QUARANTINE LIANU

By - Paumuanlal Guite BaBs KHEN KHATNA Ka lenna vangkhua Bangalore ah hun nuamtak a ana zang toutou lai natna lauhuaitak COVID-19 in gubang hong zelsuak ahihman in nek-le-tak leh bangkim khimbang hong zingta hi. Nasep ding lah om nawnlou, vangkholai len chih lah om thei tuan samlou, zalkhun ah sambang zal hi nasep leh niteng hun zatdan a suakta. Nuaisimlei a beidot huai mahmah, lungzuan ngaihtam sial a naubang kahna mun a hihdan a kilang chian semsem. Kilbang khanna vangkhua Lamka mubang ngaihna a lian semsem, hizongleh mualliamsa hun bang a ut hunhun a vangkhua zuan a khaubang chiah theih a hi nawnta kei. Lungngaih meipi zing kawmkal ah lametna pellam ah pianna vangkhua zuan thei ding ka hih dan uh heutute apan ka zak un kipahna in tuibang hon tum hi. Sai ding om khempeuh lawmte toh saipah in ka hih ding bangkim uh ka hihfel pah ngal uhi. Banah ka puak ding van tengteng uh leng bag a guang in a hun hong tung chia buai nemnum nawnlou ding in bangkim mansa in ka koih uh. Huchi’n pai theih hun ding ngak in ka innluahna uah ka luahpihte toh ka om uhi. Hun paisa toh teh ding inbel ka nuihmai uh a suak zou zaw deuhta hi. Ni 7 vel ngaklah taka ka ngak nung un ka pai ding ni uh hong tung khongkhong hi. Kou leng bus kidohna lam zuan in ka kuanpah ua, kithalawp diak ka hi ding uam rail khawlmun tan hong kha ding bus nasan leng ana kidoh naikei hi. Bangtan hiam ka ngak nung un bus hong kidoh a, kou leng a masa in ka va tupah ua, huchi’n lawmte hong kim tak un rail khawlmun zuan in ka taikhia uhi. Sawtkhop ka tai nung un rail khawlmun ka tung khongkhong ua, huai a temperature khong hong test ua, huaizoh in a rail sung ah ka lut uhi. Ka tuanna rail uh taikhe dia hong kisak hial chiang in khatlam ah kipahna in hon tum mahleh khatlam ah khiaklah huai bang sak in aom lehlam hi. Rail sung ah lawmte toh houlim in nop kasa mahmah ua, khenkhat bang lasa toh a laam pawl toh lum in kong lumtou mai uhi. Hiai hun laitak khong inzaw natna omlam leh phawkphak hikei, bangziak a inn pai ka hia chih lam theibun leng ka om kholkei uhi. Lamkal ah nek-le-tak ding leh tui bang honna pepawl om a, kidamhuai zawzen in noptuam mahmah hi. Ni bangzah hiam kholumtak nuai a kong taitouh nung un Jiribam rail khawlmun ka hon tung khong ua, huai ah leng ann toh honna vaidawn ua, tagah nawimu ka bang hial uhi. Huai ah hun bangtan hiam ka khawlnung un ka paina ding uh district chiat a bus kidoh hiven huaite ah ka hong kihen nawn nainai uhi. Manipur lut bang inn tung ka bang hial uhi. Huchi’n mahni district chiat zuan in kong kipankhe nawn uhi. Dakkal bangzah hiam kong tai nung un Phai khopi tung in huai apan Lamka vangkhua a kikhum ding in kong paisuak nawn uhi. Dakkal khat leh a kim vel kong tai nung un Tuibuang Peace ground ah hon kingakkhawm sak ua, huai apan Puliste’n ka omna ding chiat ua hon kha nainai uhi. Huai apan ka room ding chiat uh hon kawkmuh ua, room khat ah mi 4 a room ning chiat ah hong omsak uhi. Ka omkhawmpihte ahihleh ka lawmte ngen mah ahihziak in nopsak louh luatna ding le ka thei tuankei hi. Kou omma inleng mi 20 vel ana omkhin ua a masapen ka hikei uhi. Amau ahihleh Mumbai bang, Chennai apan bang ahi uhi. Adik in gen mai leng a pawlam aomte’n hong huphulh uh chih kihaihlou, huaikia hilou kou mun tuamtuam apan tungkhawmte leng red zone apan khong ngen ahihziak in a sunglamte leng ana kiguk huphulh tuah vek ka hisim mai uhi. Himahleh nam dangte bang a social distancing chih khong hoihtak a zui thei ding vual kihituanlou, a veikha ka om uale bel kilohzak thei ding ngen kahi uhi. Aziakbel kihoutuah gentaklouh zunbuk, ekbuk, kisilna kikopvek ka hihman un. Ni nih bang kong om nung un kingeina seh patpat in omta hi. Midangte lak ah leng kimaingal panpanta. Hon vengtute bang ka ngaihtuah ana bang hetkei ua, hon ta bawl in kamdam toh hoihtak in honna kithuahpih ua, huai in a selam ngaihtuah a ka kipiaksiatna ding uh tampi hon dal kha hi’n ka thei hi. Ka lungsim ah gam solkal leng kigingkhol man taktak lou a thakhat tuah i hihchia mohsak huai lele ka theisiam mai a, himahleh huai kawmkal ah i khosung heutute koute ziak a asun-azan phatuamngaihna toh hong kol det uh thupi kasa mahmah a, i pupa pan ua i na neih uh phatuamngaihna kikhahsuah nailou ahihdan mu in kipahhuai kasa mahmah hi. Zingkal khat thouphet kihahsiang ding in bathroom lam ka va zuan hi. Ken leng kindeuh a bathroom kong ka hon zatleh numei khat ana om a kisuanglah lua ka hihman in kindeuh in ka kik a, a pawlam ah ka na ngak hi. Bangtan hiam ka ngak zoh nung in hong pawtkhia a, hoihtak mai in ka na en hi. A sam vom ngiingei in amai san tiitiai jawjen a, a taksa kiphutdan lah sap nungak a bangmai hi. Hah etlua ka hi diam aman leng lamdang sak chitak in hong en a, ken leng ngaihsiam chi’n nui sesu in ka paikhiatsan hi. Huchia bathroom a lut dia ka kisak leh ka nungak et ut na lam in midang ana om manzel a, kinohselua ka zekai loh dimdem hi. Zing ann nek hun in zingkal a ka muh nu ka guk zon bawl pah a, himahleh ka mu kei hi. A tawplam a doh sawm hinteh chi’n kei leng gilkial mahmah hinapi in a tawplam ka ngak hi. A ngakzoute’n thupha ngah hi a chih dan deuh un a tawplam in hong kisawisuk ngengeih a, kei leng ann la din ka va kuanpah hi. Ka va dingkhawm kha zawzen ua, zingkal a kimusa ahihziak a hi ngei ding hon nuihsan cheuh hi. A nuihmai ka muh in ka lungtang tawng hon dengpah a, ka gilkial lambang leng ka phawkpha nawnkei hi. Ann nezou room ah chimzen in ka om nawn uhi. Lawmte’n hong en ua, “bangchidan e tuni na nuinui mawk a?” hon chizel uhi. Ken bel ka ngaihsak kholkei. A hitak in bel huai nungak nuihmai khatvei muhlel ziak a nui khakha ka na himawk hi. Hichibang a numeite’n pasalte lungsim tengteng nuihmai khatlel a leng a thuzoh tel ua chu Thaibawi tam di mah eivele chihsim geugau in aom hial hi. Sunkhua chu nidang banglou taka kipahna a hun zat bei ahinawn phot hi. Nitak hun hong hinawn a, ka nungak muhnu kia lungsim ah hong suak nawn hi. Bangchitel a hon hichih zoh dimdem a lamdang ka sa hial hi. Ka omna room toh amau room kimaingat kha ahihman in a room lam kia uh ka mitsuan den a, a kallak bang in meivak nuai ah kigalmuh thei milmial a, huai lel inleng lungsim a nopsak zou mahmah hi. Huaikia leng hilou a nop diak na ahihleh i etlaitak a aman leng hong etkhak chia nuam kisa mahmah a, himahleh a enkha lou dandan khong kineihzel in aom hi. Zingkhua hong vak nawn a, zan zing a bathroom a lut hun chiamteh ka hihman in huai hun mah in ka va kuan nawn hi. Himahleh ana kihahkhin hia ka mukha kei a, poi kasa mahmah, lah hihtheih om tuanlou. Ann nek hun ding ngak ahitamai hi. Ann nek ngak a room mailam