PIALGAL VANGKHUA

By ~ Vz Vualnam

Dak thum vel in Sinzawl ka tung hi. Paisuakna ding in ni niam ka sa simt a, Sinzawl a giah mai ka sawmta hi. Convention skul a nidang a ka lawmte skulpu a sem om hiv’en, huai kiang a va zintun ding geel in huailam ka zuan hi. Mi kiang ah a inn ka kan a, ka muh tak a ka va luutguih mawk leh honna lam-enlou lua zaw ahi ding a, hon muh tak in ahi heuhou zezen hi. Kum tampi mahmah kimulou ka hi ua, tua hon muhphut leh amah leng a nuam mahmah a, hunlui khawng houlim in ka tuizen uhi.

Banghih ding himhim a huai gamgam va tun ka hi hiam chih ahon dong a, ‘huai zodawn a kiphaltak a naupangte a dia kipia a sem noute khawng amun a hong veh nuam himhim ka ka hia,’ ka chihleh a gingta utkei hial a, ‘Huai kia di’n zaw na hong hohkei hial ding,’ ahon chi hi. ‘Huai kia tuh hilou e. Hiaitan gam i hong phaak ngalleh koptheih teng kop dia hong kisa ka ka hia. Zingchia Phaitong hoh sawm, ka paizohleh Hanship tungsuak ding,’ ka chi a, ‘Huai gamgam a bang va zong dek neita,’ hon chihsan a, ahon lunglutpih keihial hi. Kei lah zodawn a zin a lemlaak chih khawng vaal a nuam ka sak zawk ding leng a omkei hi.

Zi ana neita a, a tanu leng pau ding in a kisa belhbelhta hi. Zi nei nailou ka hihdan a theih in a hon tawng pah a, ‘A bang lau na neita tu tantan na neihlouh? A zon didan theilou na hi hia leh? Got a got thoh ngai mawleh? Tuzan chiah va zong pah le ahoih di,’ chi in ahon nuihsan helhul hi. ‘Zon zaw zongmah tawk ve’ng aw. Interviu a i kuan chia mel a kike pahpah a maw,’ chi’n ka zou hi.

Honna ngaina mahmah luamluam zaw ahi ding a, a nitaklam a dolhou leh baal ahon mehpih nung in nitak in a aktal uh khat ahon gou a, zingkal in aksa deihkhopteek in ka ne uhi.

An nekham ka kipankhia a, ahon lunghimoh sim a, ‘Nang kia a gam huaitan khualzin di chih, hon muangkei na’ng e. A khatveina hi lai a. Pilvang leteh. Denchiah zon ngai khawng in n’ong omkha de,’ ahon chi a, ‘Lampipi zui leng tungkhong mai nalou di ka hi,’ chi in hon kawkmuhna lampi zui in ka kipankhia hi.

Zodawn a khualzin nuam ka sa a, kho kumlui taktak khawng va amun a va muh nuam ka sa hi. Kum khat a khakhat beek hun awl kibawl in zodawn vehna in ka nei zel hi. Tutung in Phaitong, Aibulon, Palkhuang leh Hanship phaak sawm a kisa ka hi a, lawm ding tua bang a hon lunglutpih ka muhlouh man in kei kia ka kingah hi. Ut bel a ut chiat ua, himahleh tha pengap kuamah a omkei uhi. Kei bel ka lunglutna leh ka utna ahihnaak leh thasial leh peihlouh chih himhim neilou khat ka hi.

Ni a sa mahmah velval, himahleh huihzang a tam ziak in a nuamtuam mahmah hi. Limla kawmkawm in ka paizel a, ei kia a paina ding in tuh dakkal nih lam leng lamsautak ahi. Huchia dakkal khat leh akim khawng ka pai nung in munkhat ah aletdan kibang, a ngildan kibang in lampi ana kaa a, huai lampi kaa a hon hilhlouh ziak un ka buaita hi. A lampi kaatna mun leng mun kidohlouhna tak ahi zawmah a, va khodak zualna ding leng a lemkei hi. Google map dot dia lah huaigam kotawng a zat theihlouh, ka buai mahmah a, ka khawl phot zezen hi.

Khawlkhawl a leng phatuam lou ding ahihman in sih-le-sih, dam-le-dam chi in ka gintak pen veilam pang ka zuita hi. Huchia ka zuihzel lai in nisatdan kibangthou hinapi awlawl a vot hiaihiai in ka thei a, a singkung leh loupate leng amelpuak uh chituam deuh mah a bang uhi. Huchia ahiloulam zotkhaak ding lauthawng kawmkawm a ka pai lai in khua khat ka galmuh a, Phaitong hita ngei ding eive chi’n ka khamuang mahmahta hi.

Gintak sang in lampi a kual mahmah a, khua ka galmuh nung leng sawtkuam ka pai lai hi. Atawp in khua ka luut khong a, himahleh ka gintak toh a kibang hetkei. Tulai van muh ding a om himhimkei a, nidanglai hinkhua peetmah a hing a bang uhi. A innte uh bi leh innnah ngen ahi a, um leh beel siik hiam buangnai a kibawl hiam vanzat muh ding himhim a omkei hi. A innlamdan uh nidanglai innlam ngen in a kilam a, hoih bel a hoih thei mahmah hi. Phaitong i chih hichi didan mah hia chi lungsim in ka paizel a, adenchiang in mi khat ka tuak a, ‘Pa Ngulpaute’ inn koilai hiam?’ chia ka dot leh Ngulpau kichi huai khua a a omlouhdan a hon hilh a, huai khua Phaitong himahlou hiam chia ka dot thakleh, ‘Phaitong ahi thahah di hia, Pialgal ei ve,’ chih toh hon pelh athuah a, ‘A bangchidan a huai theilou a hong tungthei neita?’ chi’n lamdang sakchi tak in a hon dong a, ka dawn nawn ma’n ahon paisan hi.

Bangchidan hi di ahia? Hiai kiim a Pialgal kichi khua a omlam lah ka thei hetkei ngut a chi in ka buai mahmah a, piteek khat hong pai nawn a, ‘Phaitong lampi koilam hiam chia,’ chia ka na dot leh lamdang sakchi tak in, ‘Bang achia e bawi? Hiai khua ah kuama’n khodang a kan ngeikei uh. Hiai khua a hong luut peuhmah kuamah a pawtkhe nawnkei uh. Nang na hi khodang kan masa pen. Bang lunghimohna nei na hiam?’ chi in ahon dawng hi. Phaitong a hoh dia kisa huai mun va tungkha ka hihdan ka hilhleh, ‘Na theihkhelh ahi di bawi. Hiai mun tung ding mah a hong pai na hi. Na inn ding uh kho mite’n ahon lamsak ding ua, nuamtak in na omsam ding,’ chi in ahon paisan hi. Lamdang sakna in ka dim deuhdeuh a, aloh dingdan leng ka theizou nawnkei hi.

Khosung ah ka vaak vialvial a, mite’n hon en thou mah le uh a hon mikhual et hetkei uhi. A khosakna uh a niam mahmah a, tuithei mah toh tui a tawi lai ua, numeite’ samphek dan leng nidanglaite’ a bangbang ahi a, khibah khawng a ok uhi. Limla ding chia ka limlaakna ka suk-hing dek leh a hing thei mawngmawng kei a, a batari bei chih dia lah denzek mahmah a leng a dim a omlai a chi in a batari peuh lakhia a thunthak a ka hih chiang in leng a hing thei bilbelkei hi. Phone beek a a laak theih khaak leh chia ka phone ka etleh ka phone leng ana mit a, ka phawng zou kiikei kei hi.

Sun ahi pan a, kiik ut leng tuh kiik leng nitum ma in Phaitong tungzou ding in ka kiginta hi. Himahleh hiai khua in lamdanna khat a neih man in nituan ka ut hi. Hileh koi a kuate inn a tung ding chih ahi pah a, theizoklou in khosung ah ka vaak nilouh hi. Zin chih khawng a ngai di ua aw chih bang ka lungsim a ahong luut a, nidanglai bangbang lah hinawn samlou a, ngaihlouh chih hial om ke’n teh chi in kei leh kei ka kilungmuan hi.

Sawtkuam ka vaak nung in khosung ka vaaksuak phial a, innteen-louteen leh a khosakdan uh lamdang sakna in ka dim hi. Tulai thil himhim muh ding a omkei a, buh nangawn sum mah suk thoh uh hileh a kilawm hi. Kho laizang tak ah innlianpi khat a om a, awl in ka naih a, huai laitak in nungak khat toh ka kituak ua, huai inn kuate inn hiam chih ka dotleh hausate’ inn ahihdan ahon hilh a, hausa kua hihiam chih ka dot leuleu leh lamdang sakchi tak in ahon hilh hi. ‘Thanghou leh Liandou lou kua ahi dia!’ chi in ahon peel hi.

A dakkal sim in thil a lamdang deuhdeuh hi. A masapen in hiai khomin Pialgal ahi a, huai zoh a khosakdan uh nidanglai hinkhua ahi a, huaizoh kei lamhaih ziak a va tung ka kisakleh amau ka va tun pen ahi ding mah in a koih ua, huai zoh a hausate uh Thanghou leh Liandou ahi suklai a, a lung-aphuai mahmahta hi.

Bangteng hileh huai inn a va luut a, zintun theih dileh dilouh va dawp ding chi in kelkong ka kaan hi. Innka ah nupi khat in pat a na heek a, ka naihzel lai in a honna en nilouh a, ‘Hausate’ inn hi maw hiai? Tuzan k’ong tung thei diam? Phaitong zuan a pailai ka lammang a, hiai khua k’ong tungkha a?’ ka chih diakdiak leh minu’n, ‘Hong lut in. Lamkhelh ziak a hong tung na hikei. Hiai san tung di mawng a hong pai na hi. Mikhual na hikei, na khua na tui ahi. Innteek tak in om in,’ chih toh hong dinkhiat a thuah a, ka van a hon sang hi. Kipah lah huai, lah beidothuai seem. Kei leng pautamlou in ka luut hi. Lamdang ka sak mahmah bel kuamah ka silh leh teen bang silh a teng omlou na pi in lamdang sakna in anei hetkei ua, a muhmuhsa uh mah abang hi. Innteeknu’n ka vai kawlzaal ahon saan bang houh chikmah a amuh ngeilouh hia, lamdang sakna himhim leng a neikei hi. Lamdang salou mah uh hia ahihkaleh a kideekzoh ziak uh hia? Dot thahah di lah hi ka sakei deuh a, a dakkal sim in ka lungbuaina a lian semsem hi. Nitak hong hileh bang ahong chi de aw, zingkal hong hileh bang a hong chi de aw, chihte khawng ka ngaihsut lai in innteek nu’n, ‘Huai dohdan khawng ah na ut dandan in na tawldam in, ka pat heek ka awlmoh a, k’on sunzom di,’ ahon chi a, ‘Va heek in, va heek in,’ chi in dohdan ah awl in ka tusuk a, khuam ah ka kingai hi.

A denlam chiang in papi pau kuaukuau ka za guih a, ka hahguih a ka daak leh khua ana muita a, papi khat in meikiang ah naang in thil a gaan a, a vangkim in meh a tokzel hi. Ka tutou a, ka theihlouh kaal a ana ihmukha ka hi a, a khanloh a hon muhtak in, ‘N’ong gim hia? Kum hiaitan kuamah ahong kilatlouh nung in nang na hong kilang a. Khua nopchi na sa diam ah. Hiah ka innkhang ah na inn di i lam ding ua, nuam na hon sa mai ding,’ chi toh a vutlak a a tuibuuk phitkhiat a thuah hi.

‘Omdet ka sawm tadih naikei. Ka va kiiklai phot ding,’ chi in ka dawng a, lamdang leng ka sazou nawnkei sim hi. ‘Paikiik di’n maw? Koi ah eita?’ Chi in lamdang sakchi tak in a hon dong a, khodang himhim omlou a amau khua kia khovel a khua om sa hile uh a kilawm hi. ‘Ka hoh dek na ah, Phaitong ah, ahihkaleh ka khua uah. Hiai a ka omdet mawk a bang hih di ka set a?’ chi in ka dawng hi. ‘Hiai mun na hong tun nung a kho dang na lunggulh lailai bang hang hiam ka theikei. Kiik ding na chih leh tuh nang thu hi ve’n chin. Lampi na thei a hia?,’ chi in a kiang a nou a tui muam in a thil gat a phih phuphu hi. ‘Kong tunna lampi mah zuikiik leng tung lellou di ka maw?’ Ka chihleh mipa’n, ‘Huai lampi hamsethuak ahi. Kua ma’n a zui ngamkei. Pasalpha pente’n leng a zui ngamkei uh. A huih a kikhek a, sing leh lou a zia a dang a, a tawpna ah bang om hiam kuama’n a theikei, keimite’ tenna mun ahi chih thuthang a om,’ chi in hon suklauh sawm hileh kilawm in agen a, kei lah neem ut tuan samlou in, ‘Ke’n ka thei. Zing chiah ka zui dia, k’ong kipatna mun ka tung nawn mai di,’ ka chihleh bang mah in a hon dawng nawnkei a, ‘Neihtong, ann hong thuuk nailou di na hi? I zinpa le agil kial gawp ahi di a hai paupau a,’ chi in a zi a sam leltak hi.

A zi, tusun a hon vaidawn nu a hong luut a, ‘Naute le hong tung naikei ve uh aw,’ chih toh khintung a buhhak a hong damkhia ah, a pawtpih nawn hi.

Sawtlou nung in a pasal tangval pian nih leh nungak khat a hong luut ua, lou kuan ahi ngei ding ua, a gimchi ngial uhi. ‘An nepah ni uh,’ chi in a nungak nu’n an ahon thuuk a, kuama’n ka omlam le theilou mah a bang ua, a hon limsak hetkei uhi. A ann thuk kimlai in a nu a hong luut a, ‘Na UMuan a di le thuukkeep in aw,’ a hong chi a, nungaknu’n leng phunlou-paulou in a ann thuuk a sunzom hi.

UMuan? Chikkaal a ka min a na theih ahia? Chik mah a lah genkha nailou ing a, lamdang ka sa sim a, lah ka dai dide hi. Singkuangpi a annthuuk ahihman in thuukkeep leh thuukkeeplouh chihluat leng om thei ding abangkei. A hon sam ua, anteh meh ahi a, buh bang alim zezen hi.

Ann neekkham in innteekpa’n tangvalte lak a khatpa’ kiang ah akgou ding in a sawl a, damleh zingkal chia tuh aksa meh meh ding akihinawn peuhmah hi.

Tangval tegel a pawt ua, nungaknu’n a nu toh khau a khuuk uhi. Inteekpa’n, ‘Nang va kholailenglou di maw?’ Chi’n a hon dong a, ka zintunnate’ nungaknu’ bang leng melhoih mahmah ahihchiang in mun dang leng ka lunggulh tuankei hi. Phunlou paulou in a kiang uah ka tu hi. A denlam chiang in veng tangvalte a hong pawt ua, thu tuamtuam houlim in a om uhi. Huaite’ lak a khente’n innteekte’ nungaknu a va thohbawl luat chiang bang un ka lung ana hikei sim maimah hi. A paikaal uh ka na guuk ngaklah mahmah hi.

Ka ngaklah ziak adiam ah paihak uh ka sa sim a, a pai nung ua nutate a tut tantan uh tut ding ka lunggulh hinapi in a pai uh leng ngakzoulou dek ka bang a, ka lusu pian maimah hi. Tuni a ka lampaina tawlsim tuh ka hi peuhmah ding. Lup ding lah koi a hon lumsak ding uh hiam chih leng theih hi nailou, ka tutna mun ah ka na lusu khop hi.

Innteekte’ tangvalte lak a akgou dia inntekpa’n a sawl pen inn ahong pai a, huai phet in lenglate le, ‘Ei le paiphot ni,’ kichi in a dingkhe diamdiam ua, kichian ka sa mahmah a, ka halhhuai hi. Tap kiang ah ak goute’n ak a gou ua, khaukhuukte’n khau a khuuk ua, apaam deuh uah innteekpa’n nam a phan hi. Ka tutna apan innteekte nungaknu kilimmuh theilou ahihman in zun suaklou pi zuntha ding in ka pawtkhia a, ka luut nawn in a kimuhlemna ding mun ah ka tu hi. Ihmut suah himhim ka theipha nawnkei. A mel a naupan mel kiuhkeuh a, a ngaihnathuai mahmah hi. A nasepdan, a khut vaidan khawng ka en a, kilawm vek hi in ka thei hi.

Ak gou pa’n ak a goh zoh in innteepa’n innteeknu’ kiang ah, ‘Ei lumta leng hilou ahi. A tu utte tulai ta le uh,’ a chi a, innteeknu’n, ‘Lup lele himah ve aw,’ chih toh dinkhiat a thuah a, a nungaknu’ uh kiang ah, ‘Chingnu, denchiah na UMang’ lupna di dohdan ah bawlsak in aw,’ achi a, khatnu’n lah a dawn tuan hetlouh ziak in ka lung a nuamkei sim a, houh hon huatbawl ade aw chi in ka ngaih apha hetkei. A khau kheek a kheek nilouh a, a dendeuh chiang in, ‘Na lum utta hia UMang?’ chi’n aw neemtak in ahon dong a, ka kiguihsim zawzen hi. ‘Na tut peih tantan tu peih ka hi,’ chi’n ka dawng a, huaitak in, ‘Den deuh chiah bawl ni aw leh. Ka khau kheek hiai teng a lakloh a, k’on zou vanglak di,’ ahon chi a, kei leuleu in, ‘Huai a teng le zouvek leteh le poilou,’ ka chihleh, ‘Huaite zaw zingchia di’n hita heh, zan le a sawtsimta a,’ chi in a hon dawng hi. A dang tengteng a lum khinvek ua, kou gel kia ka tu ua, apau zawsam omlou in ka tu ngengouh uhi.

Zoh di a chihteng a zoh in a dingkhia a, a vanzatte heem in dohdan tung ah lupna a hon bawl a, puanpi khawng a hon phah a, neulai a i muh chihlouh kimu nawn nailou ahihman in lung bang a leng thei vial hi. A bawl zoh in lum ding in a kisa a, kei leng ka kisa saam hi.

Ka thiltuahte ka ngaihsutsutna lam in ka ihmuthei zokkei hi. Houh sikha in hon pimang a, amau kiang hon tun hia? Ahihkaleh si a ka kha houh pialgal va tung ka hi hia leh? Huchi hial ding in lah ka ngaihsunkei a, lah ka thiltuah genchet didan ka theizoukei hi. Kei a hon muh ua lamdang a sak hetlou bang un ke’n leng amau ka muh a, tangthu ate khawng min a neih uh lamdang saklouh teitei ka sawm a, tutan in bangmah ka kan naikei hi. Zingchiang in tuh ka dong ding chi in ka ngaihsun hi. Atawp a zaw ihmu khong ka hi ding.

Zingkal in ann ne ding in a hon phawng ua, ka thou a, ka kiphiat sung in ann a thuk ua, ka um phei pah hi. Sahbon chih bang omlou ahihman in gamtat a lem hetkei hi. Annneek lai in inntekpa’n nungaknu’ kiang ah, ‘Tuni’n na UMang lou ah tonpih le uteh eivoi,’ a chi a, nungaknu’n, ‘Amah a ut naakleh ake,’ a chi a, ka kipak gusim hi. Amau lah paikiik ding himhim a ahon koihlouh utoh, akhua a nop toh, a mite lah nuam tabuang uh ahihchiah bangteng hileh nikhat-ninih nituang lengle poikei chi in, ‘Ut tuh i ut houhke,’ ka chi hi.

A tungtang uh theih ka ut mahmah a, lah lamdang satak a va dot heekhawk ding ka utkei a, a kankhiat didan ngaihsun in ka buai mahma hi.

‘Kho dang ah na zin ngei hia?’ Lou lampi ah ka kiton lai un ka dong a.

‘Kho dang? Khodang zinna di omloupi.’

‘Kho dang omlou ahihleh kei koi a hong kipan hidi ka oi leh?’

‘Oh, n’ong kipatna mun khua ka chihlouhpi uh.’

‘Bang chi neita ua le?’

‘Hingkhemte.’

‘Ahihleh hingkhemte’ gam a hoh ngeilou maw nou?’

‘Hoh utna himhim ka neikei uh. Hiai mun a omte’n mundang himhim ka lunggulhkei uh. Hoh ut hita himhim le ung le ka hoh theihlouhna ding un a lampi ah keimi leh sahnute a om uh.’

‘K’ong pailam in lah k’on tuak hetkei a!’

‘Pasalpha na hi a, hon naih ngamlou uh hi’n teh.’

‘Pasalpha? Galte genlouh vasa khat lel leng thatkhalou ing a, bangchidan a pasalpha hithei di kei ta?’

‘Hinna laak kia a pasalphatna om na sa a hia? Tha ah hilou in lungtang ah ei zaw ve pasalphatna a om!’

‘Aw, ahi maw. Pilpi le na hi vele.’

‘Pil houh ke.’

Ka kinuihsan tuak ua. Lou lampi a tou mahmah a, himahleh lamdang tak in ka gimlam himhim ka theikei hi. Ka kiang a nu’ ziak hi’n teh chi’n ngaih thupiit in ka neikei. Ka thildot utte dongkha thei taktaklou in ka om nilouh a, houlimna ka kheng hi.

‘Tangthu hon gen dih. Lampai kawm in ka na ngai.’

‘Tangthu? Bang a oi tangthu?’

‘Mi huchi enghou ke’n. Na utut khat hon gen in.’

‘Tangthu bang a le ka theihlouh bangchi’n ka gen thei dia?’

‘Na khel. Mi engbawlbawl ke’n.’

‘Chihmawk a, i theihlouhpi.’

‘Tangthu theilou a hiai chia pha chihtel lawmlawm.’

‘Nang a thei in hon gen ve.’

‘Ninou kichi min na zangei hia?’

‘Ka innsakte uh ei vele.’

‘Tua le maw?’

‘Ahihmahlouh a.’

‘Oh.’

Gen di theinawnlou in dai dide in ka kizui uhi. Amau khovel leh kei khovel theih a kibatlouhluat ziak in lamdang sakna a beitheikei hi. Khat khit khat a lamdang zaw seemseem a hong omzel a, a hong omtou zel ding in ka gingta lai hi.

Sunkhua a ka loukuanpihte’n buh a at sung un lounawl gamlak peuh ah ka vaak a, gam a taak mahmah a, singkung a thupithei mahmah hi. Hichi bang a gamtaak i gam a muh ding om nawnlou ka chihlai in hiai mun gam taak ngen ana hi hi. Buuk sung a ka tutlai in thil kizaap ging khuapkhuap ka za a, lamdang sa a bang hi ding hiam chia en ding in ka taipawt a, ka daak veel leh muh ding bang mah a omkei hi. Ka loukuanpihte’n tunglam a et uh ka mu a, kei leng ka daaktouh leh vaphual hon ahi ua, a kilawm mahmah ua, ka chimul bang a thou zezen hi. A lentum matan uh en in ka ding nilouh hi.

Vai tun in Neinoute’ inn ka kan a, a hon hilh a, an neek ma ka va vaakkhe zual hi. Kholai a hon mute’n leng hon mikual bawl hetlou in muh ngeilouh mithah in leng a hon enkei uhi. A inn ua bel va hoh hiallou in a kong khawng uah ka va kivialleh nilouh a, Neinou didan a ka muanmoh ding le’ng ka mukei hi. Sawtlou nung in ka pai a, an neek ana ut manta uhi.

Nitak in Chingnu leh a nu’n a khaukhuuk mah a buaipih ua, tuzan in tangval kuamah a hong pawtkei ua, ka kipaak gusim hi. Pai ding khawng ka ngaihsun a, lah Chingnu ka khelah sim zel a, ka buai gusim mahmah hi. A khosakdan uh a nopchiit dan, awlmoh ding bangmah a omlouhdan, leh hinkhua uh tulai thilte’n a sukbuai himhimlouh a, thoveng tak a a hindan uh enhuai ka sa a, om det bang ka utsim hi. Lah hithei ka sakei deuh zel hi.

Zingchia pai ka sawmdan ka gen leh innteeknu’n, ‘Hiai mun mi hong tung mengmenglou uh hive’n. Innteek thei kisa nailou na hihleh lah na hun ahong tung naikei a ahi di. Hilele taam zek lai leteh eivoi. Zingmah chiang a khua dou di ua, huai zoh chiang in pai le teh,’ ahon chi a, khodou chih bang a thu lel a i zaak tua ataktak a muh di ahihleh tuh utlua i hi zel hi. Ka awsuk nawnzel hi.

Loukuan, gamvak chih peuh in hun ka zang a, Chingnu toh ka kithuah tam mahmah uhi. Ama’n leng a nini a hon ngaina deuhdeuh hi in ka thei hi. Himahleh denzek chia taisan ding ka hihman in ka naih ngam lawkei.

Khosung ah ka maingal mahmahta a, khodung-khovai ka siiksuakta hi. Innsak ua Ninoute a om ua, a paam ah Khupching leh Ngambawmte a teng ua, innkhang ah Mauluangte’ inn a om hi. Hiai teng ki-innveng ahi uh. Huchilou tangthu a i zaakkhaak tengteng a om vek uhi. A gaal deuh ah vengpi khat a om nawn a, huai ah Lengtonghoihte unau leh mi dang tamkhop a teng uhi. Khonawl lam ah innkhat a om a, ka muh teng in innka ah papi khat, teek sim ta, lungkham chitak a tu ka mu gige hi. Chingnu kiang a kua hihiam ka chihleh, ‘Dahpa hi. A khuang a sukmang apan itlua a, huchia omden hi,’ ahon chi hi. Houh misikhua va tung ka hi hiam chi in ka patau sim a, lah khuaphawk mahmah lai in ka kithei zel hi.

Nikhat nitum kuan in kholai ah pasal naupang hon a au cheelchuul ua, ‘Tu baan ni 3 zoh chiang in khua kidou ding, kuapeuh zu ana kiging chiat ding,’ chi’n a kikou uhi. Khodou hong tung ahita. Khozang in a kithalawp thei mahmah uhi. Naupang honte houh chiau in a chiau vengvung maimah uhi. Chingnu toh ka kithuah den ua, a hohna lamlam ah a hon tonpih hi. Nitak in khonawl gamla sim ah khuai a hon laakpih ua, ka kiiklam un khomual ah phiit muut in honna dawn ua, a nuam mahmah mai hi. Khua hon dou ua, inn kilkawm teng khen in ging in a ging lunglung maimah uhi. A zingchiang in sawm tangvalte’n a sawm vok uh a hon gou uhi. A hon huan ua, khopi khawng a heltheih tuamtuam i helte tellou in pasikhawm khawng lel toh alhuan in kine a, houh thang law di ka sak leh a neek theih vanglak hi. A nitak in zan khotawn in nungak-tangval zangta la sa in a laam ua, nuam a sa mahmah mai uhi. A zu uh lim va sa lua ka hihman in ka tam teep lawkha a, a kei teep kia genlouh nungakte bang in hong tulh thapai uh ahihman in khamlua in ka tangzou sekei hi.

A zingkal tan in leng ka hi bengbung lai hi. Peihlou pipi in ka thoukhia a, kholai ah ka va vaak halh hi. Tu chiang a bel khosung pumpi’n hon theisuakta uh ahihman in paina lamlam ah hon na houpih haamtang uhi. Huchia khosung phang kawm a ka ngaihsut chiang in hiai mun a tulai vanzat leh thilte om hetlou a kipaktak leh nuamsa tak a khosa thei uh ka chih chiang in enhuai ka sa mahmah hi. A gam leng a nuam a, dahna-lungngaihna kichi leng omlou khop in a tawldamhuai hi. Mailam hun ding lungngaihna a neikei ua, ahi bangbang in tu hun ah lungkim tak in a khosa uhi. Tawlna kichi leng a omkei. Bangchi tuk in nna sem mah le hang tawl chih himhim a om theikei. Van gikpi paw le hang leng tawldam tak in a kitun thei hi.

Amau khovel tuh kei theih khovel toh a kibangkei hial a, omdet bang ka lunggulh mahmah hi. Himahleh omdet hial ding in lah kei khovel a leng hon khelah ding om sam ua, khelah chih phet, amau adia neek zongtu hi ing a, kei omkei leng amaute buai dingdan leh huchia ka hingman ziak a a lungkham ding uh ka ngaihsut chiang in ka omden ngamkei hi. Hiai mun a ana kipiang himaileh peuh chih in a om hi.

Kiiknawn leng tu a ka mangngilh ka lungkhamna, ka lunggimna teng mah toh ka kisutuah nawn ding ing a, ka lin mahmah mai hi. Ka kiik chiang a lah ka ngaih nungak in honna ngai tuanlou ding a, amah ngai a ka lungzuanna in hon tuamzel dia. Hiai a zaw huaite’n hon sukhalou ua, nuamsa lua hing a. Chingnu in ka lungngaihna tengteng hon mangngilh sak a, a kiang a om in lungkimna hon pia hive’n. Himahleh kei’ nopsakna sang in ka innkuante’nopsakna ding in a hon zouzaw hi.

Innsung ka luut a, Chingnu in ann a huan a, dohdan a tu in ka en nilouh hi. A mel ka muh chia ka kipahdan, a kiang a ka om chia ka khamuandan, amah ka lunggulh vungvungdan khawng ka ngaihsun a, ka ngai tuntun mai hi. Himaleh amah kei’ khovel ah a om theikei dia, kei lah ama’ khovel ah ka taam theikei a, deih pipi a taisan mai ding tuh ka hi ve.

Ann neeklai in pai ding ka hihdan ka gen a, Chingnu in bangmah genkei mahleh haksa a sa mahmah chih ka haih hetkei hi. Ann neek zoh in ka kisa a, Chingnu in khonawl tan a hong kha hi. Mangpha chia paisan mai tuh thil baihlam ahi hetkei. Pailou theilou ka hihman in kinunghei selou in ka tummang hi. Kinunghei le’ng huai mun a amah kia thawmhau tak a ding a, ka paimang san mai naa a sak meel mu ding ing a, ka lungsim mitkha a mang theilou ding hi.

Ka peetkhiatna ka naih deuhdeuh leh ka kuanlam mah bang in huih leh sing leh lou omdan kikheek in ka thei a, gam omden leh kho omdan dah huai ngeetnguut bang in ka thei hi. A tawp in ka peetkhiatna lampi ka tung a, nung leh ma, vei leh tak sawtkuam ka daak nung in tuma a ka zuihlouh pen zui ding in ka kisa hi. Ka zuih dik leh tuh Phaitong tungphei pah ding in ka kilam-en hi. Gam omdan a lunglenhuai mahmah a, daak na peuh khasiathuai mah a bang hi.

Awl in ka paizel a, ka camera ka phawkkhe phut a, lakhia a ka sukhing leh a hong hing thei nawn hi. Banghang a tua ka va hohna gam a hing theilou bilbel hiam chih in a hon lungbuaisak mahmah hi. Dakkal nih phial bang ka pai nung in khua khat ka galmuh a, Phaitong hita ngei in the chi’n lampai bang ka kinoh zezen hi. Gamlalou ka sak leh dakkal nih phial mahmah ka pailai hi. Khua ka luut a, a dai zikzik hi.

Naupang naudon khat leh nih innkong khawng ah a om ua, huchilou mi muh ding vang mahmah hi. A vangkim in ak a kokeek a, huchi lou tuh tham dang zaak ding a omkei hial hi. Naupang khat ka sam a, bangkhua hihiam chih ka dotleh Phaitong ahihdan ahon hilh a, dik khong mah e, chi in ka hahuai hi. Lawmte khat in a hon kawkmuh a pute Ngulpaute’ inn ka zong a, ka va muh tak in piteek khat ana om a, a beng a ngon zawkmah ziak in ka houlim mohkeei uhi.

Khosung-khopua khawng ah ka vaak a, lemkhawng ka la vialvial hi. Ni hong niam tak in ka kiiknawn a, nungak upa sim khat leng ana omta hi. Kipulaakna ka nei a, khualzin maimai ka hihdan leh a tupa pa uh ka lawm hi a, ama’ kawkmuhna a a inn uh va zuan ka hihdan a hon hilh hi.

Tulai khovel a tangval theih ngeilouh tangtat khat inn a hong tun mawk ding bel amau leng a lungsim uh nuam hetlou ding in ka gingta hi. Himahleh tunna ding hotel chihdan bang omlou ahihman in alou theilou a mi’ inn a tun angai hi. Nitak in a pu uh toh ka houlim ua, ka khualzinna leh ka va tunna khua ka gen leh, ‘Thil lamdang mahmah tuh eive. Dawite’ nnasep hia, vansawltakte’ nnasep hizaw hia ka theikei. Akua-akua nnasep hitaleh, hinkhua toh kisai bang hiam hilh nop hon nei uh ahi di e. Huai bang hi ding hiam chih zonkhiat na nna eive,’ ahon chi hi.

A zingchiang in zing an ne kham phet ka kipankhia a, lamtawn in puteekpa’ hon thugen ka ngaihsun nilouh hi. Tua bang a hinkua a bang hiam hilhnop, zilsak nop hon nei ahih uleh bang hi mahmah ding ahia?

Huchia ka paizel lai in lamkiang a singkungte khawng ka en a, khente kawl khou khawng ah haksa tak in a pou ua, khente suangpi heng khawng ah, khente leuleu lah mun hoihtak ah. Mun haksa tak a poute’n, ‘Hiai mun a haksalua, paam deuh ah ka kikhiin di,’ a chi theikei ua, nuam in nuamkei leh omna mun mah ua a pou kenkon uh a ngai hi. Himahleh kei bel ka ut chiang in huai mun ka tung a, ka ut chiang in hiai mun ka tung a, mun nuamlou ka totkhaak leh mun nuamzaw ah ka kikhiin thei a, huchi ahih nung bang ding a ka omna mun nuamlou apan kikhiin le sawm tuanlou a lungngai nilouh ding ka hia chi’n ka ngaihsun a, tua kitheihkhiatna in thathak hon pia a, thathou tak in innlam k’on zuan tuh ka zaang mahmah hi. Lungngaihna hon bawm ka chihte butkhiat bang a hong hi ua, zaan in ka zaang vovolh hi. Lungngaihna, kipahna chihkhawng deihtelna liauliau ana hi a, lungngaihna na’ng ziak tampi a om lai in leng kipahna ding ziak tampi a om hi. Lungngaihna ding thilkhat ziak lel in kipahna ding huaizah zouzai omte ka mangngilh nuam dia hia, chi in lampai lai bang ka khuttum ka simkha zozen hi. Huchi’n ka paizel a, mualpang ka suakkhia a, Aibulon a kigalmuh ta a, kithalawp tak in ka zuanzel hi.

©Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu