Keimi Tui’ Hamsia (The Curse Of Keimitui)
By ~ Vz Vualnam
Dak guk bang gingtou ding hita ahihmanin, ‘Kong kipankhia, na innkong uah honna ngak ou,’ chia Ngaihlian thu khak in akuankhia hi. Zodawn ah bangzahvei hiam zinta mahleh Ngaihlian toh zinkhawmna ding hunlem a om ngeikei a, tutung a hiai bang hunlem hong om zenzen akipaak mahmah hi.
Ngaihliante inn agalmuh tak in Ngaihlian aginkhem (miss call) a, innkong atuntouh tak in Ngaihlian leng hong pawtkhe geih hi. ‘Damtak in va zin ua le,’ chi in anu’n kelkong tan a hong pha a, akiiknawn hi.
A kalez uh atun un a gari ding uh ana kidohta a, himahleh alawmte uh kuamah ana tung naikei hi. Amau leng kanteen a coffee dawn ding in apaiphei uhi. ‘Na linsim hia?,’ Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Mawkmawk, ki-utlua a, telkha dia le ka kiginlouh hia, hamphathuaitak a telkha zenzen. Singtang lam kimukha ngeilou a, utlua ka hi,’ chi’n Ngaihlian in adawng hi. Huchia houlima a omlai un Prof. Ngulthang ahong luut a, ‘Eh, ana tung uh maw kuamah tung nailou ade aw ka chi a,’ chi in a dohkan uh ahong um a coffee asam hi.
Lianpu leh Ngaihlian ahih uleh Lamka University a research hihlel ahi ua, Lianpu in khuahun toh kisai in post doctorate ahih a, Ngaihlian ahihleh sing-le-lou toh kisai a Ph. D hihlel ahi. Zodawn lam a sing leh gua akinaak saatluat ziak a zu-le-vate kiamdan leh khuahun kikheng limsui ding a kumpi’n amau university apan mi bangzah hiam ateelkhiatte lak a tel ahi uhi.
Coffee dawnkhin a gari lam uh ahon manoh ua, alawmte uleng ana tungkimta uhi. Kipatkhiakma a houlimkawm zual ding in dantan khat ah aluut uhi. ‘Thanglian, nang maw lemlaak toh kisai mohpua? Na hong kiging na maw?’ achi a, ‘Kiging thousam, Nikon D800, 24-135mm, 70-300mm, 105mm macro, huai chiah Canon 60D, 18-135mm lens. I poimoh uh hon subuchingzou mahmah nalou di hia,’ chi in avan neihte kisaktheihpih mahmah hileh kilawm in ahon gen hi. Thanglian ahihleh microbiology a research hih ahi a, ahun awl a lemlaak a kidiah mi ahi. ‘Thianching nang la?,’ Prof. Ngulthang in achi nawn a, Thianching ahihleh damdawilam enkai ding a mohpuakna apiak uh ahi a, ‘Hmm… I pomoh ding ua ka gintak teng hon pua zaw ka kichih hia; antipyretic, analgesic, antidiarrheal, saline, antiseptic, antibiotic… Kim himahlou hia maw?,’ achi a, ‘Nang kim na chihleh kim himailou di hia,’ Ngulpau in achi a, ‘N laptop chiat uh n’on tawi na umaw. Denchiang a amun a poimoh chiat di na hi uh. Dak sagih leh akim in i kipankhe ding ua, Suangdoh ah zing an ana huan ding ua, huai apan khe a i pai uh angai ding. Lampi kisia achi ua. Van hon puakpih ding ana om ding uh. Tu’n pasalte’n vante gari ah i nawnlut ding ua, numeite’n canteen a neek-le-taak puak dite na dopzohzoh uh ana guang unla,’ chi in vai hon hawm hi.
Ahong kipankhia ua, chikmah a zodawn zin ngeilou ngen, kithalawp kisa in gen di ahau thei mahmah ua, kingaikhe khuukkhaak omlou in a chiau vengvung geuh uhi. Tuitha dung ah ahong taitou ua, Mualtam, Geljang , Lamzang, Ngoiphai chihte hon peeltou uhi. Jejaw tou ahong tun hial chiang un ahihleh lampi siattoh kuamah le apaupeih nawnkei ua, akham a law pawl toh, a ihmu pawl toh amau buai chiat in abuai uhi.
Suangdoh ahong tung khong ua, a tangpeih le omlou in tuangtung ah akikham zengzung uhi. Sawtlou a tawlngak nung un ann ahon ne ua, sunnung a kipankhe nawn ding in a tawldam nawn uhi.
Lamsau pai ngeilou ngen ahihziak mah un Suangdai a tun un ni aniamta hi. Tung phet kisil ding in luikhuk lam anaih pah ua, kisil zou ann ne in avante uh alem uhi. A mansiang tak un khosung khawng veel in a om ua, inn bang a salu kitakte peuh abuaipih mahmah ua, lamdang asa mahmah uhi. Huchi’n khua ahong mial a, innkong a meiphualpi seem in a awi uhi. Huchia houlim timtim a omlai khonawl lam a mi awng ging sosouh ahon za ua, thau ahong ging behlap a, lau leh patau in a ki-entuah guauguau geuh ua, huchihlai in innsung a pan mi khat hong pawt a, bang thu hihiam chih adot uleh ngia in kel hiam hong koih hiding a agintak dan agen hi. ‘Ka lau, luut ni uh,’ khat in achihleh mipa’n, ‘Lauh ding bang mah om thahahlou, na ut tantan uh om un, ka va en di,’ chih toh amunlam zuan a taiphei athuah hi. Lau lah lausim, lah a omna uh khelah in lemlou chik in a om leailuai uhi. Adenlam chiang in Prof Ngulthang ahong pai a, ‘Zingchiang a zingkal dak giat a kipankhe ding i hi uh,’ ahong chi a, zansawtsim taak toh amau leng lum ding in a luut uhi.
Zing an nekhin kuankhe ding in a man chiat ta ua, a lamkai ding pa uleng ahong tung ta hi. Prof. Ngulthang in, ‘Tuni a louzaulam a vaak ding ihi ua, kuapeuh in noumau nna chiat na thazoh uh ka lam-en, Chinpu, battery na charging na maw, tuzan chia deih di i hi uh, huai solar plate-te avek in na zang na maw? Gamlak a kuamah tangvaaklou a, omkhawm gige ding in ka hon ngen hi’ achi a, Chinpu in tua bang a hih ahihdan a gen a, huchi in ahong kipankhia uhi.
A kithalawpthei mahmah ua, lamkiang a luaileng hoihlou pipite’n leng apahtaak uh aloh mahmah hi. Chikmah a lamtou pai ngeilou chihmahtak ahong gimpah ua, akhawl thithe uhi. Khat in lamkiang ah loupa gah san tiuteu ahon mu a, ‘Hey, berry!,’ chi in ahong kikoukhia a, neektheih ahihleh hihlouh le kan manlou in ahong kineekhuan uhi. Neektheih mah ahi dia, kuamah abuaisia a omkei uhi. A makaipa un lingmin ahihdan agen a, agah hunlou a gah ahihdan leng ahilh hi.
Sawtkuam tak ahong pai nung un louzau ahong tungkhong ua, loubuuk khat ah hong kinga uhi.
Sawtlou a tawlngak khit un lounawl lam ahon zuan ua, kuam lian lawlou a luut in tuamun ah sui ding leh hih ding tuamtuamte hih in leh malchet (sample) ding khawng la in a om uhi. Khat in luiguam khoubaang ah loupa khat ahon mu a, ‘Hiai sialkhupdawng eive, neektheih, thuuk a thuuk,’ achi a, alawmpa’n, ‘Hon ne phot aw, bangmah na chihke’h ke’n le k’on ne di,’ achi chiamnuih hi. ‘Pumhen’ laibu ‘Flora and Fauna of Zogam’ chih a ka muh ahi, ameel akibang geih ve,’ chihtoh chep athuah a, ‘Adik mah ve,’ achi hi. Sawtlou ompan akisak uleh sunnung bang ana hita a, loubuuklam ah tawlnga ding in a paiphei uhi. Tawlnga a, sun an khawng aneek zoh un hun omzeklai ahihman in lounawl lehlampang ah ava vak ua, sawtlou nung in ni leng niamta ahihman in apai phot uhi.
Annekkham in amau nna chiat a buai in a om ua, Lianpu’n ama nna azoh in innkong ah meiphual awi ding in apawt a, sawtlou amahkia a atut nung in Ngaihlian leng ahong pawt a, akiang a va tu in, ‘Zoubaih na chia,’ achi a, ‘Kei nna tamloupi,’ Lianpu in achithuk a, tuni a agamvaakna uh thukhawng houlim in a om hi. ‘Naak nop e maw agam,’ Ngaihlian in achi a, ‘ei gam a hiai bang a mun nuam a om dilam ka ngaihsun ngei himhimkei,’ achi a, ‘Hiai bang nuamsa na hihleh sokngei paakna mun khawng nuam na sa mah di maw,’ Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Bang a oi sokngei?,’ ‘Khai, sokngei theihlouh chihtel, rhododendron la,’ ‘Eh, rhododendron maw sokngei, ei gam a om maw huai?’ ‘Pau dang a thei a ei pau a theihlouh chihtel. A om a la in asasa ve uai,’ ‘La a saklam uh le ka theisam,’ ‘Theimah tawk niteh, ngeisok la, lapau a ngeisok eivoi.’ ‘Eh huchi ana hizel dan maw. Kithei mahmahlou aih bang,’ chi in anui hi. ‘N’on kitenpih leh hiai sokngeite paakna ah kitenhunnuam k’on zatpih di. Hon kitenpih in aw,’ chihtoh akhut letsak athuah a, Ngaihlian in leng, ‘K’on kitenpih ding chih na thei voi,’ chih chi in akhut kiptak in ana leen hi. Huchia ahoulim lai un alawmte leng ahong kimta ua, bangbang hiam houlim in a om uhi. Zan sawtman nawtta ahihman in lum ding in ahong kikhen nawnta uhi.
Ninih-nithum bang huchi’n ahon zang ua, nuam asathei mahmah uhi. Ahun awl kaal un chiiing satte bang ava zui ua, lui a tengkol peuh sawk in nuam asa ngial uhi. Pasalte’n lah nitak chiang in hoih asak chiat uh ava heel ua, khenchiang in munkhat ah apawtkhawm zel uhi. Numeite lah kho tangvalte un ahong tutpihzel ua, nuam asa thei mahmah uhi. ‘Thang, zodawn nungakte houh pibawl mai di ade aw chi hive’ng aw, pasal taktak kisak a om eivoi, akiang ua i omleh, u u mah hon chi tiautiau ua,’ Chinpu’n achi chiamnuih a, ‘Hia i lawmte bang tuisuak ding in sawl le zummoh hon chihsan maimah di hi ua maw, amau bel kithalawp tak a sawl sese ngailou a hon suah daidai zen ua, khat i pibawl mai di hia leh, kumnawn chia va pii di’n,’ chi’n Thangpu’n a chiamnuih thuk hi. Lamka a khanglian ahihziak un tua bang a heeltheih nungak pasal zahdan thei amuh chiang ua lamdang sa mah ahi uhi.
Nikhat ahong kipankhe nawn ua, tuni ahihleh Burma naihlam va vaak dek ahi uhi. Mun lemtang khat a kinga in nnasep ahon pannawn uhi. Ni ahong suun a akingakna uh singlim a hong paikhawm in sun an khawng ne in a om ua, huchihlai in Ngaihlian leh Nenemte lamkhang ah zuntha ding in ava paisuk uhi. A zunthakna kiang uah Ngaihlian in tuisam amu a, agim bang namtui hiauhiau in athei hi. ‘Oi, alimchi lua,’ chihtoh nahpateh a tuiseng bawl thuah in tua tui suak in adawn hi. A lawmte omna mun ahong tungtou nawn ua, khawl tawldam in omlai uhi. Huchihlai in Ngaihlian in achi thak ahon sa a, ‘Oi, ka chi hong thaklua, en dih uh,’ chi in abaan san hehut a chimul thou sesu alawmte alak hi. A makaipa un, ‘Na zunthaknalam ua thakpi va sukha hilim niteh,’ achi a, bangpi in a ngaihsakkei uhi. Atawp in thaksalaw mahmah ahihmanin, ‘Ka va silkhe di,’ chi in den a atuikhuk muhna munlam a naihsuk hi. Bangtan hiam ava om nung in alawmte’n Ngaihlian omna mun hileh kilawm apan sakei humham ging aza ua, patau in kintak in adelhsuk kheukhou uhi. Amun hidia a gintakna uh atun un kuamah muh ding a omkei hi. ‘Hiai gam a sakei omnawnlou hi a, koilai sakei hi ding ahia,’ a lamkaipa un achi a, apaam deuh uah tuikhuuk khat a om a, gamsa kibualnasa mah bang in akithai nengnung a, loupa apuuk zeelzuul hi. Nenem in, ‘Den a hiaimun khawng hichilou hia, oi ka dahlua,’ chi in ahong kahpau pepelh hi. Huchia diipkua leh patau a a om diindeenlai un akiang ua loupa kawm ahong ging miatmiat a, awl in loupa kawm apan sakei khat ahong suakkhia a, amit ua amuh ua agintaak theihlouh ding un tua sakei’ pum ah Ngaihlian puannak them a bang nengnung hi. Tua sakei in amaute a enkual a, lauhna leh lamdang sakna apan akhophawkma un a kihei a, ataimang hi. ‘Tuahsia tuak i hi ve ua. Dawite’ thangpaihna palkha i ve ua,’ alamkaipa uh Chinthang in achi a, ‘Hiai sak ah nidanglai in keimi tui kichi tui namtui viauviau a om a, tua tui dawnte keimi suak akichi hi. Britishte’n hong pailai in tua tuikhuk avuk uhi. Huai nung hiai thu daita hi a kithei hi a, tu in tua tui hiai a suakkhia i lawmnu un va dawnkha hi ding eive.’ ‘Ngaihlian sakei suak na chihna maw? Gam hiaizah zouzai a lian om a, hiai hamsia omna hi a na theih nung bang ding a hon pi teitei na set a le?’ chih toh Chinthang’ awm a matphei athuah a, alawmte’n ava len uhi. ‘Kisa ua, Ngaihlian i va zong ding uh,’ chi in avan ala a, ‘I kiangnai uah a om ding, himahleh i mu ngeikei ding uh,’ Chinthang in achi a, ‘mu lengle khutvuak in i manzou ngeikei ding. A mihing hihna abeisiang naikei ding a, alawm leh akinaihpihte ameltheihlai ding a, agim uh athei ding. Himahleh akimkhat sakei huham ahi gige. Tu-le-tu in ahihleh hihtheih i neikei uh. Inn pai a, khosung upate kiang ah genpah ahoihzaw ding. Amau hiai hamsia toh ana hingkhawm ahi ua, aloh dingdan athei ding uh.’ ‘Bangchi’n hiai gamlak a gilkial a si di’n i nuse thei dia? Hon meltheihlai ding ahihleh i manthei mahke, na utkei uleh ke’n ka va zong ding,’ chikawm in Lianpu’n mailam nawt atum a, Prof. Ngulpau in a madal a, ‘Hun i mangsakkei ding uh, Lianpu, hong in, hotkhiat na utleh a lampi omsun upate kiang kintak a tut ahi, gamlak ah sakei gilkiang in asi ngeikei,’ achi a, lampi a kahkhetou ding in akisa ua, Lianpu bel a dinna mun a a dinglailai a, atawp in ahong paikhong hi.
Kintak in inn ahon naih vengveng uhi. Kuapeuh in alausim chiat ua, lamkiang khawng ahong gin chiang bang in adak pah gogop uhi. Lamsaklam avangkim a agindan keimi in zui ahi chih Chinthang in atheigu mahmah hi. Khomual atun un tua ging leng adai vengveng hi. Ann huan hun vel ding in inn atung uhi. Tung phet kintak in khosung upate lak a upapen pu Khupngil kiang ah thu ava tunpah uhi. Ching leem in ana om a, ‘Nidanglai in tuamun ah keimi tui kichi a om a, anamtui viauviau a, adawn peuhmah keimi asuakzel uhi. Britishte’ hong pailai in tua tuikhuuk avuk ua, huai nung bangmah zaak in a om nawnkei hi. Nidanglai in mihingte toh dawite atengkhawm uh a, hun hong sawtchiang in hong kituaklou uh a, hong kidou uhi. Dawite’n lel uh ahihmanin mihingte’n dawite simmoh mahmah uh a, a ut adah in bawl uhi. Dawite ahihleh thil hihthei mahmah napi in lungkhel hetlou uh a, hiai mihingte’ bawlsiatna ziak in Pathian sam uh a, Pathian in a sapna uh dawng in mihingte dawite mutheilou ding in ahon bawl hi. Huai hunlai a hiai gam hausa in kuamah huangvulh-ganta kithahsaklouh ding chia dawite toh kilemna a bawl uh palsat a dawite omna mun a amau gankhoi ngal leh sakhite a-ut adah a athahsak ziak a dawite’n hiai hamsia akoih uh ahi. Huchi in dawite’n mihingte tung a kheltat ding leh apoi uh khoih ding in kichiam ua, tutan in huchidenta uhi. Ka pu’n khatveitei hiai tui hong hingthak ding ahi chi in ahon hilhzel hi. Ka damsung a hong tunglou ding hita’n teh chia ka lungmuan laitak hive’n.’
A chiing leemte koihkhia in, tuibuuk ahon muam a, ‘Hiai na thiltuah uh tuahsia ahikei. Dawite’n thil amawk in ahihkei uh. Banghang a ama’ tung tu hiam chih a ziak a om ding. A damsung teng keimi ahidenta ding hi. Sakei taktak toh ta aneihleh sakei taktak ahi dia, keimi dang toh ta aneihleh keimi ahong hi dia, ama’ sang a huaise zaw thil ahong tung ding. Amah bel a utthu in mihing asuak theikei dia, himahleh keimi dang toh ata ubel a ut dandan in mihing leh sakei asuak thei ding. Keimi nungak khat in Lamka khosung ah zi hong nei leh bangzahta a huaisia thil ahong tung dia? Himahleh i matzoh a, khakhat sung nelou dawnlou a i koihzoh leh mihing ahong suak ding a, huai sung a i thoih leh mihing ahong suakden ding. Dawite zahngaihna hau mahmah ahi ding ua, hichitan a thangpaih ua, hamsia a ahon buahkhum lai un leng aleh theih na ding lampi ahon bawlsak lai uhi. Hichi hun a kizang dawila leng akimangsak dek ta, Lingthuk siampupa kialou adang athei a om nawnkei ding. Hun tampi ah dawi thilte dawithil mah a sual ngai ahihmanin mansaklouh ding ahi.’
Khintung a a chiang gatbang ahon lakhia a, a tuibuuk muam sekhia in tui muam in a chiang gat aphih a, sunzom ding in ahong kisa hi. ‘Ngalngamte hunlai in hiai keimi tepawl atam mahmah ua, himahleh khoteng a keidal tangval kichi haam a tangval haat leh hangsan penpen mi li leh nga a om ua, amau hiai keimi te a beng ua, athat zel uhi. Huchia chimit dan a kithei ahi uh. Hiai keimi thak leng i matteitei a, i thoihdam teitei ding ahi. I matzohkei leh kaplup mailouh a lampi a omkei. I lak ah nam hamsia ahong pian di i phal theikei,’ chi in a chiang gat asunzomzel hi. ‘Tu-le-tu in hihtheih i neikei. Gamlak ah i va bengmawk theikei. Aman honna mu masa gige ding a, i muzou ngeikei ding. Thangkam leng le a mihing pilna abeinaikei ding a, a zetheih lai ding. A mihing pilna tengteng a beiphot i ngak uh angai ding. Hiai gam ah gamsa atamnawnkei a, khatveitei huangvulh ganta ahong laak hun ahong tung ding. Huai hun chiang in i manthei pan ding.’
Ahong dai vengveng a, amaulah a thuzaak uh lamdang sa in a ngai heuhou ua, Prof. Ngulthang ahong pau a, ‘A’ihleh bangchidan a mihing melpu a omlai keimi ahi chih theithei uh eita?’ chi in adong a, ‘Hmm… Aisa. Aisa ki-em gim a thuaktheikei uh. Aisa ki-em gim i napsakleh ahong kitom ua, agial uh ahong suakpah.’
‘A mihing hihna beipah lou ding ahihleh, i manthei khamoh ding uhia, khovel a ahon itpen ka hi, kei ahon thei ding, hon zonpih le uteh ke’n ka thuzohzou ding. Sin himhim leng bang apoina om a eita? I lohching khamoh di hia,’ mangbangtak in Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Himah e, a kimkhat mihing ahi gige ding, lunglenna khat anei gige ding a, mihingte kiang apan gamla lua ah a omkei ding. Tu in leng khomual kiimlak khawng ah khosung meivaak amuh phaakna ah a om ding. Himahleh akimkhat mihing ahihlai in akimkhat kamkei gial ahi gige, tua kamkei gial kimkhat in bangteng hihthei hiam na theikei. Kuamah hinna lauthawnhuai ding in ka koihkei ding. Na nnasep uh na sunzom uhiam ah, innlam na paiphot uhiam ah, nou thuthu ahi, himahleh ahun hong tun ma ka gamtangkei ding, zingchiang in upa dangte toh tua tuikhuk vuk ding in ka hoh lel ding uh,’ chihtoh a chiang gat khintung ah akoih a, tuibuuk amuam nawn hi.
Nitak in Prof. Ngulpau in, ‘Tu-le-tu in gamtat dingdan ka geltan theikei. Zingni hong suak ding a, awl in i kikum ding uh. Kuapeuh ihmut sawm un,’ chi in akhe asil a, lum ding in akisa hi. Lianpu ahihleh mahkia in innkong ah mei-awi in atu hi. A denlam chiang in Prof. Ngulpau ava pai a, ‘Lum nailou di maw Lian,’ chi aliang ava beng a, ‘Na thuak haksat didan ka thei. Himahleh amau vaihawmmah dikpen ding in ka gingta. Kum zatampi hiai hamsia toh ana hingkhawm lah ahingal ua. I pangkhawm ding ua, i hondam ding uh. Ahun lemtang geih i ngak lel phot ding uh. Lum phot in,’ chi in apaisan nawn hi. Lianpu ahihleh phunlou-paulou in tu nilouh hi. Sawtkuamtak atut nung in amah leng alut khong a, alumta hi.
Bangchituk a sawt ihmu ahihiam chih atheikei. Thawm ging vengvung in aphawng a, awl in a lupna apan athoukhia a, kongkhak apan innkong a meiphualpi kichihna mi’n a um kheukhou uh a mu a, ngaihsaklou in a maiphiat ding in tuibel lam amanoh hi. Maiphiat khin dohdan tung a tukawm a amai anullai in Khenpau akiang ah ahong pai a, ‘Meiphualpi kiim ah sahang khekhap amu uh, zanitak a hong giak ahi ding,’ ahong chi a, huaiphet in Lianpu kintak in adiangkhia a, ava en a, khekhap painalam azuiphei a, himahleh sau azui theikei. Leivui ana bei a, loupa ana pou a, akhaap alang nawnkei hi. A gintak na lam azuisuk a, dainawl ah atawipawt a, himahleh zuihzawk dilam theilou in leilak ah akhuukdinsuk nok a, ‘Lian ei….,’ chi in akikou a, a kidik hithit a, alawmte le akiang ahong tungsuk ua, aloh dingdan tuan theilou aliang ah a len theilel uhi.
Khosung a tuntouh nawn un val upa tua tuisam vuk ding akuan dingte ana manta ua, phuisam ding a asap uh Lingthukte’ siampupa leng ahong tung ta hi. Upa Khupngil in akiang uah, ‘Na ut uleh hong zui le uchin,’ achi a, amau leng va zui ding in hong kithukim uhi. Amun atun un tua keimi tui omna masa, Britishte’n suang a vuhna mun uh ava en ua, hiai bel a ngeingei in a om a, akhang a kumsuk in tua tuisam hong suahna a va en ua, siampu in phui asam khit in suang in a vuk ua, innlam azuan nawn uhi.
Inn atun un pai ding in akisakbawl sim ua, himahleh nitak a khosung ahong lutnawn zezen khaakleh chia taan ding thu kho upate’n agen man un tuzan taam tadihlai ding achi ua, himahleh avante teng ubel lepsa diam in akoih uhi.
Nitak ahong hi a, meiphualpi a seem ua, zan sawtpi a tu ua, huchi in panmun ding a abawlte uah kuapeuh a paita ua, leen leh khautoh pang a om chiat uhi. Lianpu a tusak lai ua, sawtkuam a tutkhit nung un amah leng a taangpanna mun ding azuan hi. Leen leh khau toh sakei pumkhat hingmatzou ding in kuamah akigingtakei ua, himahleh apanmun chiat uah ginomtak in angak kinken uhi. Zankim hong hi a, bangmah ahong kilaakkei a, zingkal ahon naih hiaihiai a, thawm himhim leng zaak ding a omkei hi. Daak thum bang ahon naihta a, thoupi leng ahong kilaakkei lai hi. Huaichia lungke simtak a a omlai un gamla sim ah ganhing lampai ging hilehkilawm ahong ging miatmiat a, a bil doh giikgeek uleh ahong dai vengveng a, ahong ginnawn ding ngak in naak ngamlou phial in a om giikgeek ua, himahleh ahong gingnawn zokkei hi. Huchia akiginna uh kheniamnawn a a om uleh thakhat in ahongsuak peetmah a, diipko chiat in ahong bangchi gamtat de aw chi in naak ngamlou zen in a en uhi. Awl in ahon naihphei a, adaak a, gim a diik vutvut a, adaak kimvel zel a, awl in meiphualpi ahon naih a, Lianpu toh mei awi a atutzelna uh singluang ava naih a, deihthohtak in a liakdiamdiam a, himahleh kaang om leh kiveenglua ahihmanin leh ataangte’ panmun toh a omna alemlouhluatziak in mawk khuhtheihmawk ding in a omkei hi. A hong kual a, a kiveenna ahon khiat ngak in a om uhi. Awl in alu ahon ngasuk a, akhe khawng liak in a om a, akiang naipen apa’n khuh ding ahihdan theihsakna in kihilhna dia apanmun teng uh zomsuak a akoih uh khau akai a, thakhat in akibukna buuk uh, bii a abawlzual uh phusia in len a khuh leh boh ahon thuah a, akhuhkha hoih ngial a, alawmte’n leng tua toh kiton ahon khuhhuan chiat kichimahle uh sakei pen kin lua leh haatlua ahihmanin alawmte’n abohphak ma un akitungkhia a, aleen toh ataimang hi. Delh ngaihna himhim omlou ahihmanin a omna mun chiat uah ading liikliak gouh ua, a ki-entuah phet uhi. Lianpu in ahihleh adelhzui pah a, himahleh gamla delhmanlou in delhna dilam athei nawnkei a, a ding nilouh a, ahong kiik khong hi. Meiphualpi kiang a singlung Ngaihlian toh a tutzelna uh ava naih a, deihthoh tak in a zuut a, a tu gegu. Atawp in alak ua upapen in, ‘Manzoulou hiphot hang e, lah hong kiiknawnkei ve’n chin khawlsan phot mai ni ei,’ chi in kikhen ding vai hon sawmta uhi.
Zingkal dak giat vel ahita a, ‘Gari le Suangdoh ah a omta, awl in kimansak ni leh, tunbaih a uthuaizaw a,’ chi in Prof. Ngulthang in alawmte a theisak hi. Pu Khupngil leng ahong hoh a, Lianpu kiang ah, ‘Lungmuang in pai in, ka theihtawp suah in ka na pang ding uh. Mihingte zaw vaang’ sikha ngen i hi ua, ei vaang neuchik le i kheektheihlouh lai a mi vaang kheek ding pen thil haksa mahmah ahi chih na theih bel ka deih. Theihtawp ka na suah ding uh,’ chi in apaisan hi.
Lianpu in Ngaihlian’ van a en a, kipasalsak ding chi mahleh a mittui ahong luangman zel hi. Om lehle lah bangmah phatuam tuanlou ding ahihmanin leh a nnasep ding sah mahmah ahihmanin pai ding in ahong kisa sam a, inntung leh Ngaihlian’ sungte amuh chia bangchi om ding ahiam chihkhawng ngaihsun in a kisukhase dedeuh a, akidiikdiik hi. A kalez uh tung leh leng thawmhau law ding ahihdan bang angaihsun a, haksa asa mahmah hi. Kuanlam a nuamtak a azuihkhawm lampi uh tua amahkia in zuih ding leltak bangleng angaingam mahmahkei hi. Hun nuampen hi ding a agintak hun haksapen ahong hi a, nunlui hunnuam mangngilh nawnlouh ding achih nunlui dahna mangngilh nawnlouh ding ahong hi maimah hi. Ut in ut takei leh pailouh theihlouh ahihmanin avan apua a, thazoi ngoihngoih in kal hon suanta hi.
Sim-le-mal khen zodam tulpaan kai lumsuang nuai ah
Nang na vun siamlai eimaw lamkhang keitui aw e
Lamkhang keitui aw piandang sa’ng e
Phamkua’n gamthang bang nungveh gimnam damtui aw e
©Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu
Dak guk bang gingtou ding hita ahihmanin, ‘Kong kipankhia, na innkong uah honna ngak ou,’ chia Ngaihlian thu khak in akuankhia hi. Zodawn ah bangzahvei hiam zinta mahleh Ngaihlian toh zinkhawmna ding hunlem a om ngeikei a, tutung a hiai bang hunlem hong om zenzen akipaak mahmah hi.
Ngaihliante inn agalmuh tak in Ngaihlian aginkhem (miss call) a, innkong atuntouh tak in Ngaihlian leng hong pawtkhe geih hi. ‘Damtak in va zin ua le,’ chi in anu’n kelkong tan a hong pha a, akiiknawn hi.
A kalez uh atun un a gari ding uh ana kidohta a, himahleh alawmte uh kuamah ana tung naikei hi. Amau leng kanteen a coffee dawn ding in apaiphei uhi. ‘Na linsim hia?,’ Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Mawkmawk, ki-utlua a, telkha dia le ka kiginlouh hia, hamphathuaitak a telkha zenzen. Singtang lam kimukha ngeilou a, utlua ka hi,’ chi’n Ngaihlian in adawng hi. Huchia houlima a omlai un Prof. Ngulthang ahong luut a, ‘Eh, ana tung uh maw kuamah tung nailou ade aw ka chi a,’ chi in a dohkan uh ahong um a coffee asam hi.
Lianpu leh Ngaihlian ahih uleh Lamka University a research hihlel ahi ua, Lianpu in khuahun toh kisai in post doctorate ahih a, Ngaihlian ahihleh sing-le-lou toh kisai a Ph. D hihlel ahi. Zodawn lam a sing leh gua akinaak saatluat ziak a zu-le-vate kiamdan leh khuahun kikheng limsui ding a kumpi’n amau university apan mi bangzah hiam ateelkhiatte lak a tel ahi uhi.
Coffee dawnkhin a gari lam uh ahon manoh ua, alawmte uleng ana tungkimta uhi. Kipatkhiakma a houlimkawm zual ding in dantan khat ah aluut uhi. ‘Thanglian, nang maw lemlaak toh kisai mohpua? Na hong kiging na maw?’ achi a, ‘Kiging thousam, Nikon D800, 24-135mm, 70-300mm, 105mm macro, huai chiah Canon 60D, 18-135mm lens. I poimoh uh hon subuchingzou mahmah nalou di hia,’ chi in avan neihte kisaktheihpih mahmah hileh kilawm in ahon gen hi. Thanglian ahihleh microbiology a research hih ahi a, ahun awl a lemlaak a kidiah mi ahi. ‘Thianching nang la?,’ Prof. Ngulthang in achi nawn a, Thianching ahihleh damdawilam enkai ding a mohpuakna apiak uh ahi a, ‘Hmm… I pomoh ding ua ka gintak teng hon pua zaw ka kichih hia; antipyretic, analgesic, antidiarrheal, saline, antiseptic, antibiotic… Kim himahlou hia maw?,’ achi a, ‘Nang kim na chihleh kim himailou di hia,’ Ngulpau in achi a, ‘N laptop chiat uh n’on tawi na umaw. Denchiang a amun a poimoh chiat di na hi uh. Dak sagih leh akim in i kipankhe ding ua, Suangdoh ah zing an ana huan ding ua, huai apan khe a i pai uh angai ding. Lampi kisia achi ua. Van hon puakpih ding ana om ding uh. Tu’n pasalte’n vante gari ah i nawnlut ding ua, numeite’n canteen a neek-le-taak puak dite na dopzohzoh uh ana guang unla,’ chi in vai hon hawm hi.
Ahong kipankhia ua, chikmah a zodawn zin ngeilou ngen, kithalawp kisa in gen di ahau thei mahmah ua, kingaikhe khuukkhaak omlou in a chiau vengvung geuh uhi. Tuitha dung ah ahong taitou ua, Mualtam, Geljang , Lamzang, Ngoiphai chihte hon peeltou uhi. Jejaw tou ahong tun hial chiang un ahihleh lampi siattoh kuamah le apaupeih nawnkei ua, akham a law pawl toh, a ihmu pawl toh amau buai chiat in abuai uhi.
Suangdoh ahong tung khong ua, a tangpeih le omlou in tuangtung ah akikham zengzung uhi. Sawtlou a tawlngak nung un ann ahon ne ua, sunnung a kipankhe nawn ding in a tawldam nawn uhi.
Lamsau pai ngeilou ngen ahihziak mah un Suangdai a tun un ni aniamta hi. Tung phet kisil ding in luikhuk lam anaih pah ua, kisil zou ann ne in avante uh alem uhi. A mansiang tak un khosung khawng veel in a om ua, inn bang a salu kitakte peuh abuaipih mahmah ua, lamdang asa mahmah uhi. Huchi’n khua ahong mial a, innkong a meiphualpi seem in a awi uhi. Huchia houlim timtim a omlai khonawl lam a mi awng ging sosouh ahon za ua, thau ahong ging behlap a, lau leh patau in a ki-entuah guauguau geuh ua, huchihlai in innsung a pan mi khat hong pawt a, bang thu hihiam chih adot uleh ngia in kel hiam hong koih hiding a agintak dan agen hi. ‘Ka lau, luut ni uh,’ khat in achihleh mipa’n, ‘Lauh ding bang mah om thahahlou, na ut tantan uh om un, ka va en di,’ chih toh amunlam zuan a taiphei athuah hi. Lau lah lausim, lah a omna uh khelah in lemlou chik in a om leailuai uhi. Adenlam chiang in Prof Ngulthang ahong pai a, ‘Zingchiang a zingkal dak giat a kipankhe ding i hi uh,’ ahong chi a, zansawtsim taak toh amau leng lum ding in a luut uhi.
Zing an nekhin kuankhe ding in a man chiat ta ua, a lamkai ding pa uleng ahong tung ta hi. Prof. Ngulthang in, ‘Tuni a louzaulam a vaak ding ihi ua, kuapeuh in noumau nna chiat na thazoh uh ka lam-en, Chinpu, battery na charging na maw, tuzan chia deih di i hi uh, huai solar plate-te avek in na zang na maw? Gamlak a kuamah tangvaaklou a, omkhawm gige ding in ka hon ngen hi’ achi a, Chinpu in tua bang a hih ahihdan a gen a, huchi in ahong kipankhia uhi.
A kithalawpthei mahmah ua, lamkiang a luaileng hoihlou pipite’n leng apahtaak uh aloh mahmah hi. Chikmah a lamtou pai ngeilou chihmahtak ahong gimpah ua, akhawl thithe uhi. Khat in lamkiang ah loupa gah san tiuteu ahon mu a, ‘Hey, berry!,’ chi in ahong kikoukhia a, neektheih ahihleh hihlouh le kan manlou in ahong kineekhuan uhi. Neektheih mah ahi dia, kuamah abuaisia a omkei uhi. A makaipa un lingmin ahihdan agen a, agah hunlou a gah ahihdan leng ahilh hi.
Sawtkuam tak ahong pai nung un louzau ahong tungkhong ua, loubuuk khat ah hong kinga uhi.
Sawtlou a tawlngak khit un lounawl lam ahon zuan ua, kuam lian lawlou a luut in tuamun ah sui ding leh hih ding tuamtuamte hih in leh malchet (sample) ding khawng la in a om uhi. Khat in luiguam khoubaang ah loupa khat ahon mu a, ‘Hiai sialkhupdawng eive, neektheih, thuuk a thuuk,’ achi a, alawmpa’n, ‘Hon ne phot aw, bangmah na chihke’h ke’n le k’on ne di,’ achi chiamnuih hi. ‘Pumhen’ laibu ‘Flora and Fauna of Zogam’ chih a ka muh ahi, ameel akibang geih ve,’ chihtoh chep athuah a, ‘Adik mah ve,’ achi hi. Sawtlou ompan akisak uleh sunnung bang ana hita a, loubuuklam ah tawlnga ding in a paiphei uhi. Tawlnga a, sun an khawng aneek zoh un hun omzeklai ahihman in lounawl lehlampang ah ava vak ua, sawtlou nung in ni leng niamta ahihman in apai phot uhi.
Annekkham in amau nna chiat a buai in a om ua, Lianpu’n ama nna azoh in innkong ah meiphual awi ding in apawt a, sawtlou amahkia a atut nung in Ngaihlian leng ahong pawt a, akiang a va tu in, ‘Zoubaih na chia,’ achi a, ‘Kei nna tamloupi,’ Lianpu in achithuk a, tuni a agamvaakna uh thukhawng houlim in a om hi. ‘Naak nop e maw agam,’ Ngaihlian in achi a, ‘ei gam a hiai bang a mun nuam a om dilam ka ngaihsun ngei himhimkei,’ achi a, ‘Hiai bang nuamsa na hihleh sokngei paakna mun khawng nuam na sa mah di maw,’ Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Bang a oi sokngei?,’ ‘Khai, sokngei theihlouh chihtel, rhododendron la,’ ‘Eh, rhododendron maw sokngei, ei gam a om maw huai?’ ‘Pau dang a thei a ei pau a theihlouh chihtel. A om a la in asasa ve uai,’ ‘La a saklam uh le ka theisam,’ ‘Theimah tawk niteh, ngeisok la, lapau a ngeisok eivoi.’ ‘Eh huchi ana hizel dan maw. Kithei mahmahlou aih bang,’ chi in anui hi. ‘N’on kitenpih leh hiai sokngeite paakna ah kitenhunnuam k’on zatpih di. Hon kitenpih in aw,’ chihtoh akhut letsak athuah a, Ngaihlian in leng, ‘K’on kitenpih ding chih na thei voi,’ chih chi in akhut kiptak in ana leen hi. Huchia ahoulim lai un alawmte leng ahong kimta ua, bangbang hiam houlim in a om uhi. Zan sawtman nawtta ahihman in lum ding in ahong kikhen nawnta uhi.
Ninih-nithum bang huchi’n ahon zang ua, nuam asathei mahmah uhi. Ahun awl kaal un chiiing satte bang ava zui ua, lui a tengkol peuh sawk in nuam asa ngial uhi. Pasalte’n lah nitak chiang in hoih asak chiat uh ava heel ua, khenchiang in munkhat ah apawtkhawm zel uhi. Numeite lah kho tangvalte un ahong tutpihzel ua, nuam asa thei mahmah uhi. ‘Thang, zodawn nungakte houh pibawl mai di ade aw chi hive’ng aw, pasal taktak kisak a om eivoi, akiang ua i omleh, u u mah hon chi tiautiau ua,’ Chinpu’n achi chiamnuih a, ‘Hia i lawmte bang tuisuak ding in sawl le zummoh hon chihsan maimah di hi ua maw, amau bel kithalawp tak a sawl sese ngailou a hon suah daidai zen ua, khat i pibawl mai di hia leh, kumnawn chia va pii di’n,’ chi’n Thangpu’n a chiamnuih thuk hi. Lamka a khanglian ahihziak un tua bang a heeltheih nungak pasal zahdan thei amuh chiang ua lamdang sa mah ahi uhi.
Nikhat ahong kipankhe nawn ua, tuni ahihleh Burma naihlam va vaak dek ahi uhi. Mun lemtang khat a kinga in nnasep ahon pannawn uhi. Ni ahong suun a akingakna uh singlim a hong paikhawm in sun an khawng ne in a om ua, huchihlai in Ngaihlian leh Nenemte lamkhang ah zuntha ding in ava paisuk uhi. A zunthakna kiang uah Ngaihlian in tuisam amu a, agim bang namtui hiauhiau in athei hi. ‘Oi, alimchi lua,’ chihtoh nahpateh a tuiseng bawl thuah in tua tui suak in adawn hi. A lawmte omna mun ahong tungtou nawn ua, khawl tawldam in omlai uhi. Huchihlai in Ngaihlian in achi thak ahon sa a, ‘Oi, ka chi hong thaklua, en dih uh,’ chi in abaan san hehut a chimul thou sesu alawmte alak hi. A makaipa un, ‘Na zunthaknalam ua thakpi va sukha hilim niteh,’ achi a, bangpi in a ngaihsakkei uhi. Atawp in thaksalaw mahmah ahihmanin, ‘Ka va silkhe di,’ chi in den a atuikhuk muhna munlam a naihsuk hi. Bangtan hiam ava om nung in alawmte’n Ngaihlian omna mun hileh kilawm apan sakei humham ging aza ua, patau in kintak in adelhsuk kheukhou uhi. Amun hidia a gintakna uh atun un kuamah muh ding a omkei hi. ‘Hiai gam a sakei omnawnlou hi a, koilai sakei hi ding ahia,’ a lamkaipa un achi a, apaam deuh uah tuikhuuk khat a om a, gamsa kibualnasa mah bang in akithai nengnung a, loupa apuuk zeelzuul hi. Nenem in, ‘Den a hiaimun khawng hichilou hia, oi ka dahlua,’ chi in ahong kahpau pepelh hi. Huchia diipkua leh patau a a om diindeenlai un akiang ua loupa kawm ahong ging miatmiat a, awl in loupa kawm apan sakei khat ahong suakkhia a, amit ua amuh ua agintaak theihlouh ding un tua sakei’ pum ah Ngaihlian puannak them a bang nengnung hi. Tua sakei in amaute a enkual a, lauhna leh lamdang sakna apan akhophawkma un a kihei a, ataimang hi. ‘Tuahsia tuak i hi ve ua. Dawite’ thangpaihna palkha i ve ua,’ alamkaipa uh Chinthang in achi a, ‘Hiai sak ah nidanglai in keimi tui kichi tui namtui viauviau a om a, tua tui dawnte keimi suak akichi hi. Britishte’n hong pailai in tua tuikhuk avuk uhi. Huai nung hiai thu daita hi a kithei hi a, tu in tua tui hiai a suakkhia i lawmnu un va dawnkha hi ding eive.’ ‘Ngaihlian sakei suak na chihna maw? Gam hiaizah zouzai a lian om a, hiai hamsia omna hi a na theih nung bang ding a hon pi teitei na set a le?’ chih toh Chinthang’ awm a matphei athuah a, alawmte’n ava len uhi. ‘Kisa ua, Ngaihlian i va zong ding uh,’ chi in avan ala a, ‘I kiangnai uah a om ding, himahleh i mu ngeikei ding uh,’ Chinthang in achi a, ‘mu lengle khutvuak in i manzou ngeikei ding. A mihing hihna abeisiang naikei ding a, alawm leh akinaihpihte ameltheihlai ding a, agim uh athei ding. Himahleh akimkhat sakei huham ahi gige. Tu-le-tu in ahihleh hihtheih i neikei uh. Inn pai a, khosung upate kiang ah genpah ahoihzaw ding. Amau hiai hamsia toh ana hingkhawm ahi ua, aloh dingdan athei ding uh.’ ‘Bangchi’n hiai gamlak a gilkial a si di’n i nuse thei dia? Hon meltheihlai ding ahihleh i manthei mahke, na utkei uleh ke’n ka va zong ding,’ chikawm in Lianpu’n mailam nawt atum a, Prof. Ngulpau in a madal a, ‘Hun i mangsakkei ding uh, Lianpu, hong in, hotkhiat na utleh a lampi omsun upate kiang kintak a tut ahi, gamlak ah sakei gilkiang in asi ngeikei,’ achi a, lampi a kahkhetou ding in akisa ua, Lianpu bel a dinna mun a a dinglailai a, atawp in ahong paikhong hi.
Kintak in inn ahon naih vengveng uhi. Kuapeuh in alausim chiat ua, lamkiang khawng ahong gin chiang bang in adak pah gogop uhi. Lamsaklam avangkim a agindan keimi in zui ahi chih Chinthang in atheigu mahmah hi. Khomual atun un tua ging leng adai vengveng hi. Ann huan hun vel ding in inn atung uhi. Tung phet kintak in khosung upate lak a upapen pu Khupngil kiang ah thu ava tunpah uhi. Ching leem in ana om a, ‘Nidanglai in tuamun ah keimi tui kichi a om a, anamtui viauviau a, adawn peuhmah keimi asuakzel uhi. Britishte’ hong pailai in tua tuikhuuk avuk ua, huai nung bangmah zaak in a om nawnkei hi. Nidanglai in mihingte toh dawite atengkhawm uh a, hun hong sawtchiang in hong kituaklou uh a, hong kidou uhi. Dawite’n lel uh ahihmanin mihingte’n dawite simmoh mahmah uh a, a ut adah in bawl uhi. Dawite ahihleh thil hihthei mahmah napi in lungkhel hetlou uh a, hiai mihingte’ bawlsiatna ziak in Pathian sam uh a, Pathian in a sapna uh dawng in mihingte dawite mutheilou ding in ahon bawl hi. Huai hunlai a hiai gam hausa in kuamah huangvulh-ganta kithahsaklouh ding chia dawite toh kilemna a bawl uh palsat a dawite omna mun a amau gankhoi ngal leh sakhite a-ut adah a athahsak ziak a dawite’n hiai hamsia akoih uh ahi. Huchi in dawite’n mihingte tung a kheltat ding leh apoi uh khoih ding in kichiam ua, tutan in huchidenta uhi. Ka pu’n khatveitei hiai tui hong hingthak ding ahi chi in ahon hilhzel hi. Ka damsung a hong tunglou ding hita’n teh chia ka lungmuan laitak hive’n.’
A chiing leemte koihkhia in, tuibuuk ahon muam a, ‘Hiai na thiltuah uh tuahsia ahikei. Dawite’n thil amawk in ahihkei uh. Banghang a ama’ tung tu hiam chih a ziak a om ding. A damsung teng keimi ahidenta ding hi. Sakei taktak toh ta aneihleh sakei taktak ahi dia, keimi dang toh ta aneihleh keimi ahong hi dia, ama’ sang a huaise zaw thil ahong tung ding. Amah bel a utthu in mihing asuak theikei dia, himahleh keimi dang toh ata ubel a ut dandan in mihing leh sakei asuak thei ding. Keimi nungak khat in Lamka khosung ah zi hong nei leh bangzahta a huaisia thil ahong tung dia? Himahleh i matzoh a, khakhat sung nelou dawnlou a i koihzoh leh mihing ahong suak ding a, huai sung a i thoih leh mihing ahong suakden ding. Dawite zahngaihna hau mahmah ahi ding ua, hichitan a thangpaih ua, hamsia a ahon buahkhum lai un leng aleh theih na ding lampi ahon bawlsak lai uhi. Hichi hun a kizang dawila leng akimangsak dek ta, Lingthuk siampupa kialou adang athei a om nawnkei ding. Hun tampi ah dawi thilte dawithil mah a sual ngai ahihmanin mansaklouh ding ahi.’
Khintung a a chiang gatbang ahon lakhia a, a tuibuuk muam sekhia in tui muam in a chiang gat aphih a, sunzom ding in ahong kisa hi. ‘Ngalngamte hunlai in hiai keimi tepawl atam mahmah ua, himahleh khoteng a keidal tangval kichi haam a tangval haat leh hangsan penpen mi li leh nga a om ua, amau hiai keimi te a beng ua, athat zel uhi. Huchia chimit dan a kithei ahi uh. Hiai keimi thak leng i matteitei a, i thoihdam teitei ding ahi. I matzohkei leh kaplup mailouh a lampi a omkei. I lak ah nam hamsia ahong pian di i phal theikei,’ chi in a chiang gat asunzomzel hi. ‘Tu-le-tu in hihtheih i neikei. Gamlak ah i va bengmawk theikei. Aman honna mu masa gige ding a, i muzou ngeikei ding. Thangkam leng le a mihing pilna abeinaikei ding a, a zetheih lai ding. A mihing pilna tengteng a beiphot i ngak uh angai ding. Hiai gam ah gamsa atamnawnkei a, khatveitei huangvulh ganta ahong laak hun ahong tung ding. Huai hun chiang in i manthei pan ding.’
Ahong dai vengveng a, amaulah a thuzaak uh lamdang sa in a ngai heuhou ua, Prof. Ngulthang ahong pau a, ‘A’ihleh bangchidan a mihing melpu a omlai keimi ahi chih theithei uh eita?’ chi in adong a, ‘Hmm… Aisa. Aisa ki-em gim a thuaktheikei uh. Aisa ki-em gim i napsakleh ahong kitom ua, agial uh ahong suakpah.’
‘A mihing hihna beipah lou ding ahihleh, i manthei khamoh ding uhia, khovel a ahon itpen ka hi, kei ahon thei ding, hon zonpih le uteh ke’n ka thuzohzou ding. Sin himhim leng bang apoina om a eita? I lohching khamoh di hia,’ mangbangtak in Lianpu’n achi a, ‘Himah e, a kimkhat mihing ahi gige ding, lunglenna khat anei gige ding a, mihingte kiang apan gamla lua ah a omkei ding. Tu in leng khomual kiimlak khawng ah khosung meivaak amuh phaakna ah a om ding. Himahleh akimkhat mihing ahihlai in akimkhat kamkei gial ahi gige, tua kamkei gial kimkhat in bangteng hihthei hiam na theikei. Kuamah hinna lauthawnhuai ding in ka koihkei ding. Na nnasep uh na sunzom uhiam ah, innlam na paiphot uhiam ah, nou thuthu ahi, himahleh ahun hong tun ma ka gamtangkei ding, zingchiang in upa dangte toh tua tuikhuk vuk ding in ka hoh lel ding uh,’ chihtoh a chiang gat khintung ah akoih a, tuibuuk amuam nawn hi.
Nitak in Prof. Ngulpau in, ‘Tu-le-tu in gamtat dingdan ka geltan theikei. Zingni hong suak ding a, awl in i kikum ding uh. Kuapeuh ihmut sawm un,’ chi in akhe asil a, lum ding in akisa hi. Lianpu ahihleh mahkia in innkong ah mei-awi in atu hi. A denlam chiang in Prof. Ngulpau ava pai a, ‘Lum nailou di maw Lian,’ chi aliang ava beng a, ‘Na thuak haksat didan ka thei. Himahleh amau vaihawmmah dikpen ding in ka gingta. Kum zatampi hiai hamsia toh ana hingkhawm lah ahingal ua. I pangkhawm ding ua, i hondam ding uh. Ahun lemtang geih i ngak lel phot ding uh. Lum phot in,’ chi in apaisan nawn hi. Lianpu ahihleh phunlou-paulou in tu nilouh hi. Sawtkuamtak atut nung in amah leng alut khong a, alumta hi.
Bangchituk a sawt ihmu ahihiam chih atheikei. Thawm ging vengvung in aphawng a, awl in a lupna apan athoukhia a, kongkhak apan innkong a meiphualpi kichihna mi’n a um kheukhou uh a mu a, ngaihsaklou in a maiphiat ding in tuibel lam amanoh hi. Maiphiat khin dohdan tung a tukawm a amai anullai in Khenpau akiang ah ahong pai a, ‘Meiphualpi kiim ah sahang khekhap amu uh, zanitak a hong giak ahi ding,’ ahong chi a, huaiphet in Lianpu kintak in adiangkhia a, ava en a, khekhap painalam azuiphei a, himahleh sau azui theikei. Leivui ana bei a, loupa ana pou a, akhaap alang nawnkei hi. A gintak na lam azuisuk a, dainawl ah atawipawt a, himahleh zuihzawk dilam theilou in leilak ah akhuukdinsuk nok a, ‘Lian ei….,’ chi in akikou a, a kidik hithit a, alawmte le akiang ahong tungsuk ua, aloh dingdan tuan theilou aliang ah a len theilel uhi.
Khosung a tuntouh nawn un val upa tua tuisam vuk ding akuan dingte ana manta ua, phuisam ding a asap uh Lingthukte’ siampupa leng ahong tung ta hi. Upa Khupngil in akiang uah, ‘Na ut uleh hong zui le uchin,’ achi a, amau leng va zui ding in hong kithukim uhi. Amun atun un tua keimi tui omna masa, Britishte’n suang a vuhna mun uh ava en ua, hiai bel a ngeingei in a om a, akhang a kumsuk in tua tuisam hong suahna a va en ua, siampu in phui asam khit in suang in a vuk ua, innlam azuan nawn uhi.
Inn atun un pai ding in akisakbawl sim ua, himahleh nitak a khosung ahong lutnawn zezen khaakleh chia taan ding thu kho upate’n agen man un tuzan taam tadihlai ding achi ua, himahleh avante teng ubel lepsa diam in akoih uhi.
Nitak ahong hi a, meiphualpi a seem ua, zan sawtpi a tu ua, huchi in panmun ding a abawlte uah kuapeuh a paita ua, leen leh khautoh pang a om chiat uhi. Lianpu a tusak lai ua, sawtkuam a tutkhit nung un amah leng a taangpanna mun ding azuan hi. Leen leh khau toh sakei pumkhat hingmatzou ding in kuamah akigingtakei ua, himahleh apanmun chiat uah ginomtak in angak kinken uhi. Zankim hong hi a, bangmah ahong kilaakkei a, zingkal ahon naih hiaihiai a, thawm himhim leng zaak ding a omkei hi. Daak thum bang ahon naihta a, thoupi leng ahong kilaakkei lai hi. Huaichia lungke simtak a a omlai un gamla sim ah ganhing lampai ging hilehkilawm ahong ging miatmiat a, a bil doh giikgeek uleh ahong dai vengveng a, ahong ginnawn ding ngak in naak ngamlou phial in a om giikgeek ua, himahleh ahong gingnawn zokkei hi. Huchia akiginna uh kheniamnawn a a om uleh thakhat in ahongsuak peetmah a, diipko chiat in ahong bangchi gamtat de aw chi in naak ngamlou zen in a en uhi. Awl in ahon naihphei a, adaak a, gim a diik vutvut a, adaak kimvel zel a, awl in meiphualpi ahon naih a, Lianpu toh mei awi a atutzelna uh singluang ava naih a, deihthohtak in a liakdiamdiam a, himahleh kaang om leh kiveenglua ahihmanin leh ataangte’ panmun toh a omna alemlouhluatziak in mawk khuhtheihmawk ding in a omkei hi. A hong kual a, a kiveenna ahon khiat ngak in a om uhi. Awl in alu ahon ngasuk a, akhe khawng liak in a om a, akiang naipen apa’n khuh ding ahihdan theihsakna in kihilhna dia apanmun teng uh zomsuak a akoih uh khau akai a, thakhat in akibukna buuk uh, bii a abawlzual uh phusia in len a khuh leh boh ahon thuah a, akhuhkha hoih ngial a, alawmte’n leng tua toh kiton ahon khuhhuan chiat kichimahle uh sakei pen kin lua leh haatlua ahihmanin alawmte’n abohphak ma un akitungkhia a, aleen toh ataimang hi. Delh ngaihna himhim omlou ahihmanin a omna mun chiat uah ading liikliak gouh ua, a ki-entuah phet uhi. Lianpu in ahihleh adelhzui pah a, himahleh gamla delhmanlou in delhna dilam athei nawnkei a, a ding nilouh a, ahong kiik khong hi. Meiphualpi kiang a singlung Ngaihlian toh a tutzelna uh ava naih a, deihthoh tak in a zuut a, a tu gegu. Atawp in alak ua upapen in, ‘Manzoulou hiphot hang e, lah hong kiiknawnkei ve’n chin khawlsan phot mai ni ei,’ chi in kikhen ding vai hon sawmta uhi.
Zingkal dak giat vel ahita a, ‘Gari le Suangdoh ah a omta, awl in kimansak ni leh, tunbaih a uthuaizaw a,’ chi in Prof. Ngulthang in alawmte a theisak hi. Pu Khupngil leng ahong hoh a, Lianpu kiang ah, ‘Lungmuang in pai in, ka theihtawp suah in ka na pang ding uh. Mihingte zaw vaang’ sikha ngen i hi ua, ei vaang neuchik le i kheektheihlouh lai a mi vaang kheek ding pen thil haksa mahmah ahi chih na theih bel ka deih. Theihtawp ka na suah ding uh,’ chi in apaisan hi.
Lianpu in Ngaihlian’ van a en a, kipasalsak ding chi mahleh a mittui ahong luangman zel hi. Om lehle lah bangmah phatuam tuanlou ding ahihmanin leh a nnasep ding sah mahmah ahihmanin pai ding in ahong kisa sam a, inntung leh Ngaihlian’ sungte amuh chia bangchi om ding ahiam chihkhawng ngaihsun in a kisukhase dedeuh a, akidiikdiik hi. A kalez uh tung leh leng thawmhau law ding ahihdan bang angaihsun a, haksa asa mahmah hi. Kuanlam a nuamtak a azuihkhawm lampi uh tua amahkia in zuih ding leltak bangleng angaingam mahmahkei hi. Hun nuampen hi ding a agintak hun haksapen ahong hi a, nunlui hunnuam mangngilh nawnlouh ding achih nunlui dahna mangngilh nawnlouh ding ahong hi maimah hi. Ut in ut takei leh pailouh theihlouh ahihmanin avan apua a, thazoi ngoihngoih in kal hon suanta hi.
Sim-le-mal khen zodam tulpaan kai lumsuang nuai ah
Nang na vun siamlai eimaw lamkhang keitui aw e
Lamkhang keitui aw piandang sa’ng e
Phamkua’n gamthang bang nungveh gimnam damtui aw e
©Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu
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