a ka dak leh amah gate lam a awl a vakphei ka galmuh a, ka enzui ngal hi. Chihleh gate ngakte lawi in ana thoh sosouh mawk ua, ka lungtang teipi a vut a bangzou hial hi. Ama a ka na ngaihsang luat himahle uh tun bel nungak khat ziak in ka haw zou ve. Bangtan hiam pasal khat gate ngakte khat in a houpih zoh in awl in amah leng a room lam zuan in a kik hi. A houpihpa bang a mel hoihtak in ka chiamteh hial hi. Lawmte’n “Muan, nangle bangchi nahi, na nuihlouh kal in maigum na zel chia?” chi’n hon nuihsan ua, kei leng imzou lou deuh kahi di, huai gate ngakte khat ka huat thu ka genkhum hi. Aziak hon dong ua ken leng ka hilh leh nuih in hon nuihsan maimah uhi. Kei lah ka lungsou deuhdeuh. Huchi’n Sangpu in “huai na nungak chih bawn leng hilou nang hehpih a bang kanna di om oi?” hong chi nawn a, ahimah leng ahihchia dawnna ding ka thei tuankei hi. Sun in lupna ah ka ngaihtuah nilouh a, ann nek hun chia a min bek ka dong ding chi’n ka thupuk hi. Huchia ngaihtuah kawmkawm a ka om leh ka ihmutsan kha a, mang lamdangtak ka nei hi. Ka mang in huai nungaknu kiang a hoh di’n ka kuan a, kong honna honpah hi. Himahleh a nungzek in pasal khat leng hong lut nawn a, ki-innteksak tak in hong om lanlan hi. Ka heh mahmah a, inn kong a ka pawtkhiat leh nungaknu’n hong delhpawt a, ka khut hong letsak in ken leng ka sahkhiatsak vat hi, huchihlaitak in lawmten ann nek hun chi’n hon phawng guih ua, lamdang bang ka sa zawzen hi. Kei leng kihihhalh pah in nungaknu hong pai ding ka na chang nawn a, a nunglam deuh a awl a hong paiphei ka muh in kei leng awl in ka kuan tei hi. Ama bang in ka va ding khawm kha ua, a min dot ding ka chih himahleh huai sun a a kihoupihpa ann hawm a pang ahihman in ka dong ngamkei hi. A ann piak kawm bang in nungaknu melh ahihdan ana mu hoihlua ka hihman in ka hehna a puang deuhdeuh a, a ann hawmsa nek ding bang ka tha a dah zou hial hi. Nguai lua ka hihman in sun in bathroom a kisilkhe ding chi’n ka va kuan hi. Vangphathuai tak in nungaknu ka va mukha a, et leng ka en ngamkei phial hi. Ka lungsim ah hiai kan a amin kanna di hun lem omlou chi’n kan teitei ka sawm hi. Huchi’n ken leng “Sister” ka chi a, aman leng “Hawi” honna chipah hi. Ken leng sunzom in “Bangchi’n kon sam dia?” ka chih leh “Mawi chi’n hon sam in Umuan?” hon chi gaih a, hon paikhiatsan hi. Nguaitak a ompa kisil halh le ngai nawnlou phial in ka guk nuih den a, Umuan hon chih gaihpen in ka lungsim a la mahmah. Bangchidan a ka min ana thei mawk ahi de aw? chih ngaihtuahna ah a dim nawn hi. Maban ah a phone no nget ding chih hi nawnta. Himahleh huaitan hial ngen di’n kingamna a tawm mahmah. Lawmte ngetsak mai ding ka sawm a, himahleh ka ngamkei zel. A tawp in a kithuahpih seknu a lawmnu theihkhiat a huai apan kan ding in ka thupuk hi. A phone number nei leng huai apan maban sawn ding dan hong ommai ding chih ka kinepna ahi. Kam a lah gen ngam ding vual kihilou ahihman in. Nitaklam ann nek hun in ka kimutuah nawn ua, kinuihsan kawm in a phone number ka ngen hi. Himahleh a phone hoihlou ahihdan hong gen banah a lawmnu number a kihouthei ding ahihdan hon hilh in a number leng hon pia a, amah a hikei mahleh amah toh kihou theihna ding ahihman in ka kipak veve hi. Ann nezou room ah phone ka khoihpah a, ken leng hon number piak save pah in, “Hello Mawi, na gil a vahna hia?” ka chih leh aman ana tawikha geih ahi dia, “Vah mah ing ei umuan, non text a kipahhuai e” hon chi hi. Huai teng lel leng kei a di’n kipahna a lian lawtel hi. Huchi’n dak 9 lak a non phone di kam in kihou ni, tua ka lawmnu’n zang ut ahi a chih man in ken leng ka text nawnkei hi. Dak 9 gin di kal ngaklah huai mahmah, nidang a bangmah a i ngaihkei leh tunitak chu a sawt diak mahmah kasa. Ngaktheih tawp a ngak nung in dak 9 hong ging a, phur lua hinapi dip bang a kisai lalat zawzen hi. Innkong a pawtkhia in ka va call pah a, aman leng honna lapah hi. “Hello, Mawi bang na hih a?” “Kei maw Umuan toh kihou.” “Nang koi a kipan a hong pai, chik a centre a ana lut e?” “Nou hon tun ma deuh a tung kahi uh, i lut ni uh kibang, kou Chennai apan kahi uh.” “Kon houpih mawk a heh thei aom diam?” “Gate keeper lamte lah, hehe” “Mawkmawk ka haw lua.” “Kei zaw nang toh kihoukhak himhim le hampha ka kisalua” “Hei, umuan kamsiam law kei di, a pasal penpen.” “A hihleh thilkhat kon dong diam?” “Hon dong in na utut kon dawng vek di.” Awnglai hia awng nawnlou chih khong dot ka sawm sim a, himahleh kihou panpan a huai teng khong va dot pah zawzen uang ka sa deuh hi. “Mawi, zingchia i kihou chia kon dong zaw mai di aw, dotna tampi kana kiging dia?” “Huai chu na thuthu ahimai kei dia?, Umuan, lawmnu’n hon ngaklah toh koihphot ni aw, mangpha hoihtak.” “Nangle mangpha hoihtak.” Ka kihou zoh un lungsim nuamtak in ka lupna ka zuan nawnpah hi. Kipaklua ka hi ngei ding a ihmu leng ka ihmu thei zawzen kei hi. Dak 11:00 lak in Ambulance hon ging a, hon tungbeh omzel hinte’h maw chi’n ka ngaihtuah hi. Huchia awlawl a kikhim kawm a laa ka ngaih leh theihlouh kal in kana ihmu kha hi. Zing ka khangma jawjen a, ka thoh in sana ka etleh dak 8:00 bang ana ging man hi. Ken leng ka phone ka la a, Mawite lawmnu number ah “Zingpha Mawi.” chih teng ka gelh lelauh hi. Hon reply pah ding ka sak leh hon reply hetkei a, minute 30 vel nung in message tone hon ging a ka va etleh “Umuan, Mawite maw zannitak a test dia Ambulance a hon pawkhia uh eive.” Ka kiguih hial hi. Ka lungsim gim kipan nawn ding a suakta. Zan nitak a bangziak a ka dot utteng ana dong khalou ka de aw, bang achi de aw chih kia ngaihtuah in lupna a zoitak in ka lum suk nawn hi. KHEN NIHNA Zing ann leng ne zou lou in lupna ah ngaihtuah tampi toh hun ka zang hi. Mawite kia mitkha in a lang a, lah hih theih ka nei tuan samkei. Kei a ding nasan a leng thum gige zouloupa chu Mawite adi’n ka thum ekh maisam hi. Lawmte hon chihdan leh a kingai bawn leng hi nailou hichi lawmlawm a ka lungtang a nat loh hial chu a lamdang ka chi lou theikei hi. Pathian in kei a dia hong sehsak houh hizen hiam chih in aom hi. A kallak in Mawite lawmnu Muangnu bang ka houpih thepthup a, im zoulou ka hi dia ka itdan bang ka gen ekh mawk hi. Muangnu inleng hon theisiam mahmah ahidia, hoihtak in hong hehnem zel hi. Muangnu hon houpihdan apan inbel lametna om thou leh kilawm kasa hi. Mawite omlouh nguaitak a hun zang ding lai Muangnu ziak in neukha ka puak a nuam tuam mahmah hi. Nitaklam ninemta ahihman in kei leng ka va kihahkhia a bathroom gei ka tun bang in Mawite toh kimuhtung lai mitkha ah a lang mai hi. Kihahsiang zoh in ann ka ne ua, ann nezou ngeina bang in lupna tung mah kitung nawnzel hi. Dak 6:30 vel in khua leng a mialta a, ambulance khat hong ham ging huhu zel a, kua hon pawkhe dek zel ade aw chi in dip bang a hawm zawzen hi. Ka gal et leh numeite omna lam a mi pai ka mu a, kou lam hikeina chi’n lungmuangtak in ka lupna a ka om nawn hi. Chimhuai ahihna toh ka phone ka lakhe nawn a, Muangnu ka houpih nawn hi. “Hello, Muang bang na hih a?” “Bang hih chih le omkei a ngei bok himai.” “Thil kon dong thei diam?” “Dong thei e zenzen.” “Mawite toh kisai saulou nong hilh thei diam?” “Mawite maw mi polhnop, lungsim sia neilou, mi frank ahi. Tangval inle mawk a zoulou uh ahi. Nang le na deih leh na kuhkal ngai di.” “A dang lah?” “Kou Bungmualte tuak kahi ua, amah a nu toh khosa, apan zi dang a neihsan ahi. Tua amah a nu vaktupen hia nasem theilou a om hita hehpihhuai mahmah ahi.” “Kare poina e maw, pasal thulimlou khenkhat ziak a meithai lou ding pi meithai, tagah lou ding pi tagah kitam eive maw.” “Huai aka, huaiziak a Mawite le na ngaihleh na huchihsan lou di, haha.” “Jenjen, huchi viallou e.” Hiai teng ka kihou zoh un ka phone ka koih a, ihmut ka sawmta hi. Ihmu thei mahmah lou in ka kilek den a, Mawite ngaihna toh ihmut theihlouh toh chih ding dan theilou in ka thoukhia a, inntung ah va kaltou in kei kia in Lamka khopi etlawmtak mai a vak phingpheng khong ka en hi. Full moon hial hikei mahleh kha vak hiuhiau ahihman in lungleng theite adi’n a lunglen huai mahmah hi. Baang pang ah ka tusuk a khavak enkawm in ngaihlaw lou in “Solkha tang aw, solkha tang lenmual khumta in, vangngaih ka sial lenpuan bang thak e...” chi’n laa ka sa hiauhiau hi. Huchi ka omkal in dak 12 bang ana ging man ahihman in ken leng lupna ka zuan nawn a, ka ihmu theisamta hi. Zingkhua hong vak nawn a, kei leng awl in ka thoukhe nawn hi. Inn om bang kihileh koikoi hiam kiphamanta ding hia chihsim in aom hi. Tua bel niteng hun zat dan kikhek lamdang chih himhim om vetlou, nek leh dawn tanpha a kidang om tuanlou. Kihahsiang khin ka room mah ka zuan nawn a, hih theihpen ka phone mah ka len nawn suk hi. Muangnu lou lah houpih di kitheilou ahihman in Muangnu kiang ah Mawite ka ngaklah dan kia ka gengen mai hi, hon ning zawzen diam chih hun a tam mahmah. Zing ann nek hun hong hi nawnta a, ken leng nidang banglou in a doh masa in ka va pang hi. Ka lungsim hon khoih khemkhem khat ahihleh Mawite a puakkhiat uapan huai a houpihsek a duty pa kha muhkhak in aom nawnkei a, ka muanmoh tha a suak deuhdeuh hi. Himahleh Mawite in “ka haw lua” a chih pen lungsim a kilang zel ahihman in muanna khat ah bel ka lung a muang veve hi. Ann ka nekzoh in kei leng ka vante sawpkhe ding in bathroom lam ka zuan a, ka van teng ka va sawpsiang vek hi. Sunnung in tawldam zek ding chi in ka lumnawn hi. Earphone a laa ngaikawm a ka lup leh ka ihmu kha hi. Himahleh sawt ihmu manlou in Ambulance ging in hong phawng zel a, a kua le pawkhe dek zel ahi ua chi’n ka phun numnum hi. Ihmut theihlai khakleh chi’n hoihtak in ka lumthak a, vangphat huaitak in ka ihmu thei nawn hi. Dak 3:30 lak in ka khanglou a, nguai sim sa a ka phone ka etleh Muangnu apan message ana om a, enpah zawzen lou in ka mai khong ka phiat masa phot hi. Ka man fel in ka en a, “Umuan, kei maw hon test ua ka result a negetive ziak a hon paikik sak nawn uh eive” chih Mawite apan ana om a, ka nak huai zawzen. Mawi nang message di sa leng ka thohphet a en ding hi ing a nuisim heuhau kawm in ka chi hi. Ken leng ka thukpah a, “tua ka thuzak zaknuam hina maizen a, message a sang asim ka muh lak ah hiai kan a ka kipahna aom lam ka thei naikei, hong omtou zomzel leh ut hina ing e” chih ka thuk kik hi. Mawite in hon thukkik kal ngaklah in ka phone bang ka en thithe a, lah hon msg zok nawnkei hi. Ka kinep nawnlouh sim nung in message tone hon ging a nuikawm in Mawite message en ding chia phur tak a ka etpah gaih leh company te a ana hi mahmah a, ka phone bang ka pai ut phial hi. Message hong lut nawnlou ann nek hun in hon lap zomah hi. Ken leng Mawite hon pawt di ka na guk chan nawnpah a, ann hawmte ka etleh ka migenpa ana om letlot zel a ka thangpaih tha a suak velvul hi. Awl a Mawite hong pawt ka muh toh kiton in kei leng ka pawtkhia a, kinaichik a ding ka hihman un “Mawi, tampi ne in aw” ka chih leh huai mipa’n “mi’n a ut zahzah a ne lel kei dia” honna chihsan velval a, a thunuai ua om kihikei ngeingei leh aw chih vungvung in aom hial hi. Ann nezou ka room ua ka tu maimai nawn a, lawmhoihpen phone mah ka len nawn hi. Mawite leng man ngei dia gingta ka hihman in ka text nawn hi. “Mawi, bang na hih a?” “Umuan, eilawi chu i hih uh kitheivek hilou maw, hehe” “Hilele nang a sese thei ut” “Nang toh kihou kawm a lum maimai” “Lup taktak di eivoi” “Haha, utleh” “Ken zaw na mel kon muh nawn mahmah ka kipak” “Nungak tuamtuam kia le ana chisek nahi di na zeidan.” “Mawkmawk, ka pian apan ngaihzawng neikha nailou, sai le ana saikha lou himhim kahi, ka nu leh pa’n hon phallou ua lai hon simsak den uh.” “Ka nak gintak kei e” “Ka lawm teng dong aw na ginke” “Ahihle lah ka gingta mai di.” “Nang leh mi bangzah toh itna simthu nana sutkhata a?” “Sutkha mahmah khang ei, pasal muanhuai le om dia hia?” “Jawjen samteh, a hoih tampi lak ah a hoihlou khat kilangbaih hizaw ahi.” “Hithou mah e maw.” “Ahihleh ken hon sutpih dek leng lah na ut diam?” “Haha, awl in aw.” “Awl chih mawk a ei ki-om zou nawnlou pi.” “Nitak dak 9:00 chia hon call aw huaichia kihou thak zaw ni, kou roomte’n devotion nei dek.” “ok” Hiai teng ka kihouzoh un phone ka off a, lametna om thou a thei ka hihman in ka kipak mahmah hi. A lehlam ah roommate lawmte lah innlam pai ut in a pheden mai ua, eilah pai ut nawnlou lam kihisim maimah ta. Inn a havai/dal khong duh ngellou pa’n lim bang kasak loh hial gawpta hi. Itna hichikhop ahihlam kana palkha naikei mah a, lamdang bang ka sa hi. Ka gensa bang in ka nu leh pate’n lai sim ding kia a honna hasuan den ahihman un ka neu apan nungak khong ka na saikha kei. Himahleh lawmte apan leh laibu love story ka sim tam ziak hia zei bel honsa thei mahmah uhi. Thu tuamtuam ngaihtuah a ka omkal in dak 9:00 hon ging a, kilawptak in ka phone ka la a, inntung a kaltou zok in Mawite phone ding in ka hon kisa hi. Ka call a a ring paisuak den, lah a la ngei mahmah kei uhi. Sagihvei/giatvei ka hih tan a leng a lak ngeilouh man un ka khawl a, lungnuamlou tak in ka room ka zuan nawn hi. Lupna tung a lumsuk in ka message ka ban et a, Mawite apan muh ding bangmah a om takei. Ken message mai ding maw, ahihkeileh amau ngak ding. Bangziak a hiai zah vei kicall a lalou uh, a room ulah vak lai ngal. Devotion lah tu tantan nei nawnlou ding ua. Ahihlouh leh sun a hon gen ding a chihpen a utlouh man a lalou adiam? Dotna ngen in ka dim hi. Awl in ngaihtuahna tampi toh lupna ah ka lumsuk a, ka phone games ka kimawlsanta mai hi, lungsim a gimlouh deuhna di ahihkhak leh chi in. Dak 10:00 vel hong hih in message hong ging a, kindeuh a ka etleh Mawite apan ana hi petmah a, “Umuan, den in ka buailua ua ahi aw, ngaihsiam” hon chi a, heh sim toh kihehsak di hia ka chi a, lah kihehsak mawk in hon nuaksan leh amah sa kei buaizaw ding ka hihdan kithei ka hihman in hehlou lem kineih in ka thuktei hi. “Mawi, ngaisiamlua kahi, man gige hitheilou ahihchia maw.” “Ka kipak e umuan, mi theihsiamna na hau a kihampha mahmah e.” “Mawi sun a ka gen bang in nang toh itna simthu leelkhawm ding chi leng daltu aom diam?” “Umuan, daltu zaw bangmah omkei. Hilele noukhawng adia phulou kisalua ihi, ei tagah leltak.” “Mawi, huai khong gen di hi zenzen lou. Pathian muang lechin Aman hon pi na ding ahi.” “Himah tham e umuan.” “Achihleh kon ngetpen lah hon phalsak di maw.” “Pasal muang zou taktak lou keive ka innkuan tanchin uapan a.” “Mawi, mi kibang veklou eive.” “Huaizaw himah e.” “Hon muang maive, na muan bang in ka omna ding.” Hiai ka message thuklou in hon daihsan vengveng a, lungsim a nop hetkei zel hi. Hon hilh meng keileh Quarantine centre apan pawt hak nawnlou ding kihita ahihchia pawtlam chia lah kihouna lem nawnlou ding, a inn uh lah kithei tuanlou ahihchia ka buai mahmah hi. A room uh ka gal et a, a mialta hi. Hon ihmutsan maimah eide aw, eilah amah ngaihtuah a lum leng kilum theilou. Hon ngaihlouh ziak a hon hichih ahidiam chih peuh ka ngaihtuah a, lah hon ngailou hileh hichi zellou ding chi in ka ngaihtuahna a kisual tuahtuah mai hi. Huchia thil tampi ngaihtuah kawmkawm a ka lup leh ka na ihmu kha man hi. Zing khua hong vak nawnzel a, khanglou phet ka phone ka en a, message muh ding ka kinepsim leh muh ding bangmah ana omta kei. Kei leng kihihhalh kawm in bathroom ka manoh a, ka tunphei leh Mawite a room ua lut ka galmuh man chet a, zekai deuh keive maw ka chi gu sim hi. Kihahsiang mengmeng in ka paikhe nawn a, paina ding dang tuan omlou ahihman in room mah ka tung zel hi. Hih theihsun ka phone ka la a ka etleh message khat ana om a, ka etleh “Umuan, zan nitak lawinu phone a call hong paiden a hong thuk thei nawnlou, sawt kihoulua ua lumta niteh chia kon thukkik nawnlouh ahi aw” hon chi a, heh huaisim lele itna in zou zaw ahihman in ka ngaidam sukzel hi. Kou centre aomte ahihleh ka test uh negetive vek ahihna ah hon vengte’n leng hon khahzan deuhta ua, ka kipawltuah theita uhi. Huai hunlem a la in sun in Mawite kia ground sung a singbul nuai a kihoulim din ka zawn a, ka zot bang in hon nialkei hi. Huchi’n ka chihna mun ah ka pai ua, himahleh a pan ding omlou ka bang uh minute 5 bang a pau zawsam omlou, ki-entuah luak zel in ka nuizel uhi. A tawp in pasal zaw deuh chi in ken leng ka houpih pan hi. “Mawi, bangchi lawmlawm a ka lungsim na hichih zoh tel oi, hiai centre a ka omkhak bang kipak lawtel kahi” “Jawjen, Umuan kamsiam law kei dih, a kisuanlah huai.” “Kamsiam thei mi hi khollou, a hihi gen kahi.” “Kenchu kamsiam honsa veve” “Ahihleh Mawi, na itna ka hon nget non dawng theita diam?” “Awle, i maw....” KHEN THUMNA “Ahihleh Mawi, na itna ka hon nget non dawng theita diam?” “Awle, i maw UMuan, hehna inle ana la kenla dam a i pawt theih chiang un huailam a di’n i koih zaw mai aw, ka nu theihpihna tellou a leng hichia thupukna mawk lak ngamlou kahi.” Va heh ding lah hilou deuh, ka zak utpen lah zalou. Mawite hon thugen bang lah numei hoihte thugen dia kilawm mah ahi chih ka haihkei. Dai dedu a hichia ka om leh Mawite kisuanglah ahi dia, “UMuan, hon hehsan lua maw?” “Mawi, kon hehsan zenzen kei, hilele i zak uttak pen zalou chu i phur law khol dia hia.” “UMuan, hon theisiam maive. Kei ka nu kia toh khosa ka hihna ah amah deihtelna tellou a thupukna la ngamlou mah kahi” “Awle, Mawi a hoih himai. Nute zahdan na siam a, numei ka ngaihnat chitak nahi” chi’n kenleng hoihtak in ka houpih hi. Amah leng kipak ngei ahihdan a mit hah apan ka thei hi. Huchia thil tuamtuam ngaihtuah kawm a ka omlai in ka nunglam uapan “Hei, nou hiai a bang hih, na omna san uh theilou maw, na omna chiat ua kipai ua” chi’n hon kihangkhum a, ka etleh Mawite thohsekpa ahi chih ka thei ngal a, ka hatang bang a thak tetet zawzen hi. Loh theih lah bang om tuanlou ahihman in Mawite kiang ah pai mai ni chi in thazoitak in ka paikhiat pih hi. Ka room tung phet pautam hetlou in ka lupna ah ka lumsuk a, sun a ka kihouna khong uh ngaihtuah in ka gim mahmah hi. Mawite ah kinepna ka nei a, himahleh a langkhat ah hon hepkhiat ut ziak maimai a anu suanlam eidiam, ngaihzawng lel khawng ei leh ei thupukna kilak theih hia ka chi zel hi. Huchia ka kingaihtuah sung in ann nek hong hun a, lawmte kiang ah duhlou ka hihdan hilh in ann ne ding inleng ka va kuan vetkei. Ka lupna ah ka ngaihtuahna ka sunzom nilouh a, bangchi ngaih khak ka diam ka mittui bang hon luangkhe kha mawk hi. A kallak bang in mangngilh theih ding dan lampi ka ngaihtuah zel a, himahleh hichi mai thei vual ding ka hikei. Ka lawmte leng ann nekhin hong lut nawn vekta ua, kei ahihleh ka omdan ngeingei in ka om hi. Lawmte’n damlou bang honsa ua, damdawi bang hon piak sawm uhi. Himahleh kei damlouhna zaw damdawi a dam ding chi a hikei himhim hi. Ka lupna apan awl in ka tutou a, Mawite room lam ka en nilouh hi. Huang khat himahle ung ka room uh kigamla sim ahihman in kimuchiang lou a, mi om leh omlouh bel kithei veve hi. A room uh ka ettam zoh khop leh ka mittui dai hileh a kilawm a, en ut sasa in en utlou lem bang ka kineih zel hi. Khua hong mial a, kisuhalh kawm di’n inntung ah khavak nuai ah kei kia a phone ngai kawm in ka va tu hi. Huchih laitak in ka message tone hon ging a, ka etleh Muangnu apan ahi a, “Umuan, bangchi e? Ann ne inle nong kilangkhe kei a.” Ka en a, himahleh ka dawng uttha leng a suak kei. Ka la ngaih ka sutzop san nawn hi. Himahleh bangtan hiam zoh in ka phone hon ging nawn a, message ka et leh, “Umuan, bangchi e? Hon dawng ve, Mawite a mittui luan ding phallua maw? Hiai ka muh leh ka kiguih hial a, kei kia a vei ka kisak leh Mawite ngei inleng honna veilua ahi chih thei ka hihman in khasiat leh kipah thuah in ka om hi. Huchi’n dawnlouh vual in ka koih nawnkei a, ken leng “Muang, chik in ken Mawite mittui luang di ka phal zenzen dia, a dah a lungkham lel ding le phallou kahi.” “Huchi ahihleh bangziak a ann le nelou, message le hon dawng pah utlou e?” “Muang, tuni zaw ka gil a kial kei a ahi.” “Aw, Mawite le nang hon muhlouh taka ann nelou a paikik ahi aw.” Ka kingaihtuah vungvung a, Mawite in zaw hon it mah hiding eive ka chi a, ka guk nuih heuhau thei khongta hi. Huchi’n kenleng “Muang, banghiam bek Mawite ana nesak teitei in aw.” “Huchia it a deihsak taktak na hihleh nang honpe ve,” Muangnu in hon houpih dan ka ngaihtuahtuah chia hon hehsan ahi chih ka haihkei. Huchi’n ken leng a message thuk nawn sese lou in dan palsat a numeite omna room lam a Mawite nek ding ka sang neihlai teng pe dia va guk kuan kon sawmta hi. Ka bag apan ka sang omteng polythene khat in ka guangkhia zok a, awl in hon vengte muh louh ding in ka va pai khialkhial hi. A room kong uh ana kikalh a ka kiuh leh Muangnu in kong hon hong a, ka polythene pia in vengtute muh man louh ding chi in ka kikpah hi. Himahleh vangsiat huaitak in Mawite ngaipa a pawtkhia om hiam check ding toh ka kituak kha laizang ua, hon man pah hi. Ka omna ground laizangtak a hon dingsak a, thudotna hon nei in kenleng ka hihna teng ka gen leh Mawite ziak ahingei dia a heh mahmah a, a lawmte’n leng khou zoulou in chiangpum in hong zep puak dumdum hi. Ka thawm uh ngaihsim ahihman in miteng in a room uapan hon en sosouh ua, zum toh etna ding mel leng ka theikei hi. Himahleh nitak ahihman in ka mel bel kuaman hon theichiang ding in ka um tuankei hi. Utdan tak a zep leh housiat a ka om zoh in ka room ua hon paisak uhi. Ka lawmte’n thil omdan honna kanpah ua, ka gen leh amau leng a heh mahmah ua, pawt hunhun chiang a khoih ding a chi lanlan uhi. Hon zepna tak velvul ahihman in lawmte’n tuilum in hon dapsak ua, na sasim ka diam theihlouh kal in ka ihmu kha hi. Zinglam dak 3:00 vel in ka khanglou a, ka phone ka etleh Mawite apan message sawm val ana om zeizoi hi. Ka ban et a, a kisuanlah dan leh ka awlmoh dan tung a kipahthu a genna ngen ahi. A message nanung pen ah “Umuan, na message ka muh ma ka ihmu kei ding” chih om ahihman in ken leng gingta ngellou in ka thuk tei hi, “Mawi kisuanlahna ding omlou ahi, itna ziak a thuak a haksa bangmah om kasa kei” ka chih leh honna ngak taktak ahingei ding a, “Umuan, non thuk khongkhong a ka kipaklua, ken mittui toh na message muh di ana ngakden keive.” “Mawi, ken zaw tawldamtak a nana ihmut hiauhiau ding hon deihsak zaw hi ing.” “Umuan, kei ziak liauliau a housiat leh zep thuak chin a kei kaplou a om di honsa maw?” “Mawi, kon itluat ziak in na kah ding le ka phalkei, na lungkham di le ka phalkei, na gilkial di le ka phalkei” “Umuan, ka kipaklua hilele maw kei huchi theilou zel kahi.” “Mawi, na itna thu kam khat le hon gen lou chin a hilele i kal a daltu hichipah ahihchia hon mangngilh ka na sawm mai diam?” “Umuan, lungke baihna chia” “Lungke lam hi zenzen lou, hilele mi huat leh mi lungsim natna aom ding ka utlam hilou ahi.” “Umuan, huai chu kuapeuh ut hilele itna kal amaw huchi omlou theilou ahi” “Hizel mah e maw...” Hichia ka kihouhou sung un khua hong vak a, kou leng ka khawlphot mai uhi. Ka test result teng uh tuni a suak ding ka negetive vek uale innlam pai theita ding ka hihman un lawmte a kilawp thei mahmah ua, zingkal bang bel thei mahmah in a chiak vengvung uhi. Himahleh kei leh Mawite adi’n zaw a khiaklah huai mahmah mai. Innlam kipai leh bangteng hon tung ding hiam chih theih hitalou ahihman in. Sunnung dak 2 vel in ka result teng uh hon tung ngei a, negetive vek ka hihman un home quarantine ding in hon khahkhe vek dek uhi. Ka paima ngei ua Mawite khatvei bek muh teitei tum in a lampi ding ka zongzong a, himahleh a haksa khopmai. Mawite ngaipa lah kifelsak deuh in Mawite leh a lawmte van khong bawlfel pih hi awmtak in kibuaisak tak in aom langlang a, huaipa muh a va pai ding lah ki-ut teuhlou ahihman in mu kha lou ding ka bang maimah sim a, ka tha a nguai zou hi. Kou leng ka vante utoh gate gei lam ka zuanta ua, chihleh vangphat huaitak in gate gei ah Mawite ana ding a, a ngaipa omlou vanglak ahihman in hon naihphei a, “Umuan maban ah tusang a leng nopzaw leh zalen zaw a kimuh sawmta ni aw. Lungmuangtak in ana om in” hon chi a, ka dawnkik ma in a lawmte’n gari a lutpih ahihman un ka gal etthoh mai hi. A paina ding gari uh hon ging a, window a hon dakkhia in mittui luangsim kawm lah kinuisak teitei kawm in a khut in mangpha hon khak hi. Ka zakkhop in “Mawi hiai zaw damsung adia mangpha kikhakna hon hisak mahmah ken aw,” ka chi numnum hi. KHEN LINA Huchi’n kou leng awl in innlam manoh ding in gari in ka kinawnkhe nawnta uhi. Bangtan hiam tai nung in innlum damtak in ka tung a, sungkuante bang ana kipak mahmah uhi. Himahleh nidang bang a innpai kihi nailou phot ahihna ah pilvangtak a omlai ngai ahihman in ka room ah kei kia in ka ki-om tuam mai hi. Nek ding leh dawn ding bangkim ka room ah ka sungte’n hon koih thohzel ua, huchi’n hun paisa bangsim mah in ka hunte ka zang hi. Quarantine centre a omlai sang in haksa ka sakna a tamzaw sim maimah hi. Aziak bel huai a omlai in lawm-le-vual mi tampi ki-omkhawm hi a, tua room a eikia kikhum in haksa honsa sak zaw in ka thei. Ngaihtuah ding lam zaw a tam hetkei, kei adi’n Mawite loungal ngaihtuah ding aom tadih kei. Mawite in bang ana hih de aw, bang achi khosak de aw, honna phawkzel sam diam chih peuh ka ngaihtuah nilouh hi. Nitak khat kineplouh pi in Muangnu number apan call hong pai a, ka lak leh Mawite ana hi a, ka chi a zang tuan zawzen hi. “Umuan, hon miss mahmah lou maw Muangnu bek nana phone louh,” “Phone di lamlam le ngaihtuah khalou nang kia hon ngaihtuah khop hang a” “Na kamsiam lua Umuan, kei ka hi zaw di hon ngaihtuah tam.” “Umuan, tulai ka om noplou, ka lungkham dan.” “Bangchi e Mawi?” “Huai i centre ua hon houpih gige pa hong hoh gige, ka nu bang mai a mai-et den.” Ka ngaihtuahna hon kilamdang hial hi. Ka hehna a pung semsem. Tangkha tuanlou ding ka hihleh tua ka houhou le a kannatna om hia? chih khong ka lungsim ah hon suak a, ka dai dedu hial hi. “Umuan, bangchi e, hon dawnglai ve.” “Eh, bangchilou ka ngaihtuahna a paisau lawkha a hi Mawi.” “Umuan, nang le hong hoh maive khatvei bek” “Taktak in maw Mawi, keile ka utlua.” “Zing nitak chia non hoh di,” “Awle, kon hoh di hiai quarantine inle hong kham zou nawnkei ding. “Non hoh kal ana ngakngak di kahi aw.” “Awle” Hiai teng ka kihouzoh un ka koih ua, kei leng ka ngaihtuahna a nuam deuh. Himahleh huai mihingpa ziak inchu ka lungsim a na mahmah veve. Lupna tung a lumkawm in Muana Ngaihte laate ka ngai a, Mawite ka ngaihna a khang hulhul hial in ka thei hi. Zing nitak ka hoh ding dan khong ngaihtuah kawm a ka omlai in ka na ihmu kha hi. Zingkhua hong vak nawn a, kihahsiang in ka room ah ka om nawn hi. Ka innkuante’n bel a bangchi zen lah hilou chin a kihuchi khum ngai nawn ahia hon chi ua himahleh ka innkuante ka itna ziak mah in haksa sim leleng ka kikhum bawl photlai mai hi. Zing annte nezou in sunkhua lunglenna leh lungngaihna in ka zang bei nawn hi. Nitaklam ann ka nek zoh apan Mawite kiang hoh di’n ka kisapah ngal a, phur sim ka hi diam ka puan bang ka khek thithe a, ka kilawmpih ding pen tak bang le ka thei zoukei hi. Dak 6:30 bang hon gingta a, ken leng Mawite hin Muangnu hileh kuamah inn thei nailou ka hihman in ka call hi. “Hello Muang, Mawite-te inn koilak vel a?” “Hon taitou inla Bungmual lutna bul non tun chia hong hilh lechin huai a honna pi inteh.” “Awle, kipak e.” Lunglutna lam achu kifel mahmah chih ding ahidia ka gari chabi ka lakhe pah a, sungkuante’n lamdang honsa hial uh. Amau toh leng kinaih a omloupa kholai pawt dia kisa mawk ka hihna ah. Ka hohna ding leng gen tuan sese lou in ka taitou a, hatsim ka hi diam bangmah kallou in Bungmual lutna bul ka tung hi. Ka tun phet a phone dia ka kisak leh “Umuan” chih aw ka za a, ka etleh ka pamdeuh ah Mawite ana ding hi. Huchi’n Mawite-te inn ah ka kizuilut uhi. Mawite a siam mahmah a, nidang teng sang inleng etlawm zaw bang kasa a, ka enen mai hi. A nuihmai leh a tongdam nemte’n hon zou deuhdeuh a, ka muh tam semsem leh ka itna a lian hulhul hi. A nu bang leng a nuihmai a, hoihtak in honna hou ahihman in ka hoh patna himahleh ka maingal theipah hi. Thu tuamtuam khong kikum in a kallak in ka nuikhawm zel ua, nop ka sa mahmah uhi. Mawite leh anu hon houpihdan bang ka na etet chiang in lametna hing om hi’n ka thei a, himahleh a kamsiam lel uh ahikha de aw ka chih chang bang aom hi. Huchia singdang kuamah englou hial a nuamsa taka ka omlai un thakhat in kong hon kikiu a, Mawite in va hon hi. Gintak louhpi in Sangpu (Mawite ngaipa) ana hi a, ka ha bang ka gawi kha zawzen hi. Mawite nu kiang ah hon tu gaih in kuva bang a pe gaih hi. Bangmah leng gentam nailou in kei hong en gelgal a, “ba nang home quarantine a omlai pawt e, na virus hawmzak sawm maw, inn ah pai inla va om kinken aw” hon chi gega a, heh law mahmah in bangmah in ka dawng kei zawzen hi. Mawite nu’n leng ana gum zomah a mi dan bawl zuih ding ahihdan khong hon genpih hi. Ken leng nopsa nawnlou ka hihman in Mawite kiang ah “Mawi, ka na pai mai ding” chih toh din ka thuah hi. Mawite inlah bangmah genlou in a nuailam ah kun deudau hi. Ka pawt madeuh in ka zak ding in Sangpu in Mawite nu kiang ah “Nu Sangpui, kalnawn kho lengla hon kisawl leh hoih inteh” chi’n nuikawm in a gen zomah hi. Kipaktak a hoh lai hehsa in ka pawtkhia a, gate ka tun in Mawite in hon delh pawt a, “Umuan, kon zuisuak mai diam?” hon chi a, “Mawi hi hial dah heh tu leh tu inzaw, mangpha phot mai ni” chih toh paisan ka thuah hi. Kei leng bangmah ngaihsak nawnlou in ka paisuak gulgul a, ka gari koihna mun ka tun in ka guk et leh gate ah a dinglai a, a mit khong nul tiautiau ka muh in ka hehpih tha a suak lehlam hi. Himahleh va kik hial lah hithei nawnlou ahihman in ka taisuak san hi. Inn ka tun in lupna ka kidenna ngal a, ka thiltuah noplou takte ka ngaihtuah khop hi. Achang in Mawite hon ngetna nial a ka tonpih suk mai louh poi bang kasa a, lah hihkhial in ka kingai kei zel hi. Mawite inlah a nu thupukpih lou a itna thu lelleng hon gen ngamlou ahihna ah Sangpu in a nu a thuzoh ngeingei leh a nial ngam ding in ka umkei a, tangkha zoulou bang in ka kingai hi. Mangngilh mai bang ka ut mahmah a, himahleh mangngilh zou ding vual ka hi nawnkei. Lupna tung ah ka kingaih tuahtuah mai a, Sangpu hon bawldante Quarantine centre a ka omlai apan tunitan ka mitkha ah a mang kei a, khasiat huai bang ka sa zawzen hi. Zankhua in ka ihmu theikei a, ka ngatna bang ka khekkhek mai hi. Mawite ngaih hichizah a na ahimaw chih ka phawk semsem. Pasal toupi kichipa chu ka kidek zou tuankei, ka mittui in ka puansilh bang a kawt zou hial hi. Bangteng hileh tangkha zoulou a ka om hial leleng Mawite leh anu khasiat sak louh a, ittak leh duattak a et gige ding chih ka ngaihtuahna ahi. Hichia ngaihtuah a ka omom lai in khua in hon vakkhum petmah ta a, kei leng thoukhia in ka va kihihhalh hi. Kihihhalh zou ka room ah lut nawn in ka phone ka etleh message ana om a ka etleh “Umuan, thouta maw banghih e?” chih teng ana kigelh a, ken leng ka dawng thuk pah hi. “Thou samta mah ing e, bangchi zenzen e Muang?” “Tuzing walking kawm a Mawite kiang ka va phak leh a mit khawng a bawk theithuai a bang kilohkha uh e?” “Bang kiloh khalou kahi uh, zan nitak ka va hoh leh Sangpu in hon paisak a hehtha suak lua kei le khatvei mah leng ihmu keng.” “Aw, huai Sangpu le nak huat huai e maw, mi ginalou nungak kop zelzul, zu leh sa hai khat hi zomah, Mawite nu a khemzoh ding lauhhuai e” “Muang, Mawite zaw ka it in ka ngailua, kuamah a ding in ka phalkei, himahleh a tang zoulou pa chu himaita didan keive.” “Umuan, huai chih omlou e, lungke naiken, aman le a itna thu hon gen kei mahleh hon itlua, nanglou a om zoulou ahi.” “A Usangpu toh hon kimumu di ua atawp in kei hon mangngilh dia hon kingai mai ding uh.” “UMuan, Mawite maw huchi bang mi hilou eive.” “Theita khang maw.” Hiai teng ka kihou zoh un ka u in ann hon peta ahihman in ann ne ding in ka kisa hi. Nidang a thukkhat khamzou ngeilou himahleng tuzing zaw khal khat lelleng ka gai zou kei. Ka ute’n bang lamdang honsa mahmah ua, damdawi bang hon piak sawm thethup uhi. Sunkhua kingaihsiatna ngen a hun zat ding chu ka khop mahmah ta. Himahleh ka lungtang apan Mawite a pawtkhe thei mahmah kei. Enla muh lel genlouh thuzak leng kithuzak theilou ahihna ah Sangpu bang a sun a zan a va tung den di’n ka koih a, Mawite kei a hidi’n ka koihkha thei nawnkei hi. Hunte hong paizel a ka home quarantine leng ka zouta hi. Thoveng zaw deuh in hinkhua ka zang theita a, haksatna tampi om mahleh nidang toh teh ding in a nuam tuan mahmah ta hi. Nikhat Muangnu ka phone a, a inn uh kan in ka va hoh hi. Muangnu leng a fel mahmah a, siamtak in honna kithuahpih hi. Mawite toh hon hehpihdan thute khong hon genkhum a, khasiat bang a suak zawzen hi. A hitak in Mawite ka muhnop man a Muangnu kiang va pha kahi. Muangnu inleng ka lungsim thei ahingei ding a Mawite-te inn lam ah hon di’n hon zawn a, ka utlam tak hon zawnkha ahihman in kipaktak in ka kuankhe pah uhi. Mawite-te inn ka tun un gintak bang in Sangpu leng ana om a, ki-inntek sak deuh mai in bench ah ana lum ngeingai hi. Thoh leng sawm vetlou in lehkhazial khong pan lalaih zomah a, et hak kasa mahmah hi. Mawite in hon muh phet in ana kipak mahmah a, nuihmai tak in honna houpihpah hi. Himahleh nu Sangpui kha ka hoh masak toh teh in ana muk puak sim hi’n ka thei a, nop kasa hetkei hi. Muangnu leng chu Sangpu omdan a mit dong sim ahi dia mi frank ahihbanah Sangpu nidang pek apan ana thei ahihman in “USang, hiai ah na omom a Nianiang toh kikhenta nahi umaw” nuikawm a hon chih leh Sangpu bang dak pah gagap zen in hehmel deuh in “Huai nang Nianiang toh kingaikha honsa maw?” hon chi gega hi. Ken lah Muangnu in chifuh sasim in ka na pakta mahmah hi. Duhthusam taka kihou leng om theilou ahihman in sawt le omlou in ka pai mai uhi. Himahleh Mawite in deihkhop hetlou ahi chih ka haihkei, ka paina ua hon zui in Muangnute inn tan hon zuisuak hi. Muangnute inn ah singpi khong dawn in ka houlim ua, Mawite ka kiang ah hon tu in ka liang ah hon kingai hi. Nop kasa a, ka itna a lian semsem hi. Himahleh tangzou tuan di’n ka kikoih kei a hichi’n ka chi mai hi. “Mawi, tukan a i nopsak zawkna ding om nawnlou ding eive maw.” “Bang achia maw umuan?” “Na Usangpute inn lam hon zotsan hak nawnlou ding na hih chiang in.” Mawite bang hon tutang gaih zawzen a, lamdangsak meltak in hon en a, “Umuan, nang huai adia hon deihsak lua mawle?” “Kon deihsak kei a himahleh hon tangzou di’n lametna ka nei nawnkei.” “Umuan, maban ding na gen thei ahia?” “Gen zaw gen theikeng hilele thil om thei ding ahi.” “Umuan, hun paisa ah ka nu toh ka thupukna uh lou in na itna ka sang ngamkei kana chi a, tun zaw bangmah leng ka khualzou nawnkei, a moh ka hih leleng a moh ka himai ding, KON ITLUA UMUAN?” chih toh kawi hon thuah a, kei leng kidekzou tuanlou ka hihman in ka pumkawi mai hi. Ka pam ua Muangnu in kipahmel tak in honna en hi. “Umuan, hon taisan hetken aw.” “Kon taisan kei ding, tai le ka sawmkei.” Huchia ka kihoulai un kong lam hon ging a, kindeuh in ka tutna uh ka bawllem pah uhi. Nu Sangpui hong lut a “Mawite na bang haina a nang hiai a omden, na usang in hon ngakden eive kindeuh in hong pai aw” hon chi lala hi. Kuamah a pau ka omkei ua, Mawite in a nu awl in a zui pawt hi. Muangnu toh ka ki-entuah ua, gen di thei zawsam ka omkei uh. Atawp in Muangnu in “Umuan, huai Usangpu nak huat huai e maw.” “Muang, kuamah haw zenzen lou e, Pathian lemgel dandan i tuah ding himai ahi.” “Umuan, nang zaw piching petmah neive maw, kei nang mun aom hileng vaw ut ding kahi.” “Muang, mivuak chih khawng maw vuallelte a eive, a tha in vualzou mahle uh a thu a a vuallelh ziak uh ahi.” “Huai zaw himah e maw.” “Muang, kei adia lah Mawite muh thil baihlam hi nawnlou ding ahihna ah nangbek in hoihtak leh duattak in honna etkol sak touzel in aw.” “Awle, Umuan.” Hiai teng ka gen zoh un ni le tum dekta ahihna ah innlam ka paisan hi. Inn tung phet kisilkhia in ka room ah ka tawldam hi. Ka ngaihtuahna a paisau khopmai. Ka ngaihdan a kisual khop hi. Hiaitan a a nu aom theih lechu kinepna om ka sa nawnkei hi. Himahleh a nu bangle hon kinunghei thei chih peuh in ka kihehnem mai hi. A langkhat ah Mawite bang leng a nu’n kuamah dang toh kithuah ding phal nawnlou ahihziak in Muangnu toh leng a kimukha thei nawnkei ua, a ommun a sunkhua-zankhua in mittui toh omden sam ahi chih ka thei veve hi. Nite khawllou in pai zungzung mahleh ka lungtang apan Mawite a paikhe thei ngeikei hi. Nikhat ka lawmhoih Biak in hon phone a, zannitak a Sangpu inndongtate leh Mawite nute kihoufel uh, kalnawn a kitenna programme sai dek uh ahihdan hon hilh hi. Ka thuzak in ka lungsim hon dengkha mahmah. Bangmah leng hih theilou in lupna ah ka lumsuk hi. Si suun ka bangzou hial, a suun mah kahi, Mawite in kei hon paisanta ahihchia suun lou thei ka hikei. Nitaklam ann leng ka nekei, thoh leng thoukhia lou in lupna ah ka omden hi. Huchihlai in ka pa a lung nuam hetlou ahiding a, ka room ah hong lut in thil omdan hoihtak in hon dong hi. Ken leng imna ding vual theilou ka hihman in ka pa kiang ah Mawite toh kisai teng ka hilh vek hi. Huchi’n ka pa’n “Bawi, kihahsiang inla, ann hoihtak in na ne dia nitak va pawt inla khakkhiatna hoihtak in va nei in, huchi leh na nih ua na lung uh nuamtuam ding ahi” hon chi hi. Ken leng a chih bang in ka thuman pah hi. Ka pa hon chih bang in Mawite nu’n honna kipahpih kei ding chih thei mah leng va hoh ding in ka kuantou hi. A inn uh ka tun in Mawite, anu leh Sangpu ana om ua, kei leng tutna khat ah ka va tusam hi. Hiai nitak chu nidang a bang hetkei, kipaktak a honna vaidawn gige Mawite a mittui toh ana tu a, honna vaidawn khollou nu Sangpui leh Sangpu bang in hoihtak in honna houpih leh lam uhi. Huchi’n kei leng ka pa thuhilh bang in gennop tamlou gen theihna hun ka ngen a hon phalsak ziak un ka tutna apan dingtou in hichi’n ka gen hi. “Tuni hun hoih hon pia i biak Pathian min ka phat ahi. Non theihsa bang un Mawite toh ka ki-it in kingai mahmah ua, himahleh Sian lemgel louh ahidia tu in lem theilou a suakta hi. Ka pawna ua na kasa mahmah uh, himahleh huaite zaw a hun kivei in hong bei mai ding hi. Mawite bang leng hon kisuhalh dia, i paunak un nu-le-pa thuman a nah loh peek achih bang in nute deihsakna hoihtak a na zuih a, thumangtak a na om kon deihsak hi. Huai bang in Sangpu ngei inleng kei itna zahzah a hon itsak a, duattak a enkol a khasia a omsak hetlou ding in ka hon ngen ahi. Banah nu Sangpui ngei leng amah kia khosa khata ding ahihna ah nana olmoh a nana etkai gige ding uh ahi. Ka tawpna pen ding in chikmah chiang in ka hon mangngilh kei ding a, na haksat buai hun uh aom leh huh dia mansa gige kahi chih na thei un. Nidang in Mawite tangvalpa kahi a, himahleh tun a sanggampa bang in hon simta un.” Hiai teng ka genzoh in ka tusuk a, Mawite kidek zoulou in a kap nilouh hi. Nu Sangpui leh Sangpu inbel ka thugen hoih a sa ua, nu Sangpui bang in “Muan, na pichinglua hiai bang a hoihtak a kikhakkhiat thupi lua ahi, singpi bek na dawn teitei ding” hon chi a, himahleh ken “Nu Sangpui ka kipaklua, himahleh ka dawn man nawndah ding” chih toh paisan ka thuah hi. Mawite in innkong ah hon zui pawt a, “Umuan kon ngailua, honpi maive, kei nanglou a bangchi omzoh ding” chi’n kapsa in hon pumkawi a, ken leng awl a akhut lakhia in “Mawi, kon ngai gige, taksa in omkhawm kei lehang zaw lungsim tawng a om gige ding nahi, kapkap nawn kenla, a hoihlam hon kipia inla, lungnopdan hon kisin in. Thil i tup bang a pai thei nawnlou ahihna ah puakdan i siam mai ngai ahi” chi’n ka hehnem a, ka pai ding hon phalkei mahleh ka paisan veve mai hi. Inn ka tun in ka pa hon gen bang in ka puak a zang deuhta hi’n ka thei. Himahleh ka ngaihtuahna bel a sang mahmah veve. Mawite mangngilh theihna di’n ka phone a thil tuamtuam khong ka en a, himahleh ka phone screen ah Mawite mel ngen hon kilang ahihman in ka mangngilh theikei. Ihmut bang ka sawm zel a himahleh ka ngaihtuahna in hon ihmusak theikei. Nek lah ne zoulou, lungsim lah hahseng, ihmut chih lah nei ngeilou ka hihman in ka tha a chau mahmah zou hi. Hun leh nite theihlouh kal a ana paihat mahmah ahihman in Sangpu leh Mawite kitenni ding ni hong tungta hi. Hiai ni zing hi kei adi’n nisuak et a haksa mahmah. Himahleh ka pa thuhilh bang in ka kihihhalh a, hoihtak a va uap ding in ka thupuk a, Muangnu toh leng ka kithuzak uhi. Zing ann nekkhit in ka pa ka room ah hon lut a, box khat hon tawi hi. Lamdang sa sim a ka omleh “Bawi, ken leng nang tuah bangbang ana tuak sam kahi, kihih khase hetken la, na itpen Mawite na khakkhiatna di’n hiai va pia in” hon chi a, ken leng ka sangpah hi. Huchi’n awl in ka kisa a, ka mantak in Muangnu manoh di’n ka van toh ka kuankhia hi. Muangnute inn ka tun in amah leng ana man a, kitenna kipat hun dek ahihman in kou leng ka va kuan uhi. Hoihtak a uap sawm himahleng Mawite mel muh hi haksa kasa mahmah a, huaibang in amah kimuhsak leng ka sawmkei himhim hi. Kitenna hon nei ua, kichiamna hun ah Mawite bang in haksa salua hile kilawm in a awk tuttut a, ngaih hak kasa mahmah hi. A chang bang in Sangpu pe’n kei di bang in kana kikoih a, haksa sasim kahi ngei dia ka mittui bang hon luang mawk ahihman in nuamsa nawnlou in Muangnu kiang ah inn mailam ah ka va pawtzual ding chi’n ka pawtkhia a, bathroom sung ah ka va kinul nilouh hi. Kitenna programme zoh in Muangnu in chibai buk ding in hon zawn a, himahleh ka nial hi. Singpi khawng duhlou sasa in ka dawn ua, huai zoh in a khakna lam uap ding in Muangnu toh Mawite-te innlam ka zuan uhi. Mawite-te ahihleh a pasal dingte inn lam a paiphot ahihna ua ka nih un ka va lut uhi. Nu Sangpui kiang ah ka thilpiak uh ka pia ua, ana kipak mahmah hi. Khatvei nitak a ka va hoh nung nu Sangpui inle ngaihnatna tak khat hon nei hi’n ka thei hi. Ka van uh ka piak zoh un innkong lam ah ka pawtkhia ua, Muangnu kiang a haksa ka sak dan gen in ka na paisan hi. Inn ka pai a, himahleh ka om thei tuankei. Room sung khong ah ka kivialleh khop a, Mawite limlak peuh en in a phatuam nawn hetlou ding mittui tampi ka seng hi. Vangsiatna leng kei tan ding bang na tuam e ka chi mai hi. Lupna tung ah nguaitak a ka omlai in ka u kinohtak in ka room ah hon tai a, “Muan, damdawi innlam delh ngai” chih teng gen in aban leng kan man tuanlou in gari in ka taisuk uhi. Damdawi inn ka tun un lupna khat tuak a ka nu-le-pa khophawklou a lum dildel kava mu maimah hi. Bangmah leng ka gen thei nawnkei a, tuanglai ah ka puksuk hi. Khua ka phawk phet in ka kiang ah ka lawmpa Biak leh Muangnu kia ana om a, ka khut khong ah drip ana kikhai hi. Ka halhtak in inn ah hon paipih uhi. Inn ka tun in ka inn ua mi ana dim a, lamdang ka sa mahmah. Innsung ka lut leh honna kahkhum ua, ka nu leh pa luang hankuang khat a sialkhawm aom ka mu ngal hi. Hiai tan inleng ka nu leh pa bangziak a hichi hiam chih ka thei naikei. Ka hih theihsun chu kah ahimai. Bangchi lawmlawm a hiai teng thuak ka hia, kei hinna bei hizaw mai leh ut hina ing e chi’n ka kap ngutngut hi. Ka nu leh pa bel gari a ataina ua mi’n phukha a si dan uh ahi. Tagah hinkhua zang ka hitamai. Heina peuh lah lungzuan ngaihtam sialna suakta. Kingaihsiatna in hon tuamdim ta. Hinman himhim om in ka thei nawnkei. Khovel a ka itpen ka nu-le-pa banah Mawite tan ta ing a, tua kei adia kinepna ding bang om nawnlah. Lawm leng ka pawl ngam nawnkei, kholai leng ka vak ngam nawn tuan samkei hi. A ni hong sawt hiaihiai toh kiton in ka puak adan hong om deuhta hi. Ka chim chiang in ka nu leh pa haan bang ka va veh a, a kallak in Nu Sangpui kiang bang ka va phazel hi. Nu Sangpui inleng hon ngaina mahmah a, ta bang in hon bawl hi. Ni khat Muangnu in hon phone a, Mawite pasal Sangpu zu a hah dawnluat ziak a a kal khong le kisegawp tua a kal khat paih ngai ding ahihdan hon hilh a, poi kasa petmah hi. Ka ngaihtuahna a si dedu, Sangpu hehpih ka hikei, Mawite ka itluat ziak a hehpih ka hizaw. Ka ngaih tuahtuah a, a tawp in thupukna khat ka la hi. Lai khat hoihtak in ka gelh a, ka kem hoih hi. Huaizoh in hospital ah ka va guk hoh a, Doctor ka houpih gu hi. Doctor in ka thupukna lem honsakpih lawkei mahleh ka nget teitei ziak in hon phalsak hi. Room khat ah hong lumsak ua, vanzat thupi taktak zang in ka kal langkhat hon lakkhiatsak ua, Sangpu adi’n a thuahsak uhi. Himahleh kuamah hilhlou dia ka ngetziak in Sangpu sungkuante a kal thawnpiaktu a thei kuamah a omkei uhi. Hiai teng Mawite ka itna ka suklatna tawpkhawk ahita hi. Kei leng hat deuhta in ka kithei a, Sangpu ngei leng damdawi inn a pawtta hi. Lamka aom haksa salua ka hihman in mundang a paikhiat ka sawmta hi. Aziakbel nu leh pa banah Mawite toh sulnung teng muhmuh ka pawzou kei hi. Ka zinma ding nitak in nu Sangpui kiang ka va pha a, ka laigelh hoihtak a kilhsa pia in zinmang ding ka hihdan leh huai lai Sangpu leh Mawite hong pawt hunhun ua simsak ding inleng ka ngen hi. Nu Sangpui toh hoihtak in ka houlim ua Sangpu kal ding mi piak ahihdan leh a kipahdan bang hon hilh a, kei bel a theilou lem ka kineih mai hi. Hun sawtkhop ka houlim zoh un ka pai a, kei leng ka zinna ding kisasa in ka om ngal hi. Zingkhua hong vak a, kilawp lawlou sasa in ka thoukhia hi. Ka paisawmna ahihleh ka omna lui Bangalore lam khawng mah ahi. Dak 7:00 vel in Lamka apan kipankhia in lenna masapen a lengkhe ding in Airport ka zuan hi. Gari hon ging hial leh ka lung a leng a, ka nu leh pa banah Mawite ka ngaihna hon puang in lampi tawn in khitui toh ka omden hi. Lamka zaw ka utpen khua ahi himahleh omom leng lungngaihna a hai loh hial ding bang ka hihman in kei kia leng hilou ka ute’n leng ka zinkhiat ding lem hon sakpih vek zaw uhi. Bangalore ka tunnung sawtlou in Sangpu in hon phone a, Mawite toh hon kihousak a kah in hon kahkhum hi. A omdan bel a nu kiang va pha ua ka lai nutsiat va simdan uh ahi. Huai lai a ka gelh ahihleh, “Ka it leh ngaih penpen Mawite aw, nang hon kemtu na u Sang kal lam buai ahi chih ka za a, kon hehpih mahmah ziak in kei hinna leng itlou in ka kal na u Sang adi’n ka na peta hi. Kei ka hihleh tu’n kal langkhat toh khosa ka hi a sawt le ka hon dampih kei ding hi. Huaiziak in hoihtak in hon khosa unla, kituaktak leh nuamtak in hong om un. Banah, na nu ngei leng hong hatlouh hun omdia, ittak leh duattak in ana kem tawntung un aw. Hiai lai na muh chiang in kei hon mu bang in ana kikoih in damsung a kimuh chih lah aom nawn gingta lou kahi. Ka sih chiang inleng kuamah muh phaklouhna lam ah ka luang kiphummang ding ahihman in. Dam leh kipak in hinkhua hon zangta unla kei zaw hon mangngilh vengveng ta in aw.” Hiai lai ziak in Mawite kia lou anu leh Sangpu natan naktak in a khasia ua, a sim ni zan bang uh mittui leh kisikna toh kidim ahi uh chih ka thei hi. Ka itpen Mawite ading a ka hun tawp hiaitan ahimai hi. @ Beita. Simtu tengteng tung ah kipahthu ka hon gen hi. (C) Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu