangkha hetlou ding nahi aw, nangsa kei ading in lampi aomzaw, ana kiheemkhe leteh na lungsim a nuamzaw mai ding e…” chi’n nui sim phaphal kawm in hong engchih a, nuam kasa hetkei hi. Krismas ni ahihtawh ann huanbaih ngai ding ahihchia’n kei leng sil leng kisil manlou in ann huan ding in ka kisapah ngal hi. Ka nupi’n “Muanpu, ann tam huankoh, mi nih vuak nek ding hisaap in huan aw..” hong chi a, kenleng “Nupi, mi nih chih nang, ka papi, kei tawh Lalbawi, I vek ua mi lii kipha hilou maw..” ka chihleh “Nang na papi ana tutpih aw, ann ne aleng hong kuan sese ngaikei..” hong chihsan a, ka ann huantha bang adah mahmah mai hi. Ka ann huan ka en a, ka gilkial tawh kine khalou ding hia chih khawng ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka khasiat tha asuak mahmah mai a, ka nu ka ngai vungvung mai hi.

PART IV

Ka ann huan ding teng ka zoh in ka nupi’n luui lam ah tuitawi ding in ahong sawl a, ka buckette uh biakinn lam a zat dia hong la gai uh ahihman in tuithei a ka puak angai maimah hi. Lampi khawng a mi hongpaite’n hong en ua, tangval khat seng a tuithei pua a tuitawi chih hong muhchiang un a nuih uh za mahmah in hong nuihsan ekh-ekh ua, ka zum mahmah mai hi. Huaiteng genlouh naupang hon lampi dung a omte khawng in mihai tuka hong ngai in hong na kou in hong na tawng zawmah uhi. Zum mahmah napi in kei hihding banga ka ngaihtuah mai ziakin poi bel kasa lawkei hi. Himahleh thilnuam chu ahi hetkei, gentheih huai kholdiak mah abang hi.

Ka tuui tawi ding ka ngah in ka nupi tawh Lalboi Krismas sa ne ding in a kuantou nawn ua, keibel a kuan dia sehkhak a ka omlouh man in inn ah ka papi lupna ngak tutpih a gilkialtak a ka om mai angai hi. Window apan in mi ann ne ding a kuan souhsouhte kamuh chiang in ka gil hong sukial semsem a, ka neulai hinkhua bang ka phawk thakthak a, tu ka tuailai a nop ding hun laitak a hichibang a ka om mai poi kasa mahmah mai hi. Alehlam ah milak a ka kihel louh bangleng kei adia nuamzaw a batna aom lehlam hi, aziakbel I lawmte’n puan thak sitset hong silh ding uh, kilawmtak a hong om ding uh, huaite lak a kei ka nasep puan sawpsiang lel tawh kava om ding bangleng khanvualte en na leh zumna ding phet ahihmanin.

Ann nezou hong tung ua, ka gilkial mahmah napi in ann hong tawi uh ka kinep hetlouh manin kava en tuankei hi. Himahleh ka nupi’n hong sam a, kava pai leh “Muanpu, hia ann khalkhat om, meh kong tawikha kei ua, chi tawh meh mai inla, na kham phetchiang in kuang leh bel teng sawpsiang inla kemsiang vek aw…” hong chi hi. Ka gilkial law mahmah ahihmanin ken leng pautam lou in ka la a, chi tawh ka meh hi. Ka gilkialluat manin lim kasa mahmah thou a, himahleh kam thum khawng ka baak zoh in hong bei a, ka gil avah zou mahmah kei hi. Himahleh gilvahlou chih ngam ding vual ahikei, kam thum hong tawi bang uh leng a hampha lua kahi chih ka thei a, kipahna in ka sim veve hi. Ka neek zoh phet in kenleng kuang ka heem a, ka um leh beel teng uh ka nawtsiang hi.

Ka man phet in kei leng kisak ngal a leengkhawm dia Chingte tot touh ngal sawm in ka room lam ka zuan pah hi. Himahleh ka nau Lalboi in “Umuan, lui ah ka kisilna ding tuui va tawi aw…” chi’n hong sawl a, ka lin mahmah mai hi, himahleh seel a nial vual ahihlouh manin ka va tawisak pah hi. Phalbi lai ahihtoh khua vot mahmah ahihmanin ka tui tawi zoh in mei chihthak in Lalboi kisilna ding tuilum suansak ngai zawmah a, ka lungsim kinawh tawh sana ka en-en mai hi. Chingte in hong na ngakzou mah de aw chih khawng kia ka ngaihtuah a, ka muh utluat tawh ka khasiat bang asuak zawzen hi. Ka manphet in kintaka kisa in Chingte te inn lam ka zuan toupah hi.

Chingte in hong na ngaklah gawp ahingei ding a, a gate uah hong na ngak hi. A kiang ka tun phet in “Umuan, na hehpihhuai ngei, na hinkhua kong theisiamlua a, nang thu a paithei hileteh hong kingaksak hetlou ding na hih dan ka theilaw mahmah a, huaiziakin kisuanglah hetken aw…” hong chi a, kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham e..” chih teng a dawng in lengkhawm ding in ka kizuikheta uhi. Leenkhawmna mun ka tuntun un ka luutsuakpah ua, khosung nungak leh tangvalte ana kimkhin diimdiamta uhi. Kou leng Chingte tawh a nunglam deuh a ka tu ua, ama nitak a ka tutkhawm louhtang un ka tukhawm khata ua, ka kipak mahmah mai uhi. Ka lasak khawm tunglai utawh teh in chu ka kilamdang mahmahta uh, ka aw uh bang kituak diak khawng bang kasa a, nuam kasa mahmah mai uhi.

Sawtlou ka tutkhawm nung un Upa pa’n nungak mi nga singpi hawm dingin hong sehkhia a, Chingte leng a samkha zawmah hi. Poi kana sagu mahmah mai a, amah tawh tutkhawm a laa sakkhawm ka ut mahmah a, hong theisiam lou uh bang kasa zawzen hi. Chingte pawtkhiat nung ka tutdan lah alem nawnkei a, ka lasak tha leng suaklou in tut in ka tut thoh a, lawmte amau nungak chiat tawh tukhawm a laa sakhawm kamuh chiang in enhuai uh bang kasa a, hampha sawnsawn uh kasa mahmah mai hi. Bangziaktak a ka utlouh lamlam ah omkha ka de aw….. Pathian in ka thumna hong dawng lou hi inteh maw peuh chi in kei leh kei bang, Pathian bang ka mawhsa kha thepthup zel hi, ka gentheih luat manin.

Huchia leengkhawm a ka omlai un khosung heutute khat hong luut a, “Muanpu na om aleh hongpai in, thu poimawh khat aom a..” hong chi hi. Kei leng thumangtak in kava pawtkhe pah mai hi. Khosung heutute ahihna uah ka zahtak mahmah a, a nungnung uh ka zuui hi. Lampi ah bangthu ade aw chia kan ka ut mahmah a, himahleh ka kan ngamkei a, paulou in a nungnung uh ka zui hi. Huchia bangtan hiam ka pai nung un innkhat ah hongluut pih ua, singpi-tuilum khawng hong dawnpih uhi. Kei bel ka gilvah hetlou ahihchiang in lim kasa mahmah a, ka guuk kipah mahmah mai hi. Singpi khawng ka dawnzoh un hong pawtkhiatpih nawn ua, kholai lam ah hong paipih uhi.

Huchia saulou ka paizoh un Community hall ah hong luutpih ua, lamdang kasa mahmah mai hi. Pasal khat hongpai a, ka khut hong khihsak a, ka mai hong tuamsak mawk hi. Ken bel athu bangmah theilou kahih chiang in heutute chih dandan in ka om hi. Thakhat in ka nunglam apan ka nungzang singkhuah in hong khen ua, nna kasa mahmah mai hi. Athu gen chih lah omlou in hong zep ek-ek mai ua, na salua kahihman in ka mittui luang in hong luang hi. A tawplam in khat hong pau a “Na nupi puanza na guuk koi a zuak e?” hong chi phut mawk a, lamdang satakmai in “Ka nupi puanza e? Ken ka theih khaklouhpi, ka gu mahmah kei heutute aw…” ka chi hi. Himahleh na guk mah ahi chi’n hong ngoh teitei ua, zep petmah a hong zep uh ahihmanin ka chi teng a dup gai a, ding leng ka ding thei nawnkei hi.

Zingkhua hong vaak a, kholaizang taka khuam khat ah hong khih ua, ka ngawng ah “GUTA KA HI” chih hong taak sak ua, lampi a hong paisuk hong paitou teng in hong en ua, hong nuihsan tawh, hong engchih tawh, kampau kilawmlou taktak in hong chi uhi. Ka zum law mahmah a, himahleh ka dikna thu hong gensak ding kuamah ka neikei hi. Khuam a kikhih kawm in Biakinn a lapawlsate thawm bang ka ngai a, ka mittui a taakkhe zungzung mai hi. Naupang khenkhat hong tai in chil peuh hong phih ua, hong phih khit chiang un Guta pa chi’n hong kikou khum zaizai uhi. Ka lungsim ah pasal khat hisam inga kei leh kei kitoudelh ka sawmta dia, ka papite inn ka pawtsanta ding chih khawng ka ngaihtuah hi.

Huchia bangbang hiam ngaihtuah a ka omlai in Chingte, Mercy leh Thangpu hong pai ua, Chingte in “Umuan, puanza va gu maw? Leenkhawmna mun khawng ah hong puang ua kei ka lungsim nalua eive,” chi’n hong pumkawi a, hong kahkhum tamai hi. Kenleng “Ching, mite theihdan in Guta pa himahleng Pathian theih in zaw neuchik leng guuktak na ka neikha kei ding.. bangkim Pathian in thei nave..” ka chi hi. Ka lawmteng thum in hong soisakna uh khawng hong etsak ua, ka chiteng dup gai banah mun khenkhat ka si pawt ahihmanin a hihtheih dandan in hong hihsiangsak uhi. Numei tegel genlouh ka lawmhoih Thangpu nasan in hong en a, kideek zoulou a a mittui hong nuul keuhkeuh chiang in ka khasiat hong suak semsem a, kah khiat ek-ek a pha ding hileh kah khiat bang ka ut zawzen hi.

Sawtlou nung in hong paisan ua, khosung heutute hongpai nawn uhi. Alak ua khat in “Tu tantan na van zuakna mun genlou lailai ding maw” chih tawh ka biang hong betsak a, ama a hong soisakna sa uh ahihtawh naa kasa mahmah mai hi. “Heutute aw, gu lou hial kahi, hong khah mahmah maive ua, na hong ngaihkei ualeh leng I khosung uh ka pawtsan na ding..” chi’n ka ngen a, himahleh ka ngetna hong ngaihsak ut khat leng aomkei uhi. Kei bangbang a hichi lawmlawm a bawlsiatna ana tuakkha a om diam maw chih khawng ka ngaihtuah a, ka nu leh pa’n hong dampih keileh leng sanggam pianpih khatbeek neileng hong hehpih a, ka kiang a hong ompih ding om ding hia maw….chih louh gen ding bangmah ka theita kei hi.

Ka zum tawh, hong soisakna ma te uh nat tawh haksa kasa mahmah mai hi. Huaiteng banah mi kou teng tuak, ann na ngawn zing leh nitak a ngolhsak a ka om manin ka gim mahmah mai a, ka tha bei in ding leng ka ding zou kei a, hong khihna mun uah ka tusuk hi. Himahleh ka tut ding phal ahikei a, ka tutsuk chiang in zeep a omzel kahihmanin ding zoulou sasa in ka ding a, ka lungsim in hingzou nawn ding in ka kingaihtuah nawnkei hi. Haksatna, bawlsiatna hiaizah innsung a ka tuah nung a, tua kholai a khosung miteng muh a hiai bang ka tuah manin poi kasa mahmah a, ka lungsim asuna sawnsawn hi. Hak leng hoihtak a hakzou ka hi nawnkei hi. Himahleh kihalhsak sawm a hak teitei in ka daak khiat leh ka gaal lam ah Chingte leh ka nau Lalboi lengkhawm dia kuan kiton ka gaal muh kha geih zawmah a………….

PART - V

Ka lungsim in Chingte nangzaw ka lungsim suna tu ding lel nahita ve maw ka chi hi. A lehlam ah, kei lah tagah genthei banah mi simmawh, kingakna ding leh suan ding himhim neilou kahihchian ka nau Lalboi tawh kiteeng le uh kei tawh a kiteen sangin nuamsa zawsam lou ding hia chih peuh ka ngaihtuah hi. Ahitazongin ka lungsim in phal thei mahmah lou ahi dia, ka thuaknate a nat lam leng ka phawk nawnkei a, soisaka ka om sang in leng Chingte tangval tawh kizuui ka muh in ka lungsim hongsu na zaw hi’n ka thei ahi. Hichibanga bawlsiatna tuaklou hileng vualte englou a Chingte tawh nuamtaka leengkhawm ding hi inga ma…… tunlah bangkim a kikhelta. Kum khat sung adia hiai bang a kipahna hun pentaka hiai bang ka tuah hi vangsiatna sawnsawn kasa mahmah hi.

Dakkal khatvel zoh in Chingte tawh ka nau Lalboi ka kianglam zuan in hong pai ua, ka en ngamkei. Ka nuailam nga in ka kuunsuk hi. Thakhat in ka lu hong kikai tou a, ka etleh “Ka vaksa ua hiaichia phata chin a nang ka van uh ana gukhe zawmah, zumna dan himhim na thei hia? Na itpen Chingte kei a ahita chih thei in aw…” chi’n nuihsan tawh Chingte kawi athuah a, ka mai mahmah a Chingte kawi in a pawtkhiatpih nawn hi. Hiai bang mel mu ngei ding a ka kikoihlouh manin ka lungsim tei a dawt mah abanga, ka thuaksiam thei hetkei hi. Chingte lah ka mai a tangval kikawisak ngei himhim ding in ka koih hetkei a, lamdangsakna tawh khasiatna in ka dimta hi.

Ni tum dingkuan mualdawn ah hong san chiichiaita a, hong khah khe dekta ding uam chih khawng ngaihtuah in hong khahkhiat ding kal uh ka ngaklah mahmah mai hi. Huchihlai in heutute bangzah hiam tawh nupi thum ka kianglam zuan a hongpai ka mu a, hong vaw nawn dek uh hi ding chi’n ka lau mahmah mai a, et leng kana en ngamta kei hi. Ka kiang hong naih hiaihiai ua, ka diip kua in ka chii khawng hong liing gawp hi. Hong vuakna sate ulah na law mahmah lai ahihchiang in hong vuakbeh lai le uh bang ka chi thuakta mai diam maw chih khawng ngaihtuah in ka om a, ka lusung khawng sa vutvut hial hi’n ka thei ahi. Ka kiang hong tung phei petmah ua, thuak ding sa a kikoih kahihman in atunglam nasan en ngam talou in ka kuun ngiungeu mai hi.

Heutute laka khat in ka kikhihna hong phelsak a, kipaklua kahihmanin “Heutute aw, ka kipaklua, ka thuakgim lawta, hiai bangteng tuak hita kahihchiang in zotna ding mun ka thei nawnkei a, ka nu leh pa kivuina haan ah hong kha un aw..” chi’n ka ngen hi. Himahleh kuaman a hong dawng hetkei ua, mi nih in ka liang tuak a hong leen in hong paipih uhi. Ka khe in kal asuan zou kei a, ding leng ka ding zohlouh manin puak in hong puak thohmai uhi. Huchia bangtan hiam ka hongpai nung un ka kho hausapate uh inn ah hong tonpih luut ua, ka lungsim in hong soisak beh dek uh hia, ahihkeileh khosung apan hong nawhpawt sawm uhia chi’n ka ngaihtuahna a buai mahmah mai hi.

Innsung ah bench tung ah hong lumsak ua, numei nih in hong zeepna munte khawng uh tuilum in hong zuutsak ua, nat toh nuamsak ka thuah hi. Hong bawldan uh lamdang kasa mahmah mai a, lungbuaitakin ka kingaihtuah nilouh hi. Huchia ka buai mahmah lai in heutute khat ka kiang ah hongpai phei a, “Muanpu ei, heutute’n thil kanchian masa hetlou in ka hong soisa kha ua, na thuakgim mahmah banah zahlaktak mai in kong na bawl kha uhi. Tun thuchiang a kitheita a, na nupi puanza gutu nang nahihlouh dan kitheita a, na tung ah ka kisuanglah mahmah mai ua, hehpihtakin Pathian min in hong ngaidam in aw…” chi’n mittui luangkawm in hong gen hi. Ka kipah tawh ka khasiat tawh gen ding mel leng ka theikei a, ka mittui in hong tuum pah hi. Atawp in ken leng “Heutute aw, kei bel hong ngaidam ding a mansa gige ka hi. Mihing I hihman in bukim omlou ihi a, hihkhelh omthei tham mah ahi, ka theisiam a, na tung uah khasiatna bangmah ka neikei. Nong huatman uh hilou in khotang hoih ding na deihluat man uh hizaw ahi..” chia ka dawng leh a kipak mahmah ua, hong enkoltu nupi tegel nasan kideek zoulou in a kidiik huphup uhi.

Ka puannak neih sunsun hong zeepna ua segawp ahihmanin hong suahsak ua, hong khuisak in hong sawpsiang sak uhi. Kei bel ka liamna ma te khawng nalua ahihmanin ka dingkhe zou nai vetkei hi. Nitak leengkhawm bang ka ut mahmah a, himahleh a paizou ding vual ka hikei hi. Leenkhawmna mun ah “Lalboi nu puanza gu a ngoh aom Muanpu pen a gutu hilou a, theihkhelh ziaka kisoisa leh zahlaktak a kikoihkha ahi, a gutu taktak pen Mangpu, Lalboi lawmhoih ahi. Tun Muanpu a liamnate ziakin thoukhe zoulou in Hausate inn ah alum a, kuapeuhmah in thumna ah phawkchiat ding…” chia heutute’n va puang uh ahiding a, leengkhawmte singpi dawn khawlhun in ka tuailaipih tampi hong luut nainai mawk ua, lamdang bang kasa a, kana kipak petmah a, ka lungsim anuam mahmah a, ka natna bang dam huai zawzen in ka thei ahi.

Ka mit ka taikualsak pah a, Chingte hong paikha de aw chi’n ka guuk zonzon mai hi. Himahleh ka mu hetkei a, ka nau Lalboi nasan omlou ahihmanin anih ua kizui uh hidi’n ka muangmawh pah a, ka lungsim khat a nuam hetkei hi. Ahitakin Chingte kei tawh gentheitak a khosak ding ka ngaingam kei a, mangngilh mai ka sawm den a, himahleh ka lungsim ah omlua ahihmanin ka mangngilh zoukei a, ngai deuhdeuh mai hi’n ka kithei ahi. Huchi kawmkal ah lawmte khenkhat bang in “Muanpu leng Chingte hongpai leh zaw tua lumlai bang tu tang zou ding hia…” chih peuh in hong chiamnuih ua, nuihza kholkei mahleh ka kinuisak zelsam hi. Huchia lungsim nuam hetlou a ka omlai in gintak nawn hetlouh nung in Thangpu, Mercy leh Chingte hong luut guih ua, ka mit hah bang lamdang huai hi’n ka thei zawzen ahi. Lawmte hong chiamnuih bangin ka thoutou kha zawzen mah a, hong chiamnuih in hong ot khum zuazua uh ahihmanin ka zum mahmah mai hi.

Chingte sun a Lalboi tawh hong bawldan uh khawng kisuanglah mahmah ahi chih amit hah in ka mu ngala, naih leh hong naih ngamlou genlouh et leng hong en ngamkei a, ka itpen kisuanglah leh nuam sa hetlou a om ka muhchia’n ka hehpih petmah a, va pai a va pom ekmai bang ka ut tha asuak zawzen hi. Achang in hong enzel a, huchi’n anuailam nga in a kuun zel hi. Ka lungsim in “Ching nidang azaw I kimuh chianga nuihmel tuak hanga, tukhawm a nui khawm gige hi hanga maw, tun zaw a kidangta ngei…” ka chi hi. Hausapu in “Tuailaite na hong hawhkhawm kheukhou ua, kipah etsakna leh Muanpu tuahsiat siatbatna ding in singpi leh sang kong liau ding..”  hong chi a, kipak in a awng zuazua mai uhi. Tuailai laka heutu deuh leh hong theisiam mahmah khat in “Hausapu kiphalna etton huai mahmah a, Tuailai tengteng sik leh taang in kipahthu ka gen a, huaikawm in Miss Chingte in singpi hong awm henla, kipak a dawnkhawm chauh hilou in damna dia dawnkhawm I hizaw mah ding uh..” hong chi hi. Chingte singpi awm dawnkha ding kahihmanin ka kipak mahmah a, ka lungsim aguuk nuihnuih maita hi.

Bangtan hiam zoh in singpi leng minta a, Chingte in hong awm ngal hi. Hausapu pe masa dia a kisak leh hausapu in “Na Umuan na piak masak pen ding ahi..” chi’n keilam ah hongsawl a, kei leng tutou in saang di’n ka kisa hi. Chingte khut hong liing a, ka mai mahmah hong en kilkel hi’n ka thei a, nervous tawh kisuanlah thuah ahingei dinga, hong singpi piak ladia kisa anou bang hong sukhia a, mi hong pai khawmten hong nuihsan zaizai uh ahihmanin ka zum tuak mahmah uhi. Huchi’n nou khat ava lathak a, hong pekiik nawn hi. Ka itluat ziak hia, ka duhluat ziak hia, hun dang a ka singpi dawn tengteng saang inleng lim kasa zaw a, nuamsa gawp kahi diam damlou ka hihlam bang leng ka kiphawk khanawn hetkei hi. A chiamnuih bawl tawh, a houlim tawh ka hulum mahmah ua, mi genthei ka hihlam himhim leng ka kiphawk kei a, ka nu leh pa hong sih san nung ading a haksa thuak himahleng nuam ka sakni mahmah khat hiding in ka um hi.

Singpite ka dawnzoh un tuailai lamte zanhak ding chi uh ahihmanin leenkhawmna lam zuan ding in hong kisa kheukhouta uhi. Ka aam mahmah mai a, omlai le uh kachi vungvung mai hi. Himahleh khaam theih ding hilou ahihman un kipahthu gen in mangpha ka baan khak hi. Hong paisan gai ding hita unteh chi a kana lungkham mahmah lai in Thangpu, Mercy leh Chingte in hong tutpih lai uhi. Hausapu in “Thangpu, na lawmpa uh ana kithuahpih lai unla kou ana lumphot nung” chi’n a lupna lam hong zotsanta hi. Kou lawmta ki-it diakte kia ka omta ua, himahleh gen ding thei leh apau masa zaw ding omlou in ka ki-entuah luakluak uhi. Atawp in Thangpu in, “Muan, hong bawldan uh paw siam hetlou hiveng aw, kong simmawhna hi zenzen lou in, na tagah ziaka na nupite hi’n khosungmi khenkhat hileh hong simmawh uh salua kahi…ka lungkim kei law mahmah..” hong chi hi. Himahleh ken “Thang, huchi zenzen lou e, I tung a tung bangbang puakdan siam ding ahi, ka thuakna bangbang a hong thuakpih nahi uh chih ka thei a, kei kipaklua kahi..” chi’n ka dawng thuk hi.

Huchia ka houlim nilouh lai un Chingte leh Mercy ana kideek zoulou ahi ding ua, ana kinuul nilouh uhi. Amau mittui hong luang hial chiang un kou lawmta zong ka kideek zou tuansam kei ua, ka vek ua kikawi in sawtkhop ka kikahkhum nilouh uhi. Huchi’n Thangpu kia “Lawm aw, Pathian I muang ding ua, nikhattei eileng mite en a ki-om ding ahi” chi’n ka kihehnem tuah nilouh uhi. Ka genbeh a “Ki-it kingai lehang leng nungak tangval teng leengkhawm ding chih ahihmanin leenkhawmna innlam va zuan nawn phot unla, damleh zingchiang in kimu nawnni hang..” ka chi hi. Thangpu inleng “Himah e maw Muan, lungnuamtak in ana lum inla, zingkal chia dam in kimu nawnni aw..” chi’n pai ding in hong kisata uhi. Himahleh Chingte in “Uthang, Mercy tawh ana pai mai un, ken Umuan kong tut zanhahpi ding..” chi’n utlou a, Thangpu inleng “Ching, huai na chih theihleh na UMuan inleng nuam sa tuam mahmah ding eimahve” chi’n Chingte a paisan uhi.

A paizoh nung uh minute 10 mahmah a pau omlou in ka tutna tuak uah ka om uhi. Atawp in Chingte hong paiphei a, ka lukhung ah hong tutou in ka natna ma te khawng awl in hong zuutsak hiauhiau a, nuam kasa mahmah a, ka natna ding leng om nawnlou a bang zou hial in ka thei ahi. Tuilum peuh hong zaan suansak a, ka taksa dupna teng khawng hong zuutsak a, ka kipak petmah mai hi. Hiai kana hong it a hong enkol zou aom de aw chih khawng ka ngaihtuah a, sun a Lalboi tawh hongpai ua hong bawldan uh kana puaknatna tengteng bang leng a bei zou dimdem hi’n ka thei ahi. Chingte in tuilum a hong zuut zawh in a pheitung ah ka luu hong koihtou a, ka sam awl a hong zuut sak hiauhiau kawm in “Umuan, tusun a ka omdan nong ngaidam theidiam? Na hong ngaihdam leh na lungsim a om bangbang hong gen in, na chih bangbang a om dia mansa kahi…” hong chiphut hi.

PART - VI

Lamdang bang kasa zawzen a, gen masak gen nanung ding himhim bangmah ka theikei hi. Awl in Chingte mai ka entou a, “Ching, na Umuan in zaw chiklaipeuh in nang a ding in ngaihdamna anei gige ahi. Himahleh amah mi genthei-tagah, iittu leh panpihtu ding bei ahi a, aman zaw hong ngai petmah a, nang omlou in leng a om theikei, ahitazongin hichibanga mi genthei ading in na nu leh pate’n a tanu hawmthoh uh hong phal uh a gintak huaikei a, nangleng awl a taisan thei nahi a, a khonung a amah ading a lunggimna leh ngaihtamsialna lel asuak diam maw?” ka chi hi. Chingte inleng “Umuan ei, na hong ngaidam a ka kipak petmah. Himahleh na theih ding a ka deih chu itna in khentuam a neikei a, itna mitdel ahihmanin neih leh lam, hauhsaknate  a mukei a, itna in genthei-tagahte a haw kei a, amau ading in a kipe zaw hi…” hong chihkhum a, dik kasa a, ahizong gen ding dang ka thei tuan nawnkei.

Ka lungsim a buai mahmah zel a, ka ngai mahmah a, amah tellou a hinkhua zat ding ka ngam himhim kei, ahi alah kong ngai chi in va dawng phut leng akhonung a kei a ding a gentheihna maimai ahizaw diam chih bang ka ngaihtuah a, ka lungsim kisual tuahtuah ahihmanin geen ding ka theikei. Atawp in “Ching, hong it hong ngai ka hihdan na theihsa ahi a, gen beh ding tuan ka theikei, kong ngailua. Himahleh keisang a hoihzaw, pilzaw leh siamzaw hong ngai tam mahmah ahihchiang in mailam hun ah kei ading in lunggimna lel hong tun ken aw…” ka chi khong hi. Huchi’n Chingte in ka luu a khut a hong kawi belh in “Umuan, daaltu a tam ding a, thu leeng tuamtuam leng a tam ding chih I theihsa ahi, himahleh mihing daai kuaman kaai zou lou ahi…” chi’n hong dawng tei hi. Ka lunggulh leh ka deihpen gige tangzou a taangtung khat suak ka hihman in ka lung akim in anuam mahmah mai hi. Huchia nuamsataka ka kihoulim sung un khua hong vaak man a, kikhelahtak in ka kikhen uh hong ngai nawnzelta hi.

Kei leng halh deuhta banah pawtkhe zouta kahihmanin hausapu kiang ah hoihtaka hong etkol uh kipahthu ka gen a, huchi’n ka nupite innlam zuan in ka paisuk nawnta hi. Lampi ah ka kingaihtuah suksuk mai a, ka nupi’n a puanza kei guuk ahihlouhdan theita ahihchiang in kisuanglah mahmah ding a, nidang sang aleng hoihtaka hong bawl zaw ngeita ding ahi chih ka lamen a, lungsim nuamtak mai in kapai suk hi. Lampi bang ah mi tuamtuam ka kituahpihte’n nidang sang aleng hong hehpih zaw leh hong muhoih zaw thamtham uh hi in ka thei a, huaiten hong kipaksak mahmah in ka hunpaisa a ka tuah haksatna tuamtuamte hong mangngilhsak zou hial hi. Nidang a a nuihmai nasan ka muh ngei hetlouh tampite’n hong muh uh chia’n a nuihmel uh hong langsak ua, huaite ziak in ka kipahna alian tuan mahmah mai hi.

Inn ka tung in ka luutpah a, innsung ah kuamah ana omkei hi. Lamdang kasa sim a, “Nupi…koi a om uh e? Hong paita keive..” chi’n ka nupi ka sam pah hi. Room sung apan in ka nupi hong pawtkhia a, “Nang mihing milak ah hong suzahlak na mahmah chia maw, Hausate inn ah va teeng denve, ka kep ka khoi utlouh banga hausate inn a va ki-etkol sak, inn aleng hong pai nawnlouh a, va teeng det ding eivele..” hong chihkhum a, hong hangsan gawp hi. Lampi a ka ngaihtuahna tawh chu a kikhai mahmah mai. Inn ah heutute’n hong koih uh hileh hiai sanga etkol a omlou zaw thamtham ding kahihdan a theihluat man ua hausate inn a hong koih uh lah ahingala. Lampi a ka kipahna, ka nuihna tengteng inn ka tung leh ka kahna luankhi hongsuak maimahta a, haksa kasa mahmah mai hi.

Huchia ka nupi tawh ka kihou lai un ka papi room sung ah thawm ngaihtakmai kaza ua, ka kihoulam uh leng phawkkha nawnlou in kintak in room sung ka delhlut ngal uhi. Ka papi a lupna tung apan ana kia a, kintaka pom in a lupna ah ka sial nawn hi. “Papi…papi” chi’n ka samsam a, himahleh a dawnna kamkhat leng zaak ding a om nawnta kei. A awm ah ka sawn a, ka hu ka pia a, himahleh a sou khawlsa kasuhing thei nawnta kei. Ka papi lupna gei tuanglai ah ka tusuk a, ka mittui in hong zui ngal a, pasal chi’n ka kideek teitei sawm a, himahleh kideek zou ding vual kahikei. Khovel a hong iittu taktak pen ka papi ka damsung a mukha nawnlou ding kahihmanin, ka lungsim ana a, puakdan ka siam theikei hi.

Bangmah kallou in nungak-tangval ka inn uh hong dim pah ua, ka vante uh hong heem pah zungzung uhi. Kuateng hong hawh a, kuateng ka kiang a om hiam chih na ngawn ka theikei hi. Ka papi luang bul ah ka tu a, ka towel liangbaat in ka kinulnul mai hi. Bangtan hiam zoh in ka kiim ka etleh ka gei ah Chingte ana om a, chik a hong pai a, bangchik a ka kiang a hong tuu ahia chih leng ka theikei. “Ching, hong hawh maw, ka kipaklua” chi’n chibai ka buuk a, amai ka etleh aman leng ka papi hong na iit pih petmah ahi chih ka thei a, amit asan in a bawk thiithiai a, kei hong iit ziaka hichitaka hong suunpih, a meel bang daang kiukiau zawzen kamuh chia’n ka khasiattha bang asuak deuhdeuh hi’n ka thei a, ka papi innsung a aom tawpni ahihtawh chi’n ka kah ek-ek mai hi.

Programme tengteng zoh in haanmual lam ah hong paipih ua, paitang zou nawnlou kahihmanin Chingte in ka khut in hong leen a, ka papi luang koih khiatna ding mun ka tungzou hamham hi. Pastor in ahun zat ding daan teng hong zohtak chiang in tangvalte’n a haan hong vuhsak ua, ka it mahmah ka papi vuiliam ahi maimahta hi. Innlam paikik suk nawn ding bang haksa kasa mahmah mai a, ka nupi tawh Lalboi kia tawh khosak ding chih ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka kihta mahmah a, haanmual a omsuak bang ka ut hi. Himahleh Chingte in hong leen den ahihmanin ka thatawl tawh awl in innlam ka zuan uhi. Inn ka tungphet un lupna ah hong sial ua, gimlua ka hi ngei dinga, lum pan ka kisak leh kana ihmu khangal hi. Nitaklam nitum kuan in ka khanglou zoupan a, ka manglam ngen mah bang in thilteng ka mu a, ka hi meimuai den hi.

Ann ne ding in hongsam ngal ua, neek ngap mahmah lou ka hihman in ka nedah ding chi’n ka gen hi. Himahleh Chingte in ngai thei mahmah lou ahiding a, kuang a vala in sikkeu khat in hong tulh a, duh leh duhlouh thu hilou in hong nesak teitei hi. Ken leng thumanna chi in ka ne a, ann duhlou ka kisak leh tampi bang ka gai maimah hi. Ka neek zoh phet in kava kihahsiang a, Chingte in ka inn uh va pha ni na kisukhalh kawm in hong chi ahihmanin va pha ding chi in keileng ka kisa hi. Awlawl in ka pawtkhia ua, lamdung khawng ah ka vaak kawikawi uhi. Nidang hun a ka kizuihni chiang ua ka gen ut uh tam mahmah hinapi in tuni in zaw gen ding thei leng ka om kei ua, zuih in ka kizuih thoh uhi.

Chingte te inn ka tung ua, “Umuan, hiai ah na tawldam kawm in ana lum inla kei kava kisil ding aw..” chi’n kisil ding in a bathroom lam uh hong zotsan pah hi. Vangsiatna ana tuak nasa mahmah hinapi in Chingte leh mite hong itdan leh hong khotuahdan kamuh chiang in vangse ding inleng vangpha bang ka kisa a, ka lunggim mahmah napi in ka lungsim khat akhamuang a, nuam kasa veve hi. Bangmah kallou in Chingte hong kisil zoupah a, “Umuan, nana chim man hia? Manta ka hi aw..” hong chi a, ken leng “Ching, nou inn aom bang I chim na zenzen dia?” chi’n ka dawng thuk hi. Amah mah in “Umuan, paisuk ding na chih hunhun a paisuk theih himai ahi, leengkhawm dia hong kisa suak ngal kahi aw..” hong chi a, “Hi thamtham e Ching..” kenleng ka chithuk teisam hi.

Khua bang hong mialta ahihmanin Chingte tawh ka pawtkhesuk nawnta uhi. Inn ka tung un nungak leh tangval ana tam mahmahta a, leenkhawm bang ana pankhin zawzen ua, zumhuai bang kasa sim hi. Krismas sawnglaitak ahihtawh leenkhawm bang anuam mahmah mai a, ka lungsim ah, kou innlou deuh hileh zaw Chingte tawh tua sanga leng nuam sazaw ding hi ung amaw ka chi hi. Leenkhawm nuam panpan ka chihleh Val Upa pa hong ding tou a, “Tunitak leenkhawm nuam mahmah hinapi in I daak chiam uh daak 7 bang gingta ahihchiang in, YPA vaai pen ah khakna dan I nei ding ua, a tungap laiteng in I tutpih lai ding uh..” hong chi a, kei bang in nuam kasak ziak adiam hun tom sa in kana aam mahmah mai a, lah hihtheih bangmah omlou ahizel hi.

Lengkhawm zoh in Chingte in hong paisan ngam naikei a, hong tutpih lai hi. Innkong ah mei awi kawm in ka tuu ua, kha bang vaak ahihzawmah tawh houlim in nuam kasa mahmah mai uhi. Chingte in ka khasiat a ka kingaihsiat khak ding hong veeng mahmah ahihdan ka mu deuhdeuh a, ka kipahna ding, ka lungsim nopna ding lam thu ngenngen hong genpih a, nuam kasa a, Chingte pilna thupi sa in ka itna bang a lian deuhdeuh mai hi. Bangtan hiam zoh in “Umuan, dawr ah kuva va hai ni..” chi’n hong zawn a, ken leng “Hitham e, na duh taak in ah..” chi’n kuva haai ding in ka nih un kava kuankhia uhi. Gate kaan zoupan Chingte hong kipalpuk a, ken leng kaai thou pah in dawr lam ka manawh uhi. Ka inn uapan dawr tan hi a gamla tham sim mahmah hi. Huchia ka paitouh uleh dawr tungman nailou deuh in thakhat in Chingte nu ka mu guih ua, anu’n “Chingte, nang zumlou maw? Hiaipa apan kihemkhia in kong chihna sawt lawta hilou maw? Lengkhawm na hih lehleng pai hun in paive, hong paizok oh…” chi’n Chingte baan tang a hong kaihkhiatsak a, naa kasa mahmah mai hi……

PART - VII

Chingte a utkei mahmah a, kei kiang hong zotkiik sawm ahi chih ka theihphet in kenleng Chingte hong letna khut ka lakkhiatsaka,  “Ching, hilou ahi, ei mawhna ahi. Bangteng hileh I pi leh pute’n ‘Nu leh pa thuman anah loh apeek’ ana chih bang un nu leh pate thuman kaan a thupi zaw omlou ahihmanin na nu chihna niallou in innlam va zuanphot mai in..” chi’n ka sawl a, huchi’n Chingte inleng  a nu a zuitouta hi. Lampi ah kei kia in ka pai kiik suk a, ka lungsim chu agik mahmah, himahleh ka gentheih ziaka hiai bang teng ka tuah ding mah ahi chi’n ka pom teitei mai hi. Ka inn uh ka tungsuk nawnpah a, mi ana paimang gaivek simta ua, ka nupite leh tanau-laina hong giahpihte’n lupna khawng ana bawl ua, lum ding in ana kisa diamdiamta uhi.

Keibel a lumthei ding vual hinawnlou kahihmanin Lalboi guitar ka lakhia a, innkong ah mei awi kawm in awl in ka tum hi. Kha bang a vaakpha mahmah mai a, lungleen huai kasa mahmah mai hi. Phalbi laitak ahihtawh khua vot mahmah hinapi in ken bel ka lungsim asat luat ziak hiam vot kasa hetkei a, lungngaih tampi tawh laa sa in ka tuu hi. Ka neulai a ka hinkhua zatdan khawng, ka nu’n a liangkou a hong puaklai nite, ann hong moplai hunte, ka seenlai hunte khawng ka mitkha ah hong lang zungzung mai a, sapkiik theih hileh ka ut mahmah mai hi. A lehlam ah, ka nupite innsung a ka haksatdan leh mite muh a bawlsiata ka omdan khawng ka ngaihtuah chiang in khasiat huai bang kasa mahmah hi. Hichibang haksatnate ngaihtuah kasawm ngeikei, himahleh hichibang hunchiang in ka lungsim ah hong langh mawk ahihchiang in ka ngaihtuah khanaka, kei leh kei kisulungkham maimai kasuak zel hi.

“Sian aw tanbang na hawmsiam, hizong kei tan nalua sa’ng, lungzuan ngaihtam sialna lel… banghang mimbang na piang ka hiam, lungzuan ngaihtam siallel dia, simlei kei di’n zuanna lel….” chih laa khawng ka lungsim ah hong lang dundun mai a, khanvualte khawng lungnuamtak leh khamuangtaka duh leh deih ne a leizou a, nu leh pa ang a lumte khawng enhuai petmah uh kasa hi. Hichibanga ka haksat a, mite deihlouh ding kahihdan ka theih gegu nunga leng bangziaka mi va ngai teitei ka diam aw…chih khawng ka lungsim ah hong suak a, kei leh kei kimawhsakna ding bang ka hau mahmah mai hi. Itna I chih khawng ei ut bang a bawltheih hileh ut hina maizen ing e maw…. kei tan bangchise adiam maw chihlouh vual ahikei hi. Tantawk a lungkimdan ka kisinsin a, himahleh tuahsiatluat hial chiang in kilungkimsak teitei chih bang thil haksapi asuak hi.

Theihlouh kal in aak bang hongkhuang a, zingkhua vaak ding in hong kisata hi. Innkuanpihte’n khua dam sa ding uh ahihmanin mei kana tohsak thaka, a dawn ding uh singpi-tuilum awmsa in kana koihsak vek hi. Huaiteng ka zoh in lum tuan sese lou in luikhuuk lam ka zuanpah a, tui khawng kava tawi hi. Tui ka tawi ngah nung in leng a thou om nailou uh ahihmanin annbel khawng suansa in kana koihvek hi. Huchi’n sawtlou nung in ka inndongta ua ka tanute khawng uh hong thou ua, a sepding uh tampi ana zohsak ka hihmanin a kipak mahmah mai uhi. Kei leng awl a kihahsiang in gim mahmah sim kahihtawh ka lupna ah sawtlou va ihmu ning chi in ka lupna ka zuanpah hi. Lupna tungpan chih ding in bangmah ngaihtuah man nawn vetlou in ka ihmusuk pah ngal hi.

Ihmu pan chih ding in “Muanpu, muanpu” chia hong kisam kaza a, thakhat in ka khanglou hi. Ka daaktouh leh ka gei ah ka nupi ana ding a, “Muanpu, nang a bang chi eh? Nasep ding hichituka tama, inn hah ding khawng adima om a, nang hichih lup mawk chih om theilou, hong thouzok…” hong chi a, ka ihmut khamlouh tawh ka hehtha bang asuak sim maimah hi. Himahleh heh a phatuam ding omlou ahihchian ken leng “Nupi, kare ana ihmu khalai ka vele, hong thou ngal ning aw..” chi’n ihmutsuak kawmkawm in ka thoukhe nawn hi. Ihmut ka khamlouh ziak leng ahingei dia, ka lu khawng ana mahmah a, ka omdan anuam in alem thei mahmah kei hi. Himahleh tawldam theivual hilou ka hihmanin ka ngap dandan in sep theihteng ka sem a, innkhawng hah in vante khawng hoihtak in ka lemfel thak ua, daai khawng ka bawlthak nawn uhi. Ka sepzoh un ann hong neek hun ngal ahihmanin tawldamna ding hun om nawnlou a, nguaitakin ka om niingniang hi.

Huchihlai in ka niite khat in honna hehpih mahmah ahiding a, “Muanpu, bangchi e? Na mel adik hetkei. Na nguailua, damdawi ne inla, va lum in, na taksa mahmah leng a chau lua..” hong chi a, kana guuk kipah mahmah mai hi. Hichibang a hong sawlthei omlou a lum hileng haansan tuak ding kahihmanin. Kenleng ann kanek zoh phet in ka nii hong piak damdawi ka ne a, ka nekzoh in ‘Nii, saulou khawng kava lum dia, kong tawldam zek ding” chi in ka lupna ka zuanpah hi. Ka lup leh ka theihlouh kal in ka ihmu khanawn paha, mang lamdangtak mai ka nei hi, ka mang ahihleh hichidan ahi  khua mial mahmah nuai ah keikia in munkhat ah ka tuu hi, ka kuun a, thil tuamtuam khawng ngaihtuah in sawtkhoptak mialnuai ah ka om nilouh hi. Hak leng hak ngamlou in thumna khawng nei in ka om hi. Huchihlai in thakhat in vaak hong taang in kamu a, keileng kiguih zawzen ka hihman in ka daakkhia hi. Ka daakkhiat leh ni ahong vaak hoih mahmah a, huai ni zuungte’n ka mai mahmah hong khohkha hi’n ka thei a, hoihtakin ka hakthei kei hi, huchia ka mit vaak apan liah a ka om laitak in mikhat ka kiang ah hongpai in Muanpu lungkham ken..”  hong chih tawh kiton in ka khanglou guih hi.

Ka khanloh leh lamdang kasa mahmah mai a, ka maban a nuamsa ding ka hi de aw, ahihkeileh si maimah ding ka de aw, chih bang ka ngaihtuah a, mi kianga lah a hilhchetna va kan ngam tuanlou ka hihmanin ka lungsim aguuk buai mahmah mai hi. Kei leng ka thoukhia a, ka mai khawng ka phiatsiang zoh in sana ka-et leh nitaklam daak 4 bang ana ging manta ahihmanin koimah pawtkhe nawnlou in ann neek ding ngak in ka om hi. Bench ah kei kia in ka tu a, ka zalmang lamdang takmai ka ngaihtuah khop a, ann ne ding a hongsap lam bang uh ka phawkkha kei zawzen hi. Innkong a kava pawtkhiat leh ana ne zaizaita ua, kei leng kuang khat laa in ann ne ding in kava kisapah hi. Ann ka neek kawm nasan in ka ngaihtuah khaden a, ka ann nek bang a lim kei zawzen zou hi’n ka thei ahi. Bangtuak ding ka diam aw? chih kia ka ngaihtuah khop a, ka lungsim a nuam thei mahmah kei hi.

Gil vah lah bang, vahlou lah bang in ka kham hi. Nitaklam dak 5 bang hong gingtou a, verandah a thil tuamtuam ngaihtuah kawm a ka tut leh ka lawmpa Thangpu hong vaakluut hi. Ka muhphet in “Eh, Thang nong hawh zenzen a, bangchisim e? Tulai kimuhlouhna bang sawt bang zawzenta a, lunglen huai theilua hive aw..” ka chih leh aman leng “Thang, bang poimawh om hikei, bang nana chichi hiam chia hong vaak luut maimai kahi. Den in Chingte ka inn uah hong hawh a, a nute’n pawtkhiat ding leng phallou uh ahihdan khawng hong gena..” hong chipan, a genzom ma in kana pautuh pah a “Thang, a nute’n lah hong deihsaklouh utawh haksa mahleh kei ading a lampi om tuanlou ding ahihchiang in houh ka kikhen mai uh ahoihpen ahidiam?” chi’n ka dong hi. Thangpu in “Muan, lunglel pahpah lou e pasal, aman nang hong ngai nawnlou hileh thutuam, hong ngai law mahmah a, hong ngaihna thu mittui luangzen a ka kiang ah hong gen ahi” hong chi hi.

Thangpu thugen in ka lungsim hong subuai deuhdeuh a, va ngaih teitei ding lah a nu leh pate’n hong deihsaklou law mahmah ua, tankhak zoh ka kinem tuankei. Ahi alah ka ngailaw mahmah zel a, “Umuan, mihing daai kuaman kaai zoulou ahi…” chia hong gen khawng bang ka bilkha ah hong ging chiaichiai mai hi. Ka loh ding daan tuan ka theikei, Chingte tawh kimuhtheihna ding lampi lah bangmah ka theisamkei hi. Thangpu mah in “Muan, lungkham hetken aw, na kisukhalhna lah hikawm ding in tunitak leengkhawm in vahawh leng hilou maw, hong kisa in aw kong tawn ding” hong chi a, ka lungsim in leenkhawm omlai ahi maw kachi zawzen hi. Ken leng “Thang, zingchiang a kumlui kikha ding eimahve maw…tunitak apan leenkhawm kipan nawn ding maw?” chi’n ka dong thuk hi. Aman leng “tunitak apan leenkhawmna programme kizang nawnta ding ahi..” hong chi a, huchi’n kenleng “ahihleh kana kisa dinga, na hong tawn dia va leengkhawmni aw..” ka chi a, Thangpu’n leng kisa dia hong paisan ahihmanin keileng kihahsiang ngal in ka kisa pah hi.

Sawtlou nung in Thangpu hong tungtou pah a, keileng mansa a na om kahihmanin ka nupi kiang ah leengkhawm a kuan ding ka hihdan uh ka hilh a, huchi’n Thangpu tawh kizuui tou in leenkhawmna innlam ka zuansuak pah ngal uhi. Lampi ah Thangpu kiang ah “Lawm, Chingte lah hong leengkhawm theilou ding hia maw… amel khatvei bek mu nuam hina maizen ing e..” ka chih leh Thangpu in “Muan, lungkhamkoh, na vaangphat leh mukha thei nahi, Mercy kiang ah ahihtheih leh hihtheihlouh thutuam, nava zawn ding chia ka sawl ahi” hong chi a, ka zak in ka kipak mahmah a, hong hawh thei ding chih thei hikei mahleng ka lawmte hong khualna thupi kasak mahmah ziakin Chingte meelmu ka bang zou hial a, atung ah ka kipak mahmah hi. Chingte hong hawh theihlouh khak ding ka guuk lauh mahmah mai a, Pathian kiang bang ah hong hawh theihna ding in ka thuum kha zawzen hi.

Sawtlou nung in leenkhawmna inn ka tung khong uhi. Mi ana tam sim mahmah mai a, kou leng luutpah in munkhat ah kava tupah uhi. Ka tut utawh kiton in Chingte ka guuk zon pah a, himahleh muhkhak ding in a omkei a, poi kasa mahmah mai hi. Ka lungsim abukim theikei a, ka lasak ut tha himhim leng asuakkei hi. Bangtan hiam ka tutzoh un Thangpu kiang ah “Thang, ka gimsim a pai mai ding hia?” ka chihleh Thangpu in hongphal hetkei hi. Lawmpa’n hong phallouhluat tawh ning kawmkawm in ka tu nilouh hi. Huchia lungsim nuam hetlou a dakkal 1 vaal bang ka tutzoh un konglam ka etleh Mercy leh Chingte hong luut kamu chet a, gimsim ka kisakna tengteng bang beizou hi’n ka thei ahi. Ka kiang uah hongtu le uh ka ut mahmah a, himahleh tutna awng nawnlou ahihmanin sapna vual aomkei hi. Himahleh vangphathuaitak in ka kimaingat kha geih ua, ka kimutuah hoih mahmah ua, ka lungbel akim veve hi.

Leengkhawm a kimpih vualte’ng lasa a nuamsatak mai a aomlai un kei leh Chingte inbel lasak ding lamlam leng ka phawkkha kei uh. Ka nih un ka ki-entuahtuah mai uhi. Huchia bangtan hiam ka ki-ettuah nilouh nung un Chingte in akhut hong lakhetou in innkong lam a khuttal in hong kawk zauh hi. Ken abang gen ade aw chi’n ka theisiam mahmah kei a, chih dingdan tuan theilou kahihmanin Thangpu kiang ah ka gen leh “Muan, innkonglam ah kihouni chi ahi ding, innkong ah vapawt leteh..” hongchi hi. Kenleng awle chi’n innkong lam ka pawtpah hi. Innkong munkhat ah katu a, Chingte lah hong pawtkei a, Thangpu inleng hong khem hiding eive chi’n kei zaakkhop in ka phun numnum hi. Himahleh minute 20 vel zoh in Chingte hong pawtkhe petmah hi. Ka kiang ah hongtu a, gen masak ding theimel ka omkei uhi. Atawp in kenleng “Ching ikimuthei a, ka kipaklua..” ka chihleh Chingte inleng ka khut hong leen in “Umuan…………”

PART - VIII

Chingte inleng ka khut hong leen in “Umuan, hichibang a hun haksatak kal a na meel kong muhkhak hampha ka kisalaw petmah, ka gensa mihing daai kuaman kaai zoulou ahi chih ana thei gige lai in aw, ka nute’n hong hal ua, I kaal ahaksa mahmah mai, himahleh I ki-itna pen a kip zoh peuhleh hun hongpaizel dinga Pathian in a lampi ding hong sehsak na ding ahi a, lungliap hetken aw… Nidang dan a kimu in kipawl theikei mahlehang ka itna leh ka lungsim chiklaipeuh a nang kianga om gige ding ahi aw..” hong chi hi. Zaak nuam kasa mahmah mai a, ka kipak in ka lung anuam mahmah tuam a, ka tunga van giktak mai kikoih laakkhiat mah abang zou hi. Ken leng “Ching, hichibang nunga leng na hong it veve lai thupi konsa in kong ngaisang mahmah a, nang sang in kei ading in a kipahhuai zaw thamtham, kong it deuhdeuh mai..” ka chi hi. Kum tampitak kikhen nunga kimukiik mah ka bang ua, nuam kasa mahmah ua, ka kipaak tuak mahmah uhi.

Lengkhawmte’n lah nuamsa deuhdeuh, a leenkhawm ging uh ngaih deuhdeuh mai, kou lah Chingte tawh kuamah eng tuanlou in koumau chiat in nuam kasa thei mahmah mai uhi. Sana bang ka en-en mai ua, dak 2 ging ngeikei leh chih bang ka ut mahmah mai ua, zanhak dia Upate kiang ah vanget mai bang uthuai kasa hi. Himahleh hitheilou ahihchiang in ka aam mahmah mai ua, ahitazongin gen ding tam theibel ka omkei uh. Bangmah genlou in zankhovaak in tu le ungle nuam kasa mahmah thouthou ding uhi. Sawtkhop a pau omlou a ka tutkhawm nung un Chingte in “Umuan, khatvei a ka nu’n hong bawldan na lungsim analua hia, ka kisuanglah dan, hehpihtakin hong ngaidam in aw..” hong chi hi. Ken leng “Ching, kisuanlah thu gen ngai zenzen lou ahi, ki-it a kingai taktakte’n hiai bang a hun haksa a tuah gige mah uh ahi a, ka theisiam lawtel, hiai bang ka tuah ziak in ka lunglel kei a, kong itna lian semsem zaw hi’n ka thei..” ka chihkhum hi.

Chingte kei ading a first love ahihziak hiam chih ka theikei, ka itna alian mahmah diak hi’n ka thei a, aching bang in gentheih huai kasa mahmah mai hi. Huchibangin amah ading in leng a first love kahi a, hong ngai mahmah sam hi. Ngai in bangteng chi lengle ken bel keilam ki-enlou theilou kahih chiang in ka itna zah inleng ka itna thu ka gen ngamkei a, akianga ka gen ut teng nasan leng ka gen ngamkei hi. Chingte in ahihleh itna kia hilou in hong hehpih mahmah mai a, ka haksatdan teng kam khat leng gen ngailou in a theivek a, a chih bangbang in om theikei mahleng hong theisiam mahmah a, ka khasiat ding leh ka lungnoplouh ding a veeng petmah hi. A lungkham tawp inleng ka mai ah dah meel in aom ngeikei a, hong kipahsak sawm in ka lungsim anop-a, ka hinkhua haksatnate mangngilha, apaisa ka hinkhua leh ka nu leh pa ngai a ka lungleng ding a veeng mahmah mai hi.

Huchia kipaktak leh kikhelahtaka ka houlimsung un dak 2 ana gingman ahidinga, lasate hong dai ua, Upapa’n leenkhawm khakna thumna hong nei hi. Chingte tawh innlam zotkiik nawn ding haksa kasa tuak mahmah mai uhi, aziakbel vangsiat leh kimuh nawnlouh theih ahihmanin. Thumna a neihzoh in lengkhawmte hong pawtkhe diamdiam nawnta ua, kou leng awl in ka tutna uapan ka dingkhetou uhi. Chingte in “Umuan, ka gate tan uh nong khak ding aw..” chi’n hong ngen a, keileng ka utpen mah ahihchiang in seel sese lou in “Ching, ahihlouh zenzen a, hong kha thamtham e” chi’n Chingte-te innlam zuan in ka paikhe phei uhi. Lampi ah Ningta, Chingte-te innvengte, numei pauthei mahmah khat amahkia in anapai a, kou leng numei vuak apai hial sang in chi’n delhphei in ka kitonpih uhi. Chingte ka aam luatziak ahingei dinga a inn uh bang tungbaih ka kisa mahmah mai hi. A gate uh ka tunphet in “Ching, I leelsa simthute lungpai pai tembang kuahden ni aw… mangpha photni” ka chi a, aman le’ng “Umuan, vual in hal in tun leh zuate’n hong hal zongleh, itna mitdel zaw halzou ding simlei ah omlou ahi aw..” hong chithuk in huchi’n ka kikhen thei khongkhong uhi.

Nidangteng sangin leng tunitak chu ka lampi pai leng nuamzaw hi’n ka thei zawzen ahi. Lampi bang ah ka ngaihtuahna, ka lungsim a nuam mahmah mai a, ka guuk nuih suksuk maimah hi. Inn ka tun in kong ana kalhzel di uam aw chia ka lauhguuk sim leh ana kalhkei ua, kei leng luut in ka room ah ka luutsuak a, ka van kheek in lupna tung ka kideenna pah hi. Ihmut ka sawm chiang in ka ihmu thei mahmah kei a, ka bilkha ah ““Umuan, vual in hal in tun leh zuate’n hong hal zongleh, itna mitdel zaw halzou ding simlei ah omlou ahi aw..”  chia Chingte hong thugen hong gingden a, thildang ka ngaihtuah sawm chiang inleng ka lungsim ah adang aomthei hetkei hi. Chingte hong itna thupi kasa deuhdeuh a, hiaibanga numei hoih leh lungsim piching ka neihkhak hampha ka kisa a, Pathian in ka tagahna liahkhuh a, ka lungkhamna hehnemtu leh mangngilhsaktu ding a hongs awl hiding bang in ka koih a, Pathian kiang ah kipahthu ka gengen mai hi.

Ka sana ka etleh dak 3.30 bang ana gingman a, dak 4 a kumlui khakna ding sa-at a ka kuan ngai nawn ding ahihmanin ihmut nadan om kasa nawnkei a, huchi’n ka thoukhia hi. Mai khawng phiatsiang in tui khawng kava tawipah a, nidang teng sanga leng ka nupi maipha ka muhzawk ngaita ahihmanin a thohma a thilteng ana zohfel ding chi hut kahihmanin ka tuitawi zoh in ann huan kawm in inn khawng ka zuut siang pah hi. Ka sep ding teng kasep zoh nung sawtlou in ka nupi leng hong thou a, dak 4 bang ana gingkhinta ahihchiang in kenleng “Nupi, biakinn ah sa-at in kava kuan ding aw..” chi in biakinn lam manawh ding in ka kuantou ngal hi. Innkong ah Thangpu leng Biakinn lam pha dia kuan toh kituakkha ka hihman un ka kitontou ua, Thangpu kiang ah, “Lawm, zannitak kipahthu hong gen ding kachih hinapi in Chingte kava khakleh kong mukha nawnkei a, kipak petmah kahihdan ana thei in aw, nang omlou hileteh Chingte ka muhna ding lampi aomkei a, nang tawh Mercy lem hong geelsakdan thupi kasa petmah a, ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka kipak deuhdeuh” ka chih leh aman leng “Muan, bang kipahthu gen ngai zenzen lou e, lawmta ichih hichi khawng a I pankhawm ding mah ahi..” hong chihkhum hi.

Houlim kawmkawm a ka paitouh nung un Biakinn ka tungtou uhi. Sa-at ding ana tam mahmah mai a, kou leng Thangpu tawh at ding in ka kisapah ngal uhi. Huchihlai in vangphat huaitak mai in Chingte leng ahong hawh thei nawn a, ka kipak kholdiak hi. Hong muhphet in “Eh, Umuan, hong kuanzou umaw? Na khut uh khawng a thanghuaima in singpi kong sung dia dawn masa phot un” hong chi a, ken leng “Ching, na hong piak taak in dawn thamtham e, huai mah aka I duh..” chi’n ka chiamnuih suk hi. Huchi’n singpi hongpia a, “Tuni zaw nungak tamna, na singpi dawn sung uh na kiang uah kong khawlphot ding, zannitak ihmut theihlouh tawh ka gimlua” Chingte in hong chi a, ka pauma in Thangpu in “Chingte, ihmut mawhna ding hial a bang kichihkha na maizen ua?” chi’n hong chiamnuih a, ka thum un ka nuui zaizai uhi.

Singpi dawnzou phet sa-at ding in ka hong kisapah ngal uhi. Nidang banglou in ka sa-atkhiat zoh atawm mahmah mai hi. Chingte ka melhna ding tawh, ka sa-atna ding tawh ka kidaihzou mahmah kei hi. Huchia awlawl a ka sa-at lai in agal apan Chingte in “Umuan, sa mah hi maw na at, na khut zaw sa muh in hong mu nawn ngalken aw…” chi’n hong chiamnuihsuka, ken leng “Chingte, ki-at kha lengle hongkem hongdon ding ka muangna vele..” ka chitousuk pah lel hi. Bangmah kallou in ka sa-at ding tengteng uh ka zou pah ua, satem khawng sawpsiang in munkhat ah Thangpu tawh katu tawldam uhi. Chingte leng zum zou nawn hetlou asam dinga, alawmte taisan in ka kiang uah hong paisuk hi. Himahleh tu leng tuman lou in a innvengnu Ningta in “Chingte, hongpai dih, huailam va paipai ngailou” chi’n samkiik a, ka lungsim guuk in huainu mawngmawng ka kamsung ah omleh petzaan utna mahmah ing e kachi vungvung hi.

Biakinn a Usher dinga hong sepkha uh ahihmanin innlam ka paisukpah a, ka tunphet in ann kane ngal uhi. Ann ka neeklai un Lalboi kiang ah “Lal, na puannak khat hong khelsak maive maw, tuni Usher a pangdek inga” ka chihleh, ka lametna khen in “Umuan, hi thamtham e, na deih penpen ana silh in aw..” hongchi zenzen a, hichituka Lalboi kampau nem za ngeilou ka hihmanin ka kipak petmah mai a, ka annkam bang a lim tuan mahmah mai hi. Ka neekzoh phet un kuang ka hempah a, ka hepzoh phet in ka kisil hi. Kisil zou in Lalboi puannak khat ka la a, ka kisa pahngal hi. Ka kisakkhitma in Thangboi in hong tawntou man hi. Kumlui khakni chuh ka damsung adia mangngilh theih nawnlou ding ahi, Chingte tawh Usher a kapankhawm patna ding uh ahihmanin, a phur leng ka phur diak hi.

Ka manphet in Thangboi tawh biakinn ka zuan ngal uhi. Biakinn ka tung un Chingte bang ana tungkhin thamta ding in ka um a, himahleh ka zonzon leh ka mu zoukei a, bangchi ade aw? bang buaina nei a hong kikhawmlou dek ade aw? chih peuh ka ngaihtuah khop a, ka Usher hihlam na ngawn ka mangngilh dek zawzen hi. Zingkal a ka phur na tengteng bang abeizou hi. Himahleh lungsim khat ah lametna ka neih teitei laiman in innkong lam ngen ka enen mai hi. Mi kikhawm ding teng hong kuankhin vek abangta a, biakinn leng mi adimta, innkong lam ah muh ding mi a vaang mahmahta hi. Hichitan inleng hong tung naikei a, ka lungsim chu aguuk buai mahmah ta. Mikiang a vakan mawk nadan lah a omkei, kinemtakin ka ngakngak mai a, himahleh kikhawm tawptan inleng a meel muh in aomkei lailai a, ka lungsim anuam thei nawntakei hi.

Kikhawm tawp innlam paingal mai ding hi chia pai dia ka kisak leh ka nunglam apan “Umuan..” chia hong kisam kaza a, Chingte hingei ding chia kinemtak a ka-et leh alawmnu Mercy ana hi maimah hi. Ka kianglam hong zuan a, kenleng “Mercy, bang chisim e?” chia kana dot pahleh aman leng “Umuan, Chingte-te innvengnu Ningta in Chingte nu kiang ah zannitak leenkhawmna ale Chingte hong tellou, innkong a Muanpu tawh tuden uh” chia va heek segawp a, Chingte nu’n kikhawm le kikhawmsak utlou ahi hong chi hi. Ka hehtha asuak mahmah mai a, pai vengveng a huai Ningta va biangbet ek mai ka ut hi. Kei leng lungsim nat tawh ka hehtawh biakinn konglam ah ka pawt hi. 

KHEN -IX

Leengkhawm lah nuam deuhdeuh, laasak ging lah ngaih deuhdeuh, kuamah innlam paisawmlah omlou, lengkhawm a hong kuanlou nungak-tangval hong khonung kuan bang atam mahmah mai hi. Huchia nuamsataka ka lenkhawmlai un theihlouh kalin dak 2:00 lam bang hon gingman a, Upapa uh hon dingtou a, “Tunitak i leekhawm uhi anuam mahmah mai a, himahleh dak 2 bang gingta ahihmanin tawplam i manohta ding uh...” honchi bangchu a zak anuam hetkei hi. Kitawp leh innlam pai ngaidia, Chingboi toh ka kimuhna ding uh gamla deuhdeuh ding chih khawng ka ngaihtuahna ah hon suak dundun a, poi kasa a, ka khelah mahmah mai hi.

Ka lungsim in chikleh Chingboi toh kei adin kimuhna kawlni hongsuak nawn ding hiam? Chih khawng leh lenkhawm tawpmai ding khawng ka ngaihtuah khawm chiang in ka mai bang mial dundun in ka thei hi. Huchia lungnuam hetlou a ka omlai in Chingboi pa hong dingtou a, “Tunitak lenkhawm anuam mahmah a, khualgam a omsek ka hihtoh kong telkhak theih sunsun ka aam mahmah a, i Upapa un lem asak a nungak-tangvalte’n a zanhah ngap ualeh ka vok uh leh ka bawng uh khattuak Zinghal a nekkhawm ding in ka thoh ding....” honchi a, ka kiguih zozen hi. Nungak-tangvalte a kipaklou ka omkei ua, khut bang ka beng zuazua zozen uhi. Huchi’n Upapa leng hong dingtou nawn in “I thuzak uh akipahhuai mahmah mai a, nungak-tangvalte leng na kithalawp mahmah uh chih ka theih manin i zanhak ding uh” hon chi a, ka lungsim noplouhna tengteng vasa abuk a khum khahsuah mah abang zou hi.

Lungsim anuam mahmah mai hi. Chingboi pa bang ngaina zou mahmah in ka kithei hial ahi. Achih bangin Chingboi Pa bel sepna neihziaka gamdang a omden, kholam leng hongpha man ngei khollou ahi a, achangin Chingboi nute va hoh thoh zel uhi. Lungsim piching mahmah, kuamah siatna ding gen khollou mi ahi a, ahuchihziak mahin mite’n a ngaina mahmah mai uhi. Ahitazongin alehlamtaka Chingboinu’n a thuzoh sim mahmah a, a innsung thuneihna uh a nu khut ah a kinga sim hi. Huaiziakin Chingboi pa kei ading in mi nuam mahmah himahleh anu ziak in a nuam hetlou asuah hun a omzel hi. Kei hinkhua bang ana thei mahmah mai a, hehpihna ka tung ah hon langsak zou gige mikhat ahihziakmah ahingei ding in ka gingta tinten hi. (Chingboi hon itdan a kipan in leng muthei in om hi)

Huchia thu saupi ngaihtuah a lenkhawm lam bang phawklou zozen a ka omlai in thakhat in Chingboi in ka khut hong len gaih a, ka kiguih zozen hi. “Umuan, Bangchi e? Bang ngaihtuah na maizen a, ei na kianga ki-tutu a nang thildang hon ngaihtuahsan daih ding maw...?” honchi a, kenleng “Ching, non itdan khawng ka ngaihtuah khamawk a, thupi salua ing a i lenkhawp lam bang uh ana mangngilh kha maimah ka hi” kachih leh nuikawm in “Umuan, azak nuam na e, hilele huai din zaw ka gingta hialkei, hilele ka kipak himhim” hon chi a, kenle ka nuihsan hi. Huchi’n lengkhawm ka hih utoh kouleng laasak ka pan nawn uhi.

Zinglam dak 4 bang gingtouta a, khua vak din a kisata hi. Khua vak ngeikei leh hoih ding hia ka chichi mai hi. Huchihlai in Chingboi in “Umuan, ka zun suak nonva thakpih thei diam?” chi’n hon ngen a, kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham e, i va paipah diam?” ka chih leh amah leng dingtou ngal in innkong lam zuan in ka kizuikhia uhi. Innpam lam deuh ka tung un Chingboi in “Umuan, ka zun suak ahikei, nang toh tomchik bek atuam a hun zatkhawm ka utman a kon pawtpih hizaw ahi, na lungsimlam ahihkeileh theihsiam aw....” hon chi a, kenleng “Ching, ka lungsimlou lam hi zenzen lou e, nang ka itpen thilsawm chu azui dia mansa gige kahi....” ka chihleh hong angkawi a, “Umuan, kon ngailua, singdang ang ah loubang hong tulsan mahmah ken aw....” honchi a, kenleng “Ching, khua hun kihei in, kum zatam a mualliam zong in nang kon itna daibang thenni omlou ding ahi aw....” chih toh kiptak in ka kawithuk hi.

Chingboi toh ka hun zatkhawm uh nuam kasa mahmah mai uhi. Chingboi ka ang ah hong kingaiphei a, “Umuan, non it non ngaih taktak leh ginomna simthu hon chiamve aw, hiai a i tungsolkha a theihpihtu hiding in” chi’n hong ngen a, keileng ka kipahlamtak ahihmanin “Ching, i tungsolkha a tan laiteng nang ading in ka muanhuai in ka ginom gige dinga, i kal ah haksat-buaina tuamtuam hong tung mahleh huaite ziak in ka lungliapkei ding a, nang kei adia na hin laiteng kei nang adia hing ding sa gige ka hi aw....” kachi hi. Huchi’n Chingboi in leng “Umuan, ka kipaklua. Kei leng nanga ding ahihnakleh ka hinna natan it bangmah neilou kahi a, bangteng om in, tun leh zuate’n hong hal mahleh ka hon taisan tuankei ding....” honchi a, a luu awl a hong phongtou in a muuk san chiucheu in ka muk hon tawpsak hi. Ka pian apan ka tuahpatna ahihziakin ka kipak mahmah a, ka muk bang ka khoihkhoih kha hial hi.

Theihlouh kalin hun sawt ana paimansim ahi dinga, sana ka etleh dak 5 bang ana gingtouta ahihmanin Chingboi ka ang apan phongtou in “Ching, khua vaak ding hita ahihmanin awl in lenkhawmna mun ah i paiphei nawnta ding aw...” ka chi hi. Chingboi inleng “Umuan, nangtoh omkhawm det ka utlua, himahleh hun nailou phot ahihchiang in na chih dandan a himai kei dia...." chi’n ka nih un lengkhawpna lam zuan in ka pai uhi. Innkong ka tun un lutsuakpah ka sawm leh Chingboi in ka khut khat ah hong len a, “Umuan, lut nawnlou in innkong ah ana tumai ni....” hon chi a, kenleng Chingboi thu sel utlou ka hihmanin kikthak in innkong a bench kidohte ah ka tutpih hi.

Innkong apan laa sak chih hithei taktak lou ahihmanin ka kihoulim uhi. Chingboi in “Umuan, hoihtak in hong omtou zel in aw, tu in na theihsa bangin ka nu’n hon deihsak hetkei a, i kimuh ding leng aphal kei hi, himahleh hiai in i ki-itna pen a dal theikei a, hoihtak in omtou leng nidang chia nang hon deihlouhpen pa uh hon itpen uh, amau adia suanhuaipen hithei gige nahi aw....” honchi a, ka khasiat bang a suak zozen hi. Kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham mah e maw, Pathian kiang ah i thum dia, mi adia ni atan sak theileh ei adia leng nikhat tei ni hon tangsak nading ahi, lungkham keini, na chih bangin a suan uleh a it uh ka hih theihna ding in ken leng ka theihtawp suahin pan kon la touzel ding aw....” ka chithuk hi. Huchia ka houlim lai un Chingboi mai ka etleh a biang ah a mittui a luang hi’n kamu a, kenleng kintakin ka romol lakhia in a mittui ka nulsak a, “Ching, bangchi e? na itpen kianga om chin a na mittui na luansak lailai, na lungnoplouhna ding kon genkhak omhia?” ka chihleh, aman leng “Umuan, na kianga om nuam kasalua a, himahleh denzek chianga kipaisanpah ding i hihkhawng ka ngaihtuah chiang in kon khelahlua a, ka khasiat hong suak mawk ahi, kisuanglah ken aw, kon itluat ziak ahi aw....” honchi thuk hi.

Huchia nuamsataka ka omsung un khua hongvak khongkhong a, Upapa’n tawpna thumna nei in nungak-tangvalte innlam zuan kuamah omlou a, tangvalte’n sa-at ding, nungakte’n tui tawi ding chi’n hon puang behlap a, Chingboi toh kimuthei zeklai ding kahihman un ka kipak mahmah ua, ki-entuah in ka nuituak uhi. Kou leng ka tutna uapan dingkhia in Chingboi in numeite kianglam ah tui tawipih dingin va kisapah a, keileng sa-at ding chi in sa-atte omna lam ka zuan ngal hi. Chingboi tuitawi a ava kuankhiat ding sung khong ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka muh ut toh poi kasa sim hi, himahleh vangphathuai takin ka Upapa un kou nihgel itna hon theihsiampih mahmah hile kilawm in Chingboi tuitawi a kuanlou ding, singpi awm a ana pang ding in hong seh a, ka guk kipah mahmah mai hi. Ka ngaihtuah chia’n lamdang bang kasa zozen hi, hichi lawmlawm a kei leh Chingboi adia lampi hong kihonhon mawk, Sian lemgel hia? Ka chi utmai hi.

Chingboi toh kigal muhmuh thei ding chia kipak mahmah a ka omlai in ka Upapa un honsam a, koi hiam a hih ding om a honsawl ngei ding ahi chih ka theihman in aguk in poi kana sa a, koi a hon paisak sawm adiam maw kachi lungsim hi. Akiang kava tuntak chiang in “Muanpu, na lawmpa Thangnou toh hiai ah Chingboi leh Maman singpi ana awm pih un, singpi belte lianlua ahihmanin numei ading in haksa ding hi....” hon chi a, ka gintak louhlam daih ahihmanin ka kipak mahmah mai a, Upapa kiang ah “Awle, na chih dandan, ka kipaklua....” chi in chibai bang kava buuk kha zozen a, kenleng Thangpu sampah in Chingboi leh Maman singpi bawlna lam kipaktak in ka zuanpah vengveng uhi. Ka lungsim in Pathian kiang ah achang in ka khase simsimna a, lampi ding hon bawlsaksak ahi zaw ding e... chihpeuh ka ngaihtuah a, ka kipak mahmah mai hi.
Singpi bawlkawm in ka houlim ua, chiamnuih khong gen in nuam kasa mahmah uhi. Huchi’n tuitawite hong tung ua, kouleng Thangpu toh a tui puakte uh kava sang uhi. Huchihlai in Ningta leng hongpai phei a, aw ngaihpi in “Muanpu, nang mipa Chingboi kianglou a omthei lou maw? Amah toh na kithuah ding hon phal hetlou ahi aw anute’n...” hong chiphei hi. Kipaktaka ka omna teng bang beizou zozen in ka thei a, miteng in hong en duamduam zozen uh ahihmanin ka zum mahmah mai a, mi kuamah ka en ngam nawnkei a, dak leng ka dak khe ngam nawnkei hi. Chingboi kiang ah “Ching, nuamkei e maw, thutak gen chu ahina a, innlam ah kana pai mai diam?” ka chih leh Chingboi in hong phal teuhkei a, “Umuan, huai Ningta thugen ziak maimai a nang huchi ding maw… nang huainu ziaka kei hon taisan ding maw...?” hon chih khum a, kenleng gen ding tuan theilou in akiang ah “Ching, na chih dandan hihen, ka hon taisan kei ding...” ka chi a, awl in meikiang ah ka tusuk nawn hi.

KHEN - X 

Leengkhawm lah nuam deuhdeuh, laasak ging lah ngaih deuhdeuh, kuamah innlam paisawmlah omlou, lengkhawm a hong kuanlou nungak-tangval hong khonung kuan bang atam mahmah mai hi. Huchia nuamsataka ka lenkhawmlai un theihlouh kalin dak 2:00 lam bang hon gingman a, Upapa uh hon dingtou a, “Tunitak i leekhawm uhi anuam mahmah mai a, himahleh dak 2 bang gingta ahihmanin tawplam i manohta ding uh...” honchi bangchu a zak anuam hetkei hi. Kitawp leh innlam pai ngaidia, Chingboi toh ka kimuhna ding uh gamla deuhdeuh ding chih khawng ka ngaihtuahna ah hon suak dundun a, poi kasa a, ka khelah mahmah mai hi.  

Ka lungsim in chikleh Chingboi toh kei adin kimuhna kawlni hongsuak nawn ding hiam? Chih khawng leh lenkhawm tawpmai ding khawng ka ngaihtuah khawm chiang in ka mai bang mial dundun in ka thei hi. Huchia lungnuam hetlou a ka omlai in Chingboi pa hong dingtou a, “Tunitak lenkhawm anuam mahmah a, khualgam a omsek ka hihtoh kong telkhak theih sunsun ka aam mahmah a, i Upapa un lem asak a nungak-tangvalte’n a zanhah ngap ualeh ka vok uh leh ka bawng uh khattuak Zinghal a nekkhawm ding in ka thoh ding....” honchi a, ka kiguih zozen hi. Nungak-tangvalte a kipaklou ka omkei ua, khut bang ka beng zuazua zozen uhi. Huchi’n Upapa leng hong dingtou nawn in “I thuzak uh akipahhuai mahmah mai a, nungak-tangvalte leng na kithalawp mahmah uh chih ka theih manin i zanhak ding uh” hon chi a, ka lungsim noplouhna tengteng vasa abuk a khum khahsuah mah abang zou hi.

Lungsim anuam mahmah mai hi. Chingboi pa bang ngaina zou mahmah in ka kithei hial ahi. Achih bangin Chingboi Pa bel sepna neihziaka gamdang a omden, kholam leng hongpha man ngei khollou ahi a, achangin Chingboi nute va hoh thoh zel uhi. Lungsim piching mahmah, kuamah siatna ding gen khollou mi ahi a, ahuchihziak mahin mite’n a ngaina mahmah mai uhi. Ahitazongin alehlamtaka Chingboinu’n a thuzoh sim mahmah a, a innsung thuneihna uh a nu khut ah a kinga sim hi. Huaiziakin Chingboi pa kei ading in mi nuam mahmah himahleh anu ziak in a nuam hetlou asuah hun a omzel hi. Kei hinkhua bang ana thei mahmah mai a, hehpihna ka tung ah hon langsak zou gige mikhat ahihziakmah ahingei ding in ka gingta tinten hi. (Chingboi hon itdan a kipan in leng muthei in om hi)

Huchia thu saupi ngaihtuah a lenkhawm lam bang phawklou zozen a ka omlai in thakhat in Chingboi in ka khut hong len gaih a, ka kiguih zozen hi. “Umuan, Bangchi e? Bang ngaihtuah na maizen a, ei na kianga ki-tutu a nang thildang hon ngaihtuahsan daih ding maw...?” honchi a, kenleng “Ching, non itdan khawng ka ngaihtuah khamawk a, thupi salua ing a i lenkhawp lam bang uh ana mangngilh kha maimah ka hi” kachih leh nuikawm in “Umuan, azak nuam na e, hilele huai din zaw ka gingta hialkei, hilele ka kipak himhim” hon chi a, kenle ka nuihsan hi. Huchi’n lengkhawm ka hih utoh kouleng laasak ka pan nawn uhi.

Zinglam dak 4 bang gingtouta a, khua vak din a kisata hi. Khua vak ngeikei leh hoih ding hia ka chichi mai hi. Huchihlai in Chingboi in “Umuan, ka zun suak nonva thakpih thei diam?” chi’n hon ngen a, kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham e, i va paipah diam?” ka chih leh amah leng dingtou ngal in innkong lam zuan in ka kizuikhia uhi. Innpam lam deuh ka tung un Chingboi in “Umuan, ka zun suak ahikei, nang toh tomchik bek atuam a hun zatkhawm ka utman a kon pawtpih hizaw ahi, na lungsimlam ahihkeileh theihsiam aw....” hon chi a, kenleng “Ching, ka lungsimlou lam hi zenzen lou e, nang ka itpen thilsawm chu azui dia mansa gige kahi....” ka chihleh hong angkawi a, “Umuan, kon ngailua, singdang ang ah loubang hong tulsan mahmah ken aw....” honchi a, kenleng “Ching, khua hun kihei in, kum zatam a mualliam zong in nang kon itna daibang thenni omlou ding ahi aw....” chih toh kiptak in ka kawithuk hi.

Chingboi toh ka hun zatkhawm uh nuam kasa mahmah mai uhi. Chingboi ka ang ah hong kingaiphei a, “Umuan, non it non ngaih taktak leh ginomna simthu hon chiamve aw, hiai a i tungsolkha a theihpihtu hiding in” chi’n hong ngen a, keileng ka kipahlamtak ahihmanin “Ching, i tungsolkha a tan laiteng nang ading in ka muanhuai in ka ginom gige dinga, i kal ah haksat-buaina tuamtuam hong tung mahleh huaite ziak in ka lungliapkei ding a, nang kei adia na hin laiteng kei nang adia hing ding sa gige ka hi aw....” kachi hi. Huchi’n Chingboi in leng “Umuan, ka kipaklua. Kei leng nanga ding ahihnakleh ka hinna natan it bangmah neilou kahi a, bangteng om in, tun leh zuate’n hong hal mahleh ka hon taisan tuankei ding....” honchi a, a luu awl a hong phongtou in a muuk san chiucheu in ka muk hon tawpsak hi. Ka pian apan ka tuahpatna ahihziakin ka kipak mahmah a, ka muk bang ka khoihkhoih kha hial hi.

Theihlouh kalin hun sawt ana paimansim ahi dinga, sana ka etleh dak 5 bang ana gingtouta ahihmanin Chingboi ka ang apan phongtou in “Ching, khua vaak ding hita ahihmanin awl in lenkhawmna mun ah i paiphei nawnta ding aw...” ka chi hi. Chingboi inleng “Umuan, nangtoh omkhawm det ka utlua, himahleh hun nailou phot ahihchiang in na chih dandan a himai kei dia...." chi’n ka nih un lengkhawpna lam zuan in ka pai uhi. Innkong ka tun un lutsuakpah ka sawm leh Chingboi in ka khut khat ah hong len a, “Umuan, lut nawnlou in innkong ah ana tumai ni....” hon chi a, kenleng Chingboi thu sel utlou ka hihmanin kikthak in innkong a bench kidohte ah ka tutpih hi.

Innkong apan laa sak chih hithei taktak lou ahihmanin ka kihoulim uhi. Chingboi in “Umuan, hoihtak in hong omtou zel in aw, tu in na theihsa bangin ka nu’n hon deihsak hetkei a, i kimuh ding leng aphal kei hi, himahleh hiai in i ki-itna pen a dal theikei a, hoihtak in omtou leng nidang chia nang hon deihlouhpen pa uh hon itpen uh, amau adia suanhuaipen hithei gige nahi aw....” honchi a, ka khasiat bang a suak zozen hi. Kenleng “Ching, hi thamtham mah e maw, Pathian kiang ah i thum dia, mi adia ni atan sak theileh ei adia leng nikhat tei ni hon tangsak nading ahi, lungkham keini, na chih bangin a suan uleh a it uh ka hih theihna ding in ken leng ka theihtawp suahin pan kon la touzel ding aw....” ka chithuk hi. Huchia ka houlim lai un Chingboi mai ka etleh a biang ah a mittui a luang hi’n kamu a, kenleng kintakin ka romol lakhia in a mittui ka nulsak a, “Ching, bangchi e? na itpen kianga om chin a na mittui na luansak lailai, na lungnoplouhna ding kon genkhak omhia?” ka chihleh, aman leng “Umuan, na kianga om nuam kasalua a, himahleh denzek chianga kipaisanpah ding i hihkhawng ka ngaihtuah chiang in kon khelahlua a, ka khasiat hong suak mawk ahi, kisuanglah ken aw, kon itluat ziak ahi aw....” honchi thuk hi.

Huchia nuamsataka ka omsung un khua hongvak khongkhong a, Upapa’n tawpna thumna nei in nungak-tangvalte innlam zuan kuamah omlou a, tangvalte’n sa-at ding, nungakte’n tui tawi ding chi’n hon puang behlap a, Chingboi toh kimuthei zeklai ding kahihman un ka kipak mahmah ua, ki-entuah in ka nuituak uhi. Kou leng ka tutna uapan dingkhia in Chingboi in numeite kianglam ah tui tawipih dingin va kisapah a, keileng sa-at ding chi in sa-atte omna lam ka zuan ngal hi. Chingboi tuitawi a ava kuankhiat ding sung khong ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka muh ut toh poi kasa sim hi, himahleh vangphathuai takin ka Upapa un kou nihgel itna hon theihsiampih mahmah hile kilawm in Chingboi tuitawi a kuanlou ding, singpi awm a ana pang ding in hong seh a, ka guk kipah mahmah mai hi. Ka ngaihtuah chia’n lamdang bang kasa zozen hi, hichi lawmlawm a kei leh Chingboi adia lampi hong kihonhon mawk, Sian lemgel hia? Ka chi utmai hi.

Chingboi toh kigal muhmuh thei ding chia kipak mahmah a ka omlai in ka Upapa un honsam a, koi hiam a hih ding om a honsawl ngei ding ahi chih ka theihman in aguk in poi kana sa a, koi a hon paisak sawm adiam maw kachi lungsim hi. Akiang kava tuntak chiang in “Muanpu, na lawmpa Thangnou toh hiai ah Chingboi leh Maman singpi ana awm pih un, singpi belte lianlua ahihmanin numei ading in haksa ding hi....” hon chi a, ka gintak louhlam daih ahihmanin ka kipak mahmah mai a, Upapa kiang ah “Awle, na chih dandan, ka kipaklua....” chi in chibai bang kava buuk kha zozen a, kenleng Thangpu sampah in Chingboi leh Maman singpi bawlna lam kipaktak in ka zuanpah vengveng uhi. Ka lungsim in Pathian kiang ah achang in ka khase simsimna a, lampi ding hon bawlsaksak ahi zaw ding e... chihpeuh ka ngaihtuah a, ka kipak mahmah mai hi.
Singpi bawlkawm in ka houlim ua, chiamnuih khong gen in nuam kasa mahmah uhi. Huchi’n tuitawite hong tung ua, kouleng Thangpu toh a tui puakte uh kava sang uhi. Huchihlai in Ningta leng hongpai phei a, aw ngaihpi in “Muanpu, nang mipa Chingboi kianglou a omthei lou maw? Amah toh na kithuah ding hon phal hetlou ahi aw anute’n...” hong chiphei hi. Kipaktaka ka omna teng bang beizou zozen in ka thei a, miteng in hong en duamduam zozen uh ahihmanin ka zum mahmah mai a, mi kuamah ka en ngam nawnkei a, dak leng ka dak khe ngam nawnkei hi. Chingboi kiang ah “Ching, nuamkei e maw, thutak gen chu ahina a, innlam ah kana pai mai diam?” ka chih leh Chingboi in hong phal teuhkei a, “Umuan, huai Ningta thugen ziak maimai a nang huchi ding maw… nang huainu ziaka kei hon taisan ding maw...?” hon chih khum a, kenleng gen ding tuan theilou in akiang ah “Ching, na chih dandan hihen, ka hon taisan kei ding...” ka chi a, awl in meikiang ah ka tusuk nawn hi.

KHEN – XI

Ka kithalawpna teng beizou abang hi. Ka maizum mahmah a, ka hihding, ka omdan ding leng ka theizou kei zozen hi. Himahleh ka lawmhoih Thangpu leh ka iitpen Chingboi in honna theisiam mahmah ahingei ding ua, ka kipahtheihna ding, ka nuihtheihna ding lam ngen hon genpih nilouh uhi. Huchia chiamnuih khawng hon gen pihpih kal un ka singpi awm bang uh mangngilhkha zozen kahi ding ua, hong phul baw hial hi. Kintak a bel sin kava hongleh a hu in ka khut hon hulkha a, asa mahmah mai hi. Sa salaw mahmah a ka kinuaitenten lai in ka lawmteng in tanupi training chi’n honna nuihsan ek-ek zomah ua, a tawptawp in keileng ka nuih hongza a ka nui khongkhongta hi.
Huchia ka kithuahkhawm nung un kasep dingteng uh semzou kahihman un innlam zuan a kapai uh hong hunta a, kavek un biakinn mun apan kikhen in koumau innlam chiat zuan in kapai uhi. Lampi ka paisuk kawm in Ningta thugen ka lungsim ah hong suak deuhdeuh a, thildang ngaihtuah kasawm chiang inleng ahithei mahmah kei a, ka hehtha suah toh Ningta vuakgawp bang ka ut mahmah mai hi. Achang in Ningta hon bawldan kisimmoh huai sa in, nikhattei atung a len ngeingei ding chih bang hon ngaihtuah khesak zel hi. Ahitazongin milak ngen a hon mualphousak gige ahihmanin ka lungsim guk in ka mudah mahmah mai hi. Heh lungsim toh ka paisuk nalam ah ka keelkong (gate) uah ka kisuipuk zomah lai hi.

Inn tungphet zanhahna toh nasepna toh gim mahmah ka hihmanin neukha ihmut bek ding hinteh chia lumdia ka kisak leh ka nupi’n “Muan, kei lah ka ngaplaw kei a, ann huan ngaplou ding ka hihmanin nang ann na huan ngai mai in teh aw...” honchi hi. Ka ngaptha suak mahmah lou hinapi in ka nupi hon ngetna pen nidanga hon sawldan kampau toh kibanglou, zaknop mahmah ahihmanin ka thadahna subeizou mai in ka thei a, kenleng “Nupi, hi thamtham e... hon huanpah ning aw...” chi’n annhuan buk lam ka zuanpah hi. Ann huan dia ka kisakleh ka ann huan ding ana omkei a, ka nupi kiang ah “Nupi, I anntang uh bei a, bang chih di?” kachih leh ka nupi’n “Muan, nava ngaihtuah ngai inteh,” hon chihsan hi. Ka beidong mahmah mai a, “Koi a kuate kiang a vatai a, va ngen ding ka hia?” chi in ka buai mahmah mai hi.

Ka dingkhia a, innkonglam zuan in ka pawtkhia hi. Koi a kuate inn a anntang va ngen ding ka diam aw chi’n ka lung abuai mahmah mai hi. Lampi a kapaipai a, lutna ding mel katheikei hi. A tawptawp in ka kho hausate uh inn kavatung hi, innsung kava lut leh mi ana tamsim a, anntang vanget ding chih azum huai mahmah mai hi. Himahleh ngenlou theilou kahihmanin hausapi kiang ah “Pi, na anntang uh huankhat bek hon hawmve ua, ka huan ding uh bei eive...” ka chihleh hausapi inleng milakpi ah “Nou innkuan gige leng bangchidan nahi uh? Mikiang a anntang ngen nahikhop ua, khatvei lam a na nupi honglaksa tengle hon dinzou nawn ding nahi uh maw?” chih toh piaklouh hon thuah ahihmanin kazum toh naa kasa mahmah mai a, maisan liailuaisa in kapawtkhe nawn hi.

Kinepna nei nawnlou in innlam a pai a ngolhmai ding hita inteh chi in kapaisuk hi. Lampi a ka paipai leh ka Pastorpa uh toh ka kituaka, “Muanpu, koi lam pha e? Lungkhamtuakna chia, bangchi e?” hon chi hi. Kenleng “Pastorpa aw, lungkham mah ing, ka huan ding uh anntang neilou unga, huai ding ngaihtuah a pawt kahi, Muzoulou ing a ka lungkham ahi” ka chihleh Pastorpa’n leng hon hehpih mahmah ahingei dinga “Muan, tu’n zaw I biakinn programme utoh ahithei naikei dia, I thoveng hunhun chiang un ka sing ding uh hong puakpih in, huai ding tang in hiai ana la inla anntang valei in...” chi’n dangka 200 honpia a, ka kipak petmah mai hi. Kenleng “Pastorpa, ka kipaklaw mahmah, na chih bangbang in hihen, huaikia hilou leng nnasep ding na neih ualeh nou adia mansa gige kahi aw” chi in asum ka sangpah a, anntang zuakna lam zuanin kapaipah vengveng hi.

Anntang zuakna dawr katung in anntang kava enpah a, ka sumtawi 200 man ding kalei ngal hi. Huchi’n kintakin innlam zuanin kapaipah ngal hi. Inn tungphet ka nupi lah thoulou ahihchiang in hih theilou sasa in lohpi lazok in ann kahawi hi. Hawisiam mahmah lou kahingei dinga ka sep baw pahpah a, ka luakkhop zel hi. A tawptawp in ka hawi zou a, ann huan ding in ka kisangal hi. Ann huanpan, min leng min nailou chih ding in Biakinn ah kikhop dak hong ging zomah a, kinohna ngen in ka dimta hi. Ka lungsim kinohgawp ahingei dinga, singkhuah bang kuang utlou diak mah bang kasa a, ka hehtha asuak mahmah mai hi.

Ann ka mitphet in ka thuk ngala, ka nau leh ka nupi kasama, hong thoukhepah ua, ann ne ding in ka kisa uhi. Ann nepan chih ding in ka lawmpa Thangpu hong kuantou a, ann leng ne hoih thei nawnlou in ka om hi. Ka lungsim ah biakinn a Chingboi  muh ding kia om ahihmanin ka gil bang vah mai hi’n ka thei a, tamleng ne manlou in ka kham hi. Ka nekzohphet in ka kisa ngala, kisazou kuan ding chia ka pawtkhiat dek leh ka nupi’n “Muanpu, ana khawl aw, kuang na hep phot ngai ding ahi...” honchi zomah a, “Kihepve ua...” chih bang uthuai mahmah hinapi in huai chihna dan omlou ahihchia’n kenleng “Awle...” chi’n a kuang uh ka heem zotzot a, kuangte kikhop tawp chia silmai ding chia munkhat a ka koihkhawm leh ka nupi’n “Denchiang chih ngailou in tu’n hihsiang in, thil hih ding thouthou hih pahpah ding” chi’n hon silsak teitei a, kikhop ka zekai gawp ding ka lauh toh ka hehtha asuak mahmah hi.

Ka mansiangtak in kindeuhmai in Thangpu toh Biakinn lam ka zuanpah vengveng uhi. Biakinn ka tun un mi ana tamsim mahmahta a, tutna a awng tam nawnlou ahihmanin a nunglam ka tangkha lel uhi. Tusukpan ka mit in Chingboi ka zongpah a, ka muzou hetkei mawka, ka lung anuam hetkei zel hi. Alehlam ah ann nangawn huan ngaplou kasakleh biakinn ah laa akisak in ka nupi lam chihtak in honglam zomah a, thumkhawmna hun bang ah a aw ngaihpen in hongpang zomah a, a omdan teng ka theihluat ziak hia Pathian in dawng ding peuh in kana gingta kei maimah hi. Huchia ka nupi en-en kawma ka omlai in Thangpu in kapang hong phuzat a, ka etphei leh “Muan, huai ah i pamlam deuh a hong engu pheiphei nu kha namu hia?” hon chi a, kenleng kintakin achihnalam ka etphei leh gintaklouh nungpi in Chingboi toh ka ki-entuahkha gaih ua, nuituak kawm in a ki-enkha hetlou dan in ka kiheisan gaih uhi.

Biakinn sung ahihtoh Chingboi va etet ding bang zumhuai leh nuamlou kasa a, himahleh enlou a omtheilou ka hihmanin ka enkha gaihzel a, ka etkhak chiang in ama hon et toh ana kituakkha geihgeih zel a kuamah theihpih hetlouh in kazum mahmah mai hi. Chingboi kahah etluatna lam ahingei dinga thugentupa kipatlam leh a tawplam nasan ka phawkkei a, kikhawmpan ka kisakkal in tawpna laa bang sak hong hun maimah hi.  Kikhawm tawple unglah kimuh lamethuai nawnlou ahihchiang in tawp ding bang ka utkei sim mahmah mai hi. A nu toh tukhawm zomah ahihchiang un houpih ngam ding ahi vetkei zomah hi.

Ka tawp ua, Chingboi houpihkhak lah kinem hetlou ka hihmanin innlam zotpah vengveng mai ding hi’nteh chi’n kapaisuk ngal hi. Paisukpan chih ding in ka nunglam apan “Umuan…….” Chia hong kisam za kahihmanin ka kinunghei ngal hi. Chihleh Maman nui selsal in ana ding a, akhut in hon sam hi. Kei leng kava paikiik a, “Man, bang e?” ka chihleh Maman inleng “Umuan, ken thilkhat nei, na deih hia?” hon chi a, kenleng “Man, nang toh Chingboi apan chu deihlou ka nei mawk di hia?” ka chihleh Maman in hon dawngthukpah a “Umuan, na itpen Chingboi in thilkhat kei tungtawn in honpia a, konpe pah diam? Ahihkeh konna kepsak zeklai diam?” chi’n hong nuih selsal a, kenleng gen ding tuan theilou, lah mu leh thei utlaw mahmah ka hihchiang in “Man, hongpe zok dih, mu utlaw zok ka chi...” ka chihleh “Umuan, na hehpihhuai zozen, kon pepah mai di aw...” chi’n a ip apan laikhat hon dokkhia a, ka khutsung ah hon koihsak gaih hi.

KHEN – XII

Chingboi in Maman tungtawn a lehkhathon honkhak ka sakhau ah ka kuahpah a, inntun a simding kal ka ngaklah mahmah mai hi. Lampi kapai bangin a kiatkhak ding lau mah kabanga, ka sakhau/ip humkawm in ka pai a, hon theiloute’n lamdang bang honsak chi thei mahmah uh abang hi. Ka paikawm in ka lungsim ah bangthu gelh ahide aw, apa sepna lam a hongpaisan houh sawm a akam a hong gen ngamlouh ziaka thaikawi tungtawn a hong khak adiam aw, ahihkeh banglamthu ahipeuhmah diam aw chih khawng ngaihtuah kawmkawm in ka paisuk hi. Achang in ahoihlam ka kipia a, achang in aselam bang kipe thepthup in lungbuaitak in om hi. Ka kinoh deuh ziak adiam nidangteng sang bangin leng inn gamla zaw bang kasa zozen hi.

Inn tungphet ka room ah ka lutsuak a, ka lukham nuai ah kava guanglut ngal hi. Ann huanpah ngai ahihmanin ann huan zohphet chianga sim ding in ka koih hi. Ka annhuan bang ka ngaihtuahkha kei zozen a, ka lungsim a ka lehkhathon vuak om ahihmanin ka theihlouhkal in ka ann huan ana kang zomah hi. Ka koihna mun bang ka gal etet mai a, denchia ka nau bang va lutkha henla va muleh chih bang ka lauthawng mawk a, ka koihna leng muang zoulou in kava lakhe thaka, ka sakhau sung ah ka guanglut nawn hi. Sim ding kal ngaklah toh ka ann huan minhak toh kasa vutvut zou zezen in ka thei ahi. A tawptawp in ka annhuan, ka nasep ding tuamtuam zou in ka lehkhathon simtheihna hun ka nei khongkhong hi.

Kintaka room a lut in ka sakhau apan lehkhathon ka dokkhepah a, hongpah ngam zozen lou in ka zutzut mai hi. Atawp a hong dia ka kisak chet leh ka naupa Lalboi aw kaza a, kintak in ka sakhau ah ka guanglut nawn hi. Sim utlaw zok kahihtoh innsung alah sim ngam nawnlou kahihchiang in dailen suak hetloupi ekbuk lam kava zuan hi. Ekbuk kong hoihtaka kalh in ka lehkhathon kalakhia a, ka hong hi. Abul tung ah “Itpen leh ngaihpen Umuan,...” chih kamu ngala, huaiteng kia lelleng kipahpih mahmah kahi dia ka sim thakthak mai hi. Awlawl in kasim suksuk a, nuam kasa mahmah mai hi. Huai a thugelh tengteng lakah “Umuan, I kaal ah daaltu za in tam in, tun leh zuate’n gibang khen ding simthu zatam hong lel zong un nang apan singdang palzaw inzong tuibang hong zawlkhe zoulou ding uh ahi, lailung muang inla, lunglel lou in kei di’n khuambang ana kip gige in aw…” achihteng nuam sadiak kahidia, ka sim tuantuan mai hi. A tawptan kasimzoh in ka lehkhathon hoihtakin ka khep nawna, lupna khawng a koihmai ding lah phallou kahihchiang in ka sakhau ah ka kuahden a, ka paina peuh ah Chingboi lehkhathon ka kuahden hi.

Nidang tengteng sang inleng ka omdan nuam leh kipak zaw hi’n kathei a, ka hihpeuh leng nuamsa in lamzang tuan hi in ka kithei a, kua phawkbatlouh hinapi in ken kuamah englou, kei khom a lungkim in nuam kasa mahmah mai hi. Nitaklam biakinn lam a ann kinekhawmlai ding ahihmanin Chingboi mukha zomah ding chih bang ka ngaihtuah chiang in nuam kasa mahmah a, ka guk nuihnuih mai hi. Sana ka en-en mai a, ann nekna dak leng ginghak kasa mahmah mai hi. Huchia ngaklahtaka ka omlai in dak hon ging khongkhong a, ka nupi hilh in ka naupa toh ka thum un biakinn lam zuan in ka kuantoupah uhi.

Ann nekna mun katun phet un kenbel Chingboi ka guk zonpah hi. Ka kimvel ka et-et chiang in ka mu mahmah kei a, bangchi ade aw chihkia ka lungsim ah hong om a, ka kithalawpna tampi hong subei in ka annkam limlou zou hi’n ka thei ahi. Huchia ka dakdak nalam in atawp in ka pam deuh uah a innkuan un ana tu ua, ka etphei leh ka ki-entuahkha gaih ua, ka zum mahmah hi. Chingboi kamuh leh ka lung anuam mahmah mai a, ka annkam bang limsot mahmah ahingei dinga, ka annhuan bang tawm huankha deuh ka kisa zozen a, ka khamzou ngelkei hi. Kamkhat bek ka houpihtheih khakleh chi’n a ann nekzoh ding uh ka chan bawlsim hi.

Sawtloukal in ka man a, Chingboi anu toh pai ua, houpihngam ding hilou ahihmanin kenleng innlam zotsukpah kasawm hi. Ka paiphei leh munkhat ah Chingboi a nu toh ana ding ua, anu mel muh ding zong ngamlou kahihmanin en leng en ngamlou in kapaiphei hi. Akiang uh ka tunpheitak in Chingboi nu’n “Muanpu, ana khawldih, kon gen utkhat om hive aw…” chi’n nuihmaitak in honna houpih mawk a, lamdang bang kasa zozen hi. “Muan, nitak bang nahih dia?” chi’n hong kan a, kenleng “Banghih ding nei tuankeng, bangziak e?” ka chihleh hon dawngthukpah a, “Muan, nitak hong pawt teitei in aw…” honchi mawk a, ka kiguih zozen hi. Kenleng “Hitham e…” chi’n Chingboi ka melhgaih a, aman leng honna en in ka kinuihsan tuah ua, huchi’n kou innlam chiat zuan in ka kikhenta uhi.

Chingboinu'n chikmah a ka tunga siam ngeilou, kamdam a “Muan” chia leng hon sam ngeiloupi in tunitaka hon hichih mawk bangthu a dia aw chih kia ka ngaihtuahna ah a thamden hi. Inn ka tunphet in ka kisil a, kisil zou tutna a tukawm in Chingboi lehkhathon leh a nu hon houpihdan, a kampau nemtakte ka bilkha ah gingden ahihmanin ka ngaihtuahkha khop hi. Huchia ngaihtuah kawma ka tuttut leh ka theihlouh kal in khua ana mialmanta a, huchi’n keileng kintaka kisa in Chingboite innlam hoh ding in ka kisata hi. Ka manphet in Chingboite innlam ka zuansuak pah vengveng a, ka kithalawp mahmah ziak ahingei dinga a inn uh ka tungtoupah hi.

Innkong ka tun in a thawm uh ka ngaihguk leh mi atam chisim mahmah ua, kong kiu a lutpah ding haksa kasa mahmah hi. Kenleng bangvang apan ka etguk leh papi leh nupi bangzah hiam a kihoulim ua, singpi khawng dawn in a nui zaizai uhi. Huaite lak ka et-et chiang in Chingboi kamu hetkei a, ka lungsim abuai mahmah maita hi. Lut ding lah Chingboi omlouh genlouh piching ngen tu temtum uh ahihchianga ngamlou, lutlou a innlam a kikmai ding chihlah Chingboinu kiang a Aw ka chihsa pel utlou, kongkhak a ka ding nilouh a, haksa kasa mahmah mai hi. A tawptawp in bangteng hileh pasal, zum leh sailii a si omlou hiven chi in kong ka kiu hi.  “Hong luut ou…” Chingboi nu’n hon chih ging za ka hihmanin keileng kong hong in  ka lutsukpah hi.

Chingboinu’n hon muhphet in “Muan, nong hoh maw, kipahhuai eh, hiailam ah hong tuphei in, khovot toh singpi-tuilum i dawnkhawm ding uh” chi’n honna sampah a, keileng thumu kisa in taptung lam ka zuanphei pah hi. Meikiang ah katu a, ka gen ding ka thei mahmah kei. Chingboi koi aom a chih ka thei nuam mahmah mai a, lah ka kan ngamkei a, ka lungsim bang a kisual tuahtuah mai hi. Chingboi nu’n ka ngaihtuahna ana thei hileh kilawmtak in “Muan, Chingboi alawmte innlam a vahoh ahi, hongpaihak law kenteh...” hon chi a, kenleng kansau nadan om sa tuanlou kahihmanin “Awle, hih ding poimoh nei hi inteh maw...” chihteng in ka dawng a, adang gen tuanlou in ka dai nawn hi.

Ka lungsim in Chingboi nu’n bang hon loh sawm a honsam amahmah dia aw... chihkia ka ngaihtuahna ah asuak hi. A lenglate toh a kihoudan uh ka ngaihngaih chiang in Chingboi in pasal nei dek hileh kilawm bang kasa a, thil omdan theih utna lungtang kia kaneita hi. Thu omdan kanchian mai ding hia chih khawng ka ngaihtuah nilouh a, lah kan ngam ding in hangsanna bangmah ka neikei hi. Kongkhak lamkia ka mitsuan a, lah Chingboi hongpai ngeikei a, thawmhau kisakna bang kanei a, ka hoh utna gige Chingboite inn nuam saklouhna leh lungbuaina asuak maimah hi. A tawptawp in sih leh sih chi in Chingboi nu kiang ah “Bang chisim a nonsap ale?” kachiphut mai hi. Nuisim kawm in hon en a, “Muan, hon hilh naveng aw, ana buaiken.” hon chihsan a, alenglate toh hon kihousan nawn hi.

Bangtanhiam zoh in Chingboi nu’n hongsam a, ka etleh “Muan, hiai Chingboi pasal ding pianna pa ahi a, hiai anu ahi.” chih khawng hon genphut mawk hi. Hon sunzom a, a lenglate kiang ah “Hiai ka tapa uh bangtuka ka ngaihtuah uh Muanpu ahi a, amah Chingboi toh aneu uapan kilawmta hoih mahmah uh ahi...” hon chih behlap lai hi. A lenglate’n “Ahi maw...” chih toh chibai bang hong buk ua, khut leng khak ding a thazoi huai mahmah mai. Ka gen ding avang a, ka etna ding a omkei. Chingboi bek om hileh ka lungsim in achi vungvung mai a, lah ka lungsimnat hon dawntu ding kuamah a omkei, ka mittui khawng luang ding in hong kisa a, ka mai khawng san tuaituai hileh kilawm in ka thei ahi. Ka lungsim ngaihtuahna ah bangmah a omthei nawnkei. Atawp in Chingboi nu kiang ah “Aw, a kipahhuai vele maw, kei awl in kana dingkhe ding.” chih toh din kathuah a, ka pai hi.

Kongkhak ka hon toh kiton in thakhat in Chingboi toh ka kisutuah gaih ua, ka kiguih zozen uhi. Chingboi lah bangmah theilou hileh kilawm in “Oii… Umuan, nang ana hoh maw, ei tua hong kipaipan a, hong lutphot laive… hong tulai aw” chi’n ka khut ah hon len a, himahleh ken Chingboi khut ka lakkhiat saka, “Ching, na khut lel len ding in leng ka ching nawnkei, na inn uh ka sik tawpna ahih ka lamen” chi’n paikhe di’n ka kisa hi. Chingboi in honkai a “Umuan, bangchi e, tunitak na tuam ngei, ka nute’n bang honna gen uh a?” chih toh ka ang ah hong kawi hi. Ka ngaihtuahna asang mahmah mai, ka gen ding a omkei. Huchi’n kenleng “Ching, tunitan na itna nonna piak ka kipaklua.” chi’n a khut ka lakkhiatsak a, paunawn vetlou in innlam zuan in ka pai vengveng hi.

KHEN – XIII
Inn tun ding leng ahaksa mahmah mai, khovotlai hinapi in lampi ah ka kho-ul toh ka mittui toh ka nulsuksuk mai hi. Ka lungsim ah “Muan, hiai Chingboi pasal ding pianna nu leh pa ahi uh....” chih bang, hon chibai dan bang uh suakden ahihmanin ka lungtang anaa mahmah mai hi. Ka kalsuan ahaksa a, ka chi gik mahmah hi’n ka thei hi. Hiai banga haksa tuak ding lel a bangziak a Chingboi ana ngaikha ka hiam?? Itna simthu ka lellai in naubang honna sanglou himaileh zaw tua hiai banga lunggim haksatna tuaklou a hinkhua zang ding hi ing a maw… Ka hunlui liamsate uh ngaihhuai hina maizen e….

Inn tungphet lupna tung ka kidenna ngal hi. Ihmu dia lum himahleng ihmutna dan a om vetkei. Ka lunglai ah naubang nui a, senvual englou a nunnuam ka lenlainite uh hong lang zungzung mai a, Chingboi ka ngaihna toh ka khasiatna toh athuak ahaksa mahmah hi. Ka ngaihtuah thak a, Chingboi laithon bang ka en thakthak zozen hi. Ka lungsim in hon engbawl ut selua a laithon bang hoihtaka hon khak hizaw ding eive, hon simmohna e ka chisim hi. A inn uapan ka pawtdek a “Umuan, nidang na bangkei ngei, bangchi e? Ka nute’n bang hon genkha uh a?” achihte khawng hon muhsitna lel hidingin ka koih a, ama theihpihlouh alah hiai bangteng omding in ngaihtuahna ka nei kei himhim hi.

Zankhua in ihmulou in mittui toh ka lumden a, ka theihlouh kalin aak hong khuang a, khua hong vak maimah hi. Ut leh utlouh thu hilou, ngap leh ngaplouhthu hilou a inn nasep ding nei ka hihmanin, ngaplou sasa in thazoitak in ka thoukhia hi. Thouphet khotaw lam ua lui ah tui tawi dingin kava kuan ngal hi. Lui ka tun madeuh in numei bangzah hiam kihou ging kaza a, Chingboi ahihkhak ngeingei leh kik ding chi in kava engu masa hi. Himahleh ana hikei vanglak a, keileng luikhuk lamah tui dim dingin kava paisuak hi. Luikhuk kava tunleh nungaknou thum ana om ua, honmuh phet un “Umuan, bangchi nang toh ding i honsak leh midang nape maimah a…” chi’n honna chiamnuih zomah ua, ka zum toh ka hehtha asuak deuhdeuh hi. Kenleng “Hmmm, kitangzoulou hiphotlou ding hia…?” chihteng in ka dawng a, luikhuk a pasal vualzou chihdan in ka tui hon dipsak masa uh ahihmanin kana paisan hi.

Lampi ah ka paitouh kawm in ka ngaihtuah thakthak a, zan nitaka thiltung, kenleng zannitaka theipan ing a bangchidan a tua hiai a mi’n honna chiamnuih theihngal uh, athu bangtanhiam kiveita, Chingboi in hon hilh utlouh hingei ding in ka um a, Chingboi tung ah ka khasiatna apung deuhdeuh mai hi. Achang inlah lamdang kasa mahmah a, zanzek a hon itdan thu hoihtak honkhak a tua hiai bangthu aom zel banghiam ziak om hiding bangin ka muangmoh a, Chingboi utthu leh deih a atel hilou azaw diam chih bang ngaihtuah in alehlamtak ah Chingboi bang ka hehpih hun hong omzel sam hi. Ahialah hon engbawl dan a ka ngaihtuahna in zou zaw hi’n ka thei a, atunga ka khasiatna alian mahmah hi.
Inn ka tunphet in ka nasep ding teng ka sempah a, ann ka huan minzohtak in thukpah in ka sungkuante ann kanekpih hi. Nidang a ann nekkawm aleng gen ding theisekpa’n ka gen ding bangmah ka thei nawnkei. Kuang thum leh lii leng a deihkhoplou simsim himahleng kuang khat lelleng ka nezou nawnkei. Ka tha azoi mahmah mai a, nasep ding houchik leng ngap bangmah ka neikei a, kenleng ka nupi kiang ah ka luu naa ahihmanin kong tawldam zek ding chih toh lupna tung kidenna ka thuah hi.

Ka hah ngaihtuahluat ziak ahingei dinga ka lu bang sazou hial in ka thei a, ka nung leh ma nangawn ka thei zoukei hi. Zankhua a ka ihmut louh hangin ka ihmut asuak tuankei. Mitsi dia ka kisakpat chiang in ka mitkha ah Chingboi hong kilang a, maban hun ding ngaihtuah ding ka chih chiang in Chingboi kia ka lungsim ah hongsuak ahihmanin bangmah ka ngaihtuahthei tuankei. Chingboi ngaih haipih zou hial ding ka bang ahi.

Huchia ngaihtuah tampi toh ka lup lai in innkong lam apan naupang aw khat in “Umuan a om hia?” achih za hi’n ka kithei a, keileng kintak in ka lupna apan thou in konglam kava zuan hi. Chihleh naupang khat ana om petmah a, “Bang chisim e nau?” ka chihleh “Umuan, Uching in hiai lai vapia aw chia honsawl ahi...” chih toh lai piak hon thuah hi. Kenleng a lai kasimpah leh “Itluat Umuan, hehpihtakin khonawl a hausate gam ah hong pai in, konna ngakden ding...” chihteng a kigelh hi. Ka ngaihtuahna abuai deuhdeuh mai a, bangchih ding ka hiam chih ka theizoukei. Va pai dinglah kei adia lungzuan ngaihtam sialna lel ding, va pai louh ding lah Chingboi ka itpen thugen himhim sel ding ka utkei zel a, haksa kasa mahmah hi.

Atawp in keileng innsung ah ka lut a, ka puaknatna lungsim lah bei lou hial ahihchiang in ka pen toh paper la in hichi’n ka gelhthukpah hi... “Ching, kei ka poimohna omlai ding in ka gingta kei hi. Nang mi a ding na hita a, kei bangmahlou, tagah genthei, mitung a kinga maimai in ka hon sukbuai a, na tun leh zuate’n houlungtuak a simthu a kupsa uh phelzou ding vual ka hita kei hi… Kon it petmah chih na thei a, chikmahchiang inleng ka hon taisan zoukei ding, himahleh ka hon itziak in na nopsakna ding na nu leh pate’n hon deihsak bangbang in ken leng kon deihsak ahi… Na lungsim apan hon thaimangta mai inla, nang nopsakna ding lam ana zongta in, keizaw a chinglou ka himai ding... ka gen tawpna ding in khatvei kon genlai ding CHING, KON ITLAW PETMAH CHIH ANA THEI GIGE IN”  chia ka gelhzoh in ka khep a, naupang khat sam in Chingboi vape ding in ka sawl hi.

Chingboi hon chihna mun a vapai mai ding hia chihpeuh ka ngaihtuah kik thaka, ka thilgelh bang ka kisik thak sim mahmah a, a pailou ding dan a ka gen khakna teng bang ka lakik thak ut mahmah, lah lakkik theihvual ahi nawnkei, ka lungsim bang a kisual tuahtuah mai a, kei leh kei bang ka kimohsakna a lian mahmah hi. Ka lungsim khat in bang e pasal keivele, ka gensa tawpkik lou e, Ngal hapak dawksa tumkiiklou ka chisim a, lah a langkhat ah Chingboi in honna ngakden bang hileh chi in ka hehpih mahmah zel a, ka lungbuaina hon behlap mahmah hi. Ka puan bang kava khek zel a, lah pai dia ka kisak chiang in ka ngamkei zel a, ka kikhek kikzel hi.

Huchia lungbuaitak mai a ka omlai in Chingboi lawmhoih Maman honglut mawka, lamdang bang kana sa zozen hi. Kenleng ka muhphet in “Man, bang chisim e? Nong vaklut zenzen a...” ka chihleh aman leng “Umuan, kei maw hiailam pha hon bang kahi, munkhat hon va phakpih zualve...” chi’n hon zawn a, kenleng “Man, nang nget hial chu hon niallou e…” chi’n a zui ding in ka kisapah a, huchi’n Maman toh pawt dingin ka kuankhia uhi. Lampi ah “Man, koimun a i pawtna ding...?” ka chihleh “Umuan, bangziaka Chingboi hon ngetna na lemsakpihlouh a, khasia a kapkap mai eive, tun le amah kia in achihna lam ah apaikhin, ka umuan honpai ma himhim kong kik nawnkei ding honchi a ka lungnuamlou lua a nang hong sam ka hi...” hon chihkhum hi. Ka ngaihdan bang hong kikhengzou hial hi’n ka thei a, Chingboi omna lam zot lunggulhna ka neingal hi.

Ka kianga Maman pai ahihlam himhim leng ka phawkpha nawnkei, ka lampai a kin deuhdeuh a, Chingboi omna mun tunkal kia ka ngaklah hi. Maman in “Umuan, a utlou a pai sawmlou i honsak leh a kinpen in non pangzel a, kei kana kik phot dia, vapai inla, hoihtakin va kihou un aw...” chi’n hon chiamnuih zomah a, keileng ka nuih bang hongza zozen a, “Man, hithamtham e, na hon awlmohna thupi kasalua, ka kipak petmah aw… nangle painuam...” chi’n ka kikhen uhi. Maman toh ka kikhenzoh uapan ka hat pai deuhdeuh a, mi omlouhna mun banga tai in ka tai thoh mai hi. Chingboi bang ana chi diam maw chih khawng ngaihtuah in akiang tunga, a mel muh kal ka ngaklah petmah mai hi.

Huchia kithalawptak a bangtan hiam kapai nungin Chingboi chihna mun kava tung petmah hi. Keileng awl a kihihhalh in huih bang ka dik masa zozen a, huchi’n Chingboi ka zon bawlpah hi. Ka etvel leh suang liansim khat tung ah kun ngiungeu a Chingboi tu kamu a, kenleng awl in a kianglam ka zuanpheipah hi. Akiang kava tunchian ka gen masak ding, ka hih masak ding bangmah theilou in ka om nilouh hi. Atawp in “Ching, kong tungta....” ka chihleh hong daktou a, amitbang a kahkahna ahingei ding a abawk toh asan gilgial zozen a, hon muhphet in “Umuan…” chi’n hon pumkawi a, kenleng ka iitpen ka kawithukpah hi.

Kilamet nawnlouh nunga kimu ka hih utoh ka kikhahkhe thei zokkei uhi. Chingboi inlah a gen ding atheikei a, kenleng gen ding bangmah ka thei tuankei hi. Atawp in Chingboi kiang ah “Ching, kikhasesak nawn hetken, kei toh i kitengkha kei zong in ka hon midang bawl tuankei dinga, ka sanggamnu bang in hon ngaihsun den ding ka hi, lungkhamken...” chi’n a luu ka ang apan ka phongkhetou hi. Chingboi in ka mai mahmah hong en kilkel a, “Umuan, kon ngailua, nanglou a kei bangchi omzoh ding…” chi’n hon kahkhum ekmai hi. Ka gen ding abei deuhdeuh mai. Chingboi mah in hong sunzom a, “Umuan, ka pasal neih ding na theih leh ka nute hon bawldan na khasiat petmah ka gingta a, ka pawnalua. Ken hichibang thu ana theilou ka hi. Kholai pawt ding in ka nu’n hon sawla, keileng thumangtak in ka pawta, huaikal a kei a utna leh deihtelna om hetloupi a pasal hon neihsak sawm uh ahi.... Himahleh kei nang toh lou utlou kahihmanin nang kon zui denta ding, hon khah ken aw, na hon tai san leh zaw, na hon taisan hunhun ka hinkhua a bei hun ahimai ding…” chi’n ka khut kiptakin hon letsak hi.

Gending a vang petmah mai. Chingboi hon ngetna “Aw” chih ding lah kei mi pangbel a om maimai ka hi a, lem sakpihlouh ding chihlah saupi hong tunkhak ding ka lau mahmah zel hi. Huchi’n kenleng “Ching, i dinmun a haksa ngeimai maw… Pathian kiang ah i lunggimna i tun himhim ding, thumna khatveipi neikhawmni...” ka chihleh lem hon sakpihpah hi. Thum di’a kisa in mit bangleng ka sita uhi, huchihlaitakin aw ngaihpi in “Chingboi...” chi’n hong kisam a, ka kiguih hial uhi. Ka et ualeh ka gei uah Chingboi nute ana ding ua, Chingboi nu’n heh meltak toh hon en a, “Muanpu, nang bang kisa eh? Chingboi pasal nei ding ahi chih kon hilh nung ale hichia gamta teitei ngamlai maw? Tagah leltakin hong huchi hetken aw, tuni na damsung a Chingboi na muh tawpni ahi” chih toh ka ang apan Chingboi a kaikhia a, a innlam uh zotpih dingin a kisata uhi. Chingboi leng ka en ngam nonkei a, ka tusuk a, van lam ka en a, ka mittui a takkhe keuhkeuh hi.

KHEN – XIV
Bangtanhiam mittui toh ka tut zoh in huai mun a omden thei ding hilou kahihman in awl in ka dingkhia a, innlam zuan ding in ka kisa hi. Ka kuanlam a kilawptakmai a ka pai khawng ka ngaihtuah a, ka khasiat bang a suak deuhdeuh hi. Khosung hichimai a lut ding chih ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka ngaingam kei a, khomial ngak bang ut in awl in kapai hi. Khosung lutna ding lampi ka tundek kuan in numei khat leh pasal khat keilam manoh a hong pai kamu a, kuate a mahmah dia aw chi in lamnawl munkawm lakah kana kibuk bawl a, ka kiang hong tun ding uh kana ngak hi. Tomchik sungin hong tungphei ua, hoihtaka ka etleh ka lawm Thangpu leh Maman ana hi maimah uhi.

Ka kibukna apan kintaka paikhia in Thangpu kasam a, hon muhphet un kintak in ka kiang a nih un hong zuan uhi. Mittui kai niuniau a ka om ka lawm tegel in hongmuh chiang un kidek zou tuanlou ahiding ua, anih un hon kawi ua, ka thum un ka kikah huan mai uhi. Gen ding thei ka omkei ua, kihehnep mai a lungkim ding leng hilou ka hihmanin ka lawmte’n leng hehnep ding dan hon thei tuankei uhi. Thangpu in, “Muan, na thuaknate kon hehpihlua, i lawmta in kihawm theileng na haksatna kon puakpih ut mahmah mai, ka lawmhoih lunggim gentheihna hon panpih theilou ka hi mai a, lawm aw hon ngaidam in aw…” chi’n hon kawibelh hi. Kenleng “Lawm Thang aw, non thuakpih petmah a, ka kipaklua, ka haksat, ka lunggim hun in Maman toh non delh vengveng ua, ka pianna tun leh zua sakmel mu mah ka banga, nuamsa in ka kipak law mahmah” ka chithuk hi.

Maman inleng “Umuan, vangsia kisa ken aw, ahoihzaw lampi Pathian in hon sehsakna ding ahi... Lungnuamtak in om in…” hon chitei hi. Kenleng “Man, kipahhuai e, hichibang a deihsak thuhilhte kan a ka zak ut leh ka kipahna omlou ahi, nou tegel lawm a kon neihkhak hampha ka kisalua…” ka chi hi. Ka lawm tegel in hon puaknatpih leh thuakpih petmah ahi uh chih ka theih a ka muh chiang in ka puak anuam in hon dawngzang tuam mahmah uh hi’n ka thei a, kenleng lawmte kiang ah “Bangteng hileh, awl in innlam zuan in  paisuk ni uh, hiai mun ah omdet theih lah hilou ahihchiang in...” ka chi a, amau leng anihtuak un lemsa ua, huchi’n ka khawlna mun uapan innlam zuan in ka paisuk uhi.

Ka lungsim ah Chingboi ngaihtuah hetlouh ka sawmsawm mai a, himahleh ka taihsat theih mahmah louh ziak in haksa mahmah mai hi. Lampi ka paikawm nasan un a innlam kia uh ka mitsuan khop a, ka ngaihtuahna ah bang ana chi diam aw, a nu leh pate’n houh a zep gawp ding uam chih khawngpeuh ka ngaihtuah a, a thuak ding ka phal thei mahmah kei hi. A innkong uh tot ka ut tinten manin lawmte kiangah Chingboite innlam totpih dia ka nget leh hon lemsakpih ua, a innkong lam uh ka manohsuk uhi. A innkong uh ka tun un ka dak pah a, chihleh a inn uah kihoukhawmna nei hi awmtak in mi a tam chi mahmah mai ua, ngaihtuah tampi toh Chingboite inn ka pailiamsan uhi.

Saulou ka painung un inn ka tungsuk ua, lawmte'n leng hon paisan pah uhi. Inntung bangmah sem ngaplou kahihmanin lupna tung ka zuanpah hi. Kholai pawt a inntung  chia lup ngal chih ka nupi ngaihdan ana hi hetkei a, “Muanpu, nang na utna gam teng a pawt a inntung chiang a saap banga lum ngeingai ding maw… kei hichibang a thadah mi toh tengkhawm utlou, na neu apan konna vak touh det uh nahi a, huchibang in omkoh...” hon chihsan hi. Keileng ka heh lungsim toh “Nupi, na thugen zaw dikmah e, hilele nang mi theihsiamna neuchik lelleng neilou maw? Na vak uh kahimah, himahleh kei loukhohsa ngen hilou maw…” ka chihkhum suk hi. Ka nupi hong heh deuhdeuh a, “Eh! Nang phiangsan in hon hichih ngam maw, inn apan pawt aw, kon poimawh kei uh, huchia kipasalsaka na nasep sunsun teng suang ding nahihleh i omkhawm thei nawnkei ding uh… akin theipen in pawt in...” honchi hi.

Keileng ka bag a ka van neih sunsun teng guang in pasal nek ngawl in omsamlou e chi’n inn apan pawtkhe ding in ka kisa hi. Ka papi’n a sihma a honna kepsak vai dangka cheng 500 ka nei a, huaiteng toh nibangzah hiam kidaihkhop mahmah ding kahihmanin ka lung amuang veve hi. Ahihhangin kong ka pawtkhiak hial leh ka mittui in hon tum hi. Koilam zuan a koi a om ding ka hiam chih bangmah ka theikei a, ka khepi muk ngatna lamlam ah ka pai a, ka ngaihtuahna asang mahmah ziak ahingei dia khophawklou a lam pai ka bang zozen hi. Khosung a om na dan leng om kei chi in Lamka khopi lam zot utna lungsim hong suak a, huai lam a pai a sep theihtheih sep ding chi in thupukna ka la hi.

Lampi a ka pailai in Maman in dawr apan honna sama, kava pai leh lamdangsak meltak in hong en a, “Umuan, nang bangchidan? Na bag khawng toh koi ahoh sawm, khualzin dek maw?” hon chi hi. Kenleng “Man, khualzin maimai ding kahi nawnkei, i kimuhtawpna ahihngei ka lamen, ka pianna khua ka ngai mahmah a, himahleh kei adia kawlni hong suahsak lou ding bang ahihmanin mundang zuan a pawtkhiatmai sawm kahi.” Ka chihleh lamdang asa mahmah hi. “Umuan, huchiphut chih omthei ding amaw, Chingboi bek theisaklou maw?” hong chithuk hi. Kenleng “Man, kuamah ka theisak kha hetkei...” ka chihleh Maman mah in “Umuan, khogal ah honna ngak aw, Chingboi kava hilh ding...” chi’n kipezoutak in kei adin ava pai a, keileng a chihbang ngei in khogal lam zuan in ka pailiam vengvengta hi.

Khogal mual ah kana om a, hongpai ding uh sa in ka gal et-et mai a, minute 30 tan inleng hong pai ngeikei ua, ka lung ake sim hi. Chingboi a nute’n phallou ua hong paitheilou ding hita inteh chi in paisan mai kasawm a, himahleh minute 10 bek ka ngaklai himhim ding chi in minute 10 ka ngak behlap lai hi. Huchi hunsung inleng melmuh ding in hongpai tuankei ua, khasiat toh paisan mai ding chi’n ka ding khetou a, Lamka lam zuan garite paina, lamlianpi lam zuan in ka pai hi. Chingboi hong pai taktak di ahi dia aw chih peuh ngaihtuah in nungkik ding lah hi kasa kei zel a, awlawl in nunglam enkawm in ka pai hi.

Alehlam ah Maman leng Chingboi kiang ah va paipah a, Chingboi a nu toh ana om man un thil genpah theilou in a lawmta un thutuam daih khong houlim zozen uhi. Huchia thu tuamtuam gen a ahoulim lai un Chingboi nu’n “Ching, na lawm toh inn ana ngak unla, kei khotaw lamah damlou veh ding a om manin kava hoh ding, ana pawtkei un aw…” chi zenzen a, lawmta tegel aguk kipah mahmah mai uhi. Anu kisak sung bang sawt asa mahmah ua, nute iitlouh ziak hizawlou in a Umuan tanchin a theih utluat mahmah ziakin Chingboi in a nu pawtkhiat ding kal bang ana ngaklah gu mahmah mai hi. Huchia a ngaklah luat bangin atawp in anu’n pawtsan khongkhong hi.

Maman in Chingboi nu pawtkhiat phet in Chingboi kiang ah thil omdan genpan pah hi. “Ching, na Umuan i khua uale om ut nawnlou a avan teng pua a khua pawtsanta ahi, den a kimu unga Chingboi bek kava theisak himhim dia, kong paithei ua i kimuhtheih zenzen khak ualeh chi’n khogal ah honna ngak in ka chih ahi…” chi’n Chingboi hilhpah hi. Chingboi in lamdang asa mahmah mai a, “Man, taktak maw? Bangziaka hiaitan hial a Umuan inle hon hilh ngallou a.... Man, kei bang suakta ding, Umuan lou in hiai simlei haksatna ka thuak zoukei ding....” chi’n a mittui a luang zungzung mai hi. Huchi’n Maman inleng “Ching, lungkham ken, hun omlai ahi, na Umuan na zuih ngamkei leh leng a mel muthei lai nahi, kisuhalh inla a omna lam i va zuan ding?’ chi nem hi. Chingboi bang halh huai zozen a, Maman kiang aleng bangmah gen nawnlou in a room lam ah lutpah hi.

Bangtanhiam a room a aom nungin bag khat a avan teng pua in a Umuan zuisuak ding a kisa sa in Chingboi hong pawtkhia hi. Maman in amuhphet in “Ching, Umuan zui ding maw? Na kingam taktak diam?” achih leh Chingboi in “Man, ka ngam ziaka hiai bang teng hih kahi, ka thuak leh ka Umuan toh ka thuak dia, ka kipah leh ka Umuan mah toh ka kipak khawm ding uh.... Kei kia in ka omzou kei ding a, huchibang mahin ka Umuan leng amah kia in a omzou tuankei ding hi....” chihkhum hi. Huchi’n Maman in Chingboi van puaksak in khogal lam zuan in a pawtkheta uhi. Lamkal bang ah a kinoh mahmah mai ua, khogal tunghak kisa mahmah uhi. Lamdung ah apau zawsam omlou in kam neilou bang in daitak in pai uhi.
A lehlam ah kei leng kidek zou tuanlou kahingei dinga Chingboi ka chihna mun uah hongpai taktak ding a gintakna liantak ka neihman in gamlapi tungkhin mahleh va kikthak mai ding chih thupukna ka lathak hi. Ka paikawm in Chingboi in amun ana pha henla, lunglel in ana kik leh chih khawng bang ngaihtuah in lam pheinate bang ah alaplouh ding lau hileh kilawm in tai in  ka tai thoh a, ka van puak bang giksim ding hinapi in vanpua ka hihlam leng kithei zoulou khop in ka om hi. Denlam in ngaksuak kha himai leng zaw maw chihpeuh ngaihtuah in ka kimohsak mahmah mai a, himahleh ka kimohsak a phatuam ding bangmah omlou, tui bawsa lah luahkik theih hinawn talou hi.

Chingboi leh Maman leng ana paipai ahingei ding ua, khogal tung petmahta uhi. A kimvel a et-et chiang unleng a Umuan uh muh ding in aom nawnkei. Chingboi lah khasia kisa in a kap a, Maman inlah genpih ding dan thei tuanlou in lawmta tegel hehpihhuai takmai in khogal kingakna mun ah aom nilnel uhi. Atawp in Chingboi in a lawmnu kiang ah “Man, bangteng hileh hiai apan ana pai mai inla, ken Umuan kava nung delh ding, ka muh ngei leng ka lamen… ana paimai in, i dam dia Pathian in lem asak leh nikhattei kipaktak in i kimu nawn ngei ding uh....” chi’n Maman pai di’n sawl hi. Himahleh Maman leng a ut dekkei a, “Ching, hilou e! Umuan i muhma ken hon taisan lou hial ding ka hi, Umuan paina lam a pai ding na chih leh hon zui dinga mansa kahi, khawlkhawl lou in paileng ahoih zaw ding, denchiang in hun hong sawt law man kha ding hi…” chithuk a, huchi’n lawmta tegel Muanpu zong ding in kisa uhi.

Khogal tunghak ka kisa mahmah mai hi. Kinoh lungsim toh tai in ka tai thoh hi. Ka gal-et leh ka kinepna bang in khogal uah mi nih ding ka gal muh a, kipahna toh ka delhtou hi. Alehlam ah Chingboite’n leng ka thawm ana za uh ahingei dinga, kei dinga ngaihtuahna neilou ahi ding ua, lampam ah ana kibu maimah uhi. Khogal mun katun tak in ka etvel leh kuamah ka mukei a, denlam a ka mi muhte ka mitkha lel ahi ding maw chi’n ka mit bang ka nuaithakthak a, lah muh ding a om tuankei. Poi kasa mahmah mai a, hih ding dan lah bangmah ka thei tuankei. Atawp in suangpi tung ah Chingboi in amuh chia hon phawk gige na ding chi in “ Ching, kon ngailua… ka sihtan dong nang adin hiai suangpi bang in ka kipden ding...” chih teng lianpi in ka gelh a, gari laplouh ding ka lauhsim toh thazoitak in leh paikik ding in ka kisa nawnta hi.

Kal khat suanpan chih ding in ka nunglam apan thakhat in ka mit hong kihum a, kua amahmah dia aw ka chihleh Chingboi ana hi a, a mel ka muh leh damhuai zozen in ka kithei a, ka kipak petmah mai hi. Bangmah gen man nailou in Chingboi in “Umuan, na pai nana a hongzui dia hong pai kahita, tun atakin nanga ka hita…” chi’n hon kawibelh a, kenleng “Ching, kipakna ing e, keileng nanga sa gige kahi...” chi’n ka kawithuk sam hi. Ka pam deuh ua Maman ana ding a, kipahmeltak in honna nuihsan chiichiai hi. Denlam a ka gimna teng uh thengzouta a, kou leng Maman kiang a kipahthu hoihtak a gen in mangpha hoihtak ka kikhak ua, huchi’n ka mailam chiat uh nawt ding in ka kisa uhi.

Awl in ka paisuk ua, lampi a tangsim man in Maman toh leng ka kigalmuh theilai uhi. Huchia lungnuamtak a khut kilen kawm a Chingboi toh kapai lai un Maman koulam zuan a hong tai ka mu ua, lamdang salua in kana ngak uhi. Ka kiang uh hong tun phet in hoihtaka leng gen chiang thei nawnlou in “Umuan, kin akin in taikhe meng un, Chingboi nute hongpai ka gal muh, mi tamsim ahi uh…paikin un…” hong chi a, kenleng Chingboi bag lapah in akhut a len in, taisim lah paithoh sim toh thuah in ka kin theihtawp un ka pai uhi. Hon naih deuhdeuh uh ahingei ding ua, a thawm ging uh bang kaza simsim ua, ka lauthawng mahmah mai uhi. Hon delhpha ngeingei le uh ka it Chingboi tanglou ding kahi chih ka theihluat manin theihtawp suah in ka tai uhi.

A tawptawp in Lamka lam zotna, gari ngakna mun lamlianpi ka tungsuk khong uhi. Gari hong tai meng henla kituang zok leh chih bang ka lunggulh mahmah mai ua, lah ei deihbang in a hong tai zok chi kei a, nunglam ettouh chiang bang inleng Chingboi nute thawmging in hon naih huaihuai ahihmanin ka buai mahmah uhi. Huchihlai in aw ngaihtak in “Chingboi nang hon mankha lah ding honsa maw, na taisuah zou tuankei ding uh...” hong kichi suk tuaituai a, ka dak touh ualeh Chingboi nute ka galmuh ua, kigamla nawn hetlou kahi uh chih achiang mahmahta hi. Tai mai ding adia aw chih ngaihtuah a ka omlai un Jeep khat hongtai a, ka kham ualeh ka kiang uah hong khawl zenzen a, kouleng kipaktak in ka tuangpah uhi. Ka tuanzoh un gari taikhe ngal a, ka taikhiat utoh kiton in Chingboi nute lamlian hong tungsuk uhi.

KHEN – XV
Suahtakna khat a suakta hiphotta ka hihman un ka lungsim uh nuam mahmah in kougel vuak bang in ka nui gugu mai uhi. Lamka lam zin ngeilou khat kahihmanin ken bel amun amual ding zong ka theivetkei a, Chingboi khut a kinga topmai dan kahi. Ka khua ua kipan in Lamka zan khat leh sun khat phial kipai hi. Chingboi in kum ding achih ma tuandet phot angai mai hi. Gum pai kahihman un Lamka tungle ung koi a kinga a, koilam zuan ding chih leng bangmah ka theikei uhi. Kei ngaihdan inbel Hotel a tun a, huai a ni 3 khong om a, huaisung a innluah ding lianlou khat ngaihtuah a, huai apan khosakna patthak ding chih ahi. Huchia thil ka ngaihtuah sung in Lamka tung kahi ding ua, Chingboi in Umuan kum hunta hon chi a, ka kum uhi. Chingboi kiangah nang apau siamdeuh in i giahna ding hotel hong kan in aw ka chihleh hon kan pah a, baihlamtak in ka tunna ding mun uh ka mupah uhi.

Hotel ka tun un tuibang anuam mahmah mai a, kihahsiangpah in ka room uah ann nek ding ngakkawm in ka tu tawldam uhi. Chingboi kiang ah “Ching, bangteng hileh tuni alah bangmah kihihman nawnlou ding ahihchiang in zingkhua hong vak chiang in i vapawt dinga, innluah ding lianlou khawng i va zong dia, huchi’n khosakna ding dan khat ngaihtuahni aw...” ka chihleh Chingboi leng a ngaihdan lam ana hingei dia, “Umuan, huaikal aka i ngaklahpen, kuamah phazou kei mahlehang leng ki-ittak in i khosa dia, kuamah eng tuankei ni maw….” hon chithuk hi. Huchia ka houlim sung un nek ding ann hongpia uh ahihmanin ann ne ding in ka kisapah uhi.’

Chikmah a hichibang a meh lim nekha nailou kahihmanin lim kasa mahmah mai a, ann kuang nga tak ka gaikhia a, hotel neite’n bang lamdang honsa zozen ua, ahai ding banga hon ngaihtuah uh hileh kilawm abang zozen hi. Himahleh kei bel gil vahlel hiven a utteng hong hisak le uh leng poilou chi’n ka om phenphan hi. Ann ka nekzoh un khuabang ana mial mahmah maita a, pawtkhiat ding chih lah khomial toh, lampaina teng bang leng gimlua kahih utoh luppah mai ding ka sawm uhi. Chikmah aleng Chingboi kiang a lumkha ngei dia kilametna himhim nei nawnlou kahihnung a hiai banga ka omkhak leh ka nervous zozen hi.

Ihmut nuam mahmah ahingei dinga, khua ka phawk vet kei uhi. Huchi omlai ngaihtak in ka kong uh hong kikiu a, thakhat a phawkguih kahihmanin kin leh buang a thou in kong kava hon leh naupang khat in singpi nou nih hong pia a, kenle sangpah in kong ka kalh nawn a, ka lupsan nawn hi. Ka lupnawn hangin ihmu thei ding hi nawnlou kahihmanin ka ning kitel gawp a, thoukhia in kava kihahsiang hi. Ka mansiangtan inleng Chingboi in khua a phawknai vetkei a, kenleng phong ka sawm tuankei a, a singpi ding akiang a koih in a hong khangloh ding ngak in a kiang ah kana tu hi. Huchia sawtlou ka tut zoh in hong khanglou a, “Bang achia non phawnglouh e Umuan.... a numei penpen thouhak ka kisuanglah law vele” honchi a, kenleng chiamnuih in “Ching, kisuanglah lou e, tulai numeite thoh hakna gam hitalou amaw…” ka chihsan leh hong nui a, hong thoukhia hi.

Chingboi hong kihahsiang zoh in singpi khawng ka dawn ua, huchi’n nitak a ka gensa uh bangin innluah ding zong in ka pawtkhia uhi. Koilam a zon masak ding chihna mel leng ka theikei ua, ken bel Bazaar kim hileh dawr lianlou khat bawlna ding bang in zong kana enlah mahmah mai hi. Bangteng hileh i mi i sate omna gam hiven chi in inn khenkhat banga kava kansuk mawk ua, himahleh amau leng honna kawkmuh ding athei tuankei uh. Zing dak 7 a ka kipat uh dak 10 tan inleng innluah ding kamu zou naikei uhi. Ka lunglel sim mahmah ua, hotel a va omdet chihna dan lah hitheilou genlouh ka sum uh zong beipah ding ahihmanin muh matan zon teitei ka sawm uhi. Eimi inn hingal a huai vaite sang in eimite mah hon luahsak zawle uh chih bang atam mahmah mai hi. A tawptawp in Chingboi hon lungke gawp ahingei dinga “Umuan, i paiphot mai, ka ngap nawn mahmah kei....” honchi a, kenleng “Ching, lungkelou e, mudek mahmahta ding i hi…” ka chi a, aman leng bangmah chu agen nawnkeina a, hon etdan etmai in muh zok ding a kinem hetkei chih achiang mahmah mai hi.

Ka tunna uh hotel lam zuan in ka paitou ua, huchih kawmkawm in lamgei ah ka gintakna deuhdeuh a valut in inn neitute kiang ah kava kanzel a, himahleh innluah ding muh chuh a haksa mahmah mai. Ka lungsim aguk in agim mahmah mai a, mailam ngaihtuahna toh ka ngaihtuah atam mahmah, himahleh Chingboi mai a lungkham melpuak himhim sawmlou kahihmanin ka nuihmai ka suah gige hi. Ka tunna Hotel uh ka tungtou nawn ua, kihihsiang in ann ne ding in ka kisapah uhi. Lungsim noplouh ziak hia, ka tunni nitak utoh teh dingin ann nelou toh ka kibang lel hi. Chingboi ngei inleng “Umuan, ann le ka ne ngapkei...” chi’n neklouh sawm a, himahleh tamlou bek ne dia ka sawl teitei manin thumanna toh tamlou ane sam hi.

Huchikawmkal ah innlam, ka kholamte uh leng ana buai mahmah uhi. Chingboi nu bangin ka nupi bang va hansak ek-ek sek a, huchilou kalin Maman leh Thangpu ziaka kou tegel kiteng kha dan peuh a va ngoh in va house zel hi. Chingboi pasal dia agenpa uh lah mihausa mahmah khat tapa ahihtoh Chingboi nu ading in hehhuai mahmah ding mah ahi. Kenbel Chingboi nu zong ka mohsak pumlum kei hi, aziakbel nu leh pate’n i tate mi toh gentheitak a akhosak sang ua nuamtak a akhosak ding uh kideihzaw chiat ding mah ahi. Ahoihlam ka kipiak chiang in Chingboi nu’n kei hon hua hi zenzen lou in ka gentheihna pen deihlou hizaw ahi, huaiziaka nikhattei amau panpihtu hih ngeingei ding chih katupna ah aom tinten hi.

Ann ka neekzoh un Chingboi in “Umuan, tuzing nisat toh i pawtna ka gimlua a neukha kong tawldam ding aw…” chi’n lupna ah hon lupsan hi. Keileng a kiang ah kava tu a, asam khawng zutsak hiauhiau in a ihmut theihkhakleh chi in a ihmut ding ka ngak bawl hi. Saulou nung in Chingboi hong ihmu a, kenleng hunlem change la in ka omna hotel kimteng uah innluah ding a om kha hiam chi’n kava ban kanpah hi. Ka kan masakna munte’n omlou honna chihsan zungzung uhi. Ka gimsim toh ka lunglelh tha asuak mahmah hi. Mibanga tanau hau kihileh veng tuamtuam banga inn honna zonsak ding om ding hia maw chihpeuh ka ngaihtuahna ah hongsuak kha zozen hi. Huchia mangbangtaka ka omlai in Bazaar kim, mun hoihtak khat ah inn kituah kamu a, kenleng kava delhzuipah hi. Huai mi kituahna inn neitu Pastor khat ana hi a, ka va houpih leh anuam mahmah mai hi. Ka hinkhua bang hongkan a, hoihtaka ka gen leh hon hehpih mahmah ahidia, “Mi luahsak nawnlouh ding kachih uh zaw hi a, na zi toh kia hilel ding nahih leh hong om maive ua…” hon chi a, ka kipak petmah a, Chingboi theih ding kal bang ka ngaklah mahmah mai hi. Huchi’n keileng ka omthei nawnkei a, ka tunna lam uh zuan in ka tai pah vengveng mai hi.

Hotel ka tunga, ka room ua ka lut leh Chingboi ana omkei mawk hi. Lamdang kasa mahmah a, hotel ngaktute kiang a ka kan chiang inlah ana theikha kei uhi. Ka kipahna kimkhat bang beizou ding hi’n ka thei. Koi a kua toh pawtkhia ahi mahmah diam maw? A nu leh pate’n houh thei a ka omlouh kala honna kaihkhiatsak nawn uh adiam maw chihpeuh ka ngaihtuahna ah hongsuak a, ka kipese mahmah hi. Kisilna buk leh hotel sung teng ka zongsuak a, ka mukei hi. Ka lungnuam nawnlou deuhdeuh ahihmanin hotel kim khawng ka zonga, ahihhangin kamu zou tuankei hi. A tawptawp in hotel ah ka painawn a, chihna ding theilou kahihmanin ka lupna ah ka tusuk a, Pathian kiang ah ka thuum hi.
Lum a tawldam mai ding chih theihvual hilou ahihmanin keileng ka lupna apan ka pawtkhia a, ka kholam garite uh khawlna lam kava zuan hi. Huchia station lam kazotlai in lampi ah kaneulai a ka lawm, ka khote mah khat uh toh ka kituak a, “Hey, Muan, nang bangchidan a hiah hongpai kha e…? zenzen teh, kimuhlouhna sawtta e maw…” honchi a, kenleng “Sawt zozenta eimahve maw, kei maw hiailam a hong omzek photsawm kahi, kilohtheihna khong aomkha diam ah chi hiveng aw...” chi’n ka dawng hi. Amah hongpau nawnma in ka lungsim a omlua ahihmanin ka genzom a, “Lawma, nang huai i khote uh Chingboi ana mukhalou maw…?” ka chihleh aman leng “Mu mahveng aw, den in ka kihou uh, a nu toh pasal nih toh hongpai ua, ka houpih leh anun kholam a paisuakdek kahi uh...” honchi a, a thudang ka kihou mankei uh, “Bang chi zenzen nahi ua…kingai chih dandeuh nahi uhia leh...?” chi’n hon chiamnuih zomah hi. Kenleng gentamlou in kana paisuk ding leh chih toh pai kathuah a, Station lam ka zuan vengveng hi.

Station ka tun in gari pai ding in ana kisa a, kenleng kintak in gari sung ah ka it Chingboi ka zongpah hi. Chihleh anu kianga tu kamupah a, aman leng honna mu ngal hi. Hong muh phet in kintakin dingtou in ka kiang hong delhpheipah a, kenleng milak chih om selou in kana angpom pah a, miteng in hong en kheukhou zozen uhi. Ahitazongin koubel kingailua mah kahihchiang un poi kasa vetkei uhi. Himahleh Chingboi nu ana heh mahmah ahingei dinga, kintakin Chingboi ka ang apan hong kaikhia a, “Nang mipa maw ka innkuansung uh subuaiden, na mel himhim leng ka mupeihkei, ka tanu neukha leng sukha nawnkoh, kon kih...” hon chihsan motmot mai a, milaka kihouna ding inchu a zak haksa a, kingaihsiat huaibang kasa zozen hi.

Chingboi nu pasal tonpihte’n Bus apan hong kaikhia ua, bus gei ah hon kivuakhuan uhi. Kenbel Chingboi ka itna ziakin khatvei leng thuk kasawmkei a, ka kidoh mai hi. Ka lu khawng a sisan hong pumdim hial chiang in ka kim ua mipi omte’n hon hun ua, hospital lam hon zotpih ding in phatuamngai mi khenkhat in gari ah hon guang uhi. Hon puakkhiatdek un ka muhtawpna ding in Chingboi ka en a, a mittui toh window apan hon en ka mu hamham hi. Lamka damdawi inn a hon tun ua, nurse melhoih taktakte’n ka luu khawng hon khuisak in hon tuamsak ua, a hih ding teng uh ahihzoh un innlam na paithei nawnta ding chi’n hon paisak uhi.  Pai a hotel tun nawn ding chih bang hih haksa kasa petmahta, ka lu ana a, ka lungsim ana mahmah lai hi.

Vangsia himahleng ka hamphatna sawnsawn khat ahihleh amoh leng hiloupi a mi’n hong vuaklai un ka kiang ah ka innluah sawmna neitu Pastorpa ana om a, hospital tan leng hong zuisuak zomah hi. Ka kiang ah “Muan, mi’n hong simmoh hangin lungke ken aw, pasal nahi, nikhattei Pathian panpihna toh mikhat suak ding nahi....” chi’n hon hanthawn a, ka lung anuam tuan mahmah mai hi. Keileng ka hotel uh ka tunzoh in ka vanteng ka bag ah ka guang a, hotel a ka omman piak a pawt ngal kasawm hi. Hotel neitupa kianga om man pedia kava kuanleh a room ah honna lehsap ah, kava paileh Chingboi hotel apan hon pikhiat thu uleh ka hinkhua honna kana, adiktak mah ka hilh leh hon hehpih petmah ahingei dinga, ka omman lak malak aman vai dangka 1000 hon lehpiak zomah hi. Ka kipak petmah a, gen ding, hih dingdan leng ka thei tuankei hi.

Hotel apan ka pawtkhiat zoh in ka innluah sawmna mun Pastorpa inn ka zuanpah hi. Van kahau hetkei a, um leh bel leng bangmah ka nei naikei hi. Ka vanteng munkhat ah ka sengkhawm a, bangmah ka hihma in inn neitupa kasam a, amah leng a zi toh hongpai ua, thumna hoihtak hong neihsak uhi. Thumna ka neihzoh un a zi in hih ding nei chi in hon pawtkhiatsan pah hi.  Bangtanhiam nung in van tampi toh hong lut kiik a, “Muan, hiaiteng Pathian vualzawlna kamuh uh, nang ka hongpiak sawn uh ahi, kisuanglah ken, kipahthu leng kou kia non genlouh ding, Pathian kiang ah na gen zawk ding ahi....” chi’n nui selsal kawm in hon gen a, gen ding ka theikei, ka kipahluat ziakin ka biang ah mittui hong luangsuk keuhkeuh hi.

Awl in ka vante ka lemfel a, innsuang a mahni kitoudelh taktak ding a kisa kahihtak manin ka theihtawp suah a Pathian muangkawm a pan naktak a lak touhzel ka tum hi. Sepna ding, kilohna ding muh nei nailou phot kahihmanin apaisa a ka tunna Hotel uah kava hoh a, a neitupan hon hehpih mahmah ahihtoh ka panpih theih dandan a panpih ding chi’n kava kipia hi. Ka kuanna san kava gen chiang in ana kipak mahmah mai a, hoihtaka amah kianga sem a, khateng a loh kilawm huntawk piak ding in honna chiambeh lai hi. Ka lung anuam mahmahta a, mibang a hau ding hikei mahleng kei kivak zohna ding khop nei ding kahihtak manin ka haksatna tampi mangngilh thei ding ka bangta hi.

Alehlam ah innlam ah leng ana buai mahmah uh ahingei ding. Chingboi inn atung apan ann lah nelou, kuamah houpih zoh ding lah hilou, lupna tung ah akap den a, adang in agawng huaihuai mai hi. A lawmnu Maman toh Thangpu loungal akiang ah kuamah a om theikei a, anu hi’n a pasal dingte hileh a lungkham thei mahmah mai uhi. Chingboi pasal dingpa lah a niteng a Chingboite inntung gige ahihmanin Chingboi in ahuatna alian deuhdeuh a, sih mai bang a ut hi. Chingboi nu’n Maman leh Thangpu haw mahmah hinapi in a tanu Chingboi akhualna ziak in ahohlouh khak ni bang un a inn uah vasam zozen a, Chingboi kiang ah omsak den hi.

Thil omdan hong kikheng hiaihiai ding abangta. Chingboi pasal dingpa’n a niteng a Maman muden ahihmanin Maman hon ngaihbawl nawnzelta hi. Maman lah hua kisa in aheh mahmah hi. Hichibang thu Thangpu in atheihchiang in alawmpa tuah bangbang atuah ding alau mahmah mai hi, aziakbel tulai khovel mihausa tapate lalna gam ahihziakin Maman nu leh pate ngei inleng amah Thangpu sanga huai mihingpa toh deihsak zaw thamtham ding uh ahihdan theilaw mahmah ahihmanin. A ni-ni in huai Chingboi pasal dingpa Lampu in Maman maivil deuhdeuh mai a, Mamante inn banga vahoh in a nu leh pate bang va mai-et mahmah mai hi. Hiai Lampu in lawmta kingaitakte a subuai in a lungkhamsak zou mahmah mai hi.

Nikhat lawmta teng thum hong houlim khawm ua, Thangpu in “Eiteng in lampi khat i ngaihtuah uh ngai ding hive aw, tuadan a hong paitouh zel leh Chingboi lah hong chau deuhdeuh ding, kei toh Maman kal leng Lampu ziaka hong kigamla thei ding bangmawk ahihchiang in i thum un Lamka lam ah i tai ding ua, Muanpu va zongkhia in i lawmta teng un khosa khawm leng hoih ding hive aw, banga na ngaihdan uh...?” hon chikhe khong hi. Hiai thu Chingboi in azak in a lupna apan hong thoutou zozen a, “U Thang, na thugen tu mahmah a hihtheih hileh leng ka man ngal, taksuah teitei ni uh...” honchi a, Maman inleng “U Thang, na thugen kenleng dik kasa a, nang a pasalpen in hongpan leteh na nungzui ding a mansa gige kahi…” hon chithuk tei hi. Thangpu leng a kipak mahmah mai a, “Ahihleh hichi’n bangmah thei hetlou danin i om ding ua, zingchiang in Maman in Chingboi nu hon houpih henla Chingboi sukhalh kawmin kava vak ding uh chi’n hon gen henla, huchi’n Lamka lam paisuak leng, sun lai a van puak hitheilou ding ahihmanin tunitak in i van dingteng uh ken khogal ah munkhat ah kava sel dia…” hongchi a, Thangpu thugen Maman leh Chingboi bil ah lut thei mahmah a, avek un a kipak mahmah uhi. Huchi’n a lawmta thum teng in thupukna kichian la in maban sawn ding in hong kisata uhi.

KHEN – XVI
Nuamtaka a houlim kal un Chingboi nu hongtung ahihmanin a thugen uh sunzom thei nawnlou uhi. Avek un zingkhua hongvak a, itpente chiat toh singdang englou a vabang a alenkhawm hun ding uh a ngaklah thei mahmah mai uhi. Chingboi bang in ka Umuan ana lungkham mah ding chih khawng ngaihtuah a, a theih hetlouh a akiang tungphut ding chih khawng a ngaihtuah chiang in a kilawptha asuak deuhdeuh a, nidang teng sang bangin a nuihmai in a dam mel mahmahta hi. A nu’n chikmah a Chingboi hichitaka a kipahlam mukhalou ahihmanin a kipak diak a, lamdang bang asa zawzen hi. Chingboi lungsim nuamta chih atheih chiang in Chingboi nu’n leng Chingboi kiang ah “Tun zaw ka lung anuam mahmahta ve, tuabanga nong omtouh zel leh chu tukha sung mah a pasal neizouta ding dan neive maw...” chi’n a nuihsan selsal a, Chingboi inlah a lungsim guk in “ka nu’n nak theihkei na maizen e…” chi’n a guk nuih zozen hi.

Ni tumding a kisata ahihmanin Maman leh Thangpu zong Chingboi paisan ding in kisata uhi. Apaima deuh un Maman in Chingboi kiang ah “Van puak ding na neihleh bag khat in aguk in ana guang inla, nitak chiah ken kong ladia, Uthang toh khogal ah kava koih ding uh...” chi’n hilh gu a, huaizoh in a paisan uhi. Maman leh Thangpu leng inn a tun phet un a van poimoh masa ding teng uh tamlou bag a guang in nitak khomial ding ngak in aom uhi. Huchibang mah in Chingboi inleng a van khenkhat bag lianlou khat in guang a, Mamante hong pai hunhun a piaktheih ngal ding in mansa diam in a om a, a man in kisil in ni bangzah hiam ann aneklouh nung in ann hon ne khongkhongta hi.

Khua hong mial phet in Thangpu in Maman tawntou in a vante uh pua in Chingboite innlam manoh in paipah uhi. Chingboite inn a tun un a kongkhak gei uah a vante uh sel ua, huchi’n savuak in Chingboite inn lut uhi. Chingboi nu bang ana siam mahmah mai a, “Na lawmnu uh zong halh mahmahta ei, ann leng nezouta, tunchu nungak taktak ahita... Himahleh halhzou a kisanai chiahkei a, alum a, aroom ah valut suak mai uah...” chi’n ana nui selsal hi. Huchi’n Thangpu leh Maman leng Chingboi omna lam ah va lutsuakpah uhi. Thangpu in Chingboi van window ah khaikhia a, Maman zuntha dek lem kineih in vala a, amau vante lakah va koihsak hi. Zingchia a apai ding dan khawng uh bangkim kikum ua, anung sawtlou in Thangpu leh Maman leng a vante uh koih ding in Chingboite inn nusia in khogal lam zuan in apaita uhi.

Alehlam ah kei leng ka omna mun ah lungzuangtak a om in, Chingboi kia ka ngaihtuah khop a, pasal hon neihsan khin hita ding bang a ngai in, ka lungkham thei mahmah mai hi. Zingkal ka thohphet in ka sepna Hotel ah nnasem ding in ka kuan a, nitaklam dak 4 khong in inn ka pai zel a, inn ka tunphet chiang in, inn pansan a dukan lianlou van nen zuakna hong kahihmanin huai ngak toh innsung nasep toh thuah in, ka gim thei mahmah mai hi. Ka hotel sepna a ka loh inlah nek ding khop kan lei zoulou ahihchiang in dukan bawl toh ka thuahlouh theihlouh dan khat in om a, haksa sa a, gim ka kisathei mahmah hang in ka pang teitei ngai ahihmanin ka taksa mahmah leng dang deuhdeuh in, kamel leng etmai a hehpihhuai mahmah ahihdan ka seppihte’n ahon gensek uhi. Ka nnasepna genlouh Chingboi ka ngaihtuahna mahmah inleng ka lungsim gim thei mahmah a, ka inn neitupa bang in hon hehpih thei mahmah a, a mankal chiang in inn ah thumna hong neihsak zel hi.

Innlam ah Chingboi leng nitak bang a ihmu thei mahmah kei a, taikhua vak ding a ngaklah petmah mai hi. Khua hongvak leh a itpen a Umuan omna lam zuan ding chih angaihtuah khop a, kipahna leh kithalawpna ngen in a dimta hi. Huchibang mahin Thangpu leh Maman ngeileng kilawp mahmah sam uh ahiding ua, amau ommun chiat ah zing ni suah ding ngak in maimit siinglou in laikhuntung ah sambang a zal den uhi. Huai zan kei leng hiai bang a kalawmte leh ka itpen thilsawm thei hileh kilawm in nitak bang ka ihmu thei hetkei a, innkong peuh a pawt in khavaknuai a vatu in, lungzuan laa khong kava sa thepthup zel hi.

Ngaklah a aom bang in zingkhua hongvak nawn petmahta a, lawmta teng thum leng a kithalawp mahmah ziak uh ahingei dinga, a thoubaih thei mahmah mai uhi. Nitak hun a khovak ding a ngaklah bang un zingkal hong hih chiang in sun hong hih ding a ngaklah nawn mahmah mai uhi. Ann hong ne mengmeng ua, a nekzoh phet un Thangpu leng kisapah in Maman va tawntou ngal hi. Maman ana manzou naikei a, bangtan hiam va ngak in huchi’n anih ua amansiang tak un Chingboite innlam zuan in apai pah ngal uhi. Chingboite inn a tun un Chingboi bang ana manhoih mahmahta a, a lawm tegel ana leh ngak zota hi.

Chingboite inn ah bangtanhiam hong khawl ua, singpi khawng dawn in a houlim phot uhi. Sana bang a enen mai ua, gari pai hun ding bang a ngaklah mahmah mai uhi. Huchi’n bangtanhiam zoh in Chingboi in anu kiang ah “Nu ka lawmte toh kava kisukhalh kawm un kava vak khe maimai ding uh...” chi’n ngen a, Chingboi nu’n leng “Hitham e, hilele hong paihak kei le uchin maw…” chi’n dawng a, amau leng thumu kisa in kipak mahmah uhi. Anu apan phalna amuh utoh kiton in dingkhepah ua, khogal lama a van koihna mun lam uh zuan ding in kipankhe pah uhi. Lamkal banga nuam asa mahmah mai ua, a houlimna bang uh a tui mahmah uhi.

Nuam asak ziak uh ahingei dinga khogal bang atungtoupah uhi. A van selgukte uh lakhia in amau bag chiat kipuak ua, gari paina ding lamlianpi lam a zuanta uhi. Lamkal bang ah Lamka tun chiang a aom ding dan peuh uh gen in a chang leh lungbuai, a chang in lah kipak in a nui suk zaizai uhi. Huchia sawtlou apainung un lamlianpi a tungsuk ua, lamlian gei a gari ngakna Khawlbuk ah a thum un gari hongpai ding ngak in ana tu uhi. A kinohsim utoh gari bang hongpai hak asa mahmah ua, gari hon taina ding lam bang a mitsuan khop uhi. Dakkal khat phial mahmah a ngak nilouh nung un a tawptawp in bus hongpai khong a, huchi’n Bus a tuanglut ngal in a lenna vangkhua uh a tuangnung siahsanta uhi.

Nitaklam ni a niam mahmah maita a, Chingboite mel ding himhim muh a aomlouh chiang in Chingboi nu lungdong leh mangbang kisa mahmah maita hi. Aloh ding dan thei tuanlou in Mamante inn peuh a vakan a, Maman sungkuante’n leng bangmah ana theikei ua, Thangpute innlam ava kan chiang inlah Thangpu nu leh pate pawt uh ahihmanin a inn uh chabi kikalh a, lungkham kisa in a kik zel a, inn atung chiang bangin hih ding pen theilou in a langlang ah a kivialleh nilouh hi. A thangpaih toh, a lungkham toh aheh lungsim toh a innsung uah hang chihtak in hang a, lah a phatuam ding aomkei. Gentam ngailou a a tanu nu’n Muanpu kianglam zotsan ahi chih lah a lungsim guk in a ngaihtuah theingal a. Huchia heh a a hong hanhan chiang in apasal (Chingboi Pa) inleng zaning gawpta ahidia, “Hiai a na hanghang a bang phatuam ding sa nahia, na ut teng gengen lechin leng na bawltheih ding bangmah omkei, na tanu nu’n a iitpen kiang hon zotsan hilelta, ama a deihtelna himhim bangmah omlou pi a huai tangval a hinkhua diktak leng theihlouh toh gawm ding chia na pan det, ei leh ei hon suzahlak lel natave….” Chi’n leh tai a, Chingboinu’n etna ding mel zong theilou in maizum mahmah mai a, atawp in “Bangteng hileh ei deihdan a thilteng pai theilou chimaini, hon kiteeng uh henla, asuahsuah uh hon suakta mai uheh… Gen a phatuam ding omkei...” chi’n a heh tawpsan thei khong hi.

Zankhua a gari a hong tuan chiang un Maman leh Chingboi bang gim kisa mahmah mai uhi. Himahleh itpente toh leh itpen kiang zuan ding ahihman un a taksa uh gim mahleh a lungsim uh ahalh lai mahmah mai hi. Khovak zoh sawtlou hon tai nungun a tupna mun uh Lamka vangkhua hong tungzou khongkhong uhi. Chingboi in a Umuan omna ding ngaihtuah pah vengveng a, koilam ah ana omta dia aw, inn hichituka tamlaka amah bangchi muh ding ka hiam chih abuai mahmah mai hi. A Umuan in a pai masak ua a tunna uh Hotel a asep lam thei hetlou hinapi in alawmte gel kiang ah “Lawmte, ka Umuan toh ka pai masak ua ka tunna hotel uh nuam a nuam ahi, huaimun ah va tawlnga ni uh...” chi’n zawn a, alawmte’n leng lem sapah uh ahihmanin Hotel lam zuanpah ngal uhi.

Hotel a tun un room nih la ngal ua, a vante uh koih in kihahsiangpah uhi. Hiai ni Muanpu hih ding neuhneuh a neihziaka nnasem dia akuanlouh ni tak ana hikha zomah hi. Hichibang a Chingboite mel mu ding kisa hileh zaw kuan law mahmah ding hiven. Chingboite hong kihahsiang zoh un singpi khawng dawn in hong tawldam uhi. A tawldam zoh un lampi khawng a a Umuan mel amuh khak leh chi’n innkong lam zuan ding in hong kisa hi. A room apan hong pawt leh a Hotel Managerpa’n ana mel theihlai ahingei dinga, a khut in Chingboi sam kauhkauh hi. Chingboi inleng bang hipeuhmah ding hiam chi’n va naih a, chihleh Hotel Manager pa’n “Hiah ana khawl in aw, mikhat konsam zual ding...” chi’n hilh a, Chingboi inlah a Umuan sam ding ahihlam himhim theilou leh gingta hetlou ahihmanin lamdang asa mahmah mai hi.

Bangtanhiam a ding zoh nungin kongkhak lama pan “Ching...” chia kisam ging aza a, a etleh a Umuan ana hi a, kipahna toh khasiatna toh milak chih om nawnlou in a nih un a kipumkawipah mai uhi. A kihou zosam omlou in Chingboi in a lawmte omna room ah alutpih a, Muanpu in aneu apan a lawmhoih Thangpu leh Maman a muh chiang in a lungsim bang kidang zozen in lamdangsakna toh kipahna in adim hi. Chikmah a hichibang a amauteng kimungei dinga kilamen nawnlou ahihman un kipak kholdiak ua, a kipahluat ziak bang un a mit uah khitui nul seng louh a luangkhe zungzung mai hi. Tun leh zua hal, haksatna zatam kal ah hiaibang a hun hoih muh hih amau ading in a kipahhuai in a nuam khol ding hi.

Gen ding theipen a omkei ua, a vek bang ua ki-entuah in a nui ek-ek zel ua, a theiloute’n mu le uh ahai asa zozen ding uhi. Ahi inlah amau lah kuamah englou a nuam salua ahilel uhi. Atawp in Muanpu in bangteng hileh ken inn lianlou khat ana luahsam kahihchiang in huai ah i paiphei vek ding ua, i omkhawm nainai ding uh chi’n a lawmte a innlam ua tonpih ding in a kisa pah hi. Achihbangin a lawmte’n leng inn omngal a Hotel ah tungtung samlou e chi’n Muanpu a zuikhe pah uhi. Muanpu innluahna a tun un a vante khawng uh hoihtak in bawlfel in, a kisil toh amau utchiat hih in a buai mahmah uhi. Chingboi leh Maman bel a gari kham utoh gim kisa uh ahingei dinga alum ua, a ihmu uhi. A ihmutkal un Muanpu in Thangpu zawn in anih un Bazar ah sa khawng, meh ding khawng lei in va kuan uhi. A tunphet un ann huanpah ua, a zite tuak uh khanlohma in ann leh meh minsa in ana koihsak vek uhi.

Chingboi leh Maman hong khanloh phet un kisukhalhna kawm toh va kisil ua, a kisil zoh un annhuan ding in kisangal uhi. Ann hon huan dek ualeh ann leh meh minsa in ana om a, kisuanglah mahmah mai uhi. Himahleh alehlamtaka alungsim guk un “Hichibanga i gim, i haksatni khua a numei nasep ding chi tuanlou a hon huh a, hon panpihthei pasal neihkhak hamphat huai hina maizen e…!” chi’n a kipak gu mahmah mai uhi. Ni bang zong niam mahmahta ahihmanin ann thuk ding in hong kisapah uhi, ann a thuk zoh un Muanpu in alawmte Pathian in apidan kipahthu genkawm leh a annkuang kikhopna thumna nei a, huchi’n ann ne uhi.

Ann nezou a hong mansiang zoh un kha bang vakpha mahmah ahihbanah mei paini ahihtoh chi in innkong lam ah pawt ua, lamlian dung khawng ah nungak tangval bang in kizui ua, nuam asa mahmah mai uhi. Achang in a hunluite bang uh sutkhawm ua, a haksatdan bang uh, nuam asakdan bang uh gen in achang in chiamnuih bang bawl in nuam satak in a omkhawm zaizai uhi. Muanpu bang in a lawmte kiang ah, “Lawmte hiaibang hun mu di’n na kigingta mahmah ngeikei ding uh maw…?” chi’n dong thakthak mai a, hichibang in sihtanpha omden theile ung chih khawng kia ngaihtuah khop hi. Muanpu inlah Chingboi khut mahmah zong a khoih khaklouhna sawtta ahihmanin lampi a paina teng uah Chingboi a lenden mai hi. Ki-itna pen haksa mahmah abat hun tam mahleh a nop hun zong tam mahmah veve ahi chih a phawkthak semsem uhi.

Hunte hongpaizel a Thangpu leh Maman ngei zong hichia omden theilou ding ahihman un a sepna ding uh a ngaihtuah uh poimohta a, huchi’n Muanpu inleng ama sepna Hotel ah a Manager pa kiang ah ngetsak hi. Himahleh semtu atamsim taak manin Managerpa’n lem sakpih theilou a, Muanpu in poi sa mahmah mai hi. Ka lawmpa Thangpu ading in koi ah bang sepna muh theih in aom diam aw chih kia a lungsim ah om ahihmanin thildang leng a ngaihtuah man taktak kei hi. Huchia lungbuaitaka ni bangzah hiam aom nungin vangphathuaitak in Hotel a aseppihte khat hong tawp zenzen a, huai mun a ding in Muanpu in Thangpu va ngetsakpah hi. Huchi’n a Managerpa unleng lem sakpihta ahihmanin a lawmta un Thangpu leh Muanpu in nna kibang semkhawm ding in hong kisata uhi.

A khatlam ah a lawmta teng ua asum neih tengteng uh kithohkhawm in a inn pansan ua a dawr bawl uh keeklian ua, Chingboi leh Maman in asun-azan in dawr hon ngak den ua, avek un nasep hong neichiat theita uh ahihmanin nuam ahongsa sot mahmahta ua, a hihna chiat uah a lungkim mahmah uhi. Himahleh a dawr lam pen a deihthusam bang in sum a mu hoihkei ua, nuamsa mahle uh a lungsim uh akham mahmah hun atam veve hi. Mundang mitam na deuhkhat a va kituan ding chih lah sum leh pai haksa ahihmanin a hihzou kei uhi. A tawptawp in Muanpu in anopsak zawkna ding uh lampi khat hong ngaihtuah kheta hi.

©Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu