KIZUAKNU TOH KAL AH ITNA

By - Paumuanlal Guite BaBs
KHEN KHATNA

“Muanpu, tuni apan hiai kizuaknu Chingbawi toh nong kizuih nawn ngeingei ua leh inn a hong omsaklou ding kahi” chi’n ka pa’n hon hangsan zialzial hi. Ka nu ngei inleng ana lemsakpihlua hi awmtak in a lu ana su ngaungau hi. Ka upa’n leng ka pa gen a pompih mahmah a, himahleh ka naunu’n bel hon hehpih mahmah ahihman in et leng hon en ngamkei hi. Himahleh hiai kitaina kammal ziak in ka lungtang heizoh ding vual ahi nawnkei a, innsung a tazou kei lengle poisakna himhim neilou ding khop a lungtang khauh kahi.

Chingbawi ahihleh nungak melhoihtak ahi a, high school kailai apan ka kithuahpih banah kingaidan a ana omden kahi uhi. A melhoih ziak mah in tangval tuamtuam toh leng a kithuah thei a, gari khong a tangval tuamtuam toh a pawt theihzel ziak in mite’n etdan tuam in en ua, banah a kallak a beer khong bang khamthei ahihzawk mah toh a tak a va kizuak hikei mahleh a omdan apan in mite’n kizuak chih min a pawsak hial uhi.

A nu leh pa mihausa ahihman in nuam asa mahmah a, leitung ah en ding mi a nei tawm mahmah hi. Banah pawl XII a zoh phet in apa’n skulpu kam khat leisak ngal a, sepna nei a hih zawkmah toh nuam asa huntawk mahmah hi. Himahleh a lehlam taka lungsim sia a mi gensia zat ahikei a, frank in thil a hi chetchet in gen a, zu a dawn khak lele im sese lou in genkhe suk lel hi. A omdan kithei ahihman in Tuailai lak khong ah leng kihel ut vetlou a, lawmte bang in a va zot chiang un leng kei biakinn a hoih, a pua a hoihlou chidan a om belbual utlou, ka lum leh lum vet ding, ka vot leh vot siang vet ding chihsan liuliau mi ahi.

Chingbawi in a kamsiam a hon kipolhpih hia chih zaw ka theikei, himahleh lametna khat honpe gige a ka theih man in ka kiguknep mahmah hi. Ken ahihleh khamtheih bangmah ka hih tadih kei a, huaiziak a banghiam a hih utchia keilou pasal dang toh pawt hilel in ka ngai a, midang toh pawt ka muh leleng banghiam lua in ka ngaikei hi. Hiaizah a ka theihsiam ziak mah in Chingbawi inleng hon ngaina a, a kipah haksatna teng hon hilh gige hi.

Nikhat inn a ka omlai in ka phone hon ging a, ka etleh Chingbawi ana hi a, ka lapah hi.
“Hello Umuan, na buai hia?”
“Buailou e, bangchi zenzen e?”
“Dam lam i va hoh diam?”
“Na chih inchu bang i hon sel ngam dia?”
“Aw, Lanva lei bul ah honna ngak aw, gari in kon taitou ding.”
“Awle”

Kei leng ka kisapah vitvit a, hun lem aom ngeingei leh itna thu hoihtak a gen ding, kingai lah bang, kingai chih hial ding lah hilou a om nilouh hoihsalou ka hihman in. Bangtan hiam Lanva lei bul a ka na ngakzoh in a Car un hong taitou a, ka kiang a tun in khawlsak a, kei leng ka lutsuk ngal hi. Gari sung ah ka houlim ua,

“Umuan, lamdang na sa sim hia pawt dia kon zot?”
“Lamdang sa tuanlou, ana kipaklua i ka.”
“Non hehsanna ding phet ei diam maw?”
“Hehsan na ding bang omlah”
“Enve huaite” (a gari sung a zu bottle, tui, dispo leh nektheih tamlou hon ensak hi)
“Ching, na siat na phat ka theihsa eivele, bang kon hehsan zenzen dia?”
“Kipahhuaina e leh umuan, nang zaw mi theihsiamna hau petmah neive maw. Lawm pasal dang khenkhat hileh heh a nuak vulvul bang om di hia.”
“Ching huai khawng zaw maw, mihing i kibang kei a hi.”

Houlim kawm a ka taitai nung un Mata Dam ka tungtou uhi. Chingbawi vante bag khat a koih in ken ka puaksak a, mun thoveng deuh ding ka zong uhi. Bangtan hiam ka vakvel nung un Dam pang mun khat taksing pouna nuai mun nopchitak khat ka mu ua huai lam ka mitsuan pah uhi. Neukha paizek in a mun ka tung ua, ka tutna di khawng uh singteh lakhawm in huaite phah in a tung ah ka tukhawm uhi. Chingte in hichi’n hong houpih nawn a,

“Umuan, bangziak a mi hoihlou ka hihlam thei a non kithuahpih veve a.”
“Ching, mi kuamah bukim omlou, ken nang a kinepna lianpi nei kahi. Nikhattei hong hoih dichin a, kei adi bang aleng hon khamuantu hidia hon koih kahi.”
“Umuan, non koihsang tel. A himhim in ka thilhihte bangchi nasa.”
“Ching siangtak a gen in na thilhih chu hoih kasa kei. Ka hon deihsak kei a, hiai khong hih ding inleng pammaih ka honsa law mahmah.”
“Umuan, non mimuh kholkei di maw a guktak in.”
“Kon mi muh a kon zuizui vele.”
“Bangziak pentak a hon zuizui neita le.”
“Kon itluat ziak in.”

Chingbawi kihoulai hon khawl dedu a, hoihtak a ka maitang en kilkel kawm in,

“Umuan, na chiamnuih hia, na taktak?”
“Ching, chiamnuih hilou ahi. Hon ngai a hon it taktak mah kahi.”
(Ka liang ah hon kingaiphei a) “Umuan, kei mite theih a kizuak, khamtheih hihnu’n nang mihoih mahmah khat itna ka tan thupi hina e.”
“Ching, neuchik i hih ua, high school i kai lai uapan ka itna tengteng konna piakkhit na hita a, tun bangchituk in hoihlou in se mahlechin ka itna neuchik leng a kiam kei.”
“Umuan, ka kipaklua, kenle kon ngailua.”
“Keile ka kipak e Ching. I gensa mangngilh kei ni maw.”
“Mangngilh zenzen lou e. Umuan, maban ah bang i chih na deih ale.”
“Ching, ka tuppen maw, na hinkhua kikhekna dia theihtawp a pan a, thumna bang naksem a neih ding chih ahi.”
“Umuan, non deihsak e maw. Keile kon pang di aw. Hilele thilkhat kon request di, tua i puakteng ka dawnlai hamham aw.”
“Huai chu na thuthu, thakhat a kidekphut bangle mi tampi in haksa sa mah uh ahi, kon theisiam.”

Ka kihouzoh un a hih ding bangbang hong hih a, a kiang ah paulou in ka na ngak hiuhiau hi. Aman leng a hihna a nidang banglou in kisuanglah mahmah ahi chih ka thei. Ka enzel a, ka hehpih tha a suak mahmah hi. Amah le zaw hizou liaileh khawl ut mahmah ahi chih ka thei a, a khawlzoh theihna ding lampi theihtawp a zonpih ding chih ka lunggulh pen ahi.

Bangtan hiam zoh in hong mansiang a, pai phot dia ka zot leh a ut naikei a, “Umuan, tuni eigel adia nithak kipatni neukha bek omlai ni” hon chih ngutngut ziak in ken leng ka ompih zek lai hi. Thu tuamtuam ka gen zoh nung uh sawtlou in ni bang leng tum dia kisata ahihman in innlam zuan ding in ka kisata uhi. Ka gari omna uh ka zuan ua, huchi’n innlam zuan in ka taisuk vengveng ua, bangmah kallou in Lanva lei ka tungsuk ua huai ah mangpha kikhak in ka kum hi.

Inn tungphet ka pa chiangpum toh ana ding gelgawl a, ka pawtlam uh Lanva leibul a honna mukha ahihman in heh kisa in hon zep puak zotzot hi. Na sasim mahmah lengle itna ziak a thuak ka hihman in ka doh teitei a, a tawp in zaw hon khawlthei vanglak hi. Ka taw teng na gai ahihman in tu leng ka tu hoih theikei a, ka room a lut in ka khuplup hi.

Ka room ah ka nu hong lut a, hong houlimpih hi.
“Bawi, na pa gen mang mai ve maw.”
“Nu, tua thu lou ah ka nu-le-pa thugen ka manlouh himhim na theikei ding, himahleh hiai tungtang a zaw thuak ka telzaw.”
“Bangchi lawmlawm a hichi ngaihtel na hia, a mi hoihlou pentak.”
“Nu, mi hoihlou khat ka bawlhoih zoh leh ka kikhop gige sang a leng manpha zaw lou ding hia.”
“Huaizaw himah e, hilele na pa ngaihdan hi hetlou zel dia maw.”
“Nu, ken pawtkhiat a ngaih lele pawtkhe dia thupukna bawlkhin kahi.”

KHEN NIHNA

Ka thugen ka pa’n a na za ahidia, a heh mahmah a, “na vanteng kaikhawm inla tu mahmah in pawtkhia in, kon mu peih nawnkei” chi’n pawtkhe di’n hon noh hi. Eile lungkimtak a ki-om hituan teuhlou ahihna ah bang e pasal, ngawl viallou e chi’n ka lupna apan thoukhia in ka bag ka lakhepah a, ka nu’n bel huai ding in hon phalkei, ka pa awl a lungkimpah ding ahihdan hon hilh mahleh kei leng a lungtang phathou khat ka hihna ah ka khawlsawm tuankei.

Ka van poimoh diak teng ka guan zoh in ka sum neih teng toh ka pawtkhia hi. Ka nu leh ka naunu’n hon kahkhum ua himahleh ka paisuak san hi. Zotna zok ding lam ka theikei a, lamlian dung ah ka paipai hi. Sausim ka paizoh in waiting shed khat ka mu a, huai ah ka khawl hi. Khua lah mial gawpta, giah zokna ding lah kitheilou ahihman in hotel ka zong a, himahleh a kihong om nawnlou ahihman in den a ka khawlna mah waiting shed a thoukang ann din tut khovak mai kasawm hi.

Zan sawt ka sa mahmah a, khovak kal ka ngaklah mahmah hi. Atawp inzaw khua hong vak khe khong a, kei leng ka gil hong kialsim ahihman in hotel liansim khat ah singpi dawn ding in ka lut hi. Ka envel a, semtu kidaihlou ahihdan uh mu ka hihman in a neitupa kiang ah semtu a pang ut ka hihdan leh a mun a omsuak det ka utthu ka gen a, aman leng lem honna sakpih vanglak hi. Huchi’n ken leng ka vante hon kawkmuhna mun ah ka va ngakhepah a, nasep ka pan sukpah lel hi.

Nitaklam khomui kuan in hotel ka khak ua, khua bang leng lumsim ahihna toh ka kisilkhepah hi. Ka kisil zoh in ka giahna dia room hon piakna mun ua ka tawldam a, ka itpen Chingbawi ka message pah hi.

“Ching, banghih e?”
“Oi, umuan zenzen teh, a si na maw i hon chih leh non dawk a kipahhuaina e”
“I hon sihsan ngam zenzen di hia.”
“Haha, na kamsiam, nang toh kihou mah nop kasa pen.”
“Umuan, zingchia i pawt nawn diam?”
“Ching, kei maw hotel a kiloh a kuan inga pawtkhe mawk thei nawnlou ding keive.”
“Chimawk, Umuan na nak hehpihhuai e.”
“Ching, nopsak i utleh maw a haksa bang pal zel ngai ahi.”
“Himah e maw, a chih leh nitak bek ka inn ua hong hoh ve.”
“Awle kon sawm di aw.”
“Mangpha phot ni awle.”
“Awle, nangle.”

Sun kiviallehna gimsim ka hih banah zingkal dak 4:30 khong ngen a thoh ngai ahihman in ka lumpah mai hi. Ka nau toh ka nu’n hon phone den ua, la a houpih ka ut mahmah himahleh kidekzek utlai ka hihman in message in hon lunghimoh kei un, damtak a nasem a om kahi chih teng ka khak hi. Amau message leng ka en a ka nu leh ka nau bel kapkap mai dan uh a hihtuak hi. Ka u leh ka pa ngei leng kisik mahmah ua, himahleh a lohtheih uh om tuanlou ahihna ah hichia om top mai dan uh hihtuak hi. Bangbang hiam khong ngaihtuah leh suangtuah kawm a ka om nung ka theihlouh kal in ka na ihmu kha hi.

Zing beltak in ka thounawn a, ka nasep ngeina teng ka semzom nawn hi. Ka taikhiatna ni bangzah hiam paita ahihman in a thu bang leng ana thangsim ahita ding a, huaiziak in meltheih hong lut khak ding bang ka na guk lauh mahmah hi. Himahleh tunitan vangphat huaitak in hon thei ding mi kuamah customer ka neikha naikei ua, kipahhuai ka sa hi. Sun lai in mi hong vangsim ahihna toh tutna khat ah ka tu a, ka kingaihtuah nilouh hi. Tapa taimang bang a innlam zuankik mai ding maw? Chingbawi pisuk a koi hiam kho innluah mai ding? Ahihkeileh tua ka sepna mah a septouh nilouh lai phot ding chihte ngaihtuah in ka lungsim a kisualtuah nilouh hi. Inn paikik lenglah ka pa a lungsim kikhek tuanlou ding, kei a le lah kikhek tuan samlou ding ahihchia kinakna omzel ding. Chingbawi va pisuk ding chih lah inn-le-lou, um-le-bel bangmah kineilou. Tua ka sepna lah a haksat kia hilou a mi theih dia leng noplou ahihna ah ka buai mahmah mai hi.

Ngeina bang a sun hun ka zatzoh phet un kihahsiang in ann khong ka ne ua, nek zoh phet in ka omna pa kiang a kingen in Chingbawite inn lam ka manoh hi. Ka omna apan a inn uh gamla lou ahihman in ka tungpah a, Chingbawi leh a innkuante leng common room ah ana tukhawm neinai uhi. Chingbawi in hong muh phet in,

“Eh, Umuan zenzen teh. Nong hoh thei a kipahhuai e, hong tu ou.”
“Man phet a hong paipah i sam vele.”

Chingbawi in a nu en in, “Nu, hiai umuan eivoi ka gengen pen” a chihleh a nu’n leng “Hia, a mihoih tuak mahmah vele, lawmhoihtak neikha neive” ana chithuk a, ka omdan bang a nuamtuam huai zawzen hi. Chingbawi in a nute kiang a honna guk phatphat dan hihtuak hi. Huchi’n kei lam hon enphei nawn a,

“Umuan, tuni na gim hia? Bang non meh ua?”
“Nasem chu i gimzek samlouh a, hehe. Kou maw allu khawng ngen hisim mai ka meh uh.”
“Aw meh common pen hiven maw.”

Chingbawi nu leh pate’n leng nuamtak in ana kithuah un pawtna ding ka nei uh chi’n hon pawtkhiatsan ua, kougel kia omkha ka hihman un utut gen ngam huaita hi.

“Ching, khatvei lam a i pawt nung zu na khoihkha lai hia? Ken honna thumsak den keive.”
“Umuan, zan a tawmchik va hihkha, huailou chu khoihkha lou keive. Non hehsan sim hia?”
“Hon hehsan zenzen lou e, hong hoih di chin a mite ettonpen non hih kal ngaklah lua ihi.”
“Oii zawzen, umuan nang zaw mi lungsim zohdan siamlua chin a hon kihaipih dekdekta hive aw.”
“Hai i kisaksim chia maw a pil lawlam kihizaw eive.”
“Eh, umuan ka thuzak khat ka lungsim nuam hetlou om eive.”
“Bang eita hon genve?”
“Umuan, nang kei ziak a inn apan hawlkhiat aom chih za keive” kisuanlah meltak in hon chi a,
“Ching kua hon gen ahia? Ken maw nang a ding ahihnakle poisak neilou, thuak ngaplouh le neilou kahi.”
“Umuan, ka kisuanglah lua. Ka omdan hoihloute ziak a nang mihoihpi khat innsung a leng talou chih lawmlawm...” chi’n hon kidik hithit hi.

Ken leng a ngawng a kawiphei kawm in “Ching, kap zenzen ken, nidang chiang a nop i sak zawkna ding ahi. Tu’n ka nu leh pate’n hon khen le uh leng nikhattei amau adia zat theihpen suakkha thei hizaw ihi a, huai dia pan leng i lak ding ahi” chi’n ka hehnem hi.

A mit a mittui nulkawm in “Umuan, kei ziak a hotel khong a haksatak a kiloh a na om himaimah chin a maw, theipah hileng zaw hichia hon omsak hetlou ding hi inga”

“Ching lungkham zenzen ken, Pathian phawk peuh leng bangkim ah lampi hon kihong zel ahi.”

“Umuan, huaizaw himah e maw. Kon ngailua” chi’n hon pumkawi a, kenleng kiptak in ka kawibelh hi.

Bangtan hiam ka kikawizoh un awl in ka khut uh lakhia in hoihtak in ka tukhawm nawn uhi.

“Umuan, kon itdan bang hon chi suklat leng na ut a?”

“Non it taktak lemaw Pathian limsak inla, kikhop taima inla, khamtheih chi himhim bangmah ana hih nawnken aw.”

“Awle umuan, ka tawp taktak ta ding, Pathian adi’n ka hun omlai teng ka zangta ding.”

“Ching, tua ka thuzak kan a kipah zawkna ding thuzak ka nei naikei. Ka kipaklua. Pathian kiang ah kipahthu genna i nei diam?”

“Awle”

Kei leng ka dingtou a, Chingbawi lutung ah khut nga in ka hih theih bangbang in Pathian kiang ah thumna ka neihsak hi. Chingbawi in a hinkhua a khekzoh a, nakpitak a Kris leh A Lalgam a ding a pan a lak theihna ding in ka thum uhi. Ka thumzoh un Chingbawi nu leh pa leng hong tung chet ua,

“Eh, bawite bang ana hih ula, thumna bang ana nei na bang ua.”

“Nu, ka umuan in maw ka hinkhua khek a Pathian lam a ka kizat theihna dia hon thuhilh banah thumna hon neihsak eive.”

“Hia, kipahhuaina mahmah e. Hichikan a lawm manpha koi ah aom nawn dia. Muan, kipak hina ung e, ka lungkhamna penpen non hih vengsak a” chi’n mittui kaizen in hon gen a, Chingbawi bang a va pom zawzen hi. A pa ngei leng kipak mahmah ahihdan a nuihmai apan kitheithei mai hi.

Chingbawi nu leh pa’n ka hinkhua hoihtak in hon kan ua, kenle a hi bangbang hoihtak in ka hilhvek hi. Hotel a kiloh a huai aom suak ka hihdan khong leh bangkim ka gen leh hon hehpih mahmah ua, Chingbawi pa’n ka nasepnate ah a enkaitu in hong pang zaw in chi’n hon zawn a, kipahhuai kasa mahmah hi. Chingbawi pa ahihleh Special contractor ahihna ah nasep ding nei den a, huai a nasemtute tengteng enkai dia hon pansak sawm in tha nakpitak in hon guan hi. Hiai nitak chiah chu Chingbawite innkuan adia kipahni, kei a ding a leng kipahni ahimai a, lehlam tak a lah khasiat bang a suak lehlam hi.

A hitak in kou innkuan ka hih ualeh innkuan nuamsa ka hi hetkei uhi. Ka nu’n puankhui a, ka pa’n mi gan chinsak a, ka upa ahihleh niteng in kiloh in kuansek hi. Huaiziak mah in kei leng ka lungtup tan a siam ana sin zoulou a khawl kahi. Himahleh ka nute’n nop a saklouh ding uh venna a skul kai ut nawnlou a tawp dan a kigen ka hizaw hi. Hilou hileh innkal kitawizen in pang ding ua, haksatna tampi innsung a tun ding ka hi chih ka haih louh ziak in.

Kipaktak a Chingbawite innkuan toh hun ka zat nung un ka omna hotel lam zuan in ka paisuk nawn ngal hi. Ka omnate ana lumvekta uh ahihman in kei leng lupna tung ka kidenna ngal a, ka naunu message ka khak hi.

“Nau, ihmu nailou maw.”

“Hi, uu hon pai nailou di maw?”

“Nau, hon paizok theilou di keive. Chingbawi pa’n a contract nasepna a nasem teng enkai dia hon guang a nasepna lam a ka om ngai ding.”

“Maw, nak kipahhuaina e maw U.”

“Eile kipaklua a hon hilhpah i hi, zingkal chia i nu kia le ana gen in aw.”

“Awle”

“Mangpha awle”

“Awle, nangle.”

Ihmutpah sawm in ka kihei kawikawi a, himahleh kipaklua ka diam Chingbawipa thugen ngaihtuah khaden in ka ihmu thei zawzen kei a, a kallak bang in ka guk nuih heuhau khazel hi. Zingkhua hon vak phet a Chingbawite innlam a paitouh a, a inn ua ann nek ngal a huai zoh a pa toh a nasepna mun zuan a paikhe ding chihte ka ngaihtuah chia’n ka kithalawp mahmah hi. Theihlouh kal in ka ihmu kha a, ka khanloh phet in sana ka etleh dak 5:00 bang ana ging man hi.

Ka thoukhe ngal a, kihahsiang mengmeng in a zoh ka van teng ka bag ah ka guang a, hotel neitupa kiang lam ka zuan hi. Hotel neitupa kiang ah nasep ding dang nei ka hihdan leh paikhe phot ding ka hihdan ka gen a, aman leng hon theisiam mahmah a, ka khaloh hon piaklouh teng hon pia in huaizoh kei leng Chingbawite innlam zuan di’n kong ah ka pawtkhe ngal hi.

Kong ka pawt phet leh lamnawl ah Chingbawi in nui selsal kawm in a khut honna van a, ken leng a omna lam ka va zuanpah hi. Huchi’n a car sung ah ka bagte guang in kei leng ka lutsuk ngal a, a innlam uh zuan in ka taikhe ngal uhi.

KHEN THUMNA

Chingbawite inn ka tun phet un ka vante lakhe ngal in a innsung lam ua ka lutsuak uhi. Munkhat ah ka vante nga in tutna ah ka tu tawldam uhi. Chingbawi pa ahihleh ana pawtkhe man a, a nu’n ann ana huan hi. Chingbawi in singpi va sung in huai dawn kawm in ka houlim uhi.

“Umuan, na va omna di khua maw nop a nuam eive, na melhoih toh na mihoih toh na va luck law di e, haha”

“Haha, ei nasem di a kua toh i kimuman mawk di hia.”

“Ut peuh lechin hun na mu law mahmah di.”

“Ahihleh va huchi leng kipak di maw.”

“Kipaklou law di hang a huaiziak a hon chi ihi zawve.”

“Kei maw ka lungtang kikhek thei nawnlou eive.”

“Taktak in maw?”

“Hi mahke, non gingke ana en gige in aw.”

“Kipahhuaina e umuan, honna ngak den di kahi aw.”

“Hitham e.”

Huchia awl a ka houlim sung un Chingbawi pa leng hong tungta a, a nu’n ann hon thuk in ann ne di’n ka kisa uh. Ka ann nek dek un Chingbawi pa’n “Muan, nang thumna hon nei ou” hon chi phut a, ka nervous zawzen hi. Ann nekkawm in nasemte enkai a ka va omna ding mun khong leh nasemte tanchin khong hon gen ua, ngaihnop ka na sa mahmah hi.

Ann nekzoh in awl in ka kisa ua, huchi’n ka omna ding lam zuan in Chingbawi leh apa toh ka taikhia uhi. Chingbawi in hon zui thei ahihman in noptuam ka sa mahmah hi. Gari sung ah leng Chingbawi toh a nung ah ka tukhawm ua, amai ah a pa kia ka tusak velval uhi. Lam tawntung ah Chingbawi in ka khut langkhat kiptak in hon letsak tinten den a, huai kawm in ka houlim uhi.

“Umuan, kei le pasal hileng ka ut e.”

“Chi thepthup bangziak in maw.”

“Nang hon zui ut hive hang.”

“Pasal hilechin kei hiai bang a omkha louzel di hi inga maw.”

“Hizel mah e maw.”

“Ching nang kik nawnpah ding na hihchia kon vaikhak ut om hive aw.”

“Bang a umuan, hon gen aw.”

“Inn a nana omom mai di, kholai a poimoh tenten lou a na vak louh ding, nunu nasep na huh a, amah na tawldam sak ding. Kikhop hun teng a nana kikhop gige ding ahi aw.”

“Awle, hilele Umuan kei annsep chidante khong hih theilou, ann le cooker lou a huan theilou ka zomah ve.”

“Huai ahihnatak a nunu na kithuahpih a, amah apan na sinsiam ding. Innsung nasep khawng bangkim nute hih saksak nawnlouh a nang na pan hunta, nu leh pa tha khekzou dia piching hita nahi.”

“A hilua umuan, ka na sawmta ding aw.”

“Hitham e.”

Chingbawi pa’n leng ka kithuhilhnate uh honna kipahpih mahmah ahihtuak a, amah kia in ana nui heuhau hi. Saukhop ka tainung un ka tunna ding uh ka tung ua, inn liantak khat kilam leh nasemtu mi aza asim mahmah ana om nuainuai uhi. Chingbawi pa’n ama omsekna buk ah hon lutpih a, bag khat honpia in a sung ka et leh sum tampi mahmah, pian apan leng muhkhak ngei nailouh ana om venvon a, “Muan hiaite kiginni teng a nasemte kiang leh ann huante kiang a nana hawmzel ding, nitha 300 hisap a nana piak ding ahi” hon chi a ken leng ka na aw pah hi.

A inn bawlte khong hon velpih a, crore 2 bei dia sanction hong pai ahihdan leh crore khat lel a leng zoulaw mahmah ding ahihdan khong hon theisak hi. Lungsim ah contractorte a hichi ua hausa theilua uh eivele ka chigu sim hi. Thil omdan tuamtuam leh maban sep ding dan teng hon genpih zoh in Chingbawi toh paikik di’n kisa uhi. Hon paisan ma deuh un Chingbawi ka kiang ah hong pai a, ka khut hon letsak in,

“Umuan, hon muang kahi, nang adia ana ginom gige ding kahi aw, nang le na ginomna hon chiamve maw?”

“Ching, lungkham ken, ka sisan lum a luan laiteng nang apan taikhe lou ding kahi. Na thei maw, bangziak a inn apan taikhia ka hia chih khong leh ka hinkhua teng na theihlouh omlou hilou hiam?”

“Himah e maw, Umuan kon ngailua” chi’n hon pumkawi a, ken leng ka kawibelh hi.

Bangtan hiam nung in a khut awl in ka lakhia a, “Ching, papa’n hon ngaklah kha ding, na va pai dia, damtak in i kimunawn pah ding aw” chi’n ka khamuan a, huchi’n amah leng awl a kihei in a gari ua a lut hi. A taikhiat uapan in a tum tan dong uh ka en a, aman leng a window glass apan hong enden sam hi. Ka nasepna mun uh network a hoihkei zomah a, Chingbawi toh kithuzak ding chu haksa mahmah ta ding a bang hi.

Chingbawi pa hon thukhah bang in nasemte ka va enkai den a, siamtak in ka houpih zel hi. Aziak bel nasemte i suk kipah leh a nasep uh a hoih banah pai leng paizaw ahihman in a lungkim theihna dingding un ka houpih a, ka phat chiang bang in a kipak thei mahmah uhi. Huaiziak mah in sawt om naikei mah leng hon ngaina un hon nelpah ua, lawmta ngen bang in ka kithuah theivek uhi. Sun chia nasem in nitak chiang in mun khat a tukhawm in nuamtak in hun ka zangkhawm zaizai zel ua, innlam ngaih ding lam leng ka phawkkha kholkei uhi.

Kha nih lam bang kong omta a, ka kingeinaseh in nuam ka sa mahmah hi. Lawmte ei sang a ana omsawt zaw ahihman un a kho nungakte bang uh hong helpih zel ua, nop kasa vanglak hi. Nungak khenkhat bang in a enkaitu i hih hong theih chiang un hon ngaihbawl pian bang ana om ua, himahleh Chingbawi toh ka thuchiam uh theigige ka hihman in a kinepna ding ua omlouh teitei ka sawm hi. Ka lawmte’n ahihleh nungak peuh a nei ua, khotualte bang in nuamsatak in a om thei uhi.

Nitak khat khua hong hoihkei mahmah a, vanpi ging in vuah bang tam in hong tam hi. Ihmu theilou ka hihman in ka ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah hi. Ka nu leh pa, ka u leh nau bang, Chingbawi bang ka ngaihtha suak in amau toh omkhawm thei hileng ka ut mahmah hi. Mun tuam a it leh ngaihte omlouhna a khosa a, amau ngai vungvung aom a haksatdan ka theichian semsem hi. Ngaihtuahna bang a paisau thei mahmah a, ka dinmun bang ka ngaihtuah chiang in haksa ka sak hun a tam mahmah. Inn lam paichia koi a tungta ding, ka inn ua pai di maw, ahihkeileh Chingbawite omsuak ding chih khong peuh ka ngaihtuah nilouh hi.

Kha 4 vel ka omzoh in nasep leng ka zousiang ua, pai thei ding dinmun a omta ka hihman un ka kipak mahmah hi. Zing thoh bang a nuam a, pai ding na nana chu ann bang leng a kiduh kei dek hial hi. Zing lam dak 11 vel in Chingbawi leh apa a car un hong tai ua, nasemte tuanna ding truck nih inleng hon zui uhi. Ka omna mun uh hong tun phet un Chingbawi in hong delhphei pah a,

“Umuan, ka si zoudek”

“Bangziak in e Ching.”

“Hon ngai gawp keivoi, nikhat hon ngailua inga a loh didan theilou na nau pawt dia ka zot zenzen leh hon mang a, restaurent a nektheih tuamtuam khong va nekpih inga a thuak dan omdeuh.”

“Ka nau toh ana kithuahkha na hih uale a hoih mahmah vele.”

“Thuah nuam petmah, U ngen hon chi a, a upa zi bang kisaman dek ivoi.”

“Maban adi eivele”

“Haha, hizok leh ka ut ngei, na nau kamsiam banah a aw nem e maw”

“Kei hon sun a hi, haha.”

“Ka sa mahve, nang le hon haisak zou phialphial nahi aw.”

Ka kihoulim lai un Chingbawi pa hon pai a, “Muan, sum in a daihzou na hia?” hon chi a, ken leng “Pa, nak daihlua a val leng om ahi” chi’n a val tampi omteng ka piak leh lamdang sak chitak in hong en a, “Nang nitha ding lah cut lou maw, a ching chet dia kon piak ahi” hon chi a, ken leng “Pa, kei chu na sik a ka hihtheih sun, a nasem leng hilou chia cut sese lou mah kahi” ka chih leh nuikawm in “na huchih in kei ka met lawke, hiai a omteng nang loh dia ka bawl ahi” chih toh a bag hon leh piak a, a sum ka etchia tam law mahmah ahihman in ka chi bang a liing zouhial hi.

Na seppih lawmte innlam zuan ding a phur thei mahmah ua, truck tegel ah kihen in a tuang neinai uhi. Kou leng ka hih ding uh om tuan nawnlou ahihman in ka vante awl a gari a guang in innlam pai ding in ka kisa nawn uhi. Ama a ka tut bang un Chingbawi toh a nung ah ka tukhawm nawn ua, amai ah apa a tu hi. Chingbawi pa’n hong houpih a, “Muan, nak diktat hina maizen chia maw. Ama a ka mizatpan tua nang kiang a kon piakzah, a nasep hun leng kibang mah hia valsak malak ah daihlou chia hon ngetbeh zomah lai ahi” hon chi a, dawnna ding bang ka thei zawzen kei, ka kipak petmah hi. Lam tawntung in Chingbawi toh thu tuamtuam ka genkhawm ua, nuamsatak a ka houlimlim sung un Chingbawite gate ka tung maimah uhi.

Chingbawite inn a neukha tawldam a azoh inn a ka pate kiang a va lut mai ding, a suaksuak suak heh chi’n thupukna ka guk bawl hi. Singpi khawng dawn in ka kisuhalh a, huchi’n innlam pai ding in ka kisa hi. Ka paidek leh Chingbawi pa’n “Muan, inn a na paileh leng kalkhat zoh chia hong pai nawn in aw, nasep pat ding khat om nawn ahihman in, banah huai a Activa a zang di leng omkei, na diktatna tung a kipahman in konpe ding” chih toh a gari chabi hon pia hi. Kisuanglah selua a chabi bang ka sangkha pah gaih a, etna ding mel leng ka theikei. Chingbawi leh anu’n lah kipaktak in kisuanglah hetlou di’n hong hilh ua, huchi’n kei leng kisuanglah leh kithalawp tak in Activa koihna ka zuan hi.

Activa lakhia in ka puante koihna bag ka ang ah ka koih a, ka sum bag pen ka nung ah ka pua hi. Tamsim ahihman in a gik kekaih vanglak hi. Saulou ka taizoh in ka inn mai uh ka tung a, thumanglou a taikhia lutkik ding haksa satak a gate a ka khawl ka nu leh ka nau in hon mu ua, hon delhkhe pah in hon kahkhum uhi. A nung in ka pa leh ka u leng hong pawtkhia in ka van khong hon puaklutpih uhi. Ka nu leh pate leh sanggamte hon bawldan ka muh leh ka khasiattha hong suaklua a, ka mittui bang hong pawtkha zawzen hi.

Innsung ah lut in ka pa’n ka vek ua tu di’n hong hilh a, kikhopna hon neihpih hi. Ka tapa sisa hong thoukik bang ahihna ah Pathian kiang ah kipahthugenna nei ding chi’n thumna hoihtak in hon nei a, ka kiang ah ngaihdam bang hon ngen in tua ban ah Chingbawi kizuaknu bang a pom nawnlou a tanu bang a pomta ding ahihdan hon gen ua, huai in hon kipaksak mahmah diak hi. Ken leng ka hun zatdan tengteng kimtak in report ka pia a, Activa hon piak thu uh leh sum tampi ka loh thu ka gen a amau leng a kipak mahmah uhi. Kipaktak a hun ka zat zoh un ka bag ka hong a, a sung a sum omteng ka lakkhiat leh lamdang a sa mahmah ua, pupa khang a hiaizah sum mukha lou ka hihman un thupi sa in ka innkuan un a phazah ka sim nainai ua leh lakh 11 val tak ana pha venvon a, loh dingdan bang ka theikei zawzen uhi.

KHEN LII NA

Sum teng ka simzoh un a poimoh bangbang a zat ding in ka pa kiang ah ka pia hi. Huchi’n kei leng khualzin tung ka hih toh kisilkhiat ut ka hihman in kisil di’n ka kisa hi. Ka room ka va lut a, kidang bang ka sa heihuai zaw zen hi. Ka puante suahkhia in kisilna buk lam ka zuan a, ka va kisilkhia hi. Kisil zoh in ka puante ka silhpah a, huchi’n tawldam zek ding chi’n lupna tung ah ka lumsuk a, ka phone lakhe ngal in message ka etleh Chingbawi a ka mupah a,

“Umuan, inn tungta maw? Papate’n bang honna chih ua?”

“Hi, tungta kihah le kihahkhin hita. Papate ana kipaklua uh. Nang le hon pi pah theihta ding.”

“Hia, nak kipahhuai kasa ngei. Nitak na man leh hong pawt nawnve, kon miss lawpah.”

“Awle, man ka hon sawm teitei ding aw.”

“Kipahhuai e. Nang la bang na hih a?”

“Ken maw na thu mang inga innsung na tampi semkhin tua khawlphot kahi. Umuan, ann le hawi theita keive, nunu’n kikhek honsa lua a hon dong a umuan hon sawl ahi ka chihleh pak a kipak eive.”

“Na hih hoih lawtel, hiai bang thu khong i zak kal ahi i ngaklah pen.”

“Kamsiam sek e aw Umuan mahmah, kon ngailua.”

“Kenle kon ngai lawtel Ching.”

Ka kihou zoh un lupna apan ka thoukhia a, inn muh louhna sawtgawp ahihtoh innkim khong a ka va khodak a, lung bang a leng zawzen hi. Ka innkhang ua haipi bul a kingaikawm in ka va tu a, maban pai ding dan leh thil tuamtuam ngaihtuah in hun ka va zang hi. Huchia ka omlai in ka nau in ann ne di’n hong sam a, kei leng awl in ka paitou hi. Innkuan kimtak a ann nekkhawm dipdep khawng thupi leh manpha hina maizen e, vualzawlna chikhat ahi ka chi lungsim hi.

Ann nekzoh in kei leng Chingbawite inn a hoh ding in ka kisakbawl pah hi. Ka manphet in walking kawm in chi’n khe in awl in ka vakkhia hi. Bangtan hiam ka paizoh in a inn uh ka tung a, a innkuan un ana om uhi. Kei leng common room ah ka va tupah a, Chingbawi nu’n honna houpih pah hi.

“Muan, tulai na lawinu hon fel law mawk inchin officer mah banga ki-om awl hiuhiau theita ahi” nuikawm in hon chi hi. Ken leng “Nu, kipahhuaina maizen e maw, a felna sawt ana selgu lawdan hidi eive” ka chih khum a, ka nui zaizai uhi. Chingbawi nu mah in hithei hi henla kithuahden thei hile uchin deihhuai mai aka, nang nemtak a hilh hiathiat chi’n a nak phattuamlua, en ki-iplah kha pahpah a, sep malak a kisunuak kha zaw aka hon chih beh a, ken leng “nuak hatpi khat houh hiale” chi’n ka nuihsan a, Chingbawi inle nuikawm in “hunsakta ua, thudang kikum ua” hon chigaih hi.

Bangtan hiam thu tuamtuam gen a ka houlim nung un a nu leh pa’n hon pawtsan nawn ua, Chingbawi toh kougel kia ka omkha nawn uhi. Kou gel ka omtak un Chingbawi in hon naihphei a, ka kiang chet ah hong tu hi.

“Umuan, non hoh thei a ka kipak e.”

“I ut taktak na azaw a lampi ding kizong muzel sam ahi.”

“Uang kei di, hon zawn kei lengle non hoh louh di.”

“Non zot ziak a hong hoh hilou inga kon it ziak a hong hoh keivoi.”

“Gen dan le na siam theisek e.”

“Umuan, thilkhat kon ngen aw.”

“Bang e, hon gen in.”

“Umuan, na inndongtate hon sawlta ve, tulaitak hon hal lah omlou phot, hun lempen himailou di.”

“Ching, na kingam taktak na diam?”

“Umuan, nang toh dia kingam kahi. Aziak chu nang piching chin a ka hoihlouhna aom leleng awl a hon hilh di chin a honpi siamna di nahi.”

“Inn ka tun chiang in kenle innkuante kiang ah kon gen dia, nang le nunu leh papa kia thil omdan ana gen in aw.”

“Awle, ka utlaw zok. Moupuan silh kal ka ngaklah.”

“A moupuan pakta lel houh na hia leh, haha.”

“Hilou, moupuan ka silh nini apan nang a taktak hita di ka hih chiang a huai ut kahi.”

Hichia ka houlim sung un Chingbawi nu leh pa hong tung ua, kou leng neukha kigamla zaw deuh a ka tu nawn uhi. Chingbawi nu’n bangbang ana gen nahi ua bawite chi’n hon dong a, Chingbawi ngei leng frank chih mah tak “Nunu, kou kiten di thu ana kikum, non phal uhia?” hon chikhe gou a, ka zum toh etna ding mel leng ka theikei zawzen hi. I omlouh deuh chiang kho a gen ngal di hia ka chigusim a kana iplah sim mawk hi. A nu’n hon dawng a, “bawite, huailam zaw kou na nu leh pate apan dalna bangmah aom kei, innsung zou taktak ding a na kingam nak uleh kong hal kei ding uh” hon chi vanglak a, ka omdan a nuam in ka na guk kipah mahmah hi. Hichia ka houlim sung un zan bang sawtsim man ahihtoh pai ding simthu ka leel a, Chingbawi in hon phal mel kholkei mahleh ka paisan mai hi.

Inn a nu leh pate kiang a gen ding kithalawp sim ka hingei ding a, ka paihat mahmah a, bangma lou kal in inn ka tung hi. Inn ka tun in ka sungkuante ana omkimvek lai ua, ken leng hun lem la in ka pa kiang ah “Pa, Chingbawite inn ah honva dak sakta maive ua” ka chiphut a, ka sungte bang kiguih hial uhi. Ka pa’n chiamnuih thutak in “kare nang hong pal na chia, na u bang in ngaihzawng le nei nailou eide aw kichi a” chi’n nui heuhau kawm in hon dawng hi. A dik mah leng ahi a, himahleh en kingai gawp ahihmawk chiang a alou theilou. Ka pa hong pauthak nawn a “Muan, na kingam taktak nak leh zingchiang in inndongtate toh ka va dak pah ding uh, zingkal chia na u in inndongta teng va hilhvek leh hoih inteh” hon chi a, kei leng kipak in ka nui heuhau hi.

Bangtan hiam ka houlim zoh un ka pa’n thumna hon nei a, huchi’n koumau lupna lam chiat zuan in ka kikhen nawn uhi. Lupna tung ah Chingbawi nu hon thugente, ka pa hon gente khong ngaihtuah in ka nui heuhau den a, ihmut leng a suak vetkei hi. Huchia ngaihtuahtuah kawm a ka omlai in ka phone message hon ging a ka etleh Chingbawi ana hi a,

“Umuan, na pai nung a nunu toh papa in hon deihsakdan uh hoihtak a hon gen nawn ua ka kipahdan, nang lah nana genta hia?”

“Hamphathuai na e maw, ken leng genta inga zing nitak chiang a hong hoh ding uh ahi ka inndongtate uh”

“Maw, a hoihve. Ngaklah huai gawp maw.”

“Ngaklah mah hang ei, hon kihoutheih vet uale a hun bangle naichik hon hisak maile uh maw.”

“Huai eivoi keile ka ut.”

“Ching, na hun awlte ah maw pasalte tung a numeite mohpuak, tek leh mou chih laibute khong ana lei inla ana sim in aw, manpha lua ahi. Kei bang inleng numeite tung a pasal mohpuak chih khong simsim inga phatuam mahmah ahi.”

“Awle, koi a kizuak di a.”

“Huai New Bazar a laibu zuakna lak khong ah.”

“Awle, zingchia ka na leipah ding, eh umuan non pawt dia i va leikhawm zaw aw.”

“Awle”

“Kipak e, mangpha phot ni awle.”

“Awle, nangle mangpha hoihtak.”

Ka lupna a ka lup louhna a sawttak ziak hia, ahihkeileh nitak a thute ziak a kithalawplua ka hiam, ka ihmu thei mahmah kei. A chang in veilam, a chang in taklam chi’n ka kihei den a, ka ihmu thei hetkei hi. Zinglam dak 2:00 bang hong ginhial chiang in hinawn mahmah kei chi’n ihmut teitei sawm in ka kikhim a, a tawp azaw ihmu khong ka hi ding, ka khanloh a sana ka etleh dak 8:00 bang ana ging man a, kintak in lupna apan ka thoukhia hi.

Thouphet maiphiat dia ka kuan leh ka nau in “U, kithalawp gawp a thou le thoukhezou nawnlou dek neide aw kon chihsim eive, hehe” chi’n honna chiamnuih a, keile nui heuhau kawm in bathroom ah ka lutsan hi. Ka kihahkhiat khit in hih ding om tuanlou, ann nek ngakna kawm in chi’n innkim a loupa khong peuh ka va khou kha mawkmawk hi. Bangtan hiam ka khoh nung in ka nau in ann ne dia honsam ahihman in keileng khawlpah in ann ne di’n innsung ka lut hi.

Ann nekhin varandah a ka tu tawldam a, Chingbawi man hun ding ka ngak hi. Dakkal khat phial mahmah varandah a ka tut nung in Chingbawi in manta ahihdan hong hilh a, huchi’n kei leng hon activa piak un ka taisuk vengveng hi. Tomchik sung in a inn uh ka tung a, a nu toh innkong ah pakbawm khong ana hahsiang uhi. Chingbawi nu’n hon muh phet in,

“Eh, Muan hong hoh maw, vai nei nahi uhia?”

“Vai thupi chih omkei, Chingbawi toh sim ding laibu hoih khenkhat khong va ki-en leh ka chisim ua hi.”

“Aw, na hih hoih uh ei, laibu simtam kuamah mihai omlou ei mahve. Nang na sawlzou a a hoih mahmah ve, enlah kisawlkhe bunlou a.”

“Lai kichi himhim sim a sim peihlou maimah hia, ken chu a ut leh utlouh genlou a ahun awl teng a simsak gige di.”

“Haha, na ngah zoh leh nak kipahhuai law di.”

Nuikawm in ka houlim nilouh ua, a tawp in Chingbawi leng kidek zou nawnlou ahidia, “Nougel gige na kihounak ualeh lah kei mohsakna di tel teitei” hon chi a, ka nuihsan ekh zomah uhi. A nu’n “hon mohsak hilou hial, na umuan kia na omdan gen i ka hia?” chihkhum a, Chingbawi inleng “huh, mi fellouhna teng na gen” a chilat hi. Ken leng ka chiamnuih a, “Ching, na hihna kithei semsem nop e, na duty di tam hon kiguang deuhdeuh di ahi aw” ka chihkhum a, nui seisai kawm in aman leng “honpe denve ua, non pe lum khong ding uh” hon chi a, a thiltawite koihkhia in innsung ah hon lutpih hi.

“Umuan, nong fel e, bangmah kallou in nong tung a.”

“Kei fel ziak hilou a nou hon deihsakna ziak a hon kitungbaih hizaw aka.”

“Kamsiam law kei di, i va kuanpah diam, ann huan hunma a tun nawn ngai ding ahihchia.”

“Awle poilou, ann huan le na siam lawta di e.”

“Haha, siam a siam keive, ann nesa in na pai ngal diam?”

“Huai hial zaw hidah heh, makpa a kong panlam chia aw.”

“Haha, huaichia chu a hidisa eivoi.”

Houlim nuamlai mahleh pawtna ding nei ka hihman un awl in ka dingkhia ua, kei gari a inn ua koih in Chingbawi car in ka taikhia uhi. Laibu zuakna ka tun un ka laibu gente uh banah laibu hoih tuamtuam hunkhoptak ka lei ua, ka leizoh un Chingbawi in restaurent khat ah hong lutpih nawn hi. Restaurent chih khong kilut vang mahmah thou ahihna ah duh di pentak leng theilou in singpi khong ka chih leh Chingbawi a ut dekkei a, fried rice khong hon nekpih hi. Ka nek di teng uh ka nek zoh un a nekman ka piaksawm leh Chingbawi in hon phalkei a, aman a va pevek hi. Huai apan pawtkhia in nitaklam hita ahihna toh mundang bang nawn sese lou in a innlam uah ka paisuak uhi.

Chingbawite inn ka tung nawn ua, inn pai lengle hih di om tuanlou ding ahihna toh ka tuzek hi. Bangtan hiam ka tutzoh in Chingbawi leng a ann huan khong toh buaita ahihman in innlam ka paisan hi. Inn ka tun in ka upa’n ka innkhang dai uh ana bawl a, ken leng pautam sese lou in ka va bawlpih pah hi. Ka daibawl uh ka zoh un ann ka ne ua, ann nekzoh in ka inndongtate uh hon vakkhawm khoukhou uh ahihman in ka zumsim toh ka innsak ua ka lawmpate inn ah ka va hohsan hi.

Khua hong mial tak in inndongtate Chingbawite innlam zuan in singpi khai di’n a kuankhia uhi. Kuankhe khin uh ahi chih ka theihphet in kei leng awl in inn ah ka paisuk nawn a, ka nau kia om ahihman in kei leng mundang ah ka pawt nawn tuankei hi. Dakkal khat bang hong paita a, hong tunghak uh bang kana sa gu mahmah hi, a hon thupuak uh kiza utlua ahihman in. Inn kong lam ka enen a, kuamah mel muh ding aom ngeikei. A tawptawp in dak 9:00 bang hon gingtou dek chih ding in ka gate uh hon ging a, hon kizuilut nainai ahihman un zumsim toh a thugen uh kiza na ve chi’n ka lupna tung ah kana lum hi.

KHEN NGANA

Gate apan hong nuilut zaizai ahihna ua thu kipahhuai hon puak peuhmah ding un ka na kilamen hi. Innsung hong lut ua, a pau ding uh ka na bildoh mahmah hi. Ka thusapa uh hong pau a, nitak lohching mahmah leh lamzang mahmah uh ahihdan leh kipahhuai a sakthu khong hon gen a, lupna tung ah ka na nuigu keukau hi. A houlimna uh ka ngai zomzel a, a ni ding tanpha genkhin diam uh hihtuak uhi. Bang ni eide aw chia lungbuai leh thei uttak a ka na omlai in ka thusapa mah un zingchiang pan a i kisakkholh uh ngai ding ahi, a hun kalnawn nilaini hong nailaw phut mawk ahihchiang in hong chi a, ka phone ah kindeuh in calendar bang ka en thak zawzen hi.

Bangbang hiam khong gen a ahoulim zoh un zan sawtta ahihtoh innlam chiat zuan un a kikhen phot uhi. Inndongta teng a paizoh un ka pa ka room ah hong lut a, a va kihoudan uleh thil bangkim kichiantak in hong hilh hi. Ken leng ka pa kiang ah kipahthu hoihtak in ka gen a, huchi’n ka pa’n hon pawtkhiatsan nawn hi. Ka pa pawt zoh phet in ka phone ka en ngal a, Chingbawi apan message ana om nawn ahihman in ka enpah hi.

“Umuan, thil omdan teng nana theita na maw.”

“Hi theita, papa’n hon hilhvek a.”

“A hun kha bangchi nasa, kei bang in gamla sa lam ka zomah ve.”

“Hoih ka samai, inndongtate gen bangbang i pom ei adia a hoihpen hiven maw.”

“Tuni friday hia, ni li kia omta maw. Umuan, ka ngaihtuahna khat hon kikhek om ahi.”

“Bang ahia a kikhek hon hilh ve.”

“Umuan, ama a ka phur pen maw moupuan silh di hia, hilele tua ut nawnlou kahi.”

“Ahihleh bang ut hita.”

“Ka ngaihtuah thakthak chia moupuan zaw khelzou mahni, ei adi’n leng kilei zousam ni, hilele nampuan hoihtak khat nei i hihna ua i nampuan utoh hoihtak in kizem zaw leng ka ut.”

“Huai ngaihdan bang na neihtheih maizen leh i kipaklaw kei dia, mi tampi’n neilou sasa a moupuan bang khel guigui ahihna ua, kenleng i nampuan a kizep mah hoih kasa.”

“I nampuan khong sihna khong a kizang tamzaw a hiai bang kipahna hun hoihtak a zang a i tawisang louh a kuan tawisang tuan ding chi aw Umuan.”

“Huai geih eive Ching, non pil deuhdeuh a, kon ngaihna a puang hulhul kachi.”

“Nang ziak eivoi, laibu hon simsaksak chin a ka ngaihtuahna kikhek gawpdekta.”

“Huai kikhekna mah eivoi mihing in i poimoh. A hun leh mun zil a i kikhek theihlouh ziak ua kibuaibuai ahi.”

“Himah e maw umuan, zan le a sawttak toh i koihphot dia zing sun chia hong hoh in aw.”

“Awle, mangpha hoihtak.”

“Nangle a hoih penpen.”

Ka kihouzoh un ken leng ka lupna ka bawlhoih thak a, lup a ihmutpah ding ka sawm hi. Himahleh ka ihmu thei zokkei. Kiten chiang a om ding dan khong peuh ka ngaihtuah khop a, a kallak in ka nui heuhau a, a kallak inlah ka huphulh mahmah zel hi. Hichia thu tuamtuam suangtuah a ka om nilouh lai in theihlouh kal in ka ihmu kha a, zingkal bang ka khangma zawzen hi.

Zingkal thouphet kihahsiang in ka man in common room ah ka u toh ka pa ana houlim ahihna ua ken leng ka va pawltei hi. Ka pa’n pawtna ding poimoh om leh omlouh hon dong a, Chingbawi in hon sam ahihdan ka gen leh “ahihleh na kikup ding uleng omkha ding ahihna ah huai ah nang na va hoh dia na u toh kei toh na gang leh na pute’n na room ka na keklian zek ding uh” hon chi a, ken leng “Pa a poimoh tenten hisamkei, ken leng kong huh kei dia” ka chih leh ka u in “bawi, kisuanlah ngailou kou ana hihzou law mahmah di kahi uh, nang a na gum sem thei le hikeiteh” hon chihsan a, huchi’n ken leng Chingbawi kiang a hoh mai ding ka thupuk hi.

Zing ann nekhin in innkong ah ka om tawldam hi. Ka pa hong pai a, denchia Chingbawi bang in lei ding puan leh banghiam hon gen khakleh nang na sik ding ahi aw chi’n sum tamkhop honpia hi. Bangtan hiam ka tutzoh in Chingbawi in hon phone a, huchi’n ken leng a innlam uh ka va zuan ngal hi. A inn uh ka tun in a lawmnu toh amau gel kia ana om ua, a nu leh pate ahihleh ka kitenna ding vai a buai ahi uhi. Chingbawi in a lawmnu Muangnu ahihdan leh a thian dia a zat sawm thu khong hon hilh a, ken leng chibai buk in ka min leh omna hoihtak in ka gen hi. Thu tuamtuam khong ka houlim ua, singpi khong dawnkhawm in nuamtak in hun ka zang uhi.

Nitaklam sim in a nu leh pate hon tung ua, amau hon tunphet in Chingbawi in bazar pha ding chi’n a lawmnu toh ka thum un ka kizuikhia uhi. Bazar ah puanzuaknate ah ka ban lut ua, a silh ding uh puannak leh a ten ding uh puandum khong ka lei uhi. A man teng ka pa hon piak bang in ken sik vek ding ka chih leh Chingbawi ka nial zoukei hi. “Umuan, nang a chu kei a hithou ahi, ngaihsiam louh in ngaikei in” chi’n hon leh gen hi. Puan teng ka leizoh un zungbuh hoihte zuakna lam ah hon paipih nawn a, huai ah zungbuh khong ka va kitest ua, a hun geih ka muh ziak un ka leipah ngal uhi.

Van lei ding poimoh tuamtuamte ka hih zoh vek nung un innlam zuan in ka pai nawn uhi. Chingbawi lawmnu a inn ua ka va kha masa ua, huaizoh in ka nih un amau innlam zuan in ka pai nawn uhi. Inn ka tun un Chingbawi kitenni chia a kichei ding dan hon kitest ah, etlawm kasa diak mahmah hi. A sam vom ngiingei a puannak hoihtak leh a teen puandum in a etlawmna a liansak semsem hi. A puante hun vek ahihman in va kikhekkhe nawn a, huchi’n common room ah saulou houlim in ann bang nek hun phialta ahihtoh ka paisan phot hi.

Inn ka tung a, ka ute’n ka room lianpi in honna pehsak ua, a nopchi tuan mahmah ta hi. Nasep ana zou geih ahihman un ken leng hih theihsun ka room hoihtak in ka hahsiang a, van tuamtuamte leng hoihtak in ka lemfel hi. Ka hih zoh in ann nek dia mansa aom ahihman in ann ka va ne ngal hi. Ann nekzoh in innkong a dawr khong a ka va tuhalh a, khomial in inn ka paisuk hi. Asun-azan a Chingbawi kiang va tun det hial ding nuamlou ahihchiang in utsim tuntun mah leng inn ah ka om phot mai hi.

Nitak tawntung in ka omdan a lem kei a, ning kitel banghial in ka innsung ua ka kikawileh den hi. Ka nu leh pate bang in “huai zan khat lel muhlouh huchih velvul hial ngaikei” chih peuh in hon chiamnuih zomah uhi. A hitak inzaw Chingbawi mulou a om theilou leng ka hisim mai. Ka phone ka lakhia a, Chingbawi ka houpih hi.

“Ching, nitak khat i hon muhke le ki-om theilou di bangve aw.”

“Umuan, en leng kongkhak kia en den hang, kong a gin teng bang a nang hon lut di ana saden ika.”

“Bangziak ale hon hichih ngaih lawmlawm tel ka diam maw?”

“Konsa ngutve umuan, ka ngaihhuai louh dan, ka hunlui teng lah na theih hi a.”

“Het, hunluite sialsial nawnlouh ding chih theilou maw.”

“I lungsim a hon dawk khanak hiven.”

“Tuban dawksak nawnlouh di ahi aw.”

“Haha, sawm ni aw.”

“Zingchia lah bang vai na nei a Ching.”

“Bangvai chih om tuankei, nunu leh papa lah i kitenna ding vai a asun-azan pawtden ua, inn ah eikia ngen ki-omkha a na man leh hong hoh nawn ve umuan.”

“Na kiang a hong hoh chu i utpen hi gige aka.”

“Na utpen kholkei a ei diam maw sap ngai gige.”

“Haha, sap ngai va kichih zawzen le utkei leng sapkhiat but ding ka hih tuanlouh.”

“Huai zaw himah e maw.”

Chingbawi toh nuamtak in ka houlim nilouh ua, dak 12 bang ana ging velvol man hial hi. Nitak ihmut nuamtak in ka ihmu nawn a, zingkal ahihleh nidang banglou in ka bel vanglak a, a thou masapen in ka pang hi. Ka nu hong thou a “kare bawi, kithalawp zak gawp nahi di maw belna mahmah zel chia” hon chi a ken leng “na bang uh ahi, thoubaih lenglah na gen ding uh om, thouhak leng lah na gen ding uh om” chi’n ka nuihsan heuhau hi.

Hunte hong paizel a, theihlouh kal in ka kiten ni ding uh hong tung dek geigeita hi. Zingchiang a zi nei himawkta ding chih khong peuh ngaihtuah in ka om dingdan ka thei zoukei hi. Zing ann nekzoh in ka inn ua tanau laina tampi hong paikhawm ua, tutna khong khelkhawm in social work a nei zaizai uhi. A langlang in hon chiamnuih khop ua, ka zum toh etna ding mel leng ka theikei hi. Sunnung deuh in Chingbawi in hon phone a, ken leng a innlam uh ka va zuanpah hi.

Chingbawite inn ka tun in amau inn ah leng mi ana tam mahmah a, himahleh Chingbawi in ama room sung ah hon lutpih ahihman in thovengtak in ka om thei uhi. Kitenna ding vai toh kisai tuamtuam khong ka kikum khawm ua, a poimoh khenkhat ka ngaihtuah khak louh uh om hiam chih khong ka velkhawm uhi. Bangkim felvek a thei ka hihman un kou leng inn pawlam ah ka pawtkhia ua, a lawmnu Muangnute inn ka va pha uhi. Muangnu leng ana om a, huai ah saulou va tu in Chingbawite inn ah ka pai nawn ua, huaizoh in kei leng innlam zuan in ka paisuak pah hi.

Inn tungphet kisilsiang in ann khong ka nekhe pah hi, nitak dak 6:00 a rehearsal chih dan neih ngai ding ahihman in. Social workte ahihleh a manzou naikei ua, nasep a tha it thei mahmah lai uhi. Nitak dak 6:00 hon gindek in ka lawmpa Thas toh Chingbawite lawmta pi ding in a gari in ka va kuansuk ua, a inn uh ka tun un amau leng mansa aom ahihna ua khawlse lou in biakinn lam ah ka taisuak ngal uhi.

Rehearsal kong pan ua, chikmah a hih ngeilouh chihmah ka siamkei lawse ua, ka nuikha khop uhi. Ka zungbuh khong bang uh kesak nemnum in tutna nuai khawng ah ka zong khop uhi. A ni taktak chia huchi bang in omkha le ung bel mipi lam leng ki-en ngam nawnlou ding bang hi. Hon kitengsaktu ding in ka hih ding dan uh, ka tut ding dan uh bangkim feltak in hon hilhvek a, ka hih fel zoh un innlam zuan in ka pai nawn uhi. Chingbawite lawmta ka va kha masa ua, ka khak zoh un kou leng innlam ah ka paisuak uhi.

Inn ka tun un lengla tanaute tampitak ana om ua, singpi khawng dawn in chiak in ka chiak zuazua uhi. Zan dak 9:00 bang hon ging hial chiang in lenglate leng pai siausiauta ua, kei leng lumpah ut ka hihman in lupna lam ka zuanpah hi. Luppah a ihmutpah a thohpah ding ka sawm ahi a, himahleh huchithei ding vual ahikei. Ngaihtuahna paisau mahmah, zingchia om ding dan teng, milak a om dingdan khong ka ngaihtuah khop hi. Chikmah a mipi mai a kitukha khollou ahihna ah mipi mai a va tut lenlan ding ka ngaihtuah chiang in ka huphulh mahmah hi. Zinglam dak 2:00 vel ding khong in ka ihmu thei khongkhong hi.

Zingkal ka thohma in tanute khong hong kuanpah ahihna ua ihmut theih ding vual hi nawnlou ahihman in ka thoukhia a, ka kihahsiang pah hi. Ka kiten ding uh zinglam dak 10:00 ding ahihna ah hih ding mel leng theilou in ka kivialleh khop hi. Bangtan hiam hih ding mel theilou a ka om nung in ann hon thuk ua, ann ne in ka nekzoh phet in ka kisapah nainai uhi. Kithalawp deuh zaw a kihi ngei dia ka kisakhin pah hi. Himahleh fellou chihmah ka moza bulh ding ana omkei maimah a, kin leh buang in sungkuante khat a lei ding a sawl zok in hong tunphet in ka bulhpah a, dak 10:00 bang ana naih man hial hi.

Ka manphet in biakinn lam ah ka kuantou ngal ua, mipi hong uaptu ding leng hunkhop ana tungkhin man uhi. Kei leng tutna hawmte’n ka tutna ding hon hilhpah uh ahihman in a taktakte dan in chair khat ah ka va tu nemnam hi. Dak 10:00 gin dek geigei in Chingbawi leh a nungzuite hon lut ua, mipi’n dingsa in ana vaidawn in huchi’n amau leng a tutna ding zawn ua hong tu uhi. Kitengsaktu di pen hon dingtou a, a sai ding bangbang feltak leh kizentak in hong hih ziahziah a, kou leng ka hih ding bangbang uh ka hihtei ua, hilele ka nuikha nak ua, mipite’n hon nuihsan khop uhi. Mipi tamtakte’n i nampuan utoh kitenna hoihtak a ka neih uh thupi sa in hon phat mahmah ua, etton tuak ahihdan bang gen uhi.

Kitenna ka zoh un lim kilakna khong ka nei ua, huaizoh in innsung lutpihna nei ding in kou innlam zuan in ka taikhesuk nawn uhi. Inn kong ah innkuante’n pakkhi toh honna vaidawn ua, huchi’n innsung ah laklutna khong nei in thumna ka innpipa un hon nei hi. Huai teng ka zoh un hall ah moulopna programme zang ding in ka kizuikhe nawn uhi.

Moulopna programmete zang zou in moupinate bang leng buaina bangmah om hetlou in ka zou thei uhi. Nitak hun in ka lawm leh vualte uh hon paikhawm in programme hon zatpih ekh ua, ka kingaihdan peuh uh hon gensak thepthup ua, ka nuihnuihna un ka gim zawzen uhi. Thudotna tuamtuam bang hon nei ua genkhiat ngamlouh simsim bang a tam maimah hi. A nitak mawngmawng lumsak lou ding chi’n programme zankhovak in hon zatpih dimdem uhi.

Khua hon vak hial chiang inbel hon zohpihta ua, kou leng Chingbawi toh kihahkhia in ka puansilh uh khawng ka khekkhia uhi. Kihahzou inn mai a tutnate ah lenglate toh kithuah a ka omlai in ka phone hon ging a, Chingbawi pa ana hi a ka lak leh “Muan, Chingbawi toh a kin theipen in hon taisuk un” chih toh koih a thuah a, lungsim nuam hetlou leh dip kisaisa in ka om leiluai uhi.

KHEN GUKNA

Chingbawi toh kinohtak in a innlam uh ka delhsuak ngal uhi. A inn uh ka tun un kuamah ana omkei a, beidong simtak in ka om uhi. Ka dak leh kongkhak bul ah laithem khat ka mu a, damdawi inn lam ah paisuak uh ahihdan thei ka hihman in kindeuh in damdawi inn lam ka delhsuak ngal uhi. Hat taisim kahi ding ua, ka va tungpah uhi. Roomte ka ban zon ngal ua, chihleh mun khat ah ka pa ding ka muh ziak un huailam ka delh uhi. A kiang ka tuntak un tang hetlou a Chingbawi nu lupna a lum dildel ka mu ngal uhi.

Ken leng “Pa, nunu bangchi guih mawk ahia?” chi’n ka dong a, aman leng “tuzing thouphet ka amhai chia hon kipuk ahi” chih teng in hon dawng hi. A si hi hiallou ahihna ah ka lung amuang veve hi. Chingbawi ahihleh a loh dingdan thei tuanlou in a nu kiang a tu in a kap hi. Kei leng awl in ka pai a “Ching, kap zenzen ken, nunu hong hoih ding ahi” chi’n ka va khamuan hi. Bangtan hiam ka om nung un Doctor leh nursete’n hong en ua, damdawi bangzah hiam hon gelhsak in drip hong khai uhi. A damdawi gelhte uh lei ding in ka va taikhepah hi.

Zankhua a ihmulou, ann lah nelou zomah ka hihman un Chingbawi toh ka gim mahmah ua, sun hun in hotel ah ann ne ding in ka va pawtkhia uhi. Tanau lainate banah kei nu leh pate khong bang leng om khiukheuta ahihna ua ka lung uh a muang tuan mahmah hi. Ann tam ka ne zou hetkei tuak ua, ka nekzoh phet un damdawi inn lam ah ka pai nawn uhi. Tanau lainate’n ka gim ding dan uh thei ahingei ding ua sun inn a va tawldam a nitak a giak dia kuan zaw di’n hon sawl nilouh ua, Chingbawi pa ngei inleng huai lemsa zaw ahihna ah kou leng tawldam ding in innlam ka zuan uhi.

Inn ka tun un ka kisilkhia tuak ua, kisilzoh in lenglate kiang ah theihsiamna ngen in neukha bek tawldam theih khak leh chi’n ka lum uhi. Lum mahle ung lungsim hon kam khat omden ahihman in ihmut theih ding dan ahi tuankei hi. Lung nuam thei tuanlou ahihman in Chingbawi pa ka phone a, kou omlai toh teh dia halhsot mahmah ta hon chih man in ka omdan uh lem deuh in nuamtuan deuh hi. Dak 3:00 lak in Chingbawi thoukhia in ann huan di’n va kisa a, himahleh ka nau in ana phal deklou ahihman in hon kik nawn a, ken leng tawldam zek ding in ka sawl nawn hi.

Nitaklam ann khong nekhin in hih ding lua om tuanlou ahihna toh damdawi inn lam zuan ding in ka kisapah mai uhi. Huchi’n damdawi inn lam ka tungsuk nawn ua, mi hunkhop ana omlai uhi. Ka pa hon gen bang in ana halhsot mahmah a, a mit bang leng hakzouta ahihna ah hon muh phet in nuisim bang in hong om theita a, lung a nuamsak sot mahmah hi. Khua mui dia hon kisaktak in ka pa kia innlam a va tawldam ding in ka sawl ua, amah leng gim law mahmah ahidia hon sel lou in hon paisan hi.

Nitak hun inleng vehtu ding hunkhop ka nei nawn uhi. Chingbawi toh kei ahihleh a pangtuak a ka tu ua, a poimoh bangbang ka hihvek uhi. Lenglate paikhit dak 10:00 vel ding khong in ngaih lawlou in ka nu hong paukhia a “Ching, tui tamlou hon suah di” hon chi thei ahihman in kipak in ka nui zawzen uhi. Chingbawi inleng tui va suahpah a, ken phongtou in tamlou ka dawnsak uhi. Ka nu hong pauzom a “bawite, na gim mah ding umaw? Na ihmut theih uale ihmu un kei halhta ding kahi” hon chi a, himahleh lupsan bel ka sawmkei himhim uh.

Awl in hong halh hiaihiai a, zingkhua vak bang in tut leng tuzouta hi. Zingtung in ka pa hong tungsuk nawnpah a, ka nu ana halhsot sa in amah leng kipak mahmah hi. Lungmuang deuhta ahingei dia kou bang paitou phot ding in hon sawl a, himahleh ka nial lai phot uhi. Sun hun in a ompih ding tanau hunkhop hong kuan nawn ahihman un kou leng innlam ah tawldam ding in ka painawn uhi. Nitak zanhah ngai nawn maithei ahihna toh chi’n kou leng ihmut theih khak leh chi’n ka lum nawn uhi.

Nitaklam ann nekhin damdawi innlam zuan dia ka kisak laitak un ka pa’n hon phone a, buaithak eide aw chih khong a selam bang ngaihtuah kha zawzen in ka lak leh damdawi inn apan hong pawtdek uh ahihdan hon zasak hi. Chingbawi kia ka gen a, amah leng a kipak mahmah hi. Huchi’n kou leng innlam ah bangkim felsa a ana koih ding chi’n a innlam ua ka leh tai uhi. A inn uh leh a room khong uh hoihtak a ana hahsiang in ka na lepfel sak vek uhi. Bangtan hiam ka ngak nung un hong tung ua, ka nu ngei leng let ngaizek mahleh ama khe in hong kipai zouta hi. A room lam ah ka lutsuaksak pah ua, lupna tung ah ka tawldamsak uhi.

Nitak in vehtu tampi hong paikhawm nawn ua, amaute a ding singpi khawng bawl in ka buai mahmah uhi. Mi then nung in ka pa’n “nou leng pai photta ve ua gimlaw lou di maw” hon chi a, ken leng “pa, bangteng hileh nitak nung khong ale poimoh om thei ahihna ah tunitak zaw pailou in kon giak mai ding uh” ka chi a, Chingbawi ana pau hetkei mahleh kipak ahi chih a mel ah kilang hi. Huchi’n ka pa’n leng nou hoihsak bangbang himai eive leh hon chi a, Chingbawi room ah giah ding in ka thupukta uhi.

Nitak dang banglou in hoihtak in ka ihmupah thei ua, zingkal bang ka khangma dek zawzen uhi. Ka thohphet un Chingbawi in singpi khawng hon bawl in ka nu a ding horlicks khong ka bawlsak uhi. Ka nu leng halhsot mahmah ahita dia maiphiat ding bang inleng hon kipaikhe zouta hi. Hih ding tuamtuamte hih in zing ann ka ne ua, ka nekzoh un hoihlawta ahihna toh innlam ah ka paisan uhi.

Inn tungphet Chingbawi in sep ding a zongpah a, ka nau in ana phal kholkei mahmah Chingbawi in a hih teitei ziak in bangmah gen tamlou in a semkhawm uhi. Ka nu leh pate kiang, ka u kiang bang ah a puan uh sawp ding om hia chih khawng a kan in a siam theihtawp a suah hi. Ka nu kiang bang ah “Nu, kei na thakhek dia omta ka hi a, nang nuamtak a tawldam hiuhiau a na om ding ahi aw” khong a chih chiang in ka nu bang a kipak mahmah hi.

Nitaklam ann nezou Chingbawi kiang ah “Nunute kianglam i va pha ding hia?” chi’n ka dawp a, aman “Umuan, i nu leh halh lawta na, hiai lam a i nu leh pate toh kithuah leng uthuai ahihna ah pawtdah phot ni” hon chi a, aguktak in hon kipaksak mahmah hi. Nitak in ka nu toh hoihtak in a houlim ua a tung ah bangmah kisuanglah hetlou a agen ua, tai a ngaih lele non tai ding uh ahi chi’n hoihtak in a ngen hi. Ka nu’n leng a gente hoihsa thei mahmah a, genkhe kei mahleh mou neifuh kisathou ding in ka lamen hi.

A kha a sim bang hong kiveita a, Chingbawi nu leng a hat mahmahta hi. Chingbawi kha loh leng hong lutta a, a loh vala in a vek sipsip in ka pa kiang ah pia hi. Ka pa a kipak mahmah a, ka tate lohsa ka khut a hichia kim sipsip a hong lut chi’n genmang moh hial hi. Chingbawi kiang ah a vek in pekik nawn a, Chingbawi inleng kei kiang ah honpe kik nawn hi. Himahleh numei nahi ua nou van poimoh hon kitheihsiampih lou chi’n a kimkhat ka hawmkik hi. Ka hopkik teng tawi in ka nau bazar va hohpih pah a, ka nau van ding, ka u a ding leh nu leh pa a ding van hoihtaktak hon lei ua, ka innkuan un ka kipak mahmah uhi.

Chingbawi toh nupa ki-it leh kituaktak in hinkhua ka zangtou ua, banghiam gen tuak aom chiang in kei phalna lou in a mawkpau kei a, banah ka nu leh pa donglou inleng bangmah a hih ngeikei hi. Ka upa a zahtak mahmah a, ka naunu leng a pianpih sanggam bangmai in a it hi. Ka nu leh pate upa thouta ahihna ua Chingbawi a pawt nakleh nektheih bang a puak gige a, huai khong in a kipaksak zou mahmah hi. Phetlou nu leh pa tampite’n i mou in nu, pa chia hon sap tiautiau a zak nopdan a gen khawng bang uh ka phawkkhe zawzen hi. Nidang a pawt hat mahmah himahleng Chingbawi hong om apan pawt leng ka pawt vang mahmah, innsung kituak, kihansan, kihehsan omlou a i omkhawm dialdial leh inn mahmah kingai tuntun a, kholai nopsakna ding omlou ahihdan ka muchian semsem hi.

Chingbawi pa’n nasep khat pan nawn dek ahihman in hong sam a, kei leng ka va hohpah hi. School building singtang khua a bawl ding ahi a, kha khat leh a kimvel lut ding hi. Huai hun sung teng ka it ka innkuante nusia a va om ngai ding ahihman in ka lin gu mahmah a, himahleh nial ngam ding vual hilou ahihman in kithalawptak bang in ka om hi. Chingbawi pa’n ka hih ding leh bangkim hoihtak a hon hilhvek zoh in kei leng innlam ah ka paikik nawnphot hi.

Nitak hun in ka van ding teng ka kisapah a, Chingbawi in hoihtak a hon khepsak in ka bag ah hon guangsak hi. Ka kisak ding teng ka kisakzoh in ka pa’n ka nih un hon sam a, khualzin nawn ding na hihna toh kikhopna saulou nei ni hong chi a, huchi’n kikhopna saulou ka nei uhi. Kikhopna ka neihzoh un kou lupna lam chiat ka zuan nawn uhi. Kouleng ka lumpah ngal ua, Chingbawi in hon khelah mahmah ahingei dia hichi’n hon gen hi.

“Umuan, hon zuih ngaihna lah omlou a kon na ngaimah ding.”

“Ching, nang nu leh pate toh om ding nahi a, kei huai a khattang a va om ding keivoi, kei adia haksa zaw ding ahi.”

“Himah e maw Umuan, hiai achu i nu leh pate, i naute toh omkhawm kenle nuamsa lua kahi.”

“Kon neihlouh khak ding lau thak deuhdeuh kahi”

“Bachia maw Umuan”

“Nang bang a zi hoih mulou ding ka hih chia.”

“Umuan, hoihzou mahmah lou ihi. Non oilouhna aom chia hon hilh pahpah in aw.”

“Kon oilouhna khat om ei mahve.”

“Bang e umuan?”

“Na fel law zawzen a, ana fel kei deuh aw.”

“Haha, na banga kilau lawman a.”

“Hon kilauhbeh sak lai leh hoih di hia.”

“Ngailou”

“Ka zin kal in ana pawtpawt ken aw.”

“Mokmok, bachia e?”

“Denchia mi’n hon guksak kha di uh.”

“haha, kiguk chih om thei ngal di.”

Hichia ka houlim kawmkawm un ka ihmu kha uhi. Ka khanloh in Chingbawi ana thoukhin a, keileng awl in ka thoukhia hi. Chingbawi kia “thou baihna chia” ka chih leh sana enve hon chihsan a ka et ngut leh dak 7:30 bang ana gingta hi. Pawtna ding lah om tuanlou ahihchiang in kei leng varandah ah ann nek ngak in ka tu hi. Bangtan hiam ka tutzoh in ann hon thuk ua ka ne ngal a, nek zoh in Chingbawite innlam ka zuan a, Chingbawi inleng hon kha kawm in hon zuiphei hi.

Chingbawite inn ka tung ua, nasem dingte, gari leh vanzat poimoh teng mansa diam in ana om hi. Chingbawi pa’n hon sam a, nang Chingbawi car zang inla kizui un chi’n a chabi hon pia a, ken leng ka sangpah a, sawtlou khawl in huchi’n Chingbawi toh mangpha hoihtak kikhak in ka hohna ding lam uh zuan in ka kuankhia uhi.

Dakkal 3 vel ka tainung un ka nasepna ding mun uh ka tung ua, tungphet ka nasepna ding uleh ka omna ding bangkim uh ka hihfel pah ua, huaizoh in Chingbawi ka phone a tungta ka hihdan uh ka theisak pah hi. Nitaklam ann khong nekhin in chimhuai lua ahihna ah ka lupna ding ka bawlpah a, huai tung a bok ngehngah kawm in Chingbawi message ka khak den a, buai ahingei dia hon thuk pahpah theikei hi. Tunni zan chu giahna kikhek ziak hia, Chingbawi ngaihluat ziak hia ka ihmu thei hetkei hi.

Zingkhua vak in nasep ka panpah ua, lawmte zohkin ut ahihna ua ka tha it mahmah uhi. Huaiziak mah in ka nasep un ma sawn mahmah a, kha khat bang hong pai hial chiang in zousiang phial in ka om uhi. A kha a sim bang om ka hita ua, himahleh Chingbawi toh kihou thei gige ka hihman un ka omdan neukha a nuam tuan deuh hi. Network omna mun a nasep khak hampha ka kisa mahmah uhi.

Nikhat Chingbawi ka phone den a, a la ngei mahmah kei a, ka lung a nuam hetkei hi, a ma nitak a ka mangsiatsim zawkmah toh. Bang a tuahlouh ding khat ana tuak eide aw chi’n lungsim noplou tak in ka omden hi. Dakkal nih khong ka call nung inleng dawnna ka mukei lailai hi.

KHEN SAGIHNA

Lungbuai leh mangbang taka ka om lai in ka nau phone apan hong kicall a, ken leng kin leh buang in ka lapah hi.

“Umuan, nunu gari in hihkha a hospital a om unga, phone tawikhalou inga huaiziak a hon hilhpah theilou.”

“Bangchidan in e, bang hun in.”

“Nitaklam meh lei dia a kuan na lam a bolero khat in phukha hive aw.”

“Ahihleh tua bang dinmun aom?”

“Bangmah thuchiang gen theih nailou, Doctorte’n emergency operation bawllel uh.”

“Kare poina mahmah e maw.”

“Poi petmah himai i nu zaw ithuai lua eive.”

“Hoihtak in hong kienkol unla, thu omdan hon zasak pahpah in aw.”

“Awle, ana lunghimoh law dah in aw.”

Ka lungsim chu a nuam hetkei. Ka ngaihtuahna peuh ah a kallak in ka si sak a, kei kia ngui tak in ka omna ah ka om ngetngut hi. Hih theih lah omlou, ka nu bang si hi mawkleh inn ka tun chia houpih thei nawnlou ding hi maimah inga maw chih khong ka ngaihtuah nilouh a, ka lung a gim mahmah hi. Ngaihtuahna paisau taka ka omlai in ka u in hon phone a ka lapah hi.

“Muan, i nu a khut tan ngai ding dan eive. A khe leng tang theilou. Amah ahihlebel houpih theihta”

“Kare, u a huchih mawk in nak poina maizen e maw.”

“Pathian in a lampi ding hon kawkmuh zelna ve, Ama lemgel leng hikha thei hi. Lungnuamtak a omzaw in i nu hoihtak in kem ni.”

“Himah e maw.”

Pasal kihou chu gen ding tam kithei hetlou. Ka nu tungtang in ka lungsim a suna mahmah. Ka nu khut nei nawnlou ding, vangsiat leh pai le pai thei nawnlou ding hilai chih ka ngaihtuah chia’n theihsiam hak ka sa mahmah a, Pathian bang ka mohsak kha dek zawzen hi ka nu ka itluat ziak in. Innlam pai ding leng ka tha a dah zou mahmah hi. Ka hihtheih, ka bawltheih lah bangmah omlou ahihman in ka om mun ah mittui toh ka om mai hi.

Ka nasep uh lah nikhat khong lel a zoh ding hita, va paisan dia lah hilou, paisan louh ding lah ka nu kiang utzel ka buai mahmah hi. A tawp in ka pa ka phone a, ka pa’n ngaksuak vet mai in hiai lam awlmoh huailou ahi hon chih man in ngaksuak vet mai ka sawm hi. Innlam pai kei mah leng ka lungsim tengteng innlam aom ahihman in a kallak bang in hai dek kade aw kichih uthuai phialphial mai hi.

Hunte khawllou a pai ahihman in nasep ka zousiangta ua, ka zohsiang hunhun un kou leng innlam ngai chiat chihmah kisapah in innlam ka zuan nawn ngal uhi. Kuan lam a gamla lawlou kasak hina a paikik lam in kitunghak kasa mahmah hi. Himahleh a dak zaw a lutzah a kilamdang tuankei. A tawp inzaw inn ka tung khong ua, Chingbawi pa kiang ka va pha masapen a, thil omdan leh nasepdan teng ka genkhit in a sum val ka leh nawn a, kei tan ding tamkhoptak honpe nawn hi. Huaizoh phet in gari chabi ka piak leh zang phot lai dia hon sawl teitei man in ka zang suak a, inn leng phaselou in damdawi inn ka delhsuak hi.

Damdawi inn ka tun phet in Chingbawi ka mupah a, aman leng honna delh in ka van khong hon sang a, huchi’n ka nu lupna ah ka pai uhi. Ka nu khutbei a ana om leh a kiang a ka nau tu khong ka muh in kidek haksa ka sa sim mahmah a, himahleh ka kidek teitei hi. Ka nu’n honna houpih pah a, “bawi, hon tungta maw. Kei ana hichi maimah keive” chi’n mittui luang nilnel in hon gen a, ka kiang a om Chingbawi leh ka nau leng kidek zoulou in kap ua, kei leng kapkhe hial kei mah leng ka mittui a luang zungzung hi, lem hileh duhthusam taka kah khiat mai bang a uthuai hi. Ka nu mai et leng ka en ngam nawnkei. Bangtan hiam haksa satak a ka om nung in ka u leh ka pa hon tung ua, inn lam ah Chingbawi toh va kihahkhia phot ding in hon sawl ua, huchi’n kou leng innlam ka zuanpah uhi.

Chingbawi gari ka heksak a, kei a kiang ah ka tuang hi. Saulou ka tai nung un inn ka tungpah ua, kei leng ka van teng suahkhia in kisilkhe di’n ka kisa ngal a, ka kisil sung in Chingbawi inleng ka nu van leh kei van teng honna sawpsak hi. Ka man tuak tak un common room ah ka tukhawm uhi.

“Umuan, tutung i kimuhdan nuamkei e maw.”

“Ching, khovel i chih hichi himai ve aw.”

“Umuan, kiteng zou phet i nu damlou, tua hiai a i nu hichi zel, kei vangsiat hia chi ut kahi” chi’n mittui luangzen in hon gen a, ken leng “Ching, huaidan hi zenzen lou ahi. Pathian lemgel dandan himai ahi.”

“Umuan, hi zaw himah e, hilele kei adia thuakhak lua eive.”

“Ching, nang kia a na thuak leh zaw haksa mah inteh huaiziak a Pathian toh i thuakkhawm ngai ahi, hileh i lung nuam ding.”

“Umuan, himah e maw. Tuzan nang nana tawldam inla kei damdawi inn ah i nu ka na ompih ding aw.”

“Ching, zenzen, kei gimlou kahi. Nang omna munmun ah om ding, hon taisan lou ding kahi.”

“Kipahhuaina e umuan, na kiang a ka om chiang azaw ka lungmuang petmah eive. Kei adia na poimohdan ka mu semsem.”

Ann huan khong hun manta ahihman in Chingbawi ann huan ding in hon kisapah a, kei leng neukha tawldam khak leh chi’n bench tung ah ka na lum hi. Bangbang hiam khong gen in ka kigal hou nilouh ua, ka kimuhlouh sung uh haksa ka sak dan khong uh ka kikum uhi. Chingbawi in ann hon mit in ka nih un ka ne ua, ka nekzoh un sungkuante paisak vek lel ni ann puak sese lou in chi’n puak leng ka sawm kei uhi. Ann nekkhit sawtlou om in huchi’n damdawi innlam ka zuan nawn uhi.

Ka sungkuan dang teng innlam a paisak ka hihman un kou nupa kia in ka ompih kha uhi. Chingbawi in deihthoh tak in a kem a, a sam khawng zutsak in khua lum a sak chia lai bang a zap in lungkim huai ka sa mahmah. Pianna nu lou hichi lawmlawm a kep ding thil haksapi eive ka chi lungsim hi. Himahleh Chingbawi in bangmah chiselou in hoihtak in kem a, azun-a ek siak a ngaih leleng a siaksak lel a, ka nu zak ding himhim in aw khauh zanglou in awl in kamdam in houpih hiauhiau den a, huaite ziak in aguk in ka na kipak thei mahmah hi. Himahleh hihkhial ka kisak ahihleh zi/pasalte hih hoihna khong kipahtawi luat ding, guk kipah a omzia omlou, kipahtawi a kiphat khong a za utlou omlou ahihna ah ka chi hi.

Ni bangzah hiam damdawi inn a ka om nung un ka nu leng halh mahmah ta a, a ki-atna ma teng leng damta ahihna toh innlam ah hon paisakta uhi. Innlam ah etkol theih dandan in ka enkol ua, ka nu leng kipak mahmah thou hi’n ka thei hi. Adiak in Chingbawi in midang khoihsak tamlou in amah kia in enkol den a, niteng bang in silsiang gige in siangthou tak in kem gige hi. A nu leh pate innlam phak ding i gen khak chiang bang in i nu i taisan ngam mawk di hia hon chizel a, zak nuam ka sa thei mahmah hi. Kou hoh man ngeilousim ka hihman un amau a kallak in hong pha theizel uhi.

Nitak khat Chingbawi in bang hon chi dawn himhim hiam thei ut ka hihman in ka lup un hichi’n ka houpih hi,

“Ching, nau zaw i hihna toh inntuan na utta hia?”

“Chimawk umuan, i nu kemtu ding keivoi i u in zi hon neihma, zi hon neih lam chia awl in ngaihtuah ni. Ken lah unau pasal nih lel na hih utoh loan i la dia inn hoihtak in a sawng in i bawl dia, a nuai i ute a ding, a tung ei adi’n bawl in omkhawm lelleng ka ut a.”

“Na ngaihdan thupi mahmah e Ching, pil gawp le hita vechin aw, hon kiphazou nawnkei, hehe.”

“Na bang a, nang hon chiiltu na pil chihna eilel voi.”

“Ching, ken maw na gamtat dan khong ana enen inga, fel leh thupi honsa petmah. Na tung ah kipahthu gen ding hau lawtel kahi.”

“Chimawk umuan, ka sep ding leh ka hih ding teng mah hihlel keivoi, nang mi phatphat.”

“Phat hilou hial, nang bangbang numei vang mahmah inteh khovel a, numei hoih omsun ken tangkha ka chih chia kipak petmah. I nu leh pa, i u leh nau na bawldan khong lah lungtun huai law mahmah ahihchia.”

“Zawzen na uang” chi’n nui seisai a, genkhe kei mahleh kipak lawtel ahi chih ka thei hi. Mihing khong i kipahtawi siam leh kuamah fellou leh hoihlou omlou hi’n ka koih lel hi.

Nitak lungmuangtak in ka ihmu theivek ua, zingkal bang ka khangma zawzen uhi. Ka thohphet in ka phone ka etleh Chingbawi pa apan miss called ana om a, ken leng kindeuh in ka call kikpah hi.

“Hello Pa, honna call maw, khangma kha hive ung aw.”

“Muan, nasep ding khat om nawn, patpah ngai ding ahihna ah sun chia hong phaphei ou.”

“Awle.”

Zing ann nekzoh in Chingbawi toh a innlam uh ka va pha uhi. A nu leh pa ana om ua, Chingbawi a nu toh bangbang hiam gen in buai ua, kei toh apa bel nasep ding dan kikum in ka buai mahmah uhi. Ka gen ding teng ka gen zoh un Chingbawi pa’n chiamnuih thutak in “Muan, tutung chu nang a di liauliau in a val teng i koih dia, na inn ding uh hoihtak khat na bawlzohna di’n panla ni” hong chi a, kipaksim ka hi ngei dia ka nui heuhau hi.

Sun singpi khong ka dawn zoh un Chingbawi in “Umuan, i nu ka hahsiang ut, paita ni, aman le honna ngaita inteh” chi’n pai di’n hon zawn a, ken leng bangmah gen tamlou in ka paipih pah hi. Inn ka tun un a chih bang in ka nu hoihtak in silsiang a, powder khong nuh in a chei hi. Chingbawi fellua ahihman in ka nau bang hih ding theilou khong in a om heihoi khasek hi. Hih ding mel leng theilou ka hihman in bench ah lum zenzan kawm in laibu khong ka sim a, tuanvai lamte man hunhun a ann nek ding ngak ka himai hi.

Nitak hun in common room ah ka innkuan un ka tukhawm zeizai ua, thu tuamtuam gen in ka chiak zuazua uhi. Ka nu’n lah ka upa nungak hel di’n sawl gige a, hileleng a ngah zou ngeikei hi. Chiamnuih in nang na zon ngeikei leh na naupa zongsak ding kahi uh zi zon siamlua ahi peuh achi ua, ka nui zaizai zel uhi. Huchia innkuan kituaktak a omkhawm zaizai a nopdan ka chiang semsem a, pankhawm a nopdan ka mu semsem hi.

Nitak kikhopna ka nei ua, ka neihzoh un lupna lam chiat zuan in lum di’n ka kisa chiat uhi. Ka lup un Chingbawi in “Umuan, na phone kong en” chi’n hon ngen a, ken leng ka pepah hi. Chingbawi in ka whatsapp message-te khawng ana ban et dandan a, message khat ka delete khaklouh aom lah ka phawkkhe phut a, a guktak in poi ka na sa mahmah hi. Huai message ahihleh nasem a ka kuan masak lai ua ka nasepna khote uh nungak khat in honna ngai a, “Umuan, kon ngailua” chih hon khak ana hihi.

KHEN GIATNA

Chingbawi in a mukha de aw chi’n ka guk et a, mu nailou ahihman in ka lung a muang hi. Bangtan hiam a khin touhtouh nung in hong mu petmah a ka lung a buai mahmah. Nupa kinak ding deihlou lawtel ka hihman in. Chingbawi ka ang lam ah hong kiheiphei a, ka lungsim a nuam kei deuhdeuh, a heh luat khak ding lau petmah ka hihman in. Bangtan hiam dai dide a aom nung in ka mai hong en a, hichi’n hong chi hi.

“Umuan, kei bangbang a honna ngailua bang om ahi maw?”

“Ching, papa’n nasepna enkai dia hon sawl masak lai a ka omna khote khat un honna ngai a hiai bang message hon khak ahi, ken thuk le sawm tuanlou a hichia ka koih ahi.”

“Umuan, kon theisiam, mihing i hihna ah hon ngai om thei mah hi maw. Midang na lunggulh louhna dia kei lam naksem a pan ka lak ngai eive maw.”

Chingbawi hon thugen in ka lungtang hon sun kha mahmah hi’n ka thei. Hon hehsan ngeingei leh ei leng kihehsam dia kinak ding maban ahihlai a theisiam taka kamdam a hong houpih in ka lungsim a la mahmah, ana ngaisim kha hileng le khen mai uthuai khop ding in hon koih hi. Kitheihsiamna toh kamdam a kihou inzaw hinkhua hon khek zou mahmah hive aw chih ka muchian semsem hi.

Kina dia kigingta mahmah lai kituaktak a kon om theih uh hi manpha kasa mahmah a, lungnuam tak in ka ihmu tuak thei uhi. Zingkal ka thoupah ua, inn nna sep theihtheih sem in ka nih un ka buai mahmah uhi. Dam leh zinkhe pah ding ka hih zomah toh Chingbawi ka am mahmah a, ka huh theih bangbang in a nasep ka huh zel hi. Puan a sawp leh a tui ding ka khaisak a, ka panpih theihna om teng ah ka panpih a, amah ngei leng kipak mahmah ahi chih ka thei hi.

Sun hong hi nawnta a, hih ding pilua omlou ahihna toh varandah khong ah ka tu maimai uhi. Chingbawi inleng ka nu leh pate poimoh ding teng a sepzoh in ka kiang ah hong tu a, ka houlim kha nilouh uhi.

“Umuan, zingchia nang zin zel ding kon ngai mah di.”

“Ching, nang sang inleng ken kon ngai zaw diam maw.”

“Umuan, tulai ka mangte leng noplou theilua a hithei leh na zin ding zaw hon phal khollou keive.”

“Ching, mang i chih khong mang himai ahi, mang ziak in kisulungkham zenzen lou e.”

“Hilele a tangtung tamlua eivoi.”

“A tangtung zaw omkha mah inteh hilele hivek lou ding ahi.”

“Umuan, nou network omlouhna a om ding hi zomah maw, kei bang ana suak ding.”

“Ching, dam di hang a kimunawn pah ding ihi.”

“Umuan, a kha a sim khong ken pah salou keive, hun teng nang toh zatkhawm mahmah ahi ka ut gige.”

“Ching, huai zaw a uthuaipen himah e, hilele thil hithei gige hilou amaw.”

“Himah e maw umuan, i hon ngaihluat man in thilteng i hon gen kha pahpah a hi, ana theisiam zel in aw.”

“Theisiam tham e, hiai sa uangzaw lechin le hon theisiam lai dia mansa gige kahi.”

“Umuan, nang mahmah ka lung hon muangsak gige nahi.”

Hichia ka houlim sung un ann huan khong hun nawn man ahihziak in Chingbawi in hon paikhiat san nawn hi. Kei leng hih ding mel om tuanlou ahihna ah ann nek ngakna kawm in bench ah ka lum nilouh hi. Ka lup kawm in Chingbawi in a mangsiat thu hong gen khawng ka ngaihtuah kha nilouh a, amah mai a lungnuamlou bang a om ut hetkei mah leng ka lung chu a nuam taktak hetkei hi.

Bangtan hiam kingaihtuah kawm a ka om dedu nung in ann ne ding in hong sam ua, kei leng thazoi simtak kawm in ann ne ding in ka va pai hi. Chingbawi in ka nu sikkeu a ann pekawm in tulai a mangte lamdang a sak dan khong gen beh zomah lai a, ka lung noplouhna a behlap semsem hi. Huaiziak mah leng ahidia nidang toh teh ding in ann leng ka nezou ngel kei hi.

Ann nezou common room ah ka tukhawm neinai ua, nidang ka zin ding chiang a kikhelah leh thu tuamtuam kivaikhak kawm a houlim zaizai hinapi in tunitak chu ka dai zikzik ua, a pau mel leng omlou in ka ki-entuah lukluk zel uhi. A tawp in ka pa hong ding tou a zingchiang a zin ding ka hihna toh kikhopna saulou bek nei nawn ding chin hon neihpih a, thumna hoihtak a hon neihsak zoh nung un ka lupna lam chiat uh ka zuan nawn uhi.

Kou leng Chingbawi toh ka lupna lam ka zuan ngal ua, puan khong bawlhoih in ka lum uhi. Chingbawi mel ka et chiang in mual ka salua a nop kasa hetkei hi. Gen ding pen leng theilou a ka omlai in Chingbawi in hong houpih a,

“Umuan, zingchia kon zui mai diam?”

“Bang achia maw Ching?”

“Umuan, na kiang a omdet ka ut, nang kia na om ding ka phalkei.”

“Ching, nidang a lah nui hiuhiau kawm a hon kha hichin a tutung bangchi e?”

“Umuan ei, kon ngaihtha suak deuhdeuh, nang kiang lou aom ding ka utkei.”

“Ching, kei kianglou midang kiang a om ding lah hilou chin a, kei leng ka nasep uh ka zoh phet chiang ua hon kikpah ding inga nang toh hun nuam zangkhawm den ding i hi.”

“Umuan, himah e hilele tutung zaw kon ngaihna a puang diak. I pa a heh lele hehsuk henla zin kei lechin leng poisalou khop kahi.”

“Ching, non it a ka kipaklua, hilele i pa tunitan a ei hon domtoutu ahihna ah ama thusel ding zaw ka sisan in ngamlou ahi.”

“Umuan, himah e, bangteng hileh kon itluat ziak a thilteng hon gen kahi a ana theisiam mai in aw.”

Hichia houlim kawmkawm in ka ihmu thei vanglak uhi. Zingkal ka thoupah ua, ka van ding khong guang in ka buai hi. Nidang a Chingbawi in ka van ding teng hon khepsak a hon guansak gige himahleh tutung inbel ka kiang ah leng aom kei a, lungsim bang a nuam kei zawzen hi. Ka van puak ding tengteng ka guan fel vek khitnung in common room ah ka pawtkhia a, ka sungte ana omvek uhi. Kei mit hah leh ngaihdan ziak hia ka innkuante ngui vek bang in ka mu hial hi.

Ann nekzoh in Chingbawi toh a innlam uh zuan in ka taipah ua, zekai sim ka hi ding uam kuan pih ding teng ana man khinvek un kei kia honna ngak uhi. Chingbawi pa’n ka puak ding leh a poimoh bangkim hon piakfel zoh in Chingbawi toh mangpha kikhak in ka hohna ding lam uh zuan in ka taikhe vengveng uhi. Sawt sim mahmah ka tai nung un ka nasepna ding mun uh ka tung ua, giahbuk ding leh bangkim bawlfel pah in ka zoh un ka tawldam uhi.

Ka omna uh khote kiang ah a khokim ua network omna omkha hiam chia ka kanleh mun khat hon kawkmuh ua, huailam ka va zuan ngal hi. A gen bang un network ana om zenzen a, Chingbawi ka houpih pah ngal hi.

“Hello Ching, ka omna ding mun uh ka tungkhinta uh. A khonawl uh munkhat a network om zenzen a huai a va pai kahi.”

“Hia umuan ka kipak e, ken kihou thei nawnlou di sa a ana lungkhamlua kahi.”

“Ching, i itte adia maw a lampi ding kizong densam ahi.”

“Umuan, na kamsiam lua, kon ngai e, hon kik di hita lechin ka utlua.”

“Eivoi maw, keile ka utlua, na kiang aom gige thei hileng uthuai hina e.”

Kihou khin manlou in network hong bei a, lakloh sa kawm pipi in ka omna lam uh zuan in ka pai mai hi. Nitaklam ann nezou khua mialpan chih ding in vuah mal bang hong kia a, ka lunglen tha a suak mahmah mai hi. Chingbawi leh ka innkuante ka ngaihna a lian diak hi’n ka thei, nidang a leng ana zinsek himahleng tutung bel innlam ngaihna uang diak hi’n ka thei.

Nasep ka hon pan ua, himahleh ka lunglutna a tawm mahmah. Nidang a nasemte toh chiamnuih a nopsatak a omsek himahle ung tutung inbel ka huchi hetkei hi. Chingbawi lah mawk in ka houpih thei nawnkei a, ka lunglen toh kah tha a suah ni a tam mahmah. Zan leng ka ihmu taktak ngeikei a, ka tha a ke mahmah hi’n ka thei. Himahleh ka omdan teng lawmte theih ding ka utlouh man in a halh mahmah bang in ka omzel sam hi.

Nitak khat ihmu thei hetlou in ka om nawn a, kileklek a ka om nung ka ihmu thei khong hi. Ka mang in Chingbawi in puan ngou silh kawm in ka kiang ah hon pai a, ka biang hon tawpsak in “umuan, mangpha” chih toh byebye hon khak mawk hi. Huaizoh in thakhat in ka khanglou a, ka kimvel bang ka en tuantuan a, lah bangmah ka mukei. Ka phone ka en a, lah houpih theih ding kuamah aom tuankei. Ka ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah a, innlam a kik mai ding bang ka sawm thepthup a lah ka mohpuakna taihsat mawk ding hi ka sa theikei zel hi.

Zingkhua hong vak phet in network omna lam ah ka va taikhia a, vangphat huaitak in line ana hoih zenzen ahihman in Chingbawi ka phone pah hi.

“Hello, Ching na dam maw.”

“Umuan, dam mah ing ei, bangchidan e zing khangkhang in non phone mawk a.”

“Ching hon ngailua inga hon phone mawk kahi.”

“Umuan, ken le hon ngai gawp hong pai maive maw.”

“Ching kei leng hon pai utmai kahi.”

“Umuan, hon pai inla a nuam a haksa thuakkhawm zaw ni.”

Kihoukhin manlou in line hong kitan nawn a, ka try thakthak chiang inleng ka houpih thei nawnkei hi. Heh tha suah toh hi leiluai in ka omna lam uh ka zuan nawn hi. Ka omna mun ka tun nung sawtlou in ann huante’n ann hong thuk ua himahleh ann nezou ding ka hikei, ka lungngaihna lian law mahmahta ahihman in. Nasemte leng ka enkai zou nawnkei a, a hih bangbang uh ka pom suk mai hi. Sunkhua kingaihtuahna toh hun ka zat nung in zankhua hong mial zel a, hih ding lah omlou ahihtoh kingaihtuahna hun in ka zang den hi.

Zankhua in Chingbawi leh ka innkuante ka ngaihtuah a, a kallak bang in ka mittui ka nul zel hi. Kei adi’n zaw lunggimna zanmial ahimai. Himahleh thusia za hihial samlou ka hihman in neukha ka puak a dan omdeuh hi. Ihmut lah nei ngei ngellou, ann nasan lah ne zoulou a omden ka hihman in ka gawng zou hial a, ka lawmte bang in lamdang honsa thei mahmah uhi. Chingbawi tonpih kha himai leng uthuai hina e ka chih vungvung hun bang a tam mahmah.

Zankhua a ihmulou zel in khua in hong vak khum nawn hi. Khua hon vak phet toh kiton in nasemte’n leng a nasepna uh pan ngal ahihman un peihlou sasa in kei leng a lak ua ka va kihel tei sam hi. Bangtan hiam nasemte sep ka etkai nung in ann nek hunta ahihman in ann ne ding in ka paikhawm siausiau uhi. Ann nezou phet in nasep ka pan nawn ngal ua, kei leng nasemte lak ah a etpih kawm in ka va omden hi.

Sun hun hong hita a, nasemte lak a om ding leng ka tha nguai lua ahihtoh chi in ka giahbuk a ka om hi. Dak 12:00 lak in gari ging ka za a, ka gal et leh Chingbawi pa gari ahi chih ka thei mai a hattak in hong tai vevu ahihna ah lamdang ka sa sim hi nidang a hat tai ngeilou ahihna ah. Ka omna apan pawtkhia in kana din ngak a, ka kiang hong tun un Chingbawi pa leh ka u hong pawtkhia ua, lamdang sakna toh kidim in ka om hi.

Chingbawi pa’n “Muan, inn lam ah poimoh om, i pai phot ngai ding” chih teng hon gen in thudang bangmah hon gen kei a, ken leng va kan tuautuau tuanlou in ka zuisuk ngal hi. Dakkal bangzah hiam ka tai nung un Chingbawi pate inn ka tung un, damdawi inn lam zuansuak ni hong chi ahihman un huailam ka taisuk ngal uhi. Ka lungsim ah ka nu buaisia hi ngeingei ding in ka koih a, lungkham tak in a nung uh ka zui hi.

Hospital ka tun un mi tampi, tanaute khong ana om leiluai ua, kei bangmah theilou in ka ute nung ka zui hi. Room khat ah hong lutpih ua, huai ah Chingbawi ngou kikkek zen a lum ka mu a, a lu a khut ka khoih a, a na vot dikdekta hi. Ka pa’n hong houpih a “Bawi, Chingbawi kikhahsuah eita maive” hon chi a, etna ding mel leng theilou in Chingbawi lum dildel ka phongtou a, kawi kawm in ka kapkhe zuazua mai hi. Ka nu tegel leh ka nau in hong kawi kawm un hong kahpih ekek uhi. Chingbawi mel dang diidiai et hak kasa mahmah a, nidang a khualzin ka tun teng a nuihmai toh ka van hon sang gige tu tua hichia om mai puak hak kasa mahmah. Ka etna lampeuh lah beidotna a suakta, mittui loungal suan ding ka nei nawnkei hi.

KHEN KUANA

Chingbawi ka ang a ka pomtou a, sawi in ka sawi mai hi. Ching ken na aw za utlaw lai keive, khatvei bek Umuan hong chilai lou ding maw chi’n kapkawm in ka samsam hi. “Ching, maban ah i sepkhawm ding tam lawlai hilou maw, bangziak a non hichih phut ahia?” chi’n mittui toh ka kidim hi. Huchia ka sapsap lai in a khut hong tang bang a ka theihziak in thakhat in ka kah ka khawl a, lupna tung ah awl in ka sialsuk hi. A sou ka khoihsak a, a sou omzek lai a ka theihman in kintak in Doctor ka samsak hi.

Doctor inleng ka thugen gingta chiahlou hileh kilawm in hong lut nulnul a, aman leng a sou khong hong khoih in nurse-te kiang ah oxygen kintak a la ding in thu pia hi. Bangmah kallou in oxygen hong tung a, a bulhsak pah uhi. Awlawl a hon nak hiaihiai a ka theihman un a om teng ka kipak petmah ua, a guk in Pathian kiang ah kipahthu ka gengen mai hi. Doctor in a kiang ah mi nih kan omkei unla a dang teng pawt un chi’n hong noh a, kei toh ka nau in ompih in a dang teng innkong lam ah a pawtkhe vek uhi.

Chingbawi ka enden a, a nak khawng bang leng hoih hiaihiai a thei ka hihman in ka kipak petmah. A kiang a tu in a sam khawng awl in ka zutsak hiauhiau a, khua lumsim ahihtoh ka nau in paper khauh khat in a zap den hi. Innkong lam a omte leng lunghimoh ahingei ding ua, hong phone den uhi. Halh lam manoh ahihdan ka zasak zel a, amau leng kipaktak in ana om uhi.

Bangtan hiam zoh in Doctor kiang ah ka va guk hoh a, thil omdan hoihtak in ka va kan hi.

“Sir, Chingbawi bang natna tak a na ahia?”

“Stroke pian ahi.”

“Ahihleh a damsuah zou diam?”

“Gen hak mahmah, denlam a leng a beituk a ka koih uh ahi a, tua hon nakkhe thei nawn ahihna ah lametna om in ka thei.”

“Sir, hehpihtak in hon damsuah theihna ding in na theihtawp hon suahpih mahmah in aw.”

“Hitham e, theihtawp i suah dia, nou leng bangkim hihthei Pathian kiang ah ana thum le uchin.”

“Awle ka kipak e.”

Doctorpa’n lametna om a chih in ka lung a muangsak tuan mahmah hi. Chingbawi kiang ah ka lut nawn a, ama toh teh di’n ka omdan zang tuan mahmah ahihman in ka nuihmai ka suah thei samta hi. Ka nau inleng nui heuhau a ka om lamdang sa sim ahidia “U, bangthu va za e?” hon chi a, ken leng “Doctor in na u Ching dam ding ahi chih hon hilh ahi” ka chih leh ka nau leng a kipak mahmah a, ka nih un lungnuamtak in ka om theita uhi.

Khualzin inn leng tung nailou ka hi a, inn a neukha bek va kihahkhe ding in hong sawl nilouh ua, himahleh Chingbawi taihsat ding ka ut nawnkei. Chingbawi toh inn ka lutkhawm ma ka paikei ding ka chi hi. Kingailaw mahmah tuak ka hihlam uh theivek ahihna ua kuaman leng hong sawl teitei ngam nawnkei uhi. Nitaklam ann khong ka nekkhit un nursete’n drip khawng hong khai ua, ka nau toh Chingbawi nu toh kou teng in ka ompih uhi.

Zankhua in khatvei mah leng mitsi lou in Chingbawi kiang ah ka tu ngiungeu den a, a nak khong a hoihna hiam chih ka enden hi. Zinglam dak 4:00 vel in a mit hong hak kuau a, kim leh kiang khong en dandan ahihman in ka na kipak gusim mahmah a, himahleh bangmah lou kal in hon mitsitsan nawn hi. Khovak dong tutpih ka hihman in kei leng ka gimsim mahmahta a, himahleh gim ka kichi ut naikei, Chingbawi adi’n hiai sang a gimzawkna ding om leleng ka telzaw hi.

Khua vak hoih mahmah ta ahihman in ka nau singpi la ding in ka sawl a, mai khong phiatkhia in singpi ka dawn uhi. Ka nu kiang ah nang ann huan ding na hihtoh ana pai in chi’n ka sawl a, ut naikei sim mahleh ka u bang leng hong tungsuk khin ahihman in hong paisan hi. A painung sawtlou in kei leng Chingbawi lupna nuai ah puan phah in neukha bek ihmu ding in ka kisa hi. Gimsim mah kahi ding a bangmah lou kal in ka ihmusuk pah hi. Mang khat ka nei nawn a, ka mang in Chingbawi gamlapi apan hong tai a, ka kiang hong tun tak in mittui luang zungzung kawm in hong kawi a, ken leng kawibelh in sawtkhop ka kikawi uhi. Ka kikawi zoh un ka paikhia ua, chikmah a ka lut ngeilouhna inn hoihtak khat ah ka lutkhawm ua, innsung lut dia ka kisak laitak un ka khanglou guih hi.

Ka khanloh phet in ka mang ka ngaihtuah ngal a, Chingbawi hong dam dia, innthak a lutkhawm ding kahi uh chi’n kei leh kei ka kikhiat a, ka nuigu heuhau hi. Ka lupna apan thoukhia in Chingbawi kiang ka va pai leh a mit bang ana hak theita a, hon muh phet in a mittui pawt ngal in banghiam gen hi awmtak in a pau nulnul a, himahleh a aw suakzou nailou ahihman in a gen ka theikei. A lu ah ka kawisuk a, a mittuite hoihtak in ka nulsiang sak a, huaizoh in amah leng neukha hong nuihmai thei hi. Neukha chik a nuihmai ka muh bang leng kei adi’n a nop mahmah.

Hunte hong paizel a, Chingbawi leng ngeina hon bang nawn panpanta hi. A nasep ngeinate hong sutzop theihtak man in kipahhuai ka sa mahmah a, himahleh a lehlam ah kei nasep zoulou a hong pai mawk ka hihna ah ka kiksanpah ngai ding chih ka ngaihtuah chia’n haksa ka sa sim mahmah zel hi. Chingbawi pa ngei inleng kisuanglah sasa a na va sunzom nawn mai diam hon chi numnum ahihna ah sel ding ka utkei hi. Huaiziak mah in zin nawnpah ding ka thupuk hi, sawt om ngai nawnlou ding ahihna toh.

Ka zinma ding nitak hong hi nawnta a, ka lup in Chingbawi a pautam hetkei. A guk in a mittui a nulnul chih bel ka haihkei hileleng a thei dan a va om luat ding ka utkei hi. A tawp in ka houpih a,

“Ching, Pathian na muang hia?”

“Muang zenzen e Umuan, bachia e.”

“Pathian kiang ah naktak in thum semsem ni aw, kipahthu gen ding leng tamlua ahi. Doctorte’n a si a hong koih nung uale na hinna hong omsak lai kipahhuai law mahmah.”

“Eivoi maw Umuan, a himhim a i nute gel nung a kei ka hichih nawnzel bangchi lawmlawm ahi ding.”

“Ching, Pathian in maw a itte sawinak ahi. Banglam hiam a hong dopsang ut chiang a haksatna lampi hong tawnsak zel ahi. Tua leng banglam hiam a hon dopsang utziak hizaw ding ahi.”

“Achang a zaw lungkiat huai dekdek eive umuan.”

“Ching, Kris nungzuihna i chih maw lungkiat hun a leng lungkiat louh ahi.”

“Hizel mah e maw, Umuan zingchia hon zin san zel ding hichi’n amaw. A hun suan a kham theih hileh utna ing e.”

“Ching, kikhen hun bang omzel dia, kimuh hun bang omzel ding ahi.”

“Umuan, tuban kuan nawn dah maive, kei loh in i kitoudelh dia i nek bangbang i nekhawm mai kei di ua.”

“Ching, midang zui hileng kenle ka hon taisan nawnkei ding, tua i pa ka huh theihna omsun ahihchia a thu nial sawmlou kahi.”

“Umuan, i pate khong non hichi poimoh ngaihsak chiang a i hon itna lian semsem eive.”

“Ching, nang le i nute khong ittak leh deihthohtak a kem chin a itna leh kipahna a kidim gige ahi.”

“A gen dan na siam theisek, na kampau nemlua inchin hehna di om lele kihehthei keileh kilawm.”

“Kamsiam in siallei a sang chih paunak bang a khat a heh chia le khat ana heh hetkei leh kisiat-kinak chih om theilou ahi. Nang lungkim lou a kon theihsim leh kei nem a ka na nem ding ahi.”

“Umuan, hilua maw. Abik a nupa hinkhua khong zaw kitheihsiam tuah a, kibawltuah ngai petmah ahihdan ka mu semsem.”

“Huai hilua ahi. Nupi khat in a pasal kiang a ata uh nusia inchin pawtsan, chihleh a pawtkal a ata kapden, apan khem theilou ahihchia heh law mahmah, na nu hong tung na ngeingei aw, beng di kahi chia a ha bang gawi tonton zen. Bangtan hiam nung a anu hong pai kindeuh a naungek sang kawm a Bawi, bachia na pa ngailou a kap zenzen e, ken ka ngaihngaih toh a chih leh a pasal hehna tengteng bei gai. Huaidan a nupa kal bang a kampha a kihoutuah in kituahna tun ahi.”

“Haha, umuan ka nuih a zalua, na thu theihte mahmah le.”

Hichia ka houlim kawmkawm un ka ihmu uhi. Zingkhua hong vak tak in ka nupa un ka thoukhia ua, kihahsiang in singpi khawng ka dawn uhi. Chingbawi in innsung nna tuamtuam a hih dingte hong hih a, kei leng hih di om tuanlou ahihtoh chi’n a tuizat ding khong innkong well apan ka na khaisak a, a tui ding bang ka na ngahsak hi. Hichibang a ka zi nasep ka huh chiang in ka zi in kipahthu hong genkhial ngeikei a, huai in pautam hetkei mah leng huh utna tha hong guan semsem hi, huai va hih aw chih sang in huai non hihsak thei diam a chih khawng uh a zak nopdan a kibang hetkei hi.

Zing ann nekhin in ka van khong Chingbawi toh ka sa ua, ka sak zoh un a innlam uh ka tawn masa uhi. Chingbawi pa toh gentuak leh hih ding teng ka hih fel zoh un Chingbawi mangpha khak in ka nasepna lam uh zuan in ka tai vengveng hi. Dakkal bangzah hiam ka tai nung in ka nasepna mun ka tung a, lawmte’n honna muh phet un nasem lai khawl zawzen in thil omdan honna kan ua, honna lunghimoh thu bang uh hon gen kheukhou uhi. Nasepnate ka ban et a, kal khat sung a kizou mahmah ding ahihdan ka mu a, ka lung a nuam tuan mahmah hi.

Chingbawi ngai a akal a sim bang sunkhua-zankhua hun ka zat zoh nung in nasep ka hon zou thei khongkhong ta ua, nasemte loh ding leh bangkim ka hih fel zoh vek nung in pai ding in ka kisa nainai uhi. Ka paikhiat ma deuh un network omna mun ah ka va taizual a, Chingbawi ka va houpih hi.

“Hello Ching bang na hih a?”

“Bang hih lawlou, meh khong huan. Umuan, bachia non call ngei tellouh e, hon kingailua a.”

“Ching, kitaikhiakhia manlou a huaiziak hi, enle hon ngailua hang. Bangchidan e sun tang lailai a meh huan chih mawk.”

“Papa’n maw tuni nasemte hon tung vek ding ahihna ua ann nekkhawmpih ding chi a, kou leng innkuan a ana paiphei kahi uh.”

“Aw, huaidan maw. Kipahhuai tuak na e leh.”

“Nou hon kipankhe nailou maw umuan.”

“I kihou zoh hunhun a hon kipankhe di.”

“A chih leh koih ni leh hon kipankhe pah zaw ua kon ngai gawp.”

“Awle.”

Kihoukhin phet ka taisuk ngal ua, lawmte kiang ah leng ann honna huan uh ahihdan hilh in ka kipankhia uhi. Lamkal ah maban inn bawl ding dan khong leh bangbang hiam ngaihtuah kawm in ka taisuk ua, ama a paisuk khong toh teh dia lungnuam ahingei dia tungsuk baih bang ka kisa zawzen hi.

Ka tunphet un Chingbawi in nuihmai tak toh honna delhpah a, ka bag hon sangpah in innsung ah hong lut pih a, a room ah hon khawlpih hi. A room a kisilna buk omsa ahihman in huai ah ka kisilkhepah a, ka puansilh ding khong Chingbawi in inn apan ana tawi om ahihman in huaite khong ka silhpah hi.

“Umuan, na gimlua hia, nana tawldam phot diam?”

“Na mel ka muh leh ka gimna tengteng a beita ve.”

“Haha, na kamsiam gige kasa.”

“Kamsiam hi mawklou, numei hoih leh pilte maw pasal adia damdawi hoih penpen ahi uh.”

“Gen dan bang siam theilaw se.”

“A hihi gen i ka.”

Hichia kipaktak a houlim kawm in inn kong lam ah ka pawtkhe nawn ua, nasemte leng kihahtoh meh huante huh toh aom nuainuai ua, ka khom un nuamsa in ka kipak vek uhi. Ka innkuante leng kimtak aom uh ahihman in kei adi’n a nop semsem hi. Chingbawi toh ka hihhih ka hihkhawm ua, a kallak a kichiamnuih kawm in ka sepsep uh semkhawm in nopsatak in ka om uhi. Ann leh meh teng a mit khit in ann nek hunma kal hun awng hong om a, kou leng common room lam ah ka tulut nawn uhi. Chingbawi in nui heuhau kawm in ka mai hong en a, “Umuan, thilkhat na zak ut mahmah ding khat kon hilh di om eive” hon chi a, kei leng theih utna lungsim toh Chingbawi ka enpah hi.

KHEN SAWMNA

“Ching, bang e hon gen di, ka thei ut law zok” chi’n ka dong a, hon nuihsan in hon dawngpah kei zomah hi. “Kin ve” chi’n ka noh ekek a, a tawp in “Umuan, zan a i nau toh hospital a ka va kicheck up sak uale naupai honna chi uh” hong chi a, kipahna toh ka nui heuhau hi. Kipakselua a gil bang ka zutsak hanhan zawzen hi. Tutung khualzin ka tung hun dang toh a kikhai kasa mahmah, kipahna lam ngen in honna vaidawn ahihman in.

Bangtan hiam ka tawldam zoh nung un ann hong thuk ua, kou leng ka nepah uhi. Ka meh uh limsa chiat ka hi ding uam ah buh leh meh bang ka gaivek hial uhi. Ann nekzoh in Chingbawi pa’n Chingbawi toh ka pa toh a room ah hong sam a, bang gen ut eide aw chi’n ka va lut uhi. “Muan, tutung apen i gensa bang in a val lakh 30 bang om ahihna ah avek in na tang ding ua, inn leh lou hoihtak a puahna in ana zang un” chi’n hong pia a, san louh ding lah hilou lah san ngamhuai lou phial a bang a, kisuanlahna leh kipahna toh ka kidim uhi.

Sum hong piakkhit in bangtan hiam ka tuzek lai ua, huchi’n inn lam zuan in ka pai nawn uhi. Inn ka tun un hih ding pilua leng omlou ahihna toh Chingbawi toh varandah ah ka houlim maimai uhi.

“Umuan, na zinna lam lah bang achi a?”

“Nop chih ding himai.”

“K’on ngailua hong chi ding lah om nawnlou hia, haha.”

“Haha, na bang ahi. Numei le va mukha mahmah khang.”

“Mukha lechin le poilou, kon muang lawna ve Umuan.”

“Ching, chikchia doctor kiang a hoh nawn ding. Na gil khawng nalou hia?”

“Bangmah chi hetlou vanglak keive. Nang houh nana thuakkha zaw diam maw.”

“Chimawk ken bangchi thuak di. Nang naupai ken ka thuak thei mawk di hia.”

“Hilou pasal bangle nau haih om thei eive.”

“Aw huchidan khong om ana hidan eive maw. Huailam zaw ka theisau kei hilele tulai ka sungnim nak a uak khop kahi ka sung hatlou adiam?”

“Hmmmm, tu’n a chiangta vele. Nau haih neivoi.”

“Haha, huaidan chi aw. Bang a poisam a maw thuakkhawm mah nop hiven.”

“Haha, himai.”

Hichia ka houlim sung un khua hong mial man a, kou leng innsung ah common room ah innkuante toh ka tukhawm zeizai uhi. Ka pa’n ka u toh ka kiang ua inn bawl ding thu hon houlimpih a, kou leng hoihsa tuak ka hih ban uah Chingbawi pa zal a a sum ding leng omsa ahihna toh zingchiang a tua ka inn pen uh phel a, a nawl deuh a om zual theihna ding bawl a, inn thak lam patpah ding ka sawm uhi. Ka nu, Chingbawi leh ka nau inlah kou pasalte gen hong sellou himhim ding ahihna ua thupukna ka bawlsuk mai uhi.

Ka inn deihdan chiat uh khawng kigenhuan in ka chiak zaizai ua, kou khom in nuam ka sa mahmah chiat uhi. Zan bang hong sawt sim man ahihman in innkuan thumna nei in kou room chiat ka zuan nawn uhi. Chingbawi in lupna hong bawlfel pah a, huchi’n ka lumsuk ngal uhi. Lupkawm in Chingbawi toh bangbang hiam ka houlim ua, huchi’n nuamtak in ka ihmu nawn uhi.

Zingkhua hong vak a, Chingbawi thohpihpah in lawmte’n zite’n nau apai lai ua walking pih zel ding a chih uh theikha ka hihman in sau lawlou meh ding khawng etkawm in ka va walking pih hi. Ka tun kik nawn un Chingbawi in inn nasep dingte hong sem a, ken leng ka huh theih khomkhom in ka na huh tei hi. Ka nau leng hong thoupah a, a uching seppih in a nih un a buaituak mahmah uhi. Kei ka hihleh huangsung ah inn lamna ding khong ngaihtuah kawm in ka vak hi.

Ka u hong thou a, “Muan, tuni tha i chial mai uh hoih ding ahihna ah nang meh ding sa va lei inla kei tanaute thachial in ka va kuan ding” hong chi a, ken leng hoihsa ka hihman in hon sawlna lam ah ka kuanpah hi. Sa ser 10 ka va lei a, inn tung phet in ka nite, ka tanute uh sam in ka bawlpah uhi. Sa bawl ka zoh un Chingbawite leng manta ahihman un ann ka nepah ua, ann nekzoh phet in nasem ding in ka kisa ngal uhi.

Ka u in a va chial bang ngei in tanaute leh lawm leh vual hun khop hong kuan ua, inn phelna sunma phial in ka zou uhi. Ka zohphet un ka omna ding uh bawlna ka nei nawn ngal uhi. Huangsung lianlua hilou ahihna ah inn lianlou khat om theih zualna di’n ka bawltawm ua, ka nasep ding teng uh khomui kuan in ka zou vanglak uhi. Ka zoh phet un ann ka ne ua, ann nezou ka mansiang zoh un ka buk bawl ua ta zoulou ding ka hihna utoh Chingbawite inn lam a giak ding in ka kuan phei uhi.

Chingbawite inn ka tung ua, a nu leh pa ana om uhi. Tung baih ka kisak sim uleh amau tunghak honna sa zomah uhi pawtna ding nei ahihman un. Sawt om nailou in hong pawtsan ngal ua, ka kingaihlai bang uh ka phawk zawzen hi. Chingbawi ka en a,

“Ching, i kingaih tunglai dan i pan thak diam?”

“Haha, na utleh pan lalaih ve.”

“Chihmawk ei kia in i pan thei mawk di hia.”

“Abang, naupang khong na bang dekdek.”

“Haha, hon ngailua hang a hon thohthoh hihang ei.”

“Kare, hiai sa hon ngai zawlai lechin a thuak hak sim di e, haha.”

“Thuak hak thou di kei mahvoi.”

“Umuan, i inn lam dek uh nang na deihdan bangchidan a.”

“Nang deihdan hon gen masa di leh.”

“Ken chu ka pasal deih dandan ka deihdan himai.”

“Kamsiam zel e aw. Ken maw sawng khat tan a lam ka deih.”

“Inn bawl bang le ngaihdan a tamluat chiang a hoihlou utzaw eive maw.”

“Hilua, huchi-khachi in hih zaw le uchin chih thu tam a hong tam ding ahi.”

Ka houlimna uh a nuam mahmah a, himahleh Chingbawi nute leng hon tungta uh ahihman in ka khawlsan phot uhi. Chingbawi pa’n ka inn bawldek dan khong uleh thil tuamtuam khong hon houlimpih nilouh a, huaizoh in hong lupsan uhi. Kou leng hih ding om tuanlou ahihna toh lup mai ka sawm ua, lupna khong hoihtak a bawlthak in ka lum uhi.

Zingkal baihtak in ka thou ua, ka thoh un Chingbawi nu leh pate singpi ding khawng awmsa in ka koih ua, huaizoh inn lam zuan in ka pai uhi. Inn ka tun un ka sungte uh ana thou panpan ua, kou leng innsung ah ka lutsuak uhi. Chingbawi in ka nau toh a nasep ngei teng uh hong sem nawn ua, kou pasal teng in ahihleh leingoi hong pe dingte ngak kawm in ka din houlim nilouh uhi.

Bangtan hiam zoh in leingoi leh kawlsuang pawte hong tung ua, innkong ah ka suahkhe sak vek uhi. A suahzoh un kou leng ann ka nepah ua, ann nezou nasem ding in ka kisangal uhi. Nasem ding a ka goihte uh leng hong tungkim pah ua, a foundation ding khawng ka khuak pah uhi. Huchi’n sunkhua nasepna hun in ka zangbei nawn ua, gimhuai sim mahleh inn thak ding kilam ahihna ah gim lam leng a kiphawkkha kholse kei hi.

Inn bawlzoh ma chu nitak teng in Chingbawite inn lam ah ka giak ta dih phot uhi. Nasepna kigim thei sim ahidia nitak ihmut a lim thei mahmah hi. Kha 3 val bang inn ka bawl nung un luah theih ding in ka zoupian simta uhi. Kou leng inn ah ka giak theita ua, ama toh teh ding in a nuam mahmah hi. Inn tung lam pen ahihleh ka zou siang zou naikei ua, huai sem kawmkawm in a nuai ka luah uhi.

Hunte hong paitou zel a, Chingbawi leng a nau neih ding hong hun pianta ahihman in ken leng koimah hoh sanlou in ka ompih gige hi. Nasep bang leng haksa sata ahihna ah ka nau in a semvek a, Chingbawi thovengtak in a omsak hi. Nau neih hun hong nai simta ahihna ah nikhat ka nau toh test tuamtuam nei ding in va kuan ua, kei ahihleh inn ah nasep ding aom man in ka va zui theikei hi. Himahleh ka ngaihtuahna ah mihing damlouh hun khong a kingeksak chiat thou hihang a va kizui sese leh a lung leng nuam deuh kha ding hia ka chigu sim hi.

Nitaklam in a test ding teng uh test zou in inn hong tung uhi. Inn hong tungphet room ah lutsuak a, gimsim a tawldam dek hi’n teh chi’n ka ngaihsak kholkei hi. Himahleh hong pawtkhe ngeikei a, lamdang ka sa sim mahmah hi. A tawp in a result bek ka va kan ding chi’n ka room ua ka va lut hi. Ka gintak bangloutak in Chingbawi lupna tung ah ana kap huhut a, lamdang ka sa mahmah hi.

“Umuan, hong sukha koh.”

“Chimawk bangchidan in e Ching.”

“Ana paikhe zaw aw ka lungkimna din ah.”

“Ching a ziak a san bek hong hilhphot ve maw.”

“Umuan, ka taktak ahi ana paikhia in.”

Gen ding chu a vang khop mai. Ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah. Ka lung abuai a, a ziak ka thei ut mahmah hi. Loh ding dan thei tuanlou in ka nau kiang lam ah dipkaw simsa in aziak-asan kan ding in ka va pai mai hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-KHATNA

Ka nau kiang ah ka va pai a, thil omdan ka dong hi. Ka nau inleng a theihtam chi hetkei. A test result lakzou hong pawtkhiat apan a omdan leh melpuak hong kikhek ahi chih teng in hon dawng theilel hi. Kei leng ka lungnuam tuanlou ahihna ah ka room lam ah ka paikik a, neukha adan om deuh ahidia lupna tung ah kun ngeungau in ana tu hi.

“Ching, bangchi e?”

“Umuan, den in kong hawlkhe kha a hon ngaidam in aw.”

“Ngaidam thamtham e, bang va tuak na hia non hilh theita diam?”

“Umuan, i nau hoihlou maithei Doctor in hong chi a pawna lua kahi.”

“Ching, huaiziak maw. Lungkham koh Pathian in pha a sak bangbang a hong omna ding ahi.”

“Banah maw, operation lou a nei theilou ding hong chi zomah.”

“Ching, bangteng hileh i veng ua Pa Lian kichi nau lam toh kisai siam mahmah khat om huai kiang ah i va kan aw, nau omna diklou chih khong leng tampi bawldikta ahi.”

“Poilou kenle hiai dante muang kahi. Ka lawmnu u leng Doctorte’n operation louh a nau nei theilou di achih uh mikhat in normal a neisak hiau ahi.”

“Tunitak chia walking kawm in i va hohpah dia, nangle kingaise mailou in lungnuam tak in ana om in aw.”

“Awle umuan, na nasep uh kon subuai lawkha. Ken leng awl in ann khong ngap dandan in ka na huan ding.”

“Aw ka va sem ding, hilele nang zaw ana tawldam in. I nau omna aman hihzou na ve.”

Ka pawtkhiatsan a, himahleh ka lungsim khat bel a nuam leiluai kei hi. Chingbawi naupai toh kisai kia ka ngaihtuah khop a, ka nasep a pai hetkei. Denchia piangsual sa bang a piang thei, vangsiat ngial leh sisa a leng piang thei mawk ahihchiang in ka ngaihtuahna a nuam hetkei hi. Banah den chiang a Chingbawi mahmah a ding tanpha a lauhuai a hong om khak ding ka na laugu mahmah a, a hoihlou thouthou ahihleh sukkiat sukmai bang ka ut hi, pianglou ngai a kap omlah hilou a chih khong lungsim ah hong suak hi.

Nasem khin kihahsiang in nitaklam ann ka ne uhi. Ann nek zoh in ka gensa uh bang in Chingbawi toh walking kawm in ka pawtkhia ua, ka mi genna pa kiang uh ka va pha uhi. Amah leng ana om ahihman in Chingbawi hong en pah a, a gil khawng zut in bangtan hiam khoih a, azoh in “lungkhamna ding bangmah omlou, operation leng ngailou hial ding, a omna neukha a dikkei a, huai i bawllem ding uh” hong chi a, lungsim bang a nuam mahmah hi. Chingbawi ngei leng kipak mahmah ahidia hong en in a nui cheichai hi. A bawllem ngai pen hong bawllem zoh in a nung a na buaina uh aom leh hong panpih thei gige ding kahi hong chi huaizoh in kou leng innlam ah ka paikik nawn uhi.

Inn ka tun un ka sungkuante ana omkim vek ua, ka tun zoh uh sawtlou in ka u nungak hel ding in a kuankhia hi. Ka u leng zenzen nungak bang helna chang thei ahimaw chia ka nuihsan leh ka pa’n mi’n pawttam hetlou a kep guk khat ana nei hive, denchiang khong in leng na mupah kha moh ding hia hong chihsan hi. Ka paima ua ana kihoulim ua ka u zi gu dia kuan dek hi ngeingei ding in ka muangmoh pah hi. Ka lungsim guk in hong tun ma luplouh ding himai ka chi hi.

Dak 9:00 tan inleng ka u hong tung naikei a, ka innkuan un ka ngak uhi. Sana bang ka enen ua, lah melmuh ding in hong om tadih naikei hi. Sawtkhop ka ngak nung un ka u nungak khat toh a lawmpa toh hong lut ngei ua, a numei bang zum chi mahmah kawm in aom dendan hi. Huchi’n ka pa hong dingtou a, thu tuamtuam bangzah hiam hong gen zoh in kipahthu genna hong nei hi. A neihzoh un chibai ka buk nainai uhi.

Ka unu ding uh ahihleh Chingbawi ni tanu ana hi a, innsung khat a lutkhawm kha chi’n a kipak mahmah ua, huai in kou leng hong kipaksak sawnsawn hi. Ka u nungak leng hel ngeilou in hiai bang a nungak hoih hong muh ka kipahpih diak ua, lung a nuamsak mahmah hi. Ka nu leh pa’n ka damsung ua tute mel mu man ut kahi uh a chihchih uh tangtung thei dia om ahihna ah kipahhuai ka sa mahmah uhi. Kipak chiat ka hi ding ua dak 12:00 tan inleng kuamah ka lum naikei uhi. Thu tuamtuam gen a ka houlim nilouh nung uh zinglam in lupna ka zuan thei khong uhi.

Zan sawtta mahleh ihmu theilou ka hihman un Chingbawi toh ka houlim kha nilouh nawn uhi.

“Umuan, i nau bang hong se kha leh bang na chi ding.”

“Ching, Pathian in ei adia hoih a sak bangbang hong pe ding ahihna ah Amah tung ah kipahthu ka gen veve ding.”

“Umuan, kei nong hehsan diam? Ka kingaihsiatna diak maw ka nungak lai hun a ut leh dah a ka na om a pap pua a kikoih kahi, khangthak hun zangkik thei hileng ka ut vungvung mai.”

“Ching hehsan zenzen lou e. Hunlui khong gengen nawnlouh ding, a huntak a kibawlkha hizaw nahi. Na hihkhelh khak tengteng Pathian in hong ngaidamta a bangziak a nang kingaidam lou lai ding na hia?

“Himah e umuan, hilele i lungsim a hong suak khazel eivoi.”

“Kon theisiamlua, mihing i hihna tak mah ahi.”

“Eh Umuan, i u in UVung bangchidan a ava theihkhak eide aw, lamdang ka sakdan. Ka muh a kiguih zawzen keivoi.”

“Thei mawklou i ve, a nungak hel lam lah kitheilou a. A lawmte zonsak kan hidi’n ka gingta kei, amah kizon hileh mu mahmah kenteh.”

“Zawzen nang le uang kei di. A zei law dandan in.”

“Haha, eichu i u toh teh di’n i zei voi, i zei a nang hong tangzou i vele.”

“Haha, zei mah zozot teh.”

Chiamnuih kawm khong a ka houlim nilouh nung un ka ihmu thei khong uhi. Zing baihtak in ka thou ua, ka pa’n ka thusapa utoh tanute sam dia hong sawl ahihman in ka va sampah hi. Ka sap bang in amau leng hong taipah ua, ka Uvungte innlam ah kou kiang aom ahi chih theihsakna dan in singpi khai ding in a kisapah uhi. Chingbawi inleng a ngap dandan in puan khong sawp a, ken ahihleh ka nasep sutzop ding dan khong uh en in inntung lam ah ka kivei nilouh hi.

Bangtan hiam nung in ka pate hong tungkik ua, thuduh chih mah inn nuai lam ah ka kumsuk pah hi. Thil omdan ka dong pah a, ana siam mahmah uh ahihdan leh Chingbawi toh lutkhawm ahihna ua lungmuang ahihdan thu khong uh hong zasak uh ahihdan khong gen ua, kipahhuai ka sa mahmah hi. Ka ute nupa leng hong thoukhia ua, lengla tuamtuam khong om ahihna ah common room ah a tu ua, a singpi ding uh ka nau in ana bawlsak hi.

Zing ann khong ka nek zoh un Chingbawi in “UVung, kei ana lut masa ka hihna toh thil paidan, hih ding leh bawl ding bangkim ana thei ka hihman in i kithuah ding aw, mouthak tung zaw a hai kibang simsim ahi” chi’n a Uvung ana kithuahpih a, chihdan siam ka sa mahmah hi. Chingbawi pildan leh feldan khong ka etet chiang in ka itna a pung zungzung zou hial hi. A chih bang ngei in pasalte’n lah i zite huai hih ding huai sep ding chih kihilh khollou ahihna ah kiten tung bangzaw hamhaih lawsam ding mah uh eive maw ka chisim phing thak a, kei bang ka kimohsak dek zawzen hi.

Hunte hong paizel a, Chingbawi nau neih ding hun leng nai sim mahmahta ahihman in niteng in walking khong ka paipih gige hi. Ka lungsim ngaihtuahna ah a kisualsual khat om a, huai ahihleh damdawi inn hileh operation ngai ding, ta 3 kan kinei theilou ding. Nau dom siamte sam leng lah Chingbawi nute ngaihdan khong a hikei de aw chih ka ngaihtuah nilouh a, kuamah theihlouh in ka guk buai mahmah hi. A tawp in bangteng hileh kei kia a thupukna ka lak sang in Chingbawi nu leh pate va dot mai ding ka sawmta hi.

Ka sawm bang ngei in nitak in Chingbawi toh ka va hoh ua, a nu leh pate ana om tuak ahihman un ka gen ut ka genpah suk lel hi.

“Nu, Chingbawi damdawi inn a operation lou a nei theilou ding chi ua, naudom siampa’n lah normal a nei thei ding chizel a bang ka loh ding ua.”

“Nou lah a koipen telzaw.”

“Duhthusam a chu normal ka telpen uh Chingbawi toh.”

“Huai ahihlechu nou thupukna bangbang himai ahi. Tulai Doctorte’n zaw operation thangsak theilua ua poilua aka.”

“Den chiang bang a Doctor taktak lou khong chi a na lungmuan louh khak ding uh ka lau a ahi nu.”

“Lungmuang zenzen e, Chingbawi bang le naudomte hon neihsak ahi. Muanhuai lua uh siam leng siam uh ahi.”

“A huchih leh a hoih e.”

Thu tuamtuam khong houlim kawm a ka om nung un zan bang leng sawt dekta banah mouthak nei a kihih zomah toh innlam ka paiphot uhi. Inn ka tun un lengla hunkhop ana omlai ua, kou leng amau lak a ka va telsam uhi. Hong hohkhawm nupite’n Chingbawi nau neih ding bang a buaipih mahmah ua, damdawi zat ding leh zat louh ding chih khong peuh gen leh sak ding a thei mahmah uhi. Himahleh kei ka ngaihdan ahi kholkei, nou chik a doctor zou a mi damdawi ding khong gen zatzat e chih khum di’n hoih ka sa maimah sim hi. Nupi hon omkhawm zaw khat a damtheih ke a vek ua damthei kichi omlou, khat in thil thei deuh a agen leh a dangte’n le theivek veve chidan khong ahi mawk uhi.

Hunte hong paizel a, nitak khat zinglam dak 1:00 vel ding in Chingbawi in hong phawng a, a gil na salua ahihdan hong hilh hi. Kei leng kintak a thou in damdawi ka va zong a, va gamlum sim ka diam ah ka sungte’n hong phawk vek ua hong thoukhe nainai uhi. Chihleh ka uvung in “Muan, damdawi ngailou ding hive aw, a nau neih hun in pha ahita di, kindeuh in damdawi inn i pua uhiam, naudom siampa va sap ahoih ding” hong chi a, experience patna ahihziak in bangmah kithei mahmah lou hi. Huchi’n kei leng kintak in naudom siampa sam ding in ka taikhia hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-NIHNA

Zansawt nung a mi phawn ding hi ka utlouh lamtak ahi a, himahleh a lou theilou dinmun a ding kihiphot ahihna ah zum leh zah khuallou in ka va phawng hi. Gintak sang in ana phawkpah vanglak a, hong thoukhe pah hi. Kisuanglah lawsim ka hihlam thei ahidia kisuanglah ngailou ahihdan mi’n leng hichia phawng sek ahihdan hong hilh hi. A man phet in ka gari in ka pawsuk a, bangmah kallou in inn ka tung uhi.

Ka tunphet un room ah lutsuak ngal a, kei ka hihleh hong lut phalkei uhi. Himahleh Chingbawi na sa a athum ngutngut za ka hihman in ka omdan a lem hetkei, ka hehpih mahmah hi. A guk in ka room lam uh ka dak gakgak zel a himahleh Chingbawi ka mu thei tuankei. Bangtan hiam hong buai nung un naungek kah ka za a, hoihna eive chi in ka nui heuhau pah hi. Ka nau hong pawtkhia a, “U, tapa na neive ua, ka velvek ua bukimtak a piang ahi” hong chi bangzaw kipakselua gen ding mel leng ka thei zawzen kei. Van lam ka en a, a guk in Pathian kiang ah kipahthu ka gen hi.

Ka Uvung in ka room uh leh Chingbawi hah ngaihna teng hoihtak a ahah zoh in room ah hong lutsak ua, Chingbawi leh nau lupna a lum ka muh in kipaklua a bohsuk ek bang ka uthial mai hi. Chingbawi leng kipak lawtel ahidia hong muh phet in a nuihmai hong suah pah hi. Zingkhua vak ding a kisata ahihman in kei leng lum nawn tuansese lou in lupna tung ah Chingbawi kiang ah ka tu zan hak hi.

Zingkhua hong vak phet in Chingbawi nu ka phone ngal a, ka phone zoh nung sawtlou in hong taitung ngal uhi. Ka nu’n nau pompah in hoihtak in vel a, tupa mel mu chi’n a kipak mahmah uhi. Singpi khawng dawn in kipahtak in hun ka zang ua, Chingbawi pa’n leng bangbang hiam gen in kipahthu genna hun hong zang a, huchi’n hong paisan nawn uhi. Chingbawi ahihleh gimsim ahidia a ihmu hi.

Tapa bang neita, pa taktak chu hita keive maw chih khawng ka ngaihtuah a, ka zumsim ton bang aom a, ka guk nuih heuhau khaden hi. Nau bang pakta lua in ka pomsek a lah kizeilou chih mah ka kapsak kha den hi. A nu nawizu hoih nailou ahihman in nawizu tamna ding tuamtuam ka ngaihtuah a, tangkuang tui khong ka dawnsak ekek uhi. Nau in nawi khamzou nailou ahihna ah a kahneh mahmah a, lah loh theih aom tuankei hi. A nu’n leng lah ann hoihtak a nezou nailou ahihman in kua theihlouh in ka na buai mahmah hi.

Ni bangzah hiam hong paita a, a nu leng thou zouta in halh leng halh mahmah ta hi. Nau min phuahna neih ka sawm ua, Chingbawi pa’n ka tu melmuh masakna pen ahihna ah ken sa kong thoh dia ann nekna i bawl ding uh chi ahihman in ann nekkhawmna toh thuah ding in ka kisa uhi. A min ahihleh ka u phuah ding ahi a, amah leng a deih tamsim in a phuah ding pen theilou in a buai mahmah a, ka uvung toh a kikum den uhi. Huchi’n nau min phuahna kong nei ua, ka u in ama min tam in Thangmuanding chih hon phuak a, phuaksiam ka sa mahmah hi.

A kha a sim bang hong kiveita a, nau leng tei mahmah ta in a nu’n leng a niteng nasep khong seppih theita hi. A pu’n pakta mahmah ahihman in nau leng kou a nu leh pa’n ka khoihtam kha kei ua, huaiziak mah in a pute leh a ni a ngai mahmah hi. Huchibang a ka omtouh lai un nikhat Chingbawi pa’n hong sam a, ka va hoh uhi. Nasep ding nei nawn ahihdan leh kei mah ka va kuan nawn ngai ding ahihdan hong hilh hi. Ken leng amau ziak a hiai tan kitung ahihna ah nialna ding thu himhim om ka sa kei a, a chih bang in ka thuman hi.

Zinkhiat hun ding hong tung petmahta a, nitak in ka van puak dingte khong Chingbawi toh enkhawm in ka om ua, ka guan ding bangteng ka guan zoh un ka pa’n thumna hon neihsak a, huchi’n ka lum uhi. Nau ching vanglak ahihman in Chingbawi toh hoihtak in ka houlim thei uhi.

“Umuan, hong zin sansan kei lechin chu kipaklaw ding hi inga.”

“Kei leng hon zinsan lou aom thei hileng utlua hi inga.”

“Nau toh ka na thawmhau mah ding umaw.”

“Thawmhau zenzen lou e, i dam nakleh phone tungtawn a kihouthei gige ding ihi.”

“Huai hilele a gal a kihou toh omkhawm a kihou kibanglou eivoi.”

“Huai zaw himah e maw.”

“Umuan, kong ngai deuhdeuh. Nang omlou a hinkhua zat zaw nikhat lel leng haksa salua kahi.”

“Nangkia na hikei, kenle haksa sa petmah, himahleh i pa thugen sel ding vual in ka koihkei.”

“Hizel mah e maw. Nang ziak a i pa thovengtak a om thei hizel a kei adia le kipahhuai lawzel.”

Ka houlim zoh un ka nih un ka tutou ua, thumna nei in ka ihmu uhi. Zingkal ka thoupah ua, ka thohphet un kihihhalh in walking kawm in meh ding lei in ka va pawt uhi. Inn ka tun un nau leng thou nailou ahihna ah Chingbawi in singpi khawng awm in kei ahihleh varandah ah ka na tu maimai hi. Innkong a ka kingaihtuah khop a, ka zinna ding ka guk lit mahmah hi. Aziak ahihleh helpawlte hatna mun tak ahikha a, huphulh huai kasa hi. Himahleh hiai thute Chingbawi ka theisak utkei, thei leh hong phal hetlou ding ahi chih haihlou ka hihman in.

Zing ann ka nekzoh un Chingbawite nuta toh a inn lam uh zuan in ka taiphei uhi. Inn ah a nu leh pate ana om ua, nasem a ka kuanpih dingte bang leng ana tungkhin uhi. Chingbawi pa’n ka nasep ding uh leh a poimoh bangkim hong hilh a, ken leng lungluttak in ka na ngaikhia hi. Huaikhit in ka van puak ding chiat uh gari in ka guang ua, Chingbawi leh innkuante mangpha khak in ka sepna ding lam uh zuan in ka taikhia uhi.

Ka nasepna ding mun uh a gamla hetkei vanglak a, dakkal khat khong lel ka tai uhi. Ka pansan leh om theihna ding uh inn awng aom man in huaite ka hahsiang ua, huai ah ka vante ka ngakhe pah uhi. Tung baih thou ka hihna ua mistryte toh ka nasep pat ding dan khong uh ka enfel pah ua, huaizoh in bangzah hiam in a foundation ding khong tou in nasep panpah uhi. Zoh meng a kikpah ut ngen a kihihna ah a kitha it thei mahmah hi.

Nitaklam ann ka nek zoh un ka lupna ding ka phah pah a, huai ah lup tawldam kawm in ka phone ka en a, Chingbawi apan message hunkhop ana om hi.

“UMuan, na tungta uhia?”

“Bangchi bangmah non hilh kei a?”

“Bangchi e hon reply ve?” chih khong ana om teltul a, ka tun phet a ka hilhkhak pah louh bang ka kisuanglah lawsim thak hi.

“Ching, kong hilhkha pahkei a ngaihsiam aw. Tungtou pah ung a ka tunphet ua nasep ding dan khong ka etngal ua leh phone khoih kha manlou kahi.”

“Hon lungkhamsak lawman neive.”

“Lungkham lou e, dam ding ihi.”

“Na omna uh bang achi, huailam helpawlte khel a khel uh chih mi gen ka za a ka lung nak noplouh e Umuan, hon pilvang mahmah in aw.”

“Pilvan theihtawp kong suah di. Lungmuangtak in ana om in aw.”

“Awle.”

Khua bang leng mial mahmah ta ahihman in kei leng kibawlthak in hoihtak a lup a ihmut ding ka sawmta hi. Gari tuanna hi ngeingui ka hihman in ka ihmu thei pah vanglak hi. Zing ka thoh phet in ka kihahsiang a, thou hak zekkha ka diam nasemte ana kipan khinta ua, ann huante kia ana om uhi. Kei leng nasepna lam ah ka va pai pah a, nasepna enkai kawm in nasemte huh theih bangbang in ka huh hi.

Zing ann khong hoihtak a nekhin neukha tawldam in nasep mah ka sunzom nawn uhi. Nasepna a ka omlai in ka phone hong ging a, Chingbawi ahihman in ken leng ka lapah hi.

“Umuan, i nau in nawi a tep nakleh lawkhe tawmtawm a ka lungkhamlua, bangchih di.”

“Doctor kiang ah ana taipih pah un.”

“Umuan, hong paive nang toh va pai ni.”

“Ching, hithei mawklou a poina e maw. I nau hiam i ute hiam toh ana taipah un.”

Lung nuam hetlou in ka om a, bang achi ding uam chih kia ka lungsim ah om hi. Dakkal bangzah hiam thuzak lou a ka om nung in ka phone a, Chingbawi in hospital a admit uh ahihdan hong hilh hi. Inn lam a pai mai ding ka de aw chih khong ngaihtuah in lungbuaitak in ka om nilouh hi. Ka ngaihtuahna a gimluat ziak in ka tha bang a tawl zawzen a, lawmte lak aom leng nopsa nawnlou in ka giahna mun a pai in lupna tung ah ka va lum tawldam hi. Chingbawi ka houpih nawn a,

“Ching, bang dinmun a dingta.”

“Drip hong khai ua, Doctor in hong round ding hun ngak in ka om uh.”

“Aw, kuateng om e.”

“I nau toh i ute nupa toh nunu leh papa toh.”

“Kong paisuk mai ding hia leh.”

“Umuan, hong hoihtouh nakleh ana lunghimoh naiken. Doctor inleng hong en phot peuhmah le maw.”

“Awle, thumna toh ka na pang ding aw.”

“Awle.”

Lungnopna ding thu a om nai tuankei. Hiai bang hun in Chingbawi in hong ngai mah ding chih khong ka ngaihtuah a, ka hehpihtha a suak mahmah hi. Ka khualzin sek Pathian in hong awilou hia ka zin nak leh innlam ah thu hoih sang a thusia zak ding aom zawk gige chih khong ka ngaihtuahna ah hong lang dundun mai hi. Ngaihtuahna a pai sau mahmah. Bangtan hiam kingaihtuah a ka om ngetngut nung in Chingbawi apan whatsapp message hong lut a, ka etleh ka tapa pa oxygen bulh lenlun ka mu a, anuai ah “ka dinmun lel uh” chih teng kigelh teuhtauh a, et haksa ka sa mahmah. Ka tapa oxygen bulh ding in ka phal mahmah kei, et leng ka en ngamkei.

Kipiaksiatna leh kingaihtuahna in sunkhua ka zang bei dimdem a, theihlouh kal in khua in hong mial khum nawn maimah hi. Nitak a leng om thei tuanlou ka hihman in Chingbawi mah ka houpih nawn hi.

“Ching, bang na chita ua?”

“Bangchi chih om tuanlou, a ngeingei himai.”

“Doctor inlah bang hong gen a?”

“Zekai dektak neive ua chi’n damdawi hon gelhsak.”

Zekai dektak a chih in ka lungsim a sunuam hetkei. Lah a langkhat ah dektak chi ahihchia kilaplai na chih hon musak in ka ngaihtuah zel a, himahleh lungnopna ding bel ka neikei.

“Chih tua bangchi ding chi. I pate khong inlah bangmah genlou uhia?”

“Bangmah kigen theilou phot. Amau leng Doctor chih dandan himai chi uh.”

“Khovak hunhun hong paisuk mai ding adiam?”

“Theilou maw Umuan, ka kiang ah om lechin chu ka lungnuam tuan deuh ding hia.”

“Lungbuai huaina e maw.”

Hon thuk nawnkei vengveng hi. A buaizual a hinteh chin ken leng ka na hungaih hi. Himahleh bangmah message himhim ka mu nawnkei. Buai uh eide aw, bangchi uh a chih ka thei nuam semsem a, a tawp in ka phone hi. Himahleh a phone leng a la kei. Ka ute ka phone a, amau leng a la tuankei uh. A tawp in ka nau ka phone a, ana la vang lak hi.

“Nau, koi aom e?”

“Inn aom.”

“Damdawi inn lamte bang achi ua?”

“Tutak achu theilou keive, nitak tung achu a ngeingei hia huai nung kihoukha nawnlou.”

“Na pai tan in nawi khong a tep thei hia.”

“U, nawi tep thei ding dan hilou eive, khua leng phawklou a.”

Ka phone ka koih khum mai. Ka tapa Dingding nawi nasan leng tep thei nawnlou, oxygen bulh a lum dildel ding hia maw chih khawng ka ngaihtuahna ah aom a, ka mitkha bang in aom ding dan ka mu dundun hi. Zan khua in ka ihmu thei hetkei. Ka zi leh ka tapapa ngaihna a lian semsem. Zingkhua bang vak hak ka sa mahmah. Khovak hunhun a innlam zot mai ding ka lunggel hi. Bangtan hiam nung in khua hong vak khongkhong a, khovak phet in ka kihahsiang a, kihahkhin phet ka phone hong ging a, dipkawsa sim kawm a ka etleh Chingbawi pa ahi a, bang thu om eide aw chi’n lak ding bang haksa ka sa sim mai hi. A tawp in ka la a, “Hello Muan, na man leh tumah in hong pai phot mai in” chih teng hong gen in a koih hi.

Ka dip a kawsim gawp a, ka chi bang a liing tettet hi. Ka lawmte kiang ah thukin om ahihdan hilh in kintak in innlam zuan ding in ka taikhia hi. Lamdung ah ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah. A kallak in a sikhin bang ka hisak a, a kallak inlah ka damsak zel hi. Lungkham leh lungngai tak a taisuk ka hihman in gari a tai himahleng ka gim mahmah. Huchia ngaihtuahna leh suangtuahna tampi toh ka taisuk nung in Damdawi inn ka gal muh ta hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-THUMNA

Hospital ka tungsukpah a, ka gari mun thoveng khat ah ka koih hi. Chingbawi in honna mupah ahidia hong delh a, hon kawi in khasetak in ka ang ah a kap keuhkeuh hi. Kim-le-kiang a kua om a chih leng khualban nawnlou in ken leng ka pombelh hi. Bangtan hiam zoh in adan hong om deuh a, kenleng “Ching, bang nana chi ua” chi’n ka kanpah a, Chingbawi inleng “Umuan, tuzingkal a khahsuah dek mahmah man, hilele Pathian venna toh hong hoih kik thei nawn” hong chi a, ka puak a zang tuam in a nop tuan mahmah hi.

Kou leng ka tapa omna mun ka zuanpah ua, lupna tung ah Dingding tang hetlou a lum dildel ka muh in kidek haksa ka sa sim mahmah, himahleh kidek kei leng keisang a buaihuai zaw ding om ahihman un theihtawp ka suah hi. Hichia drip kia khai nilouh mawk a phatuam chi hilou hive aw chih ka ngaihtuahna ah hong om ahihman in Doctor va houpih mai ding ka sawm hi. Doctor pa room ah ka va lut a, ka va houpih hi.

“Sir, Dingding dinmun neukha bek nong hilh thei diam?”

“Nang a pa maw?”

“Himah ing e.”

“Aw, a condition kha hoihlua ka sak louh banah improvement taktak omlou a thei inga, na hih zoh ding ua leh lai kong gelhsak dia Imphal lam ah taipih mai le uchin a hoih diam.”

“Sir, ka tapa damna ding ahihnakleh ka paipih pah ding uh.”

Doctor in lai hong gelhsak a, huai tawi kawm in innkong lam ah ka pawt ngal hi. Chingbawi leh hong ompihte kiang ah thil omdan ka gen a, huchi’n phai lam a paw ding in ka kisa uhi. Ambulance ka zong pah ngal ua, hong tun hunhun a pawkhe thei ding in mansa diam in ka na om uhi. Bangtan hiam ka ngak nung un Ambulance hong tung a, huchi’n kou leng Chingbawi, ka ute nupa toh kou teng kihen in phai lam zuan in ka taikhe vengveng uhi.

Dakkal 2 phalou deuh ka tai nung un phai ka tung ua, honna admit ngal uhi. Ka tunphet un Doctor in etkhiatna hong nei ngal a, test ding tuamtuam hon kawkmuh ngal hi. Test tuamtuam hong neisak pah uh ahihman in lung muan khat in a muang phot hi. Test ding tuamtuam khong ka hihfel vek nung un Doctor in hoihtak in en a, huai khit in damdawi lei ding tuamtuam hong pia a, hong chih bangbang in ka hihvek uhi.

Lungmuanna khat nei mah leng om thei taktak tuanlou ka hihman in Doctor kiang ah ka va pai nawn a, a omdan ka va kan hi.

“Sir, ka tapa bang natna ahia? Kinep huai mah inteh maw.”

“Na tapa maw a sunglam hat zoulou, nawi a tep chiang a zoulou in lawkhe zel ahihman in huaiziak a a taksa chau in hichia om ahi. Lungkham ken a damdawi hih leng bangmah kallou a hong hoih mai ding ahi.”

“Ka kipaklua Sir, hon muang kahi.”

Ka lung a muangsot mahmah a, kei leng kintak a pai in Chingbawi leh ka ute kiang ah Doctor hong gente hoihtak in ka hilh hi. Amau leng a lung uh nuam tuan mahmah ahingei ding a, a nuihmel uh kilangthei khongkhong hi. Doctor leh nurse-te a fel thei mahmah ua, kou buaina luat ding pi a omkei hi. Damdawi piak leh bangkim leng amau hong hihsak vek ahihna ua ka awl sot mahmah uhi. Thupi ka sak mahmah ahihleh mel theih toh theihlouh toh Imphal a ana om eimi a thei masasa in hong delh khawm siausiau ua, i ki-itdan uh thupi ka sa semsem a, midangte khamuan a lungmuantu a pan ding ana hilaw dan eive maw chih hon musak hi.

Kal khat khong kong omzoh nung un nau leng hoih mahmah ta ahihbanah nawi leng ngeina bang a tep theita ahihman in damdawi inn ka pawtsan thei khong uhi. Chingbawi nu leh pa a pi ding a a gari utoh hong kuan ahihman un amau gari a kihen in innlam kipaktak a zuan ding in ka taikhe nawn vengveng uhi. Dakkal khat leh a kim khong ka taizoh nung un damtak in innlum ka tung nawn uhi. Ka tun phet un ka pa leng kipaklua ahidia Pathian kiang ah kipahthu genna hong neihpih pah hi.

Kipahthu genna hunte ka neihzoh un ka kisilsiang pah a, gim mahmah gawp ka hihman in lupna tung ah ka lum tawldam zek hi. Ka ngaihtuah a numeite thupi kasa mahmah, tate tung khong a hichituk a gim ding uhia, asun-azan chih omlou tate kap in banghiam le uleng buaiden hina ua ka gim, ka tawl chi hetlou a aom theih uh thupi ka sa semsem hi. Khatvei lel khong nau kap a ngaihsak pah manlouh chiang bang lel uale pasalte’n kihehsan hi zomah hia chih in aom hial hi. Kha 9 sung a ang ua paw den ua, hong piankhiat uapan a nung ua pawden zel lai uh, pasalte hih ding hileh a kizou zou diam chih phial in aom hi.

Bangtan hiam ka lup nung in ka thoukhia a, nau veh a hong hoh khawmte lak ah ka va tu hi. Mite feldan leh midangte a awlmohdan uh thupi ka sa a, nopna lam sang a haksat hun a kivehtuah mahmah thupi ahihdan ka chian semsem hi. A dik a gen in innsung a innkuan a omkhawm, pawlam mite toh kithuahtam khollou, damlou leh haksate veh a kalsuan vang mahmah lawi ka hi ding uhi. Innkuan kituah kia a bukim hilou ahihdan, mite uap a, mite khamuantu a pan a kalsuan poimoh ahihdan hiai damlouhna tuamtuam ka tuahte ua pan in ka zilkhia a, maban ah phatuamngaihna naktak a suah ding ka tum tinten hi.

Nitak ann khong nekhin in lenglate khong toh hun ka zang ua, ka zat zoh un innkuan kikhopna nei in huchi’n kou mau lupna chiat ka zuan nawn siausiau uhi. Ka lup un Chingbawi in hong houpih a,

“Umuan, na gim mah di maw a kal a sim tawldam manlou, ihmu leng ihmulou hichin a.”

“Ching, gim mahmah lou kahi. Lung nuamlou hetken.”

“Umuan, i nau damlouh tung lai amaw kon ngaihdiak dan. Kei a guk a nang ngai a ana kapkap mai. I ute, nute kuateng om leleng i pasal mahmah kingai tuntun eive.”

“Kipahhuaina e, eile ki-om thei mahmah lou, ihmu leng ihmu thei ngeilou hon ngaihtuah khop kahi.”

“Hun teng zaw ka chi ngamkei hilele damlouh hun chiang mahmah a i kiang a na omleh i lungmuang a nop lua ahi.”

“Tuban zaw om man gige k’on sawmta di aw Ching.”

“Awle umuan.”

Gim sim tuak ka hi ding ua houlim lai ka ihmu kha tuak uhi. Zingkal leng ka khangma zomah ua, ka thoh un sungkuante ana thoukhin vek uhi. Chingbawi kisuanglah tak in va thoukhia a, sep ding khong va zong pah hi. Himahleh ka nau toh ka uvung in ana phallou uh ahihman in nau vante sawp ding in kisa zaw hi. Ken ahihleh lupna tung ah nau ka na luppih lai a, deihthoh tak in a lusip khawng ka zutsak hiauhiau hi. Ka tapa pa ka enzel a, ka muh tam zoh khop leh kipahna leh ka itna a pung deuhdeuh hi.

Zing ann nekhin in sun hun hong hi nawn a, ka tapapa toh kithuah in ka chim man kei hi. Nau ka don lemtang sa in a nu’n hih nop bang a hau mahmah a, a langlang a sem zualzual hi. Sun hun zangzou nitak hong hi nawnta a, mi hong hoh khong om zekzek lai ahihman in koimah pawtkhe tuanlou in inn ah ka om uhi. Zingkhua hong vak leh nasepna lam zuan nawn ding ka hihman in ka tapa a kah kei nakleh ka pomden hi. Mi hong pawtte paizoh in kikhopna ka nei ua huchi’n ka lum nawn uhi.

Lupna ah Chingbawi in nau nawi a piak kawm in ka houlim nawn uhi.

“Umuan, khual na zin zel ding ka ngaihtuah chiang a haksa sa lua keive.”

“Bangziak in maw Ching?”

“A ziak le ka thei tuankei, i hon ngailua a hipen mai.”

“I kimuhtam kei leh i ki-itna lianzaw chi uh hilou maw.”

“Huai zaw ka gingta kei, i itte chu mumu leng nuam kisazaw ahi.”

“Kimuden leng lah nek pianglou zel dia maw.”

“Huai zaw himah e.”

Kihoulai in nau hong kap a, Chingbawi thoutou in pom a, kei ahihleh lungmuang deuh in ka lum hiuhiau hi. Nau hong chit nung in hong lumsuk nawn a, kihoutam nawn tuanlou in ka nih un ka ihmu tuak uhi. Zingsang beltak in ka thou nawn ua, ka hih ding bangbang uh hih tuak in ka om uhi. Nau leng hong thoubaih vanglak ahihman in varandah a ka pom a, a nu a utut ka semsak hi.

Zing ann ka nekzoh un ken leng ka van ding teng ka guangfel pah a, Chingbawite inn lam ka zuansuak ngal hi. Chingbawi pa toh houlim in gen ding teng ka genfel zoh un ka nasepna ding mun lam uh zuan in ka taisuak nawn hi. Bangtan hiam ka tai nung in ka tungtou pah a, ka tunphet in ka report ngai ut in lawmte nasem lai khawlzen in hong paikhawm ua, ken leng ka thiltuah teng uh hoihtak in ka hilh a, nau hong damsuahna ah hon kipahpih thei mahmah chiat uhi.

Report ka piak zoh in amau nasepna chiat a zuan nawn ua, nasep a sunzom nawnpah uhi. Ka paima toh teh ding in ma ana sawn mahmah ua, tuadan a apai leh kal khat kal nih nung a ka zoh pah ngei uh ka lamen hi. Khomui kuan tan phial lawmte’n nna hong sepzoh un ann khawng ka ne ua, ka nek zoh un koumau giahna ding mun chiat a ka tawldam nawn uhi. Ken leng ka phone ka lakhe pah a, Chingbawi ka message ngal hi.

“Ching, bang nana hih a? Kou ann nezou lupna a tawldam hi nawnta.”

“Bang hih luat chih omkei, nau toh kibuai khop.”

“Aw, buaipih ding i neih kipahhuai maw, mi buaipih ding leng nei theilou tampi a omlai a.”

“Hi lawtel, nau khong ei deihtelna a neih theih hi mawklou ahihchia maw.”

“I innkuante lah omkim na umaw?”

“Hi, omkim vek mah ung ei. Eh, umuan ka u gamdang a ompen zing chia hon tung dek a huailam ana hohphei di kahi aw zingchia.”

“Hia, a kipahhuai vele. Va hoh tham in na mankal a nana phak zel ding ahi.”

“Umuan, i nute khong ngaihhuai lawna ua kei nawlam phakphak chih khong ka utlam hi khollou, eimite bang kigensiat i hat utoh, i dam nakleh kimuh tamluat ngai salou kahi.”

“Ngaihdan hoihtak khat himah e maw.”

“I nu leh pa taisan zen a i zotna lam chu va om kinken a, i taihsatsa kiang lam va zot doidoi det di le hilou chi aw, haha.”

“Haha, gen dan na siamsek kasa.”

“Umuan, na man nakleh non thuzak det di ahi aw, khualkal aom zaw kilunghimoh theilua ahi.”

“Phone le va kikhoih khakha manlou hive aw.”

“Huchi zel mah inteh.”

“Umuan, papa’n kikhopna neita ding chi a i koihphot mai aw, mangpha hoihtak. Kon ngailua.”

“Noule aw.”

Kham nai kholkei lengle kihoutheih hi nawnlou phot ahihchia ka koih mai a, chimthawina ding in laa khong ka ngai hiauhiau hi. Ka laa ngaih in hong khimsim ahidia theihlouh kal in ka ihmu kha a, ka khanloh tan in laa ana kisaden lai hi. Ken leng ka laa ngaih off in ka thoukhia a, ngeina bang in ka kihahsiang hi. Ka kihahsiang zoh in lawmte nasep panta bang om ahihna ua amaute lak ah ka va omtei hi.

Zing ann nekhin in nasep mah ka pan nawn uhi. Sun singpi dawn kuan in gypsy nih hat tak in hong tai ua, ka kiang hong tun un hong khawl uhi. Sepaih uniform ngen silh kawm in thau hoih taktak a tawi uhi. A lak ua khat hong kumkhia a, hong enkawm in hichi’n hon chi hi.

“Nang maw hiai nasepna enkaitu.”

“Himah ing ei, bang na chisim ua.”

“Tu mahmah in dangka lakh 30 ka ma ua hong koih aw, nong koih keile na nasepna uh khawl ding nang leng hon that ding.”

“Huchih chih om thei mawk di maw, sum huaizah leng ka neihlouhpi ua.”

“Pautam lou in hong koih aw” chi’n hong hansan lawlaw a, ka tal toh thau sutuah in a thau a kam hi.

A naupangte sawl in nasem teng samsak a, innlam chiat a pai di’n thu a pia hi. Nasemte leng lau mahmah ahihman un a vante uh guang in innlam a pai di’n a kisa souhsouh uhi. Kei ahihleh a gypsy sung ah hong sawnlut ua, ka mai hong tuamsak uhi. A gypsy ua bangtan hiam hong taipih zoh in hong kumsak ua, innsung khat ah hong sawnlut uhi. Huai ah kei kia hong nusia in kong a pawlam ah hong kalhkhum uhi.

Ka omdan a nuam hetkei. Kei thuak leh thuaklouh thutuam in ka koih a thuak leng poi kasa kei. Himahleh Chingbawi in ka tanchin ana za ngeingei ding hia bang a chi de aw, lungkham in ana kapkap de aw chih khong ka ngaihtuah khop hi. Huchia ka ngaihtuah lai in ka omna kong hong kihong a, singkhuah in hong kikhen ngal hi. Dawm hetlou a mi nih in hong kikhethuan zoh un khat in ka lu hong sat a, kho phawklou in ka puksuk hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-LINA

Dakkal bangzah hiam khophawklou a ka omnung in khua ka phawk a, ka lu khong ka khoih chiang in sisan in ana dim hi. Ka mittuamna lakheta uh ahihman in ka si bang nengnung teng khong ka hahsiang a, ka chi teng a pum nat demdum hi. Huchihlai in ka kong khak hong kihong a pasal nih in ka khut langkhat tuak a hong len in inn khat ah hong lutpih uhi. Huai ah a boss pa uh chidan khat chiar ah ana tu lenlan hi. Ka lungvai lawlai ahihman in a mel leng ka muchiang theikei a, ka etna peuh kipei duaiduai in ka thei hi.

A sappa uh mai zawntak a chiar khat hong dohsak ua, huai ah hong tusak uhi. A sappa un a naupang teng inn kong ah pawtsak in kei hoihtak in hong en a,

“Eh, Muanpu hilou maw nang?”

“Himah ing ei heutupa.”

“Bangchidan a nang hiai inn bawlna enkol kha.”

“Ka zi pa’n hiai enkai dia hong sawl ahi.”

“Ahihleh kei nong thei hia?”

“Hong theilou kahi.”

“Nidang neuchik hihlai in kho khat ah i tengkhawm ua, kei ka nu toh kia khosa kahi ua, gentheitak in ka om uhi. Nek ding ka neihlouh ni uh a tam mahmah a, huai hun chiang in na nu leh pate’n a neih bangbang uh hongpia ua huchia ana hingtou kahi uhi. Kum bangzah hiam nung in ka pem ua, huai ah ka nu helpawl khat in hong thahsak ua, kei leng phuba la ut a helpawl ana zom kahi.”

“Aw huaidan maw.”

“Huai ahihna toh naupangte’n theilou a honna zep khakna ua ngaihdam kong ngen a, kong sum demand uh leng bangmah kon la kei ding ua, na nasep uh leng hon sunzom nawn un.”

“Kare a huchih theih leh nak kipahhuaina maizen in chia.”

Saulou hong houlimpih zoh in a naupangte a sam a, honpi na mun ua khakik ding leh bangmah loh hetlou dia gen in hong khakik sak hi. Ka nasepna uh ka tung nawn a, a thawmhau huai mahmah. Muh ding kuamah lah omlou in a dai zikzik hi. Ka tanchin Chingbawi ka hilh ut mahmah a, himahleh ka phone hong khetsiat sak uh ahihman in houpih theih ding a hikei. Ka nu leh pa nasep hoih, panpih ngaite ana panpih ua, tagah-meithaite ana hehpihna gah uh lou ka hihman in lehlamtak a hampha ka kisa mahmah, huchilou hileh ka hinna leng tan thei dinmun a ding ka hihman in.

Ka giahbuk sung ah ka lut a, ka vante kimtak a ana omlai ahihman in ka khawmvek a, innlam pai ding in ka kisa hi. Ka van teng gari a ka guan zoh in bangmah dang buaipih nawnlou in innlam zuan in ka tai vengveng hi. Dakkal bangzah hiam ka tai nung in ka inn uh ka tung a, innsung-innpua ah mi ana tam mahmah hi. Ka gari apan ka kumkhia a, lamdangsak chitak in honna en kheukhou uhi. Ka sungte’n hon delh pawt pah ua, hon kah ekh toh a om vengvung uhi. Huaite lak a hon delh masapen dia ka kinep Chingbawi ka muhlouhtak in ka lung a nuamkei pah hi.

Ka nau kiang ah na u lah chi’n ka kan ngal a, innsung ah hon chihsan ahihman in ka lutsuak ngal hi. Room ah drip kikhai in ana lum dildel a, hon muh phet in a nuihmai hong suah a, kinuisak mahleh a mittui leng a luang nilnel hi. Ken leng kawisuk kawm in a tal ka tawpsak a, amah leng a melpuak hong kikheng hi. Huchia ka omlai in Chingbawi pa hong pai a “Muan, damdawi inn ah dressing ngai khong om thei ahihna ah va tai ni” hong chi a ken leng ka sel sese kei hi.

Damdawi inn ah ka va taisukpah ua, Doctor in hoihtak a hong en in ka lu mun sagih a hong khuisak ua, hong tuamsak uhi. Ka taksa pumpi kizepna a dup gai ahihman in a nuh ding damdawi khong hon pia uhi. Ka hih ding teng ka hih zoh vek un innlam ka zuan nawn ua, inn ah mi dim phitphet in ana omlai uhi. Ka tanchin bangkim za utvek ahi uh chih ka haihkei a, kei leng a mun lai deuh khat a dingtou in ka thiltuah leh tanchin bangkim ka gen a, ka nu leh pate ziak a dam ka hihdan gen kawm in ka hih theih khom in ka pahtawi hi.

Ka tanchin ka gen zoh in chibai bang hon buk nainai ua, ka nu leh pa bang leng va chibai kheukhou uhi. A zak utpen uh za khinta ahihna ua hon paisan gai pah uhi. Mi om nawn ngellou ahihman in ka room ua ka lut a, ka pa tegel leh Chingbawi nu toh ka tu uhi. Lasiam Elish Lelpu in Damdawi a ngaipoi henu ka thinlai na hi a chih dan deuh in Chingbawi leng ka mel a muh nung a dam toh kibang a, lupna tung ah tu geugau zoupah hi. Chingbawi pa kiang ah nasem teng hilh a zinghal a kuan nawn mai ka sawmthu ka hilh hi. Hong dawn didan a theizok kei, kisuanglah mahmah ahihman in. Himahleh nasep zohlouh theihlouh ahihdan bel a haihkei. Huchia ka kihoulai un Chingbawi in “Umuan, ken hon zuita di” hong chi a, ka nui a, “Ching, nau toh omna ding mun hilou ahi” ka chihkhum hi.

Chingbawi ahihleh mat a ka om thu azak a lungam a ana puk, a halh apan ka tun tan dong kapden, a tha teng chau gawp a drip khong ana khai uh ahi. Khenkhat adi’n huchih zawzen uang lua leng a himaithei himahleh ki-it a kingai taktakte a ding azaw thil uang chihlua leng omlou bang hi. Chingbawi hichikha hilehleng keile ka om theih tuan ka gingta kei hi. Itna chih khong zaw theihsiam haksatak mah ana hidan eive maw chih in aom hi.

Nitaklam ann khong nekhin in inn ah ka om nilouh uhi. Nitak kikhopna khong ka neihzoh un lupna ka zuan uhi. Ka puan teng toh lup ka sawm hi aziakbel ka taksa dup gawp khong a muh ding phallou ka hihman in, himahleh Chingbawi in hong phalkei. A tawp in ka puan ka suah a, hong mu petmah a, hon pumkawi in hon kah khum ek hi. “Umuan, i pa na khualna ziak amaw na taksa teng na tan in a thuak, tuban zin nawn mahmah koh, i pate toh kisiat lele kisia zaw mai ni” hon chih khum hi. Himahleh ken “Ching, mihing in maw a nuam i tuahna dia a haksa bang leng i tuahzel ngai, i deih lampi i zuih theihna dia i deihlouh lampi leng zuih ngai ahi” ka chihkhum hi.

Chingbawi hon dai deuh a, thil omdan hoihtak a ka hilhte theisiam mahmah in ka thei. Ka houlimna uh ka khek nawn uhi.

“Ching, zingchia i nu leh pate van ding banghiam i hihsak diam kipahthu genna in.”

“Eh, k’on gen dek chet leh nong gen a, ka na sawm guk ahi.”

“Ahihleh bang i leisak dia?”

“Umuan, ka thumang inla zingchia i nih in bazar i va hoh di, ken lei di ka thei.”

“Bang le hong leipih sawm na mahmah diam maw.”

“A hun chia na thei di. Umuan, thupitak hihzou keile hang leng nu leh pate a damlai mah ua pahtawi a lungkimsak gige ding ka thupi ahi. Sih nung kho puan tampi kikhuh, ahihke i itna thu khong gengen sang a damlai mah a kipahtawi a ki-it ding ahi.”

“Hi lawtel mah e, eimite kha sih chiang kho puan tampipi khong kikhuh, damlai in kisilhsak leng silhsak aompen kipak zaw di hia maw.”

“Huai eivoi i gengen.”

Bangbang hiam ka houlim zoh un Chingbawi in hong ihmutsan hi. Kei leng a ihmu lem ka kineih a, himahleh sat a ka omnate leh ka lu kikhuina in hong dou lemlum ahihman in ka ihmu theikei hi. Ihmu theilou chih mah maban pai dingdan khong ka ngaihtuah khop a, huchi’n khua in hong vakkhum man hi. Zingkal ka thoukhe pah a, kihahsiang in innkong ah news sim in ka tu hi. Chingbawi in ahihleh singpi khong bawl in a buai mahmah hi.

Zing ann nekkhit in Chingbawi toh nau nawsia in bazar lam zuan in ka taikhia ua, lamkal ah ka houlim suksuk uhi.

“Umuan, ka tupdan lem na sa diam, ei nupa in i nu leh pate va pahtawi tuam hoihsalou kahi. I u tegel leh i nau a ding leng a kibangvek in i leikhawm aw.”

“Eh, ahingut mahve, na ngaihtuahna thupi mahmah e Ching, eibang in ana phawkkha lou. Nang hon phawkkei lechin i sanggamte adia thil nuam hetlou bawlkha zaw ding i hilim vele.”

“Numei teng thum in i nu puanten khat chiat kitengsak henla, pasal tegel in i pa puanza silhsak tuak unla, i vek un pakkhi a nihtuak un oksak chiat leng bang achi dia leh Umuan.”

“A hoih lawtel di, kon thukimpih pah ngal.”

Houlim kawmkawm a ka taisuk ua leh a leina ding mun ka tungsuk pah uhi. Ka sawm bang un ka lei ding tengteng uh lei in nau nawsia ka hih zomah utoh innlam ka zuan pah uhi. Inn ka tun un nau ana kap man naikei a, Chingbawi in a van lei teng koi hiam ah ana sel phot hi. Sun hun hichi’n ka zangbei nawn ua, nitak ka thilhih sawm uh ngak in inn ah ka om uhi. Ngeina bangmah in ka pa’n kikhopna hong neih pih a, a hun azoh in Chingbawi hong dingtou a, hichi’n hong gen masa hi.

“Nu leh pate, tuni’n kou unau teng in na hoihna uh tung ah banghiam hon hih le ung ka ut ua, a numeipen himahleng ka hon ding hi. Nu leh pate hoihna ziak in kou na tate bang leng kituaktak in ka omkhawm diamdiam ua, innsung ah kinak-kisiat chih omlou in kituaktak in i khosa khawm diamdiam thei uhi. Nu leh pate tung ah kipahthu genna ding a tam mahmah a, himahleh kou na tate’n hon gen seng lou ka hihman un nonna theihsiam uh ka hon ngen hi. I theihsa mah bang un damlai a ki-it ding chih ahihna toh tunitak in nu leh pate na hoihna ziak ua kon itna uh suklatna ding leh k’on pahtawi theihna uh omsun ka uthang leh ka umuan in i pa puan hong silhsak tuak uhen” hong chi a, huchi’n kou leng ka u toh ka pa puan ka silhsak tuak uhi. Huaizoh in Chingbawi mah in “Kou a numei teng in i nu puan k’on tengsak ding uh” chi’n a puante hong lakhia in a tengsak nawn uhi. Huai teng a zoh in “nu-le-pate tung a kipahthu genna leh kou adia ka leitung Pathian uh, a thupipen na hihdan uh latsakna di’n ka vek un pakkhi a lianpen apan in kong oksak ding uh” hon chi nawn a, huchi’n ka hih nainai uhi.

Ka nu leh pa a kipak petmah ua, a mittui bang uh a luang zungzung hial hi. Ka pa hong dingtou a, “Bawite, ka damsung a hiai bang hun mu ngei ding in ka na kikoih ngeikei himhim a, ka tate lunggel siamna tung ah ka kipaklaw mahmah, a gen tuan ding dan leng ka theikei” chi’n kapzen in hong gen hi. Hiai zan chu a kipaklou ka omkei uh. Ka ute nupa in hong en ua “nou nupa nau a kon neihkhak uh ka nak hamphat na maizen uh e, na pildan uleh na thilhihte uh thupi theilua, nou nupa ziak a kou bang in a minhoih tang zomah ka hi uh” hong chi ua, ken leng chiamnuih in “ahihlechu ka thu uh na mang uh ngaita di eive” khong chi in ka nui zaizai uhi. Nopsalua ka hi ding ua ka pa’n singpi bawl di’n ka nau sawl in zansawt nung in singpi bang ka dawn khonung hial uhi.

Kipaktak a hun ka zat nung un ka lupna lam chiat uh ka zuan nawn uhi. Chingbawi in hong sam a,

“Umuan, tunitak nop e maw.”

“Nang ziak a hiai bang kihihthei, kipak lawtel kahi Ching.”

“Umuan, kei ziak hituanlou, nupa i pankhawm siam chiang a maw thilhoih hong piangkhe zel eivoi.”

“Huai le zaw himah e maw.”

“Hilele ka kipah hetlouhna khat om veve.”

“Bang eita?”

“Nang zingchia hon zinsan sawm nawnpah, nang sawmkei lechin i pa’n leng hon sawl nai teuhlou di hia.”

“Ching, nasep lakloh a koih ka utlam hilou a zohkhiatpah ut kahi. Banah tua chu lauh ding himhim leng om nawnlou phot eivoi.”

“Huai hilawna a en hon ngailua, mi soisak genlouh mi gensiat ding lel a le i hon phallouh.”

“Mihing i hihna ah tuah theih mah eivoi Ching.”

“Hizaw himah e.”

Hichia ka houlim kawm un ka ihmu tuak uhi. Zing ka khangma sim a, ka phawk in Chingbawi in ka lupna gei ah ka singpi dawn ding honna koihsak khin a, nuisim heuhau kawm in ka thoutou hi. Zingkal hih ding tuamtuamte ka hihkhit un ann ka ne ua, ann nekzoh phet in Chingbawite innlam mah ka zuan nawn ua, naseppih dingte toh kuankhe di’n ka kisa nawn uhi. Chingbawi pa’n hong sam a, nasemte nitha ding tengteng hon pawsak hi. Huchi’n kou leng innlamte toh mangpha kikhak in nasepna lam zuan in ka kuankhe nawnta uhi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-NGANA

Ka nasepna ding mun uh ka tungtoupah ua, tung baih thou ka hihna ua ka maban uh ka sunzom pah siausiau uhi. Ken leng lawmte huh theih dandan in ka huh a, huchi’n nitaklam khomui kuan in ka khawl ua, kihahsiang in ann khawng ka ne uhi. Ann nekzoh phet in hih ding om tuanlou ahihman in lupna tung mah a ka tawldam nawn a, Chingbawi ka houpih pah hi.

“Bang na hih a Ching, nau lah a teina maw.”

“Banghih lou non houpih di ngak aom, nau maw tei mah ei, a ni toh kidon uh.”

“Aw a hoih ve leh. Nikhat le kikhen nailou in hong kingailaw pah mawk ve aw.”

“Zak nopna maizen e Umuan, ken le kon ngai lawtel. Eh Umuan, ka u zi ding zing nitak chiang a helsawm uh eive.”

“Hia, a hoih vele. Koi lamte a.”

“Kou veng lamte mah ahi, Hoihching kichi.”

“Aw, nang va tel ding nahi hia?”

“Nang omlou in zaw ka utkei.”

“Ana hoh in poilou lua ahi. Ching thilkhat hon gen leng na hehlaw diam?”

“Bang e hon genve Umuan.”

“Na seppihte’n zu tampi hong puak ua ka test leh kahi melmul.”

“Thepthup mahmah eive. Kisin vetlouh di ahi, kisin lam haksa lou na a a kideklam haksalua ahi.”

“Nop diaidiai vanglak sa ke.”

“Haha, kon mu ut ve.”

“Nang muh bang in i om ngam maizen di zu dawnkha lengle.”

“Kei lah ka omngam a, na mai ale ka dawn ngam voi.”

“Hun paisa gengen louh ding, huaite beita i chi hilou maw.”

“Ei mahve maw.”

Hou chikchik khong gen in ka kihou nilouh ua, huaizoh in ka lupna bawlhoih in ka lum hi. Hoihtak a ihmulai zinglam dak 1:00 vel in ka pheipi a votduak khat in hong khoih hile kilawm in ka thei a, ka kikoukhe kha hi. Ka lawmteng phawng zak ding ka kisak leh kuamah a phawk a omkei vanglak uhi. Kei leng kintak a thou in ka torchlight ka on dek leh vak theilou zomah hi. Bangchichi hiam a ka khoih nung in hong vak thei a, ka kimvel ka etchiang in bangmah muh ding ka neikei hi. Innkong lam a ui ham vengvung chihlouh thawm zak ding bangmah a omkei.

Konglam a ui hah hamlua ahihman in ka lung nuamlou in torchlight tawi in ka va pawtkhia a, ka mei ka sukvak leh ui ham teng bang a dai duam zawzen uhi. Ka innbawlna sak uh gamlak hingal ahihna ah huailam ui te’n a nakbawl deuh ziak un huailam ken leng ka mei in ka sal a, bangmah ka mukei. Lupna a lumkik dia ka kisak nawn dek leh na salua hi awmtak a thum huthut khat ka za a, ka chimul bang a thou zawzen hi. Ka ngaihtuahna ah helpawlte’n mi soisa ua ka nasepna gei a hong koih uh hingei ding a muangmoh ka hihman in mi thum ging ka zakna lam ah ka paitou hi.

Light in ka khohtou a, ka gin bang ngei in pasal hi awmtak sam sau nepnuap khat khupboh in singkawm ah a thum ngutngut hi. Ken leng awlmoh ka hihman in kindeuh in a omna mun ka zuan hi. A mun ka tun tak in ana omkei maimah a, a thum ging leng zak ding in a om nawnkei. Ken leng ka lausimta a, ka kimvel ka etleh singkung khat a samsau nepnuap, mul a dim, mittang lian lelaw khat in hong nuihsan lualua a, lauhna toh kidim ka hihman in kindeuh in ka giahna lam ah ka taisuk hi.

Ka giahna ka tung a, lawmte ana hoih ihmut mahmah uh. Ka lupna hoihtak a kiphahsa ana kizialvek in mun nawl khat ah kikoih hi. Ken leng ka va la a phahthak in ka lum nawn hi. Ihmut theihna ding vual a omkei. Kong khong hong kikiu in inn mai khong a kihouthawm khong ka za hi. Lawmte’n lah khua phawk mahmah lou ahihman un hehtha bang a suak dek maimah hi. Khovak kal ka ngaklah mahmah mai a, sana bang ka enen mai hi. Hiai nitak chiah chu kei adi’n zan a sawt telmai.

Zingkhua hong vak khe thei khongkhong a, khovak a bel kilau samlou ahihchiang in zan nitak a sikha kikhai ka muhna mun lam zuan in ka va guk pai hi. A singkung nuai a sisan neng ana om in ka mi kikhai muhna ah puansia lianlou khat ana kikhai nelhnalh hi. Nop ka sakei sim a, kei leng sawt omlou in ka paikhe pah hi. Ka omna uh ka tungsuk in lawmte’n singpi dawnkhin nasep pan ding in ana kisa uhi. Zankhua a ihmulou tawl mahmah ka hihman in neukha ka lupna ah ka tawldam zek hi.

Sunkhua in ka nguaizou a, nasep leng pai hetlou in ka om den hi. Nitak nawn ding ka huphulh mahmah a, lawmte kiang a gen mai ding eide aw khong ka chisim a, lah pasal huai ka sa kei a, ka khawlkik zel hi. Nasep zohna dia kal khat bang kiveilai ding ahihna toh ka thawmhau mahmah hi. Thawmhau kisak luat man in Chingbawi bang ka ngaihtha a suak mahmah, himahleh thei leh lau lawtel ding ahihna ah theihsak ka utkei hi. Nitaklam ann nezou in ka ngeina dan mah un koumau lupna chiat ka zuan nawn uhi.

Khua a hoih kholkei a, vanpi ging in kawl bang a phe zozot hi. Innlam ngaihna a puang mahmah lah pai theih mawk ahikei. Lawmte a ihmu pawl bang omta ua, kei ahihleh ka ihmut leng a suak naikei. Dak 11 khong gingpan in vuah hong zu a, kei leng ihmut sawm in puan ka silh hoih hi. Ihmu dia ka kisakpat leh room kong hon kihong ging doldol a, khe khap khat hong ging zomah hi. Torchlight in kindeuh in ka salh a, kongkhak ana kihong taktak mah a, himahleh mi bel a omkei. Kei leng thoutou in kong ka va khak thak hi.

Lumsuk nawnpan kong hong kikiu nawn a, a phun numnum ging khawng ka za hi. Tu nitak in ahihleh lawmte khat in leng hon phawkpih ahihman in ka hangsan zaw deuh hi. Lawmpa kiang ah va enkhe ni ka chi a, huchi’n ka thou uhi. Innkong teng ka ensuak ua muh ding bangmah a omkei. Ka lutkik nawn ua, ka thawmzak ngei teng mah uh ka za uhi. A kallak in inntung khong suanghum hi awmtak in hong kidengzel a, khen chiang in mi honpi pai ging zuazua khong ka za uhi. Lawmpa leng mi hangsantak chih mah hong thoukhia a, innkong lam ah mei leng tawi seselou in va pawtkhia hi. Bangtan hiam zoh in kintak in hong tailut a, ka kiang ah hong tu hi. Nak hehu zawzen in om a, pau leng paukhe thei zoklou hi.

A tawp in hong paukhia a, samsau nepnuap vom nelnul a mittang let a lian khat in ana delh hihtuak hi. A gendan apan zan a ka muh pen mah va mu ahi chih ka theimai hi. Lautuak sim ka hihman un a ki-ihmutsan ngam omlou in ka tu khovak uhi. Zingkal in lawmpa toh ka lumthak san ua, nitak ki-ihmulou ahihna ah ka hoih ihmut thei vanglak hi. Ka mang in lamdangtak in ka sikha muh pen ka kiang ah hong pai a, tua saklam pang a ka innpeh dekna mun uh a lampi uh ahihdan hong hilh in amun ka suan kei ualeh innsung a sihna tung ding ahihdan hong gen in a mang vengveng hi. Kei leng aman toh kiton in ka khanglou a, ka phone ka etleh Chingbawi apan missed call 10 lam ana om man in kindeuh in ka leh call hi.

“Hello Ching, honna call maw.”

“Call mah kei dia, nang a bang hih khop lah phone la manlou zen a.”

“Ka zing ihmut kik kha a ahi, bang poimoh om a?”

“I pa zanhal nitak apan khosik dan a omden, damdawi i piak lele kanna lou. Doctor kia paipih unga hilele phatuam tuanlou.”

Ka ngaihtuahna hon kikhek guih a, zanhal nitak ka thiltuah uleh tuzing a ka mang a innsung a thilsia tung ding chih thute toh ka mekmat khawm a, nidang a damlouh toh teh ding in ka thupi koihlaw kei hi. Ken leng Chingbawi ka dawng a,

“Ching, a tha chauh louhna di’n drip khong ana khai le uchin awl a hong halh mai ding ahi.”

“Khai mah ung ei, hilele i lungsim nuamlou eivoi nang na omlouh zawkmah toh.”

“Lungkham pahpah ken, hoihna ding, damna ding ihi.”

Ka kihou zohzoh un ka pawtkhe ngal a, nasemte kiang ah ka peh sawmna pen uh khawl a alehlam daih peh ding in thu ka pia hi. Ka gen bang in lawmte’n leng a hihpah ngal uhi. Sun in Chingbawi in hong phone nawn a, ka pa’n zing ann ne zou a halh gawpta ahihdan hong hilh a, ka gintak toh kituak geih ahihman in ka kipak mahmah. Ka lung a nuam tuan mahmah ta a, nitak ding leng ka huphulh nawn hetkei hi.

Ngeina bang in nitak hun hong hi nawn a, zan khong toh teh ding in ka lung a muang mahmah ta hi. Nitak lupkawm in ka itpen lou houpih ding dang omlou ahihman in ka message nawn ngal hi.

“Lumta umaw Ching.”

“Lum nai samlou e kikhopna leng kinei nailou a.”

“I pa lah bang dinmun hita.”

“Hoihta, bangmah chi nawnkei.”

“Mouhelna lam lah thuthak om hia.”

“Eh hon hilh khalou ka mahve. Va lohching uh, kha nawn ni 3 adia sawm uh.”

“Aw a hoih ve leh. Ngaklah huaina e maw mou nei di.”

“Eivoi i nu bang kei paikhiat nung numei amah kia ahihtoh buai thei petmah a, tua chu zangkhai lawtelta ding ahihchia.”

“Zangkhailua chih le om dia hia, pasalte chu inn om i kichih leh kimawk om petmah, nou numeite inn ngak na kichih ua le na sep ding uh hunkhop om veve, na sep manlouh chiang bang ua pasalte’n hong kihih gega zomah chi aw, haha.”

“haha, pa tamzaw huchi lawtel uh, kei apa a huchi hetkei a, ka sepsep hong seppih tettet a hiven.”

“Hon genlut sese.”

“Na hihna mah hiven. Umuan, nang zaw pasal taktak nahi. Kipasal saka om phenphante bangmah hilou nang dandante eive pasalpha ka sak. Zite poimoh hun a huh thei gige.”

“Non phatphat leh denchia ka kihisak kha de.”

“Kihisak theilou di na hihchia bang poilah.”

“Na hichih chia zaw ngaihhuai tuntun neive.”

“Hon ngai mah hang ei, Umuan kikhopna neih hun a i koih nawn phot aw.”

“Awle, mangpha hoihtak.”

Nitak nih bang ki-ihmu theilou ahihna toh kei leng ihmut pah ka sawm hi. Ama zan bangloutak in lumhoih pan ka ihmusuk ngal a, bangmah thawm himhim zak leng nei nawnlou in ihmut limtak in ka ihmu a, zing khua a vak phet in ka thou hi. Thouphet nasemte khat hong pai a, vanzat khat kisia innlam a lak ngai ding ahihdan hong hilh hi. Ken leng Chingbawi pa ka phone ngal a, ana lei a va lak zual ding in ka kihou uhi.

Zing ann nekkhit in kinoh lawlou in awl in innlam zuan in ka taikhia hi. Thil tuamtuam ngaihtuah kawm in ka taisuk a, bangmah lou kal in Chingbawite inn ka tungsuk hi. Vanzat poimohte leisa diam a ana om ahihman in sawt khawllou in ka pawtkhe nawn a, inn leng neukha va bang ding chi’n kou innlam ka zuan hi. Inn ka tung a, Chingbawi bang a kiguih zawzen hi. “Nangpa, bachia hong pai di in nong hilh tellouh e” hon chi a, ken leng “eile pai dia kisa hilou van lei di om a hong taiphut i ka hia darling...” ka chi thuk hi. Ka tapa ka va en a, hoihtak a ihmu ahihman in ka phawng tuankei. Innkuante toh bangtan hiam houlim nung in ni leng tum dekta ahihna toh ka nasepna lam uh zuan in ka taikhe nawn hi.

Ni tumdek ahihman in kinohsim in ka tai hehu hi. Huchia ka taitouh lai in kho kikal gammang lak ka tun in ka gari hong mit phut mawk hi. Ka start nilouh a tai thei hetlou in aom den hi. Innlamte phone a hilh mai ding chi’n ka phone ka lakhia a, network omlouhna tak ana hikha zomah hi. Gari dang hong tai omkha hiam chi’n ka mitsuan den a, himahleh muh ding gari a omkei. Khua in hong mialsanta a, kei kia in gammang lak ah beidong tak in ka om hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-GUKNA

Mangbang takin zankhua gamnuai ah ka om a, khua hong vak tak in ka omna kim ah network omna om hiam ka zong pah hi. Vangphat huai takin mun khat ah network ana om zenzen a, ken leng Chingbawi pa ka phone pah a, thil omdan teng ka hilhvek hi. Ka phone nung sawtlua kihal lou in gari bawlsiam khat toh hong tai tungtou pah ua, hoihtak in hong velsak ngal hi. Sawtlaw lou bangbang hiam hong khoih nung in hong ging thei khong a, lungsim a nuam tuan mahmah hi. Gari hoihta ahihtoh kiton in nasepna lam ka zuan ngal a, amau leng kinunghei in innlam ah a taisuk pah vengveng uhi.

Ka nasepna utoh ka gari siatna kigamla law lawmlawm lou ahihna ah ka tungtou pah hi. Ka tun in lawmte nasep bang ana kipankhin man ahihna ua kei leng nasepna lam ah ka paisuak ngal hi. Huchia lawmte toh ka omlai in Chingbawi in hong phone hi.

“Umuan, zan bangchi e, papa’n hong genkha vuat a.”

“Gamlak a zan giakkha, gari hong kisia a.”

“Hon hilh pah di eivoi.”

“Network omlouhna tak ahikha a hi.”

“Bangmah zaw chi kei teh maw umuan.”

“Bangchi samlou e Ching, lunghimoh di bangmah om nawnlou ahi aw.”

“Awle, hilele ka ngaihtuah chia kon hehpihtha suaklua eivoi, gamkawm a nang kia a na om tel zaw ngai ngamlou kahi.”

“Pasal chu huchih khak hun om thei mah ahi.”

Ka kihouzoh un nasemte ka huh nawn ngal hi. Ka nasep lai un a kiang a khote papi khat nasepna en in hong hoh a, ka kihoulim kha nilouh uhi. Aman ahihleh hangsan hong sa mahmah mai, ka nasepna mun uh a kim a khoteng in a gimneih uh, dawi tamna, sikhate lampi chia mawk a leng a pai ngamlouhna uh ahihdan khong hong hilh a, ka lausim thak phing hi. Himahleh hun paisa a ka tuah uh chihlouh thildang ka tuah uh omlou ahihna ah ka lungmuang veve hi.

Hun khawllou a paipai ahihna ah kiginni hong tung nawnta a, ka nasep uh leng ka zouta uhi. Huchi’n kuapeuh innlam pai ding in kithalawp tak in ka kisa nainai uhi. Ka vante khawng uh gari a guang in paikhe ding in ka kisa uhi. Ken leng ka itpen Chingbawi houpih in pai dek ka hihdan uh ka hilh hi. Ka mansiang vek un gari in ka kizuikhe nainai ua, sun ma in Chingbawi pate inn ka tung ua, huai apan in ka kikhen uhi.

Chingbawi toh Dingding inleng a pate inn ah honna dawn ua, huai ah ka om tawldam zek uhi. Chingbawi pa’n ka nitha ding hon piak sawm a, kou tung a na senna tam lawta chi’n ka nolh a, himahleh nolh zoulou ka hihman in ka la a, huaizoh in kihahkhiat khong bangle uthuai ahihna ah inn lam ah ka pai ngal uhi.

Inn ka tun un ka kihahkhe pah ngal a, ka kihahkhiat zoh in nau ka pompah hi. Chingbawi leh ka uvung inleng pawtna ding nei chi in hong pawtsan ua, nau don in ka na pang hi. Ka zin sansan ziak hia nau bang leng liansot ka sa mahmah a, ka lung akim mahmah hi. Chingbawite hong tun phet un nau pia in lupna ah ka lum tawldam zek hi. Ann nek hun in hong sam ua, ann ne in nekzoh phet in inn kong ah ka tu maimai nawn hi.

Nitak hun hong hi nawn a, ngeina bang a ka hih teng uh ka hihzoh un ka lum nawn uhi. Lupkawm in Chingbawi toh ka houlim nilouh a, maban nau etkol ding dan khong ka kikum uhi.

“UMuan, nau etkol siam kisa hetlou keive.”

“Ching, nau masa zaw enkol siamlua vang ding ahi.”

“Bangchi etkol a hoih na sa.”

“Nau muh a thilsia bangmah hihlouh ding, amai a aw khauh zang lou a, ahithei tan a nuihmai suah gige ding ahi.”

“Kenle huai ka sawm ahi, hilele ka hih zohlouh hun aom chia hon hehsan ken aw.”

“Hehsan lou e, i kihehsan a i ki-oilouhna aom leleng nau muh leh zak himhim a omlouh ding ahi aw.”

“Hitham e Umuan. Hong pau theih hunhun apan Bible chang khong hilh a sunday school khong hoihtak a kaisakpah ding aw.”

“Alou theilou ahi. A pau theihma kho thei nailou ahih uapan Biakinn zotpih gige leng a let chiang a leng biakinn zot dan hong theipah ding ahi. Naupang hailai i chihte hailou lua uh ahi, aguk taka i omdan leh gamtatdan ana enzui gige ahi ua, hong let chiang ua huai i omdan a muhte mah bang a hong om uh ahi. Huaiziak a nau hoih ding i deih leh ei i hoih masak ngai ahi.”

“A diklua umuan. Kei bangle ka neulai a ka nu’n biakinn ah na buaihuai chia hon tonpihlou pahpah a huaiziak taka biakinn zot ding khong huchipi a poi ngaih khalou a omden kha ka hi.”

“Thil om theilua mah ahi. Kou bang ka neu lai ua i pa’n khatvei i kikhop kei ngeingei leh huai ni pumlum chu gate le hon kan saklou, hon zep zomah. Huai gahsuah a tutan kikhop kingai poimoh hi’n ka thei.”

“Tua chu ei thutuam chizen ni, i ta khualna ziak liauliau in i dam nakleh kikhop khawng a poimoh masa in koih gige ni aw Umuan.”

Kihoulim kawmkawm in ka ihmu uhi. Zan ihmut limtak in ka ihmu thei ua, zingkal bang ka khangma zawzen hi. Ka thoh in ka lupna gei a thilbawm khat ana om leulou a, lamdangsa sim kawm in ka hong hi. A sung ah puannak leh khekol hoihtak ana om a, huaite tung ah laikhat ana kikoih ahihman in a lai ka simpah hi.

Ka itpen Umuan,

Pathian pi na toh tuni chiang nong ompihna tengteng tung ah kipahthu ka gen masa hi. Kei a ding in na hoihna gen ding chi leng ka aw neih teng in a daih zoukei ding a, gelh thoh ding chileng le ka gelh seng kei ding. Ka pasal nahi a, ka pa leng na hi. Ka hinkhua siatna apan hon bawldiktu na hi a, ka tung a na hoihna leh siamna tengteng kon din seng kei ding hi.

Umuan ei, a thak in hon ngailua ka hihdan ana thei thak inla, nidang a na kiang a kipahthu ka gen khaklouh om tengteng tung ah leng kipaklua ka hi chih ana thei in. Kon it gige ding a, ka sisan lum a luan lai teng na kiang ah ka om gige dia, na nek leh ne in na ngolh leh ka ngawl ding hi.

Tuni FATHERS DAY ahihtoh kiton in kei na zi in ka hih theihsun hiai himai ahi Umuan, kong ngailua.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Na zi Chingbawi.

Ka sim khit in kipahna lianpi toh ka nui heuhau a, nidang banglou tak in ka kizing sil a, ka kisilzoh phet in Chingbawi hon puan leisakte silh in ka teng pah a, limlang a ka ki-et chiang bang in kilawm diak ka kisa mahmah hi. Chingbawi ngei leng bangmah hon gen kei mahleh hon van leisak koihdap mailou a silhpah, poimoh ngaihsak, kipahpih ka hihdan thei ahihman in kei sang inleng ana guk kipahzaw thamtham hi. Chingbawi in hiai teng hon hih kei leleng Fathers Day ahihlam himhim leng ana phawkkha lou ka hi zomah hi.

Fathers Day lopna in zingkal sa limtak ka meh ua, kikhop lemtang thei nailou ahihman in inn ah ka pa, ka u toh ka puanthak chiat uh silh in kikhopna hoihtak in ka nei uhi. Ka zite chiat uh hon thilhih thupitakte tung ah kipahthu genna ka nei chiat ua, sun hun kipahna leh nopsakna toh nuamtak in ka zang uhi. Nitaklam ann nezou in nitak hun ka innkuan un ka zangkhawm nawn nainai uhi.

Hunte hong pai zel a, Chingbawi u zi neih hun ding hon tung petmahta ahihman in huailam ah ka pumbuai uhi. Chingbawite unau nih kia hi liklek ahihna ua a gamtang ding leng a tawm mahmah ziak in a kiten hun sawng uh ka va giak phei uhi. Chidamna toh duhthusam tak in kitennate ka uap thei ua, kipahhuai ka sa mahmah hi. Himahleh a langlang a taivialna inbel ka gim tuak mahmah uhi.

Kitenna lam vai teng a fel khit in innlam ah ka giak phei nawnta uhi. Inn ah leng sep ding nengneng aom man in hih theih dandan in ka sem zel hi. Huchihlai in ka pa nidang bang hetlou in hong dam theikei mahmah a, ka lung uh a nuam hetkei hi. Nikhat ka u toh kihou in phai lam a etsak mai ding ka sawm uhi. Ka pa ahihleh kihatsak in ki-etsak ding bang a ut hetkei hi. Himahleh kikhel thei ahihna ah chi’n ama ut-le-utlouh thu hilou in ka va paipih uhi.

Phai a Doctorte’n test tuamtuam hong neisak ua, huai apan a natna hong mankhia uhi. Ka pa cancer vei ana hi maimah a, hai khong ngai ding a hizomah hi. Ka lung uh a nuamkei mahmah a, lah hih theih ka nei tuankei uh. Cancer apan damsuah chih lah kiza nailou ahihman in lungkham huai ka sa mahmah. Ka u toh kihou in sawt hong dampihna ding ahihnakleh etkol theihlai sung etkol ding in ka kihoulem uhi.

Hunte bei zungzung a, kha teng a ka pa haisak a kuan gige leh a etkolna a sum tam seng mahmah ka hihtak man un ka guk buai mahmah ta uhi. Ka pa etkol touhlai lah ka ut ua, himahleh ka neihsa uh bei ahita mai. Chingbawi in a khaloh teng mi khut a koih a sum lak mai ding hong sawm a, himahleh huai hial ding in ka phalkei hi. A chimoh tawp khawk lam bel ka hita uh, himahleh ka pa etkol teitei bel ka tum tinten uhi.

Nikhat ka innkuan un ka pa theihlouh in ka houlim khawm ua, bangteng hileh innmun banda mai ding in thupukna ka bawl uhi. Huchi’n ka innmun man uapan in ka pa ka enkol nawn ua, himahleh ka pa’n hoihlam sang in siatlam hon nawtsan zaw hi’n ka thei a, ka lung akham mahmah hi. Phai lam ah ka taipih suk nawn ua, huai ah honna admit zomah uhi. Lung bang a leng deuhdeuh a, nidang a ka pa toh hun nuam ka zat khawm zaizai khong uh mitkha ah lang dundun maisam hi. Tua lah lupna tung a lum dildel, a taksa di leng omzou nawnlou phial bang a om et a haksa mahmah. A nini a muh theih phial a kiam ka pa ka enzel a, ka hih theihsun ka mittui ka nulnul mai hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-SAGIHNA

Ka pa dinmun in siatlam nawt hiaihiai ahihna ah ka buai mahmah hi. Doctor inlah lametna om sa nawnlou a inn a etkol mai dia hong paisak hita ahihna ah inn ah theihphatawp in ka enkol uhi. A naklai hamham chih thu ahi a, adang zaw kinep ding omkei. Asun-azan in mipi’n hong tutpih kheukhou gige den uhi. Ka unau un ka ki-entuah zel ua, gen ding thei zawsam omlou in ka om nilouh uhi.

Nibangzah hiam etthoh lel a ka kinep nung un ka pa hinna chu bei a hitamai. A kikhem ding zawsam omlou in ka kikahhuan mai uhi. Nungak leh tangvalte’n ka inn uh hong hah ua, ka pa luang koihna ding hankuang hoihtak hon bawlsak uhi. Ka pa taksa ka muh tawpna ding uh ahihna ah ka khelah mahmah ua, mittui luang zungzung kawm in a sam khawng ka zutzut mai hi. Ka neutung uapan ka pa’n honna kepdante leh hon kithuahpih dan khong mitkha a alang zungzung a, huai hunlaite sapkik theih himai leh ka ut vungvung uhi. Ahi alah sapkik theih ding a omkei, ka pa manphatdan ka chian semsem hi.

Programme hong pan ua, inntek thugen hun in ka u in bangtan hiam hon gen zoh in kei hong angkhak ahihman in ken leng tamlou hichi’n ka va gen hi.

“Amasapen in tuni ka pa hong itpih a hong paikhawm tengteng leh programme subuaitu omlou a hong zangsak Pathian min ka phat masa ahi. Banah pa in a ta vuilou a, a tate’n pa vui thei dia ka om uh leng hamphat huai ka sa hi. Mi tampite’n theihkholh louh khong a kol manlouh a sihna a tuahphut lai un Pathian in kou innkuan ka pa duhthusam taka etkol theih dia hun hon piak leng hamphathuai kasa sawnsawn uhi. Ka pa tanchin kong gen tamkei dia, mihing ahihna ah a hoihna thei leng na om ding ua, a hoihlouh khakna thei leng na om ding uhi. Ka pa hamphatna khat ahihleh kou a tate khatvei mah leng a tai ngai ding in ka omkha kei ua, ka tung uah leng lungkim mahmah ahihdan ka thei uhi.

I pate khong hong sih leh neutung apan kithuahdan leh hun zatdan khong ngaihna puang mahmah ahihman in tuni’n nu leh pa toh khosalaite’n i nu leh pate ittak leh deihthohtak in kem chiat ni. Sih nung a kikah a itna thu kigenpen damlai in khekta ni. I nu leh pate a damlai un amau itna khitui toh kem leng lamzanglou kuamah ki-omlou ding hi.

Ka hun zohna ding in a thak in tuni a hong uap, ka pa hong suunpih a hong paikhawm tengteng tung ah kipahthu k’on gen thakthak a, na phatuamngaihnate uh leh na tha senna tengteng uh Pathian in a leh tampi in hong din ta hen. Ka kipak e.

Hichi’n ka hun ka zou a, ka zohzoh in ka pa luang kiang ah ka va tunawn hi. Chikmah chiang a ka pa kiang a tukha nawnlou ding ka hihman in ka am mahmah. Pasal chi in ka kidekdek sam a, himahleh ka kidekzou tuan sam kei. Ka unau ua kidekzou omlou ka hihna ua ka kah chiang un ka kiim ua omte nasan leng kidek zoulou in ana a mittui uh ana nulnul sam uhi. Programme zou kuan ahita ua, khakkhiatna thumna hong neih hial uale ka pa ka itna hong lian semsem abang. Melmuhni om nawnlou ding chi’n kapkawm in ka pa ka pumkawi suk hi.

Tangvalte hong lut ua, ka pa hon zawngkhia ua, inn mai ah a hankuang koih in lim ka kila uhi. Lim kilakna ka zoh un hanmual lam zuan in gari in ka kipawkhia uhi. Haan mun ah nungak-tangval tampite ana om ua, ka pa luang koihna ding haan ka va en a, buan a zut bangmai in mam tak leh hoihtak in honna tohsak chitchet ua, ka lung a muang tuam mahmah hi. Haan ah a vuina hun saulou ka zang ua, ka zatzoh un tangvalte’n vuk ngal uhi.

Haan apan in innlam ka zuansuk nawn ua, inn ah leng mi hunkhoptak om ahihna ah mipi lak ah ka va tusam uhi. Ka itpen Chingbawi ka tut leh tu in ka din leh ding a, ka lungmuang tuan mahmah hi. Chingbawi ngei inleng pianna pa taktak bang a it ahihna ah a pawna mahmah, a kahkahna in a mel bang a mualzou hial hi. Singpi khong dawn in ka om ua, nitaklam ni hong nem deuh in halh deuh khak leh chi’n ka kisilkhia a, huaizoh ann ka ne uhi.

Nitak nungak-tangval lengkhawm ding in hong kuan souhsouh ua, kou leng inn kil khat ah ka na tu uhi. Lenkhawmna hun ka zoh un a pai nailou hunkhop omte toh thu tuamtuam gen in ka houlim uhi. Mi hong theng in kou leng Chingbawi toh lupna bawl in ka lum uhi. Lupkawm in ka houlim ua,

“Umuan, i pa nak ithuai maw, kei bang a sung a piang bang a hon bawl a, hichitel a pa ithuai hon dampih lailai leh uthuai kasa lawlai.”

“It huai mah e maw. Lah i hih theih om tuanlou a. Neulai khong mitkha a lang dundun mai.”

“Dingding mahmah inle a pu ngailua hia, apu puak bang nopsa a kipuapua hi ua...” chi’n kidek zoulou in Chingbawi hong kap a, ken leng,

“Ching, kinehnou saksak nawnkei ni. Mihingte a si ding ngen ihi. Pai masa puantuam tang himai ahi. I pa a hampha hizaw ahi.”

“Himah e umuan, hilele Dingding in a pu zong theita ahihchia a pu hon zong leh en ngamlou ding keivoi.”

Kei leng ka khasiat hong suaksim a, “Ching, himah e maw. Aman lah a pu si ahihlam thei nailou dia maw.”

“Umuan, huai eivoi.”

Ka pa tungtang khong houlim kawmkawm in ka ihmu uhi. Zingkal ka khanloh phet un ka thoukhia ua, inndongtate ana tungkhinvek in nek ding khong ana bawl uhi. Zing hun in puzutawi bawlna hun khong ka zang ua, ka man un ann ka nepah uhi. Ann nehak sim ka hi ding ua siatvilna programme zang dingte bang hong tung man pawlpawl aom hi. Ka man hunhun in saptuamte toh siatvilna programme ka zang nawn uhi.

Hunte hong paizel a, ka pa sih nung a kha a sim bang hong kivei hial chiang in ka phawkna uh leng hong kiam deuhta. Himahleh ka inn banda na sum uh pezou tuanlou ka hihman un zuakkhiat vet a mun dang ngaihtuah ding ka sawm uhi. Huchi’n ka u leh ka zite tuak uh banah ka nu toh kihoulem in ka zuakkhia ua, huai in ka sumbat teng uh ka din uhi. Ka ditna val uh bangzah hiam omte in innmun ka lei ua, huai ah inn ka lamthak zou hamham uhi ka sungte tuak uh deihsakna toh.

Sum leh pai muhna haksata ahihman in niteng in ka u toh kiloh in ka kuankhe gige uhi. Nitaklam kho-ul kai niuniau sa a gimmel tak a tungsek ka hihna ua ka zite un et hak honsa mahmah ua, Chingbawi diak bang a guk in room khong ah ana kapsek hi. Himahleh i dinmun in zil nawnlou ahihman in a lou theilou khat suak hi. Nidang a Chingbawi pa sawlna a nasem a kuan khong ka ngaihtha a suak thei mahmah, tua lah a mounu uh naupa ngen kuansakta ahihna ua lamet ding a om nawnkei hi.

Nitak khat Chingbawi nu leh pa leng muhlouhna sawtta ahihtoh chi in a inn lam ua ka va hoh uhi. A ute nupa a sunghte innlam a hoh ahihna ua a nu leh pa kia ana om uhi. Chingbawi nu ka et chiang in teksot ka sa mahmah a, ka lung a nuam hetkei, lah va dot ding ka utkei hi. Lungngaihna toh ana omkhop chu hipeuhmah ding in ka koih hi. Chingbawi inleng lamdang sakna nei ahingei dia,

“Nu, bangchi mou nei awlta ding, ana hoih deuhdeuh ding i honsak leh nana tek mel deuhdeuh a.”

“Bawi om awl malak ah nasep ding tam deuhdeuh ei.”

“Bangchidan in eita Nu? Ka uching lah?”

“Bawi, i kinep bangkei ve aw, zingkal lah thoukhe ngeilou ua, sunchia lah phone khoih a kimawlden ua nasep teng ei tung mah tu veve ahi.”

“Chihmawk a nu, kon hehpihna e.”

“Bawi, ka dam nak leh hong hihzouna ding ka hi.”

“Nu, bangteng hileh ka uching hong kikhel theihna di’n i pangkhawm ding ua, thumna amah adi’n neihsak gige ni uh aw.”

“Ei mahve maw bawi, ei i lungsim nat toh thumsak dia leng a na kikoihlou kiheh maimah ahi.”

“Nu, hilou ahi kihehsan thoh lou in awl in kamdam in na genpih zel dia, huai kawmkawm in thumpih lechin hong hoih ding ahi.”

“Bawi, nou nupa mahmah suanhuai hong sa kahi. Mou neikhial kisa mah leng makpa hoihtak ka neih ziak in ka kipak veve.”

Hichia ka houlim lai un Chingbawi ute nupa hong lut ua, hong houpih di ua ka na kinepsim leh hong houpih hetlou in a room ua a kizuilut uhi. Chingbawi inleng lamdang salua ahidia a enzui dundun zawzen hi. Thu tuamtuam khong ka houlimbeh lai ua, huchi’n kou leng innlam zuan in ka pai nawn uhi. Inn ka tun un ka pa honna patpih nitak lupma a kikhopna ka neih gige bang un ka nei nawn ua, huaizoh in ka lum uhi. Lupna tung ah Chingbawi toh ka houlim nawn uhi.

“Umuan, i ute lungkhamhuai uh e maw.”

“Ching, lungkham zenzen lou e, awl a hong hoih di ahi, thumna toh pang leng.”

“I nu kia ka gente bangchi na sa?”

“Na gen hoih lawtel. A masa a amoh chu na Ute nupa ahi. Na u in pan a lak masak ding, huaizoh chiang a i nu ding hipan ahi. Mi tampi buaina hiai kal ahi. Khenkhat buaina ahihleh a tekpi in mounu etkol a enkol den in ta etkol a enkol khalou, huaibang a mou inleng nu etkol bang a enlou in tekpi et a enkha nilouh. Huai tegel hon kisuktuah chiang a kituahna piang theilou ahi.”

“Dik lawtel Umuan.”

“Huai banah kei deihdan hileh i pa bang in innsung kikhopna makaih henla, i nu leh na uching mohpuak ding bang khensak henla, huchi’n vaihawm leh a nial ngam omlou ding ua vaiveng pen ding ahi.”

“Huai eivoi, hilele i pa le a huchi thei zat hilou, i u lah a zi chih dandan a om nulnul zomah dia denchia i nu leh pa leng innsung a hon tat zohlouh khak ding uh lau kahi.”

“Ching, huaitan hial omlouhna di’n en leng pan i lak theih nana ah pan la ni aw.”

“Awle.”

Gimsim ka hih toh ka ihmusuk pah uhi. Zan in nau hong kap a, Chingbawi in phawk pahlou ahihman in ka thou a, nau ka pomkhia hi. Ka khem theih bangbang in ka khem a, ka khem ching thei vanglak hi. A nu phawng theilua himahleng hun tamzaw ah anu buaipih ahihman in ka dawn theih nana a dawn ding chih ka thupi ahi. Pomsa in lupna gei a ka awi nilouh a, hong ihmut hoihtak in a nu ang ah ka sialsuk nawn hi. Ka sialsuk leh a nu’n phawk geih a, kisuanglah kawm in “Umuan, hon phawng di hia” hon chi a, ken leng “ka itpen tawldamtak a a ihmut ka deihzaw ahi” chi’n nuikawm in ka gen a, amah leng nui heuhau hi. Huchi’n ka ihmu nawn ua, zing baihtak in ka thoukhe nawn uhi.

Zing kihahkhin Chingbawi in ann huan ding khong buaipih a, ken ahihleh ka u toh ka huan ua meh lei ding lei ka na zingkalh uhi. Ann nek hun hong hi nawn a, nepah in nasem in ka kuankhe nawn ngal uhi. Nidang nopsaklai hun khong toh teh di’n a kidang mahmah. Kholai kho mite nuihsan leh simmoh a kituak mun simta hi. Himahleh hiai bang thute Chingbawi ka theisak utkei, na salaw ding ahihman in. Nikhat ka nasepna ua pasal nidang pek apan honna haza gige, ka siatna ding zong gige khat hong hoh in hong en a, “na pa a sih leh nop nasa umaw na inn bang uh zuak pah heihai, tua jugali a kuan hi zomah” chi’n hon nuihsan ekek hi. Ka naseppihte bang un hong en luakluak zawzen ua, nop ka sa hetkei hi.

Nasem zou nguaisim kawmtak in inn ka tung a, Chingbawi in ka mel a muh phet in “UMuan, bangchi e, lungkim louhna nei maw, ahihke na noplouhna om hia na ngui mellua” honna chipah a, ken leng “Ching bangmah om zenzen lou ahi, nang i hon muhlouh zek chia kingui mai ahi” chi’n nuikawm in ka leh dawn hi. Chingbawi leng hon nui in “Umuan, na kisilna ding tui leng ka koihsa ahi va kisil in” hong chi a, kei leng kisil ding in ka kisapah hi. Ka kisil khit in ann ka ne ngal ua, ann nezou ka veng ua misi om ahihman in lengkhawm in ka va hoh hi.

Lenkhawm tawp inn ka zuanpah a, huchi’n innkuan kikhopna khong nei nawn in ka lum uhi. Ka lup un Chingbawi in hong en a,

“Umuan, tulai zaw na gim theilua maw.”

“Ching, ka zi leh ta adia gim ding ka tuppen mah ahi.”

“Kipahhuaina e, Umuan, pa tampi a zi leh ta adia gim khalou om eive. Kei zaw ka hampha bik.”

“Khovel i chih a hichi mah ahi Ching, mi kibanglou ahihman in.”

“Eh, Umuan, zingchiang sunday ahihbanah Dingding birthday hia a pu’n sa a lopsak dek a i va hoh ngai ding.”

“Ei mahve, zanhal pek a hon gen ahi kei kiang ah. Na pa pilvang ka sa mahmah banghiam om chia nang a tanu hong houpih masalou a kei hon theisak masa gige, pilsa mahmah kahi.”

“Hia, kipahhuaina e. A pi’n leng a puannak di toh a khekol di ka leisak ahi chi.”

“Kipahhuaina sawnsawn e maw.”

“Umuan, tunitan i nau i kolna ah bang kisam in na thei, ka hoihlouhnate hon gen mah.”

“Achang a chu nidang ei nu leh pate bang dekdek nahi, hehe.”

“Bangchidan in eita?”

“Na hehsim chiang khong a mihai, thumanglou chidan kampau hoihlou zang khanak. Tate maw Ching, hai khong chih louh ding, hih ding leh hihlouh ding khen thei nailou ahihdan uh i theihsa eivoi. Eilawi khong le nu leh pa’n hong hamsiat chi zawzen ni kawmkal a suakta kihi eivoi, tuhun a huaite zang nawnlou a nuihmai toh chiil ding hita ahi.”

“A dik lua umuan, i hehsim chiang a huai khong kichikha zialzial a mahvoi, tuban k’on kidekta di aw.”

“Hi tham e, mihing kuapeuh i damsung a siamsin tou den ding ihi.”

Bangbang hiam khong kikum in huchi’n ka ihmu nawn uhi. Zingkal ka thoupah nawn ua, Chingbawi in inn na ka uvung leh ka nau toh sem in ken nau ka na don hi. Sunnung in Dingding pute innlam ah hoh ding in ka kuanphei uhi. A pu toh pi kia ana om ua, Chingbawi ute nupa ahihleh ana omkei uhi. Dingding a pi in pompah a, kou Chingbawi toh ann khong huan in sep theihtheih ka sem uhi. Ka man un Chingbawi ute leng hong tungta ua, kikhopna dan khat ka nei uhi.

Dingding pu in thumsakna hun khong hoihtak a aneihzoh in gennop neinei genna hun hong hong hi. Kei leng ka dingtou pah a, hichi’n ka gen hi.

“Nu leh pate, tuni na tupapa uh pianni champha thupitak a non hihsak banuah a manpha penpen thumsakna hoihtak n’on neihsakna tung ua kipahthu ka hon gen masa hi.

Tuni a k’on gen ut ahihleh ka innkuan khosakdan uh ahi tangpi hi. Na theihsa bang un Chingbawi toh ki-ittak leh kingaitak a kiteng ka hihna tak un tunitan khatvei mah leng kina in ka kiselkha naikei uhi. Hihkhelh bel ka neikha tuak ua, himahleh kuamah kihehsan thohlou in awl in kamdam in ka kihilh hiathiat ua a nuam mahmah hi.

Chingbawi ka innsung ua hong lut apan in ka nu leh ka nau a thadawn mahmah a, seplit lah bangmah neilou in bangkim a sem hi. Ka nu’n leng a sung a piang a tanu bang in bawl a, Chingbawi inleng a pianna nu bang a bawl in a ki-ittuak mahmah uhi. Hiai tengteng aom theihna di’n ka kiphatna hilou in ken leng moh tampi pawkha hi’n ka kithei hi. Chingbawi hong om tung in thil a theikim vek pahkei hi. Ka nu leh ka innkuante mai a atuitum ding ka deihna in van thak bang ka lei chiang in ka gukpuak a Chingbawi kiang ah va pia in khong ka chi a, huchia ka bawl touhtouh chiang in a lungkim mahmah ua, a kal uh hoihtak in hong pai hi. Huaiziaktak in ka innkuan un ka ki-it petmah ua, neizou kei le ungle kuamah ka eng tuankei uhi. Nupa pankhawm a poimohdan ka mu semsem a, pankhawm sem theihna ding inleng ka theihtawp un pan ka la uhi. Innsung nuam bawlkhiatna ding in innsung a a poimoh khalou ki-omlou ahihdan theihthak sem din a hoih hi.

Ka zohna ding in hiai bang a innkuan hoih leh kituak, nu leh pate kipahna ka bawlkhiat theihna ding a Chingbawi kei adia na hon phal uh kipahthu k’on gen thakthak. Ka kipak e.

Chingbawi nu leh pa’n ka thugen diksa mahmah ahi uh chih a omdan uapan ka thei hi, himahleh ka unu uh bel a kun deudau den hi. Gen ding thei om nawnlou ahihman in Chingbawi ann thuk di’n hong kisa a, chihleh a uching in “Ching, nou ana om maimai un ken kong hih ding” chi’n aman hong hih saisai hi. Ka thugen in na sem pah eih chi’n kei bel ka na guk nuih hiuhiau hi. Ann hong thukkhit in ka ne pah ua, nezou saulou tu in kou leng innlam zuan in ka paikik nawn uhi.

Inn ka tun un ka nu toh ka nau kia ana om ua, ka ute mulou ka hihman in ka kan leh amau leng uvungte innlam a ann ne dia kuan uh ahihdan hong hilh hi. Sawtlou ka om nung un ka ute leng hon tung ua, innkuan kim in ka om zaizai nawn uhi. Nitak hun ngeina bang in ka zang nawn ua, ka manvek un ka lum nawn chiat uhi. Zingchiang kiloh a kuan nawn ngai ding ahihna ah ihmut pah ka sawm a, himahleh ka ihmu theikei a, Chingbawi ka houlim pih hi.

“Ching, tuni bangchi nasa a.”

“Umuan, a hoihlua. Na thugen le hoihlua hilele nang hon phat law zawzen, ka kisuanglah.”

“Hon phat di chileng ka aw neih inle hon daihlou di, na hihna mah tawmkha genlel kahi.”

“Nang toh kihou zaw nuam hive aw, hehna di om ngei mahmah lou.”

“Kamsiam sek e aw kei a nu mahmah.”

“Umuan, a chang a maw na aw nem toh mi zou thei law mahmah chin a denchia nungak dang khong na va zoh khak di lau keive.”

“Numeite zaw na lauh di mahmah ule tamsek sa keive, nungak khat bang va zuikha mawkle buailaw di neive maw. haha”

“Buai chih phet sizou ding kahi.”

“Haha, sih zaw si hial kei niteh.”

Ka houlim zoh un ka ihmu tuak uhi. Nidang banglou in nau a zan kah den a, ka zi thou a kei va lup zenzan det ding ut tuanlou ka hihman in ka zi a thoh leh kei leng ka thoukhia hi. Zinglam dak 2:00 vel khong in hoihtak in ka ihmu theipan uhi. Zingkal ka khangma ua, huchihlai in ka nau in ka room kong uh hong kiu nilouh a, mangbat mel tak in “Umuan, umuan...” hong chi ahihman in kintak in ka thoukhia a, innkong lam kawk ahihman in ka va taikhiat leh Police-te tamkhop innkong ah ana ding dim thepthop mawk ua, ka kiguih hial hi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-GIATNA

Police khat in Station ah nong pai ngai ding ahi hong chi a, lamdang ka sa mahmah. Chingbawi inlah kap zen in ka khut ah hong len den a, ka zuih ding a phal mahmah kei hi. Himahleh ka khelhna ding theilou ka hihman in lauh luatna ding om a ka theihlouh ziak in Chingbawi kiang ah “Ching, ka va zui dia k’on paipah ding aw, thumanna mah poimoh ahi” chi’n ka zuikheta hi. A gypsy sung ah hong tusak ua, ka nawltuak ah mi khat tuak tu in a station lam uh zuan in ka taikhia uhi.

Police station ka tuntak un a sappa uh room ah hong lutsak ngal ua thudotna hong pan uhi.

“Muanpu maw nang?”

“Himah ing ei Sir.”

“Zan a na nasepna ua van mang pen koi a na koih ahia?”

“Chimawk Sir, ken van mang aom lam leng theikha hetlou keive.”

“Nang lak ahihdan report ka mu uh, ki-imlou in genkhe mai in gawtna na tuahma in.”

“Sir, ka hihlouhna ah hi ka chi teitei kei ding.”

Calling bell mekging a, a naupangte nih hong tailut ngal uhi. Huaite kiang ah soisa zek a thudotna nei ding in hilh hi. Huchi’n a sappa room apan hon pikhia ua room dang khat a hong koih uhi. Zep in hong zep ua, genkhe ding in hong noh den uhi. Himahleh ka guk louh chu gu ka chi utkei hi. Dakkal khat mahmah hong zep nung un chu tu le ka tu zou nawnkei, ka zoi dildel mai hi. Huai tan inleng hunsak nailou ua, electric current in hong bi zozot uhi. Hiai pen chiah chu thuak haksa ka sa mahmah. Ka mittui bang a luang zungzung hial hi.

A tawptawp inzaw loh dingdan hon thei nawnlou ahiding ua, lock-up sung ah hon koihtop uhi. Ka kingaihtuah khop a, vangsia bang ka kisa vungvung hi. Bangchi lawmlawm a hiai bang haksatna thuak ka de aw chih khong ka ngaihtuah hi. Chingbawite nuta leh ka innkuante ka ngaihtuah a, a lunggim ding dan uh bang mitkha in ka mu hi. Tun kei hichi’n Jail ah om nilouh mawk leng ka sungte’n bang ana ne ding uh, Chingbawi kha loh kia alah kichawmzou samlou unga, ka lung a gim mahmah, lah lunggim a pha ding khat leng a omkei.

Sunkhua in lock-up ah ka om, nitaklam in gintak louhpi in ka u hong hoh thei hi.

“Bawi, bang na chi a, a haksa lua hia?”

“Haksa kei u, nang nasem a kuanlou maw?”

“Nang van gu a hong ngoh ua kei leng hon kiksak uh.”

“Kare poina e. Thudik hong pawt hun omna ve maw.”

“Theihkhiat hunhun ei leng om maimai tuanlou ding.”

“U, Chingbawite nuta lah bang achi ua?”

“Bangchi kei uh, Chingbawi ahihleh om thei mahmah lou sim, tuale hong zuihsawm a, kei kia ka va khodak masa phot ding ka chih ahi.”

“Aw, noptak aom ahi, lungnuamlou hetken ana chi in aw.”

Ka kihoukhit ma un Police khat in na hun uh beita chi’n ka u paikhesak pah hi. Ka lunggimna behlaptu ding in ka u bang a nasepna apan a na tawpsak zomah uhi. Bangziak a hichi gentheih ka hi ding uam aw chi’n Pathian bang ka mohsa kha dekdek hi. Hih ding lah omlou ka hihman in ka hun tengteng kingaihtuahna in ka zang den a, ka gawn loh zou hial hi. Nitak chiang inlah thousilen chihte omlou ahihman in thoukang thak thei mahmah a, ihmut chih leng a om ngeikei hi.

Nikhat hon vengtute kiang ah sim ding Bible hong pethei diam chia ka nget leh honpe zenzen a, sunchiang in Bible sim leh thumna nei in hun ka zang den theita hi. Bible ka sim apan ka puak leng a zang tuan in ka omdan leng noptuan mahmah hi’n ka thei hi. Ngoh a ka omna thudik pawt theihna ding in Pathian ka hun tamzaw ah ka buan den a, ka lohchin ngei leng ka lamen hi.

Lock-up a ka om a niguk ni in ka nasepna pa uleh Police sappa hong pai ua, et leng ka na en ngamkei hi. Hon vengtupa kiang ah kong a hongsak ua, Police sappa’n hichi’n hong chi hi.

“A hilou a hon kingohkha ahihna ah ngaihsiam ka hon ngen ua, tu in na pawt theita ding. Ka room ah singpi i dawn ding ua huaizoh naupangte’n hong kha ding uh” hong chi a, ka kipak mahmah, ka thumna dawn a om ahi chih thei ka hihman in sappa kiang ah “Sir, ka pawtkhiat ma in thumna hun ka zang nuamlai phot” ka chi a, aman leng hon phalsak ahihman in Pathian kiang ah mittui kai zen in kipahthu ka gen hi.

Sappa room ah singpi ka dawn kawm un thil omdan ka nasepna pa un hichi’n hon gen hi.

“Muan, kallui a na naseplai ua hong hoh Mangpu (huai ka nasepna mun ua hong hou se pa) in vanzat poimohtak khat ana gu a, mang ahi chih a kitheihchia kikan kawikawi in Mangpu in Muanpu in a paidek a khoihkhoih ahi hong chih chiang a nang guk ding dan a hon kikoih kha ahi. Tuzingkal in YPA heutute’n guta khat man ua, huaipa kipuanna apan Mangpu in a guk, aman zuak utlou in gutate khat sumloh a azuaksawn sakna lam a kimankha ahi” hon chi a, ka gintak ana bangsim hi.

“Pa Chin, ahihleh tua Mangpu koi aom?”

“Police in manta, naktak a soisak in aom ding.”

“Pa Chin, thilkhat k’on ngen thei diam?”

“Awle hon ngen in.”

“Mangpu thilhih ahi i thei, hilele a van mangpen mukhia i hih nakleh Pathian min in ngaidam suk maive, ken leng ngaidam kahi.”

“Thupi na maizen chia. Ken Policete’n a lohloh uh a loh mai ding ua ka koih ahi.”

“Pa Chin, ka u bek nasem a nana kuansak ding hia ka khosakna uh a haksat toh.”

“A tung a ana kiheh lawkha a ahi. Zingchiang apan na unau un hong kuan nawn unla, kei ziak a hiaitan tung na hihna ua non kuan louhna tengteng uh leng nitha ka honpe ding.”

“Pa Chin, seplouh man lak chih a ki-awihuai tel dia maw.”

“Seplouh man in ngai kenla, kideihsak thilpiak in ana sangzaw in.”

“Huai ahihlechu ka kipaklaw ding.”

Singpi leng dawn zouta ka hihna ua sepaih sappa toh chibai kibuk in a naupangte’n a gari un inn tan hon khatou uhi. Inn ka tun phet in Chingbawi in hon delhpah a, hon pumkawi in a kap keuhkeuh hi. Chingbawi khasiatak a kap keuhkeuh ka muh in kei leng ka kidek zoukei dek a, naksem in ka kawibelh hi. Bangtan hiam innkong a ka kikawi nung un kikhah in innsung ah ka kizuilut uhi. Kisillou a ni tamkhop om ka hihman in ka kisilkhe pah a, hon gawtna uh damsiang nailou ahihman in tak in a tak susuih hi. Ka kisilzoh in Chingbawi in hon soisakna ma te uh damdawi hoihtak in hon nuhsak hi.

Sun hun zang zou nitak in pawtkhe seselou in inn ah ka omvek uhi. Ka u kiang ah ka nasepna pa uh hong gente ka hilhvek a, ka kipak mahmah uhi. Pathian in Amah aom a Amah taisanloute lam a pang gige ahihdan ka mu semsem uhi. Haksatna bang hon tuaksak zel mahleh kipahna lampi ah hon pilut zel hi. Ei mihing deihna bang in a vualzawlna tungpah hehu kei mahleh hun a sak chiang in tungsak veve hi.

Kikhopna khong ka nei nawn ua, ka neihzoh un kou mau lupna chiat ka zuan nawn uhi. Lup chih taktak neilou a ni bangzah hiam zang chih mah lupna a lup nopdiak ka sa hi. Lupkawm in ka houlim nawn uhi.

“Ching, ka omlouh sung bang nana hih aleh.”

“Room a ana guk kah den.”

“Bachia mawk kahkah e, ana lungmuang in ka chi hilou maw.”

“Umuan, hon ngailua i hihchia, nang omlou a hinkhua zat haksa lua eive.”

“Enle hon ngai mah hang ei hon ngaihtuah khop.”

“Ka heh khong suak Police-te bang ka muhdah tha suak, na omlouh sung thumna le ka nei zoukei.”

“Ching, Police-te maw kei hon man ut hilou ua a mohpuakna uh sem hilel ahi uh, kuamah muhdah louh ding i chi hilou maw. Banah, thumna neih a poimoh hun tak a nana huchih hetlouh di ahi.”

“Pathian inle hon taisan hi inteh hichia i thuak gige uh chi keivoi.”

“Zenzen, numei haite bang a pau louh ding ahi ka itpen, Pathian omlou hileh tu’n le na hon munai khol ding hia.”

“Himah e Umuan, numeite zaw kihichi kha pahpah, kah lah kibaihsam bawl, heh lah kihehbaih, pasalte khuallou zen a kikamtam zozot kha pahpah zomah.”

“Hithou mah e, nang bel na huchi kei a. Ken maw ka zakdah mahmah chu mi inn hong lengla bang om thil hon kan uh bang aom leh pasalte awn masa lou a a numeipen a theipen dan a dawngpah zozot chih khawng ahi. Numei pilte’n maw a theih zenpi uh hilele “ka pa uh k’on dong masa phot ding aw” chia a pasal thulou a bangmah thupukna hiam gen leh sak mawk neihlouh uh ahi.”

“Ken le hon pau tuh kha dekdek ing a ka tawpkik zel eive Umuan.”

“Nang chu fellua na ka hichilam.”

“Ko’n kiphat di aw umuan. I kiten tung khong a TV khong a na et utte ken en ut mahmah lou, lunglut mahmah lou hilele ka pasal lunglutna ka lunglutpih theih ngai chia a lunglut lua dan a k’on omom leh tua chu ball pek et khawng le nop sak a sa ta kahi.”

“Huai khong eivoi na felna. Ken le keilam kong gen di aw. Ka zi lunglutna leh kipahna ka na zongzong a, na kipahlam leh lunglutlam a ka theihte ka na kizil eksam a, a tamzaw lohching mahmah hi’n ka thei.”

“Hiai khong eive maw umuan, nupa kituahna ding. Khat in ama deihdan kia a kailou a theihsiamna toh kipahna ding kizontuah a thupi mahmah.”

“Hilua, nupi khat in hichia ana gen ahi. Ka pasal pawtpawt, nitaklam chia zu bang hon dawn thei zomah, ka hehsan a ka kinakpih gige. Himahleh bangmah phatuamlou in innsung nuamlou deuhdeuh hi. Nikhat ka kingaihtuah vengveng a, ka pasal ka bawldan ka khek ding chi’n a pasal mai ah a nuihmai suah in kamdam leh kamsiamtak in ka houpih gige a, ka pasal bang in lamdang honsa hial hi. Huchia heh ngeilou nemtak toh ka omdet nung inn ah leng omtam zaw a, zu hong kham khak chiang bang in hoihtak in ka kem a, duattak in ka enkol a, amah leng hon kisuanglah khong in zu dawn bang hon tawp mawk chi hi. Huaidan zatsiam ngai ahi.”

“Thupi na e maw, i kingaihlai a kei non koldan toh kibangsim.”

“Het, huailaite sutsut ken i chi vele.”

“Ka gen nawnkei chet di leh.”

Ka hah houlimkha sim ua zan bang ana sawtman zawzen hi. Lungnuam leh khamuangtak in ka ihmu tuak ua, zingkal ngeina bang in ka thounawn uhi. Zingkal in Chingbawi in puansawp khong leh hihnop tuamtuam nei ahihman in naudon in ka na pang hi. Nau pai theita ahihna ah ka kikawi delhkhop theita uhi. Tuanvai lamte hong man tak un ann ka ne ua, ann nezou nasem a kuan ding in ka kisangal uhi.

Ka nasepna mun uh ka tun un vaidawnna kipahhuaitak honna bawl ua, kipahhuai lah bang zumhuai lehlam ka sa hial uhi. Mangpu leng ana om a, keilam zuan in hong paiphei a, hon kawi a, mittui kaizen in ngaihdam hon ngen hi. Ken ahihleh ngaihdam hon ngetma aleng ngaidam khin ka hihdan ka theisak a, kipaktak in ka om tuak uhi. Ei hon gal bawl a hon hawte bang leng eilam a pang dia laihlut theihluat gige ahihdan ka chian hi.

Nitaklam hun hong hi nawnta a, nasep leng ka khawlta uhi. Inn neipa’n hon gensa bang in ka unau ua ka kuan louhna teng uh nitha ding leng honpia a, kipaktak in ka sang uhi. Huchi’n kou leng ka unau ua lampi a houlim kawmkawm in ka pai ua, bangmah lou kal in inn ka tung uhi. Inn ka tun uleh ka sungte kuamah ana omkei ua, kong chabi in ana kikalh mawk hi. Lamdangsakna toh ka ki-entuah ua, gen ding zawsam thei ka omkei uh. Phone a kan ding chih lah ka unau ua nasep chiang a phone tawi ngeilou innsung aom hizomah hi. Lungbuai leh mangbang tak in innkong ah ka ding nilouh uhi.

KHEN SAWM-LE-KUANA

Bangtan hiam lungbuai tak a ka din nilouh nung un ka nau hong pai a, kouleng lamdang sakna toh om ka hihman un thil omdan ka kan ngal uhi. Chingbawi nu a BP sang a buai gige ahihna ah khophawklou a puk nawn ahihdan hon hilh a, huchi’n kou leng ka u toh innsung lut in ka kihahsiang pah ua, ann leng ne manlou in ka manphet un Chingbawite innlam ka delh ngal uhi. Ka tun phet un Chingbawi in kin leh buang a tai ahihna ua bangmah leng hon theisak khalou ahihdan leh a kisuanlah thu honna gen ngal hi.

Khomui kuan in Chingbawi nu hong halh zaw deuh a ka theih man un kou leng ann ne nailou a kihih toh innlam ka paisan phot uhi. Inn ka tun un ann khong ka ne ua, ann nekzoh in ka om tawldam uhi. Dak 9:00 lak in innkuan kikhopna ka nei nawn ua, ka neihzoh un ka lumngal uhi. Chingbawi in nau nawi pekhawm a, huchi’n ka houlim uhi.

“Ching, i nu kha a damtheihna etkai poimohlua hive aw, banah BP zaw kidekzohna poimohlua ahi.”

“Himah e, amah kidek zoulou sek a huai hive aw. Tuni bang i pa’n hon thakhat phone lua a nak lauh lawman kahi.”

“Eile bangmah theilou a innpai, kuamah nana omlouh vek chiang ua ana kilungbuai lua ahi.”

“Huchi lawtel di ei mahvoi maw umuan, tuban nasem na kuan chiang un i u in phone a tawikei lele nang bek in tawita in aw, thukin bang le om thei gige ahihna ah.”

“Himah e maw, tuban zaw ka tawita di.”

“Umuan, tutan le ka dip kawden lai eive.”

“Dipkuatna di omlou e, hong dampah na di ahi, thumna in phawk gige leng.”

“Huaizaw himah e, hilele numeite kilauthawng pahpah sek aka.”

Ka houlim zoh un ka lupna uh ka bawlhoih thak ua, huchi’n ka ihmuta uhi. Zingkhua hong vak phet in walking kawm in Chingbawi nute innlam ka va pha uhi. Gintak khel in ana halh mahmah ta a, zingkal bang ana thouzou ahihman in lungnuamtak in innlam ka kikpah uhi. Lampi ah Chingbawi in ka khut hong len a, kingaitak in ka paikhawm latlat uhi. Khenkhat in hong enkawi vungvung ua, poi kasa vetkei, a ki-it, kingai mah a kiteng hive hang i kilet bang siatna omkei ka chihsan lel hi. Eilawi kha mi nupa ki-it in kizui halhal lelah dem, kisia in kina kha le ulah dem chih khong i paidan uh himawk a, poi mahmah.

Inn ka tung ua, nasem a kuanlou ding ka hihman un ka kinoh hetkei hi. Bangtan hiam ka om awl nung un ann ka ne ua, ann ka nekzoh un varandah a tukawm in Chingbawi ka sam a,

“Ching, tuni i va pawt diam?”

“Koi a e Umuan, na sawm inchu a hinakei dia.”

“Va vak halh maimai ni.”

“Awle nang chih dandan.”

Chingbawi toh awl in ka kisa ua, nau leng hoihtak a chei in ka man un ka pawtkhiakpih hi. Mata lam ah Park khat ah ka va hohpih a, a mun nuam in a thoveng a, chidam huai mahmah hi. Sing lianpi khat nuai a tutna kidoh a ka tutpih kawm in ka houlimpih uhi.

“Umuan, nong pawtpih zenzen a, nak nop e.”

“Ching, hichia hunnuam zatkhawm chih khong nungak-tangval lai sang a nupi-papi nung a zat zawk dia hoihsa kahi.”

“Bachia eita?”

“Nupa kal chidamna khat ahi. Inn khat sung a i kikhum tektuk dettel chiang a leng i lungsim chidamlou, lungsim neu baih ahihziak a mun thoveng khong a hun va zatkhawm zel poimohlua ahi.”

“Hi lawtel maw Umuan, i muh teng kia niteng a i muh det tel chia leng ninhuai thei mawk eimah voi.”

“Huai chi hang a hun awl neih sunsun pawthalhna a hon zatpih i ka hia.”

“Ka kipaklua umuan, nang mahmah chihdan na siam sek. Kou nuta adia zaw pa taktak nahi.”

“Nou nuta adia pa taktak ka hihlouh a mi adia va hih mawk theihlouh eivoi.”

“Hilou ka gen utdan chu maw, papi tampi a zi leh tate adia hun pe khollou, a zi kiang a mukpuak deuh gige, numei dang kiang a lah fel a fel, chin a chin dan a omte ka genna ahi.”

“Huaite ahi hoih ka sak hetlouh. Ken chu zi leh tate mai a kipahmel suahloupi a midang mai a suah ding utlou kahi. Hotel a singpi dawn a houlim chih khong bang leng hoihlua a theilou, i duh leh inn ah i zi leh ta toh i dawnkhawm lel kei dia chidan kahi.”

“Huai hi lawtel. Umuan, kon ngai deuhdeuh mai.”

“Kei le maw na tung a lungkim deuhdeuh kahi.”

Hun nuamtak in ka zang ua, ka tapa utoh bang lim kila in a kallak bang a kiselfie in nuam ka sa mahmah ua, khovel a midang kua omlam leng ka phawkkei phial uhi. Nitaklam ninem in awl in park ka pawtsan ua, baih thoulai ahihtoh Chingbawite inn lam ka va tawn masa uhi. Chingbawi nu leng ana hat mahmah ta a, awlawl in innsung ah ana gamtang zou hi. Kou leng singpi khong dawn in ka man un ka pai uhi.

Inn tung phet ka kisilkhia a, huchi’n ka om tawldam hi. Chingbawi hi’n ka ute nupa hileh hih ding nei omlou, nau lah a ni in don ahihna ah ka unau teng un phone ah ludo ka kimawl zaizai ua, nuamtak in hun ka zangkhawm uhi. Ka kimawl zoh un numei tegel inleng inn na tuamtuam, annhuan khong in buai ua, kou pasal tegel in ka huan ua meh lei ding bawl in na sep theih bangbang ka sem uhi. Ka manchiat zoh un ann ka ne ua, ann nezou pawtlou in inn ka om nawn uhi.

Ka innsakte uh mounu hong hoh zenzen a, Chingbawi toh a houlim nilouh uhi. Bang a gen uhiam chi’n ka na ngaikhia hi.

“Ching, nou nupa enhuai kon sak dan.”

“Bachia maw?”

“Na kituak lawtel ua.”

“Nou le na kituaklua uh hilou maw.”

“Mawkmawk, tulai bang zu namsa a hon tung gige, nungak khong sai sim zomah a, kinaden kahi uh, lupchia leh namse lua a ka lehngatsan det ahi.”

“Eh, na huchih a hoihlou ding. Amah thutuam, nang na kibawl masak poimoh masa zaw.”

“Bangchidan in e, kei bangmah ka chihlouh pi.”

“Hilou ahi. Tuban nana hichi bawlta di aw. Pawt hon tun phet chia nuihmai tak toh ana vaidawn inla, zu hon nam leleng a theilou lem kineih in. Na pasal lunglutna zongkhia inla haksa sim lele nang leng huai lunglutdan na kisin dia, nitak chiang inleng lehngatsan nawn hetken. Kamsiamtak leh nemtak ngen in houpih gige in. Banah nangle na kichei deuh dia, na pasal etlah ding tham mah in kizem in, nupi chih ziak a kicheilouh ding hilou ahi, kichei a va halh ding chihna hilou i pasal muh a etlawmna suah ngaizel ahi. Huaichia na pasal na hehsan na zahzah in a hoihna di’n Pathian kiang ah thumsak gige in.”

“Ka huchih zou zawzen diam maw. Thumsak malak a kihehsan den ahi.”

“Huai zou lechin na pasal buai ngailou a amah leh amah hon kibawl hoih mai ding ahi.”

“Ka na sawm ding aw. Nang le huchia ana pangsam maw.”

“Kei zaw Umuan a fel leh chitak a, huchih luat ngailou. Hilele ka kibawlna chu tampi omsam ahi.”

“Awle, theih thak tampi non guan a kipahhuai e.”

“Na buai, na haksat leh lungkiat hun chia hong hoh zel in aw.”

“Awle.”

A houlim zoh un pai nawnpah a, ken leng Chingbawi dawnnate hoih ka sak mahmah ziak in kipahpih thu ka gen hi.

“Ching, na thugente hoih thei mahmah e. Hichikhong a na siam chiang a hampha kisak deuhdeuh aom aka.”

“Khemkhem, uang kei di.”

“Uang hi mawk di, hiai sang a uang zaw a gen dan kithei hileh kigen utlai a zomah ve.”

“Huiha, ka gen didan leng ka thei nawnkei.”

Ka kichiamnuih nilouh ua, ka nuikhop uhi. Huchi’n kikhopna khong ngeina bang in ka nei nawn ua, ka neihzoh un ka lum uhi. Luptung ki-ihmupah theilou ahihna ah awl in ka houlim nawn uhi.

“Ching, chiamnuih louh in tuni innvengnu na thuhilhna manpha mahmah e.”

“Hia umuan, ka kipaklua.”

“Mihingte a tangpi a ei kikhek sawmloupi a midangte kheksawm nak hang a huaiziak a kilohsam, nuthoi-pathoi tam ahi.”

“Hilua ei mahvoi. A hoihloute hehsan mawk ei a hoihkim lelah hilou. Kihehsan sa a mi hinkhua kuamah kikhek zoulou ding, i khekzohna dia kampha, kamdam leh thumna poimoh mahmah ahi.”

“Naupang bang leng i hoihsak louhdan a aom ualeh tai in zeppah, i tai i zep zaw a hoih i deihziak hikha inteh himahleh a poimoh mahmah chu i tai, i zepna san chiangtak a theihsiam sak ding ahi.”

“Huai eivoi eilawi inzaw a dik zuikha taktak theilou hive hang aw.”

“Pastor khat leh kizuak numei khat hotel a muhkhawm a omsek, mite gensiat leh demna tampi om. Himahleh Pastor pa Pathian thu hilh ana hi. Huchidan deuh a aziak-asan theichian masa loupi a thil theih leh zak teng gamgen pah ding le hilou ahi.”

“Hilua, eilawi mihoihlou, mikhialte lamdik a pi ding i mohpuak chizen napi a mi hoihlou, khamtheih hihte khong mudah, et le en utlou khong a ki-om, a hoih kichite i huchih vek un a hoihloute adia kua a gensaktu a pang ta ding.”

“Himah e, Pathian thu bang le awi a awi thoh hang a, zuih a zuih thoh khalou ngen i kei ua.”

“Eivoi, kikhop khong bangle kiliahkhuhna a zangzang mawk, mi sum muhna theih le hilou a sum hauhau bang saptuam a alian a kizang mawk.”

“Akua-akua ei tel a kivelthakna ding tampi om hi. Bangteng hileh innsung chiat siampha leng bangkim hong hoih mai ding hi.”

Ka houlimna uh lunglut lua ka hi ding ua, zan bang ana sawt man hial hi. Kou leng awl in ka ihmu ua, zingkhua hong vak phet in ka thoukhe nawn uhi. Ka thoh un ka ute ana thoukhin ua, Chingbawi in ka uvung va huh in ken leng ka u nasep ka va huh pah hi. Zing nna tuamtuam sep ding teng ka zoh un ann ka ne ua, ann nek zoh in nasem ding in ka kuankhe nawn uhi. Ka nasepna ua a tung masapen in ka pang gige ua, huaiziak mah in inn neipa’n leng hon deihsak diak a bang hi.

Nasep ka pan ua, koumau panna chiat a pang in ka buai mahmah uhi. Sunnung lam in ka nasepna ua ka u tangkhial kha in hong kia a, khua phawklou ahihman in damdawi innlam ah ka taipih uhi. Damdawi inn ka tun un Chingbawite ka hilh pah a, amau leng bangmah kallou in ka uvung toh hon tungsuk uhi. Test ding leh lak ding tuamtuam khong ka hih zoh un lupna khat ah hong koih ua, khua phawk naikei mahleh a khut le khe khong tang thei simsimta ahihman in ka lung uh a nuam tuan mahmah. Banah, ka nasepna pa un a sen tengteng hon siksak sawm ahihna ah ka kipak semsem uhi.

Ann nek hun vel ding in Chingbawi toh innlam ah ka pai ua, ka kisilsiang a, huchi’n ann ka ne uhi. Ann neklai in Chingbawi kiang ah pasal khat omlou a lemlou ding ahihna ah damdawi inn a va giak ding ka hihdan ka hilh a, aman leng a theisiam mahmah hi. Ka u toh ka neu uapan kipawl kahi ua, lawm dang leng pawllou in kou unau ngen mah kithuah ka hihman un ngai leng ka kingaidiak ua, a kallak bang in a si masa ding ka kituh zel uhi a ziakbel a si nanung pen adia thuak hak law ding ahihna ah.

Ann nekzoh in ka uvung ann ding guang in guanzoh phet in damdawi inn lam ka zuan nawn hi. Ka tunsuk in khua ana phawkta a, himahleh halhkhe taktak nailou hi. Kei leng Doctor kiang ah ka va pai a, a test na tuamtuamte result ka va dong hi. Tua test na sa teng hoihvek bangmah a sia omlou, zingchia khat test nawn di huai a hoih leh pawt pah thei ding ka hihdan uh honna hilh a lung a nuam mahmah a, ka u vung kiang ah leng ka hilhpah a amah leng a kipak mahmah.

Zan hong hita a, bang a kingai in ka tu hi. Chingbawi ka ngaihtha bang a suak a, ka lung khong leng in a leng maimah hi. Ka earphone ka lakhia a, khavak enkawm in Muana Ngaihte sak,

Nunlui ngaihtam siallelna ding in,

Lenmual dawnpan solkhapi hong tang nawnta.

Hizong na vangngai gahliang lungmawl kei di’n,

Lungsit lou khuambang na kipden in...

chih khong Chingbawi ngaihtuah kawm in ka ngai nilouh hi.

KHEN SAWMNIHNA

Ka Uvung in lupna bawl a lum ding in hon sawlzel a, himahleh ka lupsan utkei hi. Ka u ngei leng pau zouta in halh mahmah ta a, himahleh test ding khat a omlai man in huai ngak a ngai hi. A chang in innkong khong ah ka va vak halh a, khapi hoihtak a tang ahihman in lungleng thei mite ading in a lunglen huaikei chihna ding a omkei. Damdawi inn huang sung a singbul peuh a ka va tu a, Chingbawi toh om ding dan bang in ka kingaihtuah kha nak hi.

Zingkhua hong vak in ka nau hong paisuk a, huchi’n kei leng innlam zuan in ka paiphot hi. Inn ka tun phet in singpi khong ka dawn a, kisilkhia in ka kisil zoh phet in tawldam zek ding chi’n lupna ah ka lum hi. Ihmut zek ding ka ut a himahleh ka ihmu theikei. A tawp in ka thoukhia a Chingbawi nasep ka va huh hi. A meh mal khong malpih kawm in ka houlim uhi.

“Ching, numeite mahmah na thohkhiat uapan na lupkhit tan dong a buai neive ua maw.”

“Umuan, buaina di a omlouh khak ding a luahhuai eizaw voi.”

“Hizel mah e maw.”

“I u lah bang dinmun a ding a?”

“Hoih lawta ahi Pathian venna toh. Tuni test khat nei leh a result a hoih leh hong pawt theipah di.”

“Aw kipahhuai e maw. Pathian zaw ei adia hoihlua ahi.”

“Himah tham e.”

“Sun chia kei toh i u va ompih ni aw, uvung le gim lawta inteh.”

“Na ngap inchu nang thu ahike.”

“I u ompih ding chu ngaplouh chih omlou e.”

Hichia ka houlim lai un ka innveng nu uh hong hoh nawn hi. Hong lutphet in ka na awn a Chingbawi toh a houlim uhi.

“Ching, khatvei a non thuhilh phatuam mahmah, ka pasal toh kina ngei nawnlou kahi uh. Kipahhuai petmah.”

“Hia, a kipahhuai lawvoi.”

“Hilele ka buaina khat omlai, ka teknu toh kituak theilou sim unga.”

“Om theilua ahi. Na theih ding ahihleh tekte kha nu taktak bang a koih a, itna leh deihsakna suklat gige ding ahi. Banah, upa hita ahihna ua amau leh amau bang kining un phunna ding, hanna ding hong muden ding uh, huai teng theisiamtak a i thuak ngai ahi. I pasal i it leh i pasal piangsaktu bang leng i it ngai ahi. Huan ah na nu deihlam, duhlam na zongkhe dia, huaite hihsak in pezel lechin a kipahna uh leng hou chikchik hita ahi.”

“Awle, kipahhuai e ka na huchih sawmta ding, huaichia kisil lah sawm ngeilou namselua a akiang le ki-ut khollou.”

“Na nu namsiat kha kua fellouh ahizaw dia leh. Nang a tanu nahi, na nu sianthou louhna na kiheisan ding hilou, na hahsiang gige ding, a puan na sawpsiang gige ding, a sam khong sathau nuhsak a hoihtak a na hiatsak a na puah ding nang mohpuak ahi.”

“Nang le huchia hihzel maw.”

“Hih e, i mohpuak ahi. A zun leh ek uh siak a ngaih lele huaiteng sem ngap dia pasal nei ihi.”

“Kare thupi mahmah chia, tua non gente bang hon genlou hilechin ken phawk le phawkkha vetlou, kih maimah kahi.”

“Numeite’n i theih ding maw numei hoih i hih leh hihlouhna a kilatna chu i pasalte silh leh teen, i tekpi leh tekpu silh leh teen bang, innsung leh i tate omzia bang a kilang ahi. Huaite a sian zohkei lebel kuamah ngoh ding omlou, ei fellouh chihna himai ahi.”

“Huai le himah e maw.”

“Banah, nupi i hihnung kampau, chiamnuih khong pilvan ding, pawt bangle a poimoh lou a mawk pawtpawt louh ding, i nute innlam hoh ding bangle ei a sawmtu a pan gige louh a i pasalte hungaih masak zel ding ahi. I pasalte’n i nawlamte awlmoh lawsam uh ahi genkhe kholkei le uh leng, hilele amau kipatma a ei a pha ut khong a i omom chiang a thadah sak ihi.”

“Huai ahilaw di, ken le sawm mun sim inga ka pasal in hon ngaihsak nawnlou. Kiten tunglai kho chu aman hon sawm masa zel ahi.”

“Huaiziak a bangkim a pilvan poimoh ahi.”

A houlim zoh un kou leng ann ka ne ua, ann nekzoh in ka nu kiang ah Chingbawi in ka hohna ding uleh ka nau toh ka uvung hong paipah ding ahihdan uh hilh in ka kuankhia uhi. Bangmahlou kal in damdawi in ka tung ua, ka uvung leh ka nau innlam pai di’n ka sawl uhi. Ka u leng halh lawta ahihman in amau leng a paisan uhi. Sun in Doctor in test ding a chihpen ka test sak ua, ka test zoh un a result suah ding ngak in a lupna ka zuan nawn uhi. Dakkal thum zoh nung in a result la ding in ka va kuan a, ka lak zoh phet in Doctor room ah ka va pesuak ngal hi.

Bangtanhiam zoh in Doctor hong pai a, “na result a hoihvek, na pawt theita ding uh” hong chi a, kou leng kipaktak in ka kisapah uhi. Ka kisakzoh un ka uvung phone in ka hilh ngal a, ka hilhzoh in kou leng pawtkhe ding in ka kisapah uhi. Damdawi inn apan pawt in innlam ka tungtoupah uhi. Inn ah ka sungkuante ana omvek ua, ka u a room ah a lutma in Pathian kiang ah kipahthu genna ka nei masa ua, huchi’n a lupna ah tawldam ding in ka lumsak uhi.

A dangteng in koumau hih theihchiat hih in ka khom un ka buaivek uhi. Bangbang hiam ka sepkawm in ka ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah a, a kallak in khovel vai bang ka ngaihtuah kha thepthup hi. I gam ah chihtakna a om nawnlouh dan, sum kia i deihdan khong uh leh heutu a tamzaw i nam leh gam it taktak ziak leng hikhollou banghiam lametna neih ziak maimai khong a pang uh ahihdan ka ngaihtuah chiang in puaknat huai khong ka sa mahmah hi. Lah ei bawltheih omlou. Pathian min lou mun zawzen napi a Pathian deihdan semkha mahmah lou tampite ziak a khangthak tampi mangthang eidiam chih khong ka ngaihtuah khop hi.

Nu leh pa tampite’n i gou i tate sang a leitung gou sum leh pai khong i itzawk ziak ua i gam hichisiat lawmlawm ei diam chih khong ka ngaihtuah nilouh hi. Siamsinna lam bang ah leng kinak kiakniam lua ahihman in puaknat huai mahmah. Hiai tengteng innsung apan bawldik theihvek hi a, a bulpi nu leh pate’n leitung goute hilou a ei gou taktakte kembit in khualzaw leng i gam leh nam leng chidam mahmah ding hi.

Ka ngaihtuahna paisau lua ka hi dia, ka nasep bang phawkkha nawnlou in ka ngaihtuah dedu a, huchihlaitak in Chingbawi in “hei” hong chi a, ka kiguih zot zawzen hi.

“Umuan, bang ngaihtuah tel lawmlawm e na ngaihtuahna a paisau chitel a.”

“I zi leh tate mah ngaihtuah i kei dia.”

“Huaite sang a ngaihtuah zawk nei nahi di amau le phawkkha lou zen a thil ngaihtuah chu.”

“Haha, gen di leng na theisak ka sa.”

“Haha, gen di i theih leh genlouh di le theih ngai chi aw.”

“Hilua.”

“Umuan, tuni i nu’n hong phone eive.”

“Bang poimoh om hia?”

“Poimoh om chih hilou, khatvei a nanau birthday a na thugen nung papa’n innkuan kikhopna ana makaih gige in i ute bang le khek a kikhek uh. I nu kipak petmah a huai khong hon hilh ahi.”

“Hia, kipahhuaina maizen e. Thilzaw a bulpi ana omvek a a bulpi hong hoih leh a hiangte bangle hoihmai ahi.”

“Huai eivoi. Umuan, kei bangle hichitel a honna chiil lou hilechin hichi teuhlou di kahi. Ka hoihlouhnate leng kamdam a hon gen chin a non hilh hiathiat chiang a kibawl theihna lungsim hon piang ahi, huchilou a hon hehsan mawk hilechin eile kihehsam dia kibawlthak malak a kinaden di i ka.”

“Mihing zaw maw a bukim omlou. Kibawl tuah ngai ahi. Ka gensek banga i damsung siamsin ding ihi.”

“Eivoi. Huaichiang a nupa kal a hoih ka sak hetlouh pasal in a zi midangte zi toh tehkak, zi in a pasal midangte pasal toh tehkak. Huchih achu kideihkhoplou tuah ding mah uh ahi aziak bel omkhawm den hilou ahihna ua a hoih laitak kia uh mukha a hihmawk chiang ua maw.”

“Nak hih lawtel. I nu leh pa hi’n, i zi, i pasal hitaleh midang toh tehkak hetlouh ding ahi. Amau hoihna kia kimulel ahihna ah a pawlam apan.”

Lungluttak a ka houlim kal un ann nek hun man ahihman in ann ka ne uhi. Ann nekzoh in walking kawm in Chingbawi toh awl in ka kizuikhia uhi. Lampi ah thil tuamtuam khong houlim in kilen helhel sa in ka vakkhawm ua, bangtan hiam ka paizoh un kik in ka innvengte uh inn ah ka va hoh uhi.

“Ching, hon lut uau non hoh zenzen ua.”

“Innveng khat hingal kihohkhak ale om ngei tellou a hon vak mawk kahi uh.”

“Aw kipahhuai e. Tuni lah bang na sem ua? UThang lah bang a chita?”

“Bang sepluat chih omkei, a ngei teng mah hi. U thang maw hoih lawta ahi.”

“Aw a kipahhuai ve leh.”

A pasal kholai pawt hong tung geih a, kamsiamtak in ana vaidawn a, a pasal leng nui heuhau in ka kiang ua hong tu hi. Tulai vai tuamtuam khong hoihtak in ka houlimkhawm ua, houlim pai fuh kha sim ahingei ding a, sawtpi bang ka tukha thepthup uhi. Kou leng inn ka pai ua, ka u leng ana tungapta a, common room ah ana tu ahihman in kou leng ka tusukpah uhi. Ka houlim zek ua, huaizoh kikhopna nei in lupna lam ka zuan nawn siausiauta uhi.

Kou leng Chingbawi toh puan phah bawlhoih in ka lum ngal uhi.

“Ching, k’on gen ut om hive aw, lem na sa diam ah.”

“Bang e umuan, gen in.”

“Na loh zingchia hong lut di hia maw, kou ka nasep uh ziltawpni a zou ding ka hihna ua kiginni chiang in khatvei ei innkuan leh i pate innkuan toh outing neikhawm in sa ser bangzah hiam lei in i inn ua ann nekhawm leng lunggulh huai sa kahi. Ei innkuan lah kituaktak a ki-om thei, i pate bang leng kituaktak a om uh ahihna ah kipahthu genna khat bawlleng.”

“Umuan, huai khong eivoi i zak ut gige. Nang na chih nak leh chu mansa ka himai.”

“Kikhopna khong hoihtak a neikhawm in kithuhilh utte kithuhilhna hun, chiamnuih bawl utte chiamnuih theihna hun khat nei leng.”

“Nop lawtel di eimah voi. Outing na di khatvei a i hohna mun mah aw, nop ka sa sungkuante bang a mu omkha nailou zomah uh.”

“Poi hetlou ei mahve. Hohna ding mun khong numeite’n na teel ua le nopse ahi.”

“Haha sese eive.”

Kipaktak a ka houlim zoh un ka ihmu tuak uhi. Zingkal ngeina bang in ka thou nawn ua, zingkal hihluat ding omlou ahihna toh common room ah tutkawm in ka ute nupa kiang ah ka thilsawm uh ka gen ua, amau leng lunglut mahmah uh ahihdan hong hilh ahihman un ka kipak mahmah hi. Ka u kiang ah amah ana tawldam phot lai a kei nasem a va kuan ding ka hihdan ka gen a, aman leng lem hon sakpih hi. Huchi’n ann khong ka ne ua ka nekzoh un nasem ding a kisapah in ka man in Chingbawi tal tawpsak cheuh in ka kuan hi.

Sun nasep kawm in maban a ka thilsawm khong uh ka ngaihtuah khop a, hih ding dan khong leh thil tuamtuam khong gel in ka nasep a pai mahmah a, nop ka sa mahmah hi. Nasep ka zoh phet un inn ka paipah a, kihahsiang in ann khong ka ne hi. Ann nek zoh in Chingbawite innlam ah ka thum un a hoh ding in ka kuan phei ua, a vek un ana omkim uhi. Kou leng ka thilsawm uh ka gen ua, hoih honsakpih mahmah uhi. Lawm leh vual toh munnuam khong a hun zatkhawm sang a innkuan a hun zatkhawm manpha zaw ahihdan khong hoihtak in ka genpih ua, hi a sa mahmah uhi.

Hunte hong paizel a, theihlouh kal in ka thilsawm ni uh hon tung petmah hi. Zing baihtak in ka thou a, ka ni leh gang ann leh meh huan dia ka chial ahihna toh ka gang tawn in sa ka va lei ua, ka leizoh un ka u toh atpih in ka buai mahmah uhi. Bangkim mansa a ka koih nung un ann ka ne uhi. Ann neklai in tukim innkuan adia ni poimoh mahmah ahihman in a hoih theipen a kizem chiat ding ka chi hi.

Ann nekzoh in numei teng in ka nu hahsiang in kilawmtak mai in chei ua, a chei zoh un amau leng hon kichei chiat ua, a etlawm thei mahmah uhi. Chingbawi bang kilawm ka sa diak a tangval khong in ana muh khak ding bang uh ka guk lauh maimah hi. Kei leng ka hoih theihtawp in ka kichei tei a, ka nau uh leng a nu’n hoihtak in chei hi.

Ka mansiang un Chingbawi nute leng hong tungpheita ua, kou leng gari a kihenlut in ka chihna lam uh hoh ding in ka kuankhe zaizai uhi. A mun ka tung ua, nop ka sa thei mahmah uh. A langlang ah vak in kou leh kou ka kibuaipih chiat uhi. Numei teng bang, pasal teng bang lim khong kilakhawm in nop ka sa mahmah ua, mun thoveng khong a tukhawm in bangbang hiam gen in ka nuikhawm zaizai uhi. Hichibang a innkuan hun zatkhawm nuam leh hoih ahihdan ka muchian semsem ua, a kipaklou leh nopsalou kuamah ka omkei uhi. Hiai ni chuh kou innkuan teng adia damsung a chiamteh tham kipahni a suak hi.

Noptak a hunte ka zatkhawm zoh un nitumkuan in innlam ka pai ua, inn ka tun un kikhopna khawng nei in kipahna leh ki-itsemna annkuang nuamtak in ka sawk khawm zaizai uhi. Hiai ni chikmah chiang in ka lungsim ua a mang ngei nawnkei ding a, chikmah chiang inleng ngilh in a om ngei nawnkei ding hi.

@Beita.

(C) Siamsinna leh Vakiangbu