PINDAN VANGNEI

PINDAN VANGNEI
Author:Chemtatpa KUKI

Break lai ahi in, ka touna muna Dictionary vea ka tou jing lai chun ka komah a hung ding in, “Nangpa hi sun-an na kipoh ngai lou ham? Sun-an ne di’n na potdoh ngai pon, na gilkel ji lou ham?” Hiche chu Chongboiin ei houpina masa pen ahi. Chutia ginchat lou beha ama tobang melhoi, guhthima kana vetlhih jing numeiin ei hin houpi jeng chu ka jahcha thim lheh in; ka kisonglel in, ka jachat manin ngailou beh ding ka sakhao sung soh pum leh aw kithing dit det pum chun, “Ihhh… ne e, ka ne tai. An ne saa ka hung ahi…” ti tobang thima ka donbut chun ka he in. “Keiho jong jing-an ne saa hung ka hi u chula em. Tu hi sun-an neh phat ahi tai,” a ti lai chu, “Umm… eee” ti bep-a ka donbut in ka he e.

Gari accident-a chun ka chunnu leh jopa ngaitah chu a vangse penin a pang lhon in, a chapa neisun lhon chu eina dalha lhon tai. School kai tahlou ding ka nom lheh in, ka paneo in, “Lalcha, moh lungkham kham hih in, na nu le pa um tahlou vanga na makho kichai tina ahi deh poi. Ven, kei na paneo leh na nuneo ka um lhon nai. Na pa chu lekhasim khohsah mi ahin, ama jal beha na sim jom tei tei ding ahi. Chuleh, class 7 pha taha na pass phot leh High School chu Phai-a na kai ding ahi,” tiin ei tilkhou khou jin. Lunglha tah leh lungthim thomhao tah pum chun class 7 chu ka sim kit tai.

Ka vohchal u man dangka 15000 chu sukeh lou behin ka kipoh in, aban simbe din Imphal lam jonin ka vaikon doh tai. “Hoiham na nu leh pa, koiham na’n kilhonpi?” tia Principalpa’n ei dohna chu, ka changa hung ka hi thu chu ka seipeh in. Chutia midang pui louva admission keiman ka boipi chu ei kipapi lheh in, ka mark sheet a mu phat vang chun a kipah jo cheh kit tai. Ka thusim a het phat chun ei khoto lheh in, a School-a chun ei jihlut pai in, admission fee jong chu ei la tapoi. Tun vang Principalpa’n ei holpeh, mi innoi khatah ka thil le lo themcha chutoh ka kichon lut tan. Principalpa loipate Thuso ka hom patna jong jingkah thum lang a che tai.

Ka classroom u lutna lang apat in, “May I come in Miss?” tiin aw a hung soh in. Aw hung suona lam ka gah vet phei khoh khoh chu o! Kisihna ka nei hih beh jeng e. Ajeh chu ni danga ka hin mu jing ding hi nama jongleh, a hingchanga numei ka mu laha melhoi pen, Chongboi, ka mu masat pen chung ahi e. Hiche simlai numei hung lut chu donghoi tah, kum 15 lah melpu, Pathenin a tumbeha a suitoh sel ham ti ding khopa melhoi ahi. A melhoi dan chu keima kampao hin itihin jong seidoh jou pon tin, kampao them minthang William Shakespeare chun hiche donghoi hi mu hen lang, vechil setin sei leh a hoidan a seidoh pha ham ham dem tia ka gel ahi. Pasal nah nah chu dongma ham ji ding ham, numei melhoi ngaito kom aum lou thei pon. Chutobang phat jongle chun TV-a kimu Film star ho banga melhoi chu ka mitlha in ka mu jin. Ka neolai apata numei melhoi ka dei, ka ji dinga kana gel jing ho chu Chongboi chun ima louvin a koi gam tai. Ka school uniform u chu ama dinga a tumbeha kisem bang leovin mi dang jouse sangin a kilompi in. A koma chea ga vet khoh ngai louvin jong a jol sel e ti hetdoh jeng thei ahi. Hitobang lom loma melhoi hi Kuki chanu laigil akona hung kijil doh thei mong hinam, ole jat dang mi hilaia lekhasima hung joh hi ngap ngap ham? A nal dan leh melhoi dan vet chun, Star Plus ham Star Gold channel-a kimu ji ho hi louvin, Arirang channel laha kimu dinga kilom tah ahi. Koiho hamkhat in Mongolian melhoi tia a sei chu ama, Chongboi mong mong hi ahi tai tia pom chah kheh ding ka nom e. 

Lhonglaia ka pheh pha, Eimi Times peh 5 bep song chunga kipha toh kikhehna um beh lou ding khopa tah chunga imu pum chun, Chongboiin ginchat lou beha ima ka neh ngailou ho ana het jeng chu kidang ka sah in, eina thim vet kei hi din ka gah gingmo e. Sun-an ka poh louva, an ne dinga ka potdoh ngailou chu itiham cha khat chun kilem kei dinga hetna ka nei thah kit tan. Chongboi houpi ding deina jeh chun sun-an poh lou leh thil ne dinga potdoh lou jong chu ka chepi jom jing peh ding ahi tiin thulhuhna loupi tah chu ka sem pai tai. Ka sun-an pohlou leh thil ne dinga ka potdoh ngailou chun ima jong ka phatchompi deh pon. Chongboi vang a melhoi bang bangin a melhoi jing peh in. Midang het phah lou chun kana thim vet jing peh in. Aman ei hin vet lam vang ka he kha deh poi.

Jingkah khat ka Thuso hop chu, nupi anme joh hileh kilomtah khat hin, “Boipu, Thuso hom na hi’m? Na pontho na e. Keihon jong ka lah thei diu ham?” tiin ei hin dong in. A hithei ding thu ka seipeh jou chun a in u chu ei kopeh in, a jing jingkah apata pe pan dia ka kiphatsah lhon jou chun ka kikhen lhon tai. 

Jingkah dang bang bangin Thuso homin ka lhaidoh kit tan, anme johnute in ka lhung in, “THUSO” tia kotkha themkhat kihonga thuso ka gah se lut lai chun, insunga chun koi hamkhat ka mu in. Che pai ding ka got lai chu ka gah kinung hei in, ka pentil apata ka numei mu laha melhoi ka sah pen, Chongboi chu ana hi e. Kidang tah ahi! Kei bouseh chu kidang sah ka hilou dan hin tin, ama jong table-a lekhasim tobanga tou chu mu khah lou mu bangin kamka den pumin ei hin ve in. Minute khat tobang hiti chun ka kiveto lhon tai. Chutia minute khat sung ima jong sei louva ka vet sung chun, hitiho hi athah in ka mudoh be tai. School uniform chu a kilompi pen ahi poi ti leh toka sing vom leh T-shirt kang a kilompi jo cheh in, uniform sangkhol bansao in a khu khum a ban ho leh school moja in a sel mang a tan ho chu a ngou set jeng e ti chu ka mudoh kit tai. A melhoi him him jeh chun imajouse chu a kilompi soh hel danin ka hen. Achai chainan, ”Ka kipah uve o”, ahin tiin. A awso deh deh chu Vantil aw kisei banga ngei in ka he e. A kipathu seina chu, “O” tia donbut pumin mun danga hom kit din ka lhai doh pai tai.

Chutia ka Thuso hom laho laha Chongboite ana pan khah jeng chun ichan hamkhat tahin ei suhal in, ei suhat chom lheh e. A sunga donghoi samsaonu ana chen khah khel khel jeh chun in hoi beh lou leh lui thim ta, Chongboite in chu Phai sunga koi haosapu building sang leh loupi tahho sangin hoi ka sa’n, loupi ka sa jo kit tai. Chuleh, jingkaha lekha ana sim chu a mel vet sangin gutchu ka sah in, ka ngaisang cheh kit tai. Hiche jong hi ka lungthimah a hung kilang e, Chongboite hi haosa beh lou u hin te tiin. A in uva chun ama bou ka mu in, a nu le pa, a naote hoia um u ham? A nu anme johin a vahdoh tan, midang chu imu nalai hin te tiin ka gel in. A in u chu se lheh ta jongle sum vang ana hao kei kit maithei u ahi, ajeh chu Chongboi kisem dan ho akonin a haosat toh lheh uve… haosat melpu mong mong ha, a kisem theng sit set jeha moh haosat dinga ka gel joh ham? 

Hiche ni chun midang ana lhung nai pon, ka tounaa Dictionary ka vet jing lai chun ginchat lou beh chun Chongboi hung lhung chet chun a touna lang jon pumin nui hiu heu in, “Oiii, gilkei theiloupa chu ka lhun khel tei ding ahi tai kitia, nei khel thou thouve ong! Traffic jam nasa val hichu o!” Ka gah dahdoh in, midang koima ka mu pon, “Oh! kei nei seina ham?” ka moh ti in. Ve jong ei ve chom lou chun, “Ee, nang chu. Tijat sah a, na ma lhun thei nalom lom e. Jingkahle Thuso na hom kit in,” ati in. A tao lai chun a nunglam akon chun ka ve lha jing in, a deium sam sam e, o! A nunglam apat bousehin jong sapkangte paovin, a ‘Special’ lheh jeng e. “Henge, Thuso ka hom jouvin in ka lhung in, ka kisil pai in, janlhaha ka hon minsa an ka ne’n schoola ka hung pai ahi”. Ka sei jou jou chun a hung kinunghei in, “Vo! An khing na neh ji ham o?” tiin ei hin dong pai in. A melhoi dan vang chu! “Bukhing ahi sam poi, janle ka kima hon ji ahi bouve,” tiin ama jong ve chom talou chun ka donbut in. A maivah ka vet ngam lou ahi! Kei lang hin ve jing pum chun, “Janlhaha kihon chu bukhing hi jeng chula!” a hin ti kit in. Chutilai chun midang a hung lhung sou sou tauvin. Ka donbut kit masangin mi dang hung lhung hon a houpi jeh u chun a kihei doh tan, bukhing ahi lou dan jong chu ka hilchen chuom tapon ahi.

Chutia Chongboiin ei kouna, ‘Gilkel theiloupa’ chu ka le ngaito in, nalmo lheh jongleh, ka nui a ja lheh kit e. A nalmo lheh vang chun ka kipah lheh e! Chongboi ho banga melhoi khatin ka min a sah ahi tahleh, a nopleh, Khalvompu, Khongbaipa, Thousileh, kitiho ana hi khah tah jongle, ka Amen khum jeng ding ahi! Chuleh, kei sanga lhun masat tei ding a got ji ka hetdoh chun guhthim tahin Donghoinu hin ei gel jing e tiin ka kilah kit tai. Class kipat masang cha khata chutobang kampao leh ka min nal lou tah Chongboi kam akona ka jah thei jal chun chuche ni ka class lah jousea chun guhthim in ka lunglhai lheh jeng e. Aguha eina velhi ana um taleh, chuche nia ka mela chun “chaga noi mu” kiti chu mu tei uvin te. In ka lhung in, thil dang ima ka lungthimah aum thei ta poi. ‘Gilkel theiloupa’ leh a sahnu, donghoinu, Chongboi ma ma chun ka lungthim a luo dim tan. Chongboiin man nei louva a luo lai lungthim neipa, keiin mi innoi lhakhata dangka 500a ka luo jing chula ahi kit in!

Nilhah khat hi Principalpa chun, “Concrete khom kuo lai ding ka melhette’n a nei in, na lai ngap em? Feet khata dangka 500-600 lah ahi in, feet 5-6 thuha lai ding ahi. Kuo khata dangka 3000-4000 lah na kilodoh thei ding ahi,” tiin ei seipeh in. “Sir, ka kipah lheh jeng e, iti ka da thei ding ham? Jing apata ka lai pat thei ding hitam?” tiin kipathu sei pum chun ka dong pai in. “Apha e! Henge, jing apatin lai thei tan na te. Ipi hijongle hin dong chen phot inge. Hinlah, na lekhasim vang a suhboi lou angai e.” “Yes Sir.”

Hitichun, school kikhen nung seh leh kiginni sehin khom kuo chu ka lai jing tai. Janle lekha ka sim in, jingkah teng Thuso ka hom in, Class kikhen teng khom kuo ka lai kit jin ahi.

Khatvei school apata ka kile ding chu go a ju nasa lheh jeng in. “Hey! Gilkel theiloupa, eina ngah o. Na vaipho kikhuh khom hi te,” ti awgin school lam akon chun ka ja tan. Koi ahi chu midang ga doh khoh ka ngai pon, Chongboi ngei chu ahi. “Ka nu hung kile gei ding ahin, ke’n an ka hon angai in, ka kima le angai e. Go a juh ding lam kigingcha louva vaipho jong ka’n kipoh lou ahe,” tiin a sei lha jeng jung in. Hitichun, kimat chet chun ka kilhon lhon tai. A nam tuidan ho cha chun ka thinglhangmi nah in tuni chana a het thei jouse sanga namtuiin ahe pai ngal in. Ka lungthimin goju leh chunga thuneipa leh a juhsahpa komah kipathu ka thot jah jah tai.

Minute nga lah ima sei louva kisumat dela ka che lhon nung chun Bus ngamun chu ka lhung lhon tan. Bus ngana mun jong chu nai ka sah lheh jeng e. Bus ngahin ka ding lhonin, bus chu a hung jing vangin go a juh jeh ham, gah toudoh ding thanop um lou khop chun mi adim set set kit e. Ka lungthimin, ‘Go a ju nasa val e, tuni vang ipi khom kuo laina thu um pon te. Ma lhun jong angai pon, kengin kiche ta hen, sum jong leu lou ahi mai e’, tiin ka ngaito tan. Ka kom chaa ding jing Donghoinu lam chu ka gah ve phei in, “Ihh…Chongboi, bus a dim thei valin, kengin kile jo tang e” ti leh vaipho mata che ding chu ka go pai in. “Kei jong ka hung tang e, kilhon hi te,” tiin a hung pai kit tai. A paa ka kipa dan chu! Ka ginchat phah lou thil chu a lhung kit tai. Ka koma um chu nom a sah hi tei din ka hedoh pai kit tan. Ka lungthimin, bus chunga tou dimset setho chu abon un kipathu ka seipeh peh tai. 

“Nang vang na thip val e” a hin ti in. Kamtam lou jeh thudoh hi a donbut din ginchat sangin ana hah ji lheh in, “Ipi ka thip pi po!” ti tobang thim chun ka donbut in. Ima danga ei donbut talou chun a thip mang hel tai. A pasal joh ka thip val jeha ama jong chu kithip doh hi ta din ka hen, kiphatlam thim jong hi din ka gel e. Ipi ham chakhat gah sei ding ka ngaito in, “Na nu chu hoia che ham?” tiin ka dong in. “Ka paneote louva kon hi a, nilhahleh hung kile bep ding ahe,” ti bouseh chun ei hin donbut in. “Hi a ham, gah kisei taleh, na in uva midang ka mu lam ka he kha poi,” tiin ka moh doh jeng in. “Ka nu anme joha potdoh ji hichu o… ka pa vang um talou,” tiin olchan eihin donbut in. A thusei chun ei khong lap jengin, ka khoto lheh jeng e. “Hi a ham o,” ti bouseh chun ka donbut tai.

Chongboite in ka lhun kon chun ka sam ho chu ka gah kijut nam in, “THUSO” tiin kotkha neocha kihong a chun Thuso chu ka thol lut in. Chongboi aw ngei chun, “Ka kipah uve, cha hung don o,” a hin ti in. Ka gelphah lou beh thil ahi jeh ham, donbut ding jong gel lou chun ka lhai pai gotdan bang bang chun ka ding den tai. Kot chu a hung kihong in, “Na hung don ding ham?” ei hin ti in. “ Vaigei kha’nge, jingle hung don jo tange,” ti leh lhai chu ka kop tan. Ei hin vet jing ahi ka het jeh chun nung ja se su thim bangin ka um in, ka lungthimin, “Umm… jingle vang Donghoinute ina cha ka don ding ahi tai,” tiin me se su pum chun ka lhai mang tai.

Mumbai khopia restaurant thupi pen loi, Leopold Cafe a kichol ding tobang thim in, Chongboite ina ka chadon ding chu ka jan imutna ah ka ngaito masa in. Ka thanom in, ka ngahlel lheh jeng e. A jingkah ka Thuso hom ding chu, ka ah khah beh lou T-shirt kiah din thulhuhna ka sem in. Thuso hom mai mai ding hi nama jongleng, ‘Mission thupi tah’, Chongboite insunga chadon ding natoh len tah ka nei jeh chun, Pathenni bouseha ka man ji, ka Gel jong chu kinu din ka gel lha kit tai.

Jingkah nidan 4:30 don in, ‘Kringgg… kriinggg’ tiin ka alarm koi sa chun ei hin sukhang tan, ka mai ho ka phet gangchal in, Gel in ka sam chu ka sukot in, ka limlang nei sun, jongnou mai te bep-a lena kive pumin ka melhoina thuguh, a moh moha ka man ngailou, Fair & Lovely ngei chu ka thinglhang mel kisonpi umlou tah a chun ka loi jol in, Thuso hom ding leh a kahlaha Donghoinute insunga chadon ding chun ka vaikon doh tai.

Donghoinute chenna in chu ka lhung tan, a kotbul uva chun ka ding den tai. ‘Chadon din ei hin kou da taleh iti tang ka tem? ‘Cha chuula’, ka moh ti jeng ding ha? Jannia ei kou chun tunileh don nange ka ti chula ahin, hijongleh a haimil kit thei thou ahi,’ ka lungthim chu a khu lah lah jeng tai. ‘A khoh poi, ngan chetin ‘Thusoooo’ tiin kot ong kah-ah thollut ing ka tin, a geldoha ei hin kou leh ka don ding, eihin kou lou tah jongle nidang leh hi mai ta hen’, tiin kei le kei chu ka kigel lha tai. ‘THUSOOO’ tiin kot themkhat kihonga chun ka Thuso choi lai chu ka son lut in. “Ehee… tu jingkah chu, na hung lhung vah lheh e, hung lut o! Ka tho pan pan hi a, cha jong ka son lum man nailou hichu o. Gah song lum pai inge, chea chun tou o. Tui na don masat nom em?” tiin touna ei kopeh pumin ei houpi pi in, ka dang a chah lou thu chun ka donbut e. Dihtah chun, Donghoinute cha don loi loi ding ka nop jehin nidanga 5:20 laha thou ji chun, tu jingkah vang 4:30 a hung thou chu ka hi. Imacha sei louvin a chaloh dan chu ka ve ka ve in, a pha chamkim lheh jeng e! A jing thou mel jeng jong hoi tah ahi. 

Chutia thip beha ka vet jing lai chun a hung kihei in, nui sil sel in, “ Na kamlhom nalom e,” a hin ti in. Ka vet jing lai chu gangchalin mun chom lang ka ve in, “Sei ding jong um chom lou a... Na nu chu a kondoh vah lheh e,” ka gah ti in. Sei ding aum poi ka ti chu donbut chom talouvin, “Henge, a toupina mun gamla val in, ma tah tahin a kondoh ji tai. A che kon leh lekhasim dia ei tho khah jia, ei la jing tho kiti kipum doi kit lou, (nui pumin) a che apata pungkah khat tobang nungle bou ka kitho ji, ka don dinga a chaom sa jong ana khing man ji ta,” tiin a sei in. Cha khon ni hin dom pumin ka touna lang chu a hin nai phei in, “Ha donin don o na, na hung don ding thu hi ka nu ka seipeh a, tam tah a om ahe.” Imacha a jong donbut chom lou chun cha ei hin peh chu ka la in, ka masangah stool a hin tung in, cha khon khat joh chu stool chunga chun a koi in, aning khata fridge umna lang jonin lheng khat, a sunga nehthei um chu a hin choi phei in. “Ha neh o na,” a ti kit e.

Donghoinu’n cha ei peh chu ka don pan tan, a tui lheh e! “In ijat tobang na hop ham, na tha chol ji lou ham?” tiin stool-a khon khat joh chu kilah in ka touna tounasao ning langa chun a ga tou e. Tou gamla ka sah lheh e. Hinlah, Chongboi toh tounasao khat chunga ka toukhom lhona chakhon ka dop khom lhon chu lolhinna lhing louvin ka la nom chom poi. “Ka tha a chol poi, copy 89 ka hom ahi,” tiin a thudoh chu ka donbut in. “Na fel mong mong e, nangman nangma ngaichat na kingaito thei chu pontho ka sah lheh e. Na nu le pate’n ipi a bol u ham?” “Fel jeh jong ahi deh poi. Ka nu le pate’n ima a bol pouve, vaigei kha’nge, che mai ta’nge. Ka kipah lheh e, o.” “ Ahijongleh la, kei jong ka kipah e. Eee… na che masat kit tei ding ahin, lamka achun eina ngah o, na! Kilhon na hi te.” “Ole.”

“Nei ngana sot tam? Khongai o, chomkhat kichol hite. Ma thou nalai na hi! Nei nga sot ding ka kiphatlam val a, kino taha ka hung lhai tho leh, ka chol val ahe.” Donbut lou chun ama joh chu ka ve den tan. “Ipi dinga hitia chu nei vet vet jeng ha?” “Eee… a sot poi, kana lhun pan pan ahe. Heng e, chomkhat ding na hite,” tiin ka dinpi in. Chutia, Chongboi toh ka kinel tah phat chun nopmo ka sahna neokhat aum in, “Gilkel theiloupa, hung o, an hung ne’n,” tia break lai leh a sun-an ne dinga ei kou ji chu ahi. Midang ka ja jeh leh, a sun-an poh chu mi ni neh dinga lhom ka sah jeh chu ahi. Ka anneh hatdan a hetlou mai mai jeh ahin, ka an neh hatdan chu he leh ei kou ngam di’n jong ka gingcha poi. Ka classmate tam jo chun jingkaha cha leh nehthei a neh jiu tailou ima dang neh be louva sun-an ding a hin kipoh jiu ahi in. Ke’n vang jan leh ka kihon masat jia, vohpi khou khat ding jat school hung masanga ka neh ji ahi. Chongboi chutoh ka kivop nasa lheh lhon tan, jingkaha Thuso ka hop teng jongle a in uvah cha ka don jing tan ahi. School ka che khom lhon in, ka kile khom kit jing lhon tai. Chutia kivop jing ta nah nah chu tumasanga ka jachat bang lom lom chun ka jahcha tapon, a melhoina mang chun ka dai ngam jep jep tan, masang bangin jahcha ta hih jongleng ka munem tai tina vang ahi deh poi.

A pa lhan chunga chun ka tou lhon in, “Ngai ji lheh in na te na?” ka ti in. Ei donbut pon, a mela chun lhasetna a kimu thei e. Chomkhat jou chun, “Henge, ka ngai ji lheh e,” kap tobang thimin a hin sei in. Ka gah ve in, a mitlhi nom thim dih deh chu ka mu in, ka khoto lheh e. Nu le pa nei talou ka hi in, a dinmun ding chu ka hethem lheh e. Tu hi a pa jao louva Christmas a manna a thumvei channa ahi tai. A lhasetna akona pui doh ding ka go in, hijongleh ipi ka seia ipi ka bol ding ham? “Chongboi, na pa hin sopi dang a nei em?” A mitlhi val lih leh hung doh chu olchan a kitheh in, “Sopi pasal khat a nei in. Langgola khun a um uvin, ei vekol pen ahi.” “O! chuti ham,” seibe ding jong ka he poi. Christmas ni ahi jeh chun, midang lhan vila hung jong aum sou sou in. Chutia midang husan ka hetna chun, ka loinu, a pa ngaia lhase tah, a lhasetna ka lainatpi lunggel akon chun ei huidoh danin ka he in, ka lung navah chom lheh e.

Kumthah ka galkai tauvin, school jong ka kai pan kit tauve. Lhakhat jouleh final exam ka bol diu ahi tai. Chongboi toh pha tahin ka kivop jing lhon in, school ka che khom lhonin, ka kile khom jing lhon e. Final exam chu ka chai tauvin, ka kholui lang uva kile louvin nisehin natoh chom chom tongin ka kilo jin. Phai-a ka um tila khom kuo ka laina man ka lah phat chun Bank account ka kihon in, phat kilem ka nei komleh ka sum muho chu niseha kimanchahna kham tilou chu abonin ka account-a chun ka koilut jin ahi.

Result a hung soh tan, First Div-ah ka pass in, ka class uva a ni channa ka hi. Khatna chu, pha chamkim Chongboi chu ahi. High school sports um ding jehin kigotna niseh tobangin school playground a chun item chom chom ka kithepchuh nasa ji lheh e. Ka thanopna lam, football team ah ka school u thalhenga kichem din lhendoh ka hi in. Hapta ni tobang ka kithemchuh nung chun District sunga school chom chom akonin simlai chapang tamtah ground ah ka kisuto tauve. Sports sung chun match 6 akonin goal 10 ka khumin, top scorer kipaman ka la in, best player jong ka hi kit e. Chutia school-a thip chu penin, District pumpia simlai chapang tam tah laha kichep them pen leh pehlut tam pen kipaman ka hin lah jeng chu, ka school uva simlai tam tah chun kidang a sah lheh uvin, kimkhat vang chun ei ngaisang lheh tauve. Dihtah chun, lekhasima keima changa Phaia um ka hi in, ka dinmun set jehin phat-ong jousen paisa ka kilo angai in, ka kichep man lou joh ahi. Hijongleh, ka kho uva kana um lai chun football peh chu ka thanopna pen ana hi in, nilhah seh tobang kana kichep ji ahi. Barcelona-a ei kichepsah din Pathen koma jong kana tao jing jin ahi. Sum kilo jehin kichem man hih jongleng, jingkah seh Thuso homin km ijat ham ka lhai jing in, ka tahsa jong a hoi lheh in ahi. 

Golseh lama ka lolhinna jeh chun pasal bouseh hilou, numei geiin ei kiloipi nom ka school uva chun a tam lheh tai. Chuho laha chun class 10 simlai, Kikim jong a jaove. Kikim hi ka school uva melhoi loi pena kisei khat ahi in, a dong a lhing in, Kuki nungah dong dia a donghoi dan chu ‘hoi val’ ti thei khopa kikhai jet khat hi ahi. A inchen u jong midang sang sanga incheng theia kisei ahi uve. A kisem kisah akona jong moh mi cha ahi poi ti hetdoh thei ahi in, mi kiloipi dan a them in, loi le pai jong a hao lheh in ahi. Numei johin ei hin houpia ei hin phatbol nah nah chu houseta vetdana ding thu aum pon, ke’n jong Kikim chu mipha tia ka het khat ahi in, kei tobang chaga ei hin houpi nom jeng chu kidang ka le sah jo in, ka kipah lheh e. Break teng jongle ka da sa sa’n ei puidoh jin, nehthei tui tui ho, keima paisa kipoha ka neh phah lou ding ho chu ei nehpi jin ahi. Kiphatlam manin nopmo sa lheh jongleng, classroom sunga tou mai maia midangho thil neh sunga, gutchu man jong hilouva Dictionary vet vet jeng sang chun, lungthimin nom ka sahin mantam ka sah lheh in ahi.

Chutia Kikim toh ka kiloi pat lhon apat chun Chongboi chutoh schoolah ka che khom kha lhon ta pon, ka kile khom ngai lhon ta poi. Ipi pi hama kilepna ding holin a kile masa jin, a kile nungle keima changin a kile jin, ka kingana ji lhon lamkaa jong chun ei ngah ngai ta poi. A mela chun masanga Chongboi, numei kipah thei tah hi ji chu ka mu ta pon. A mela chun ipi ham lunglhai louna umin ka hen, ka houpi phat jongleh house chom lou, hijongleh, masanga thudoh ding hao jingnu chun a totoh ding bep bepin ka thudoh ho chu ei donbut ji tan ahi. Masanga kipah taha a in uva cha donkhom ji chu ka changin ka don ji tan, “Nangin na don lou ding ham?” tia ka doh kom jongleh, a don jou ham, a don nomlou ham thuin ei donbut jing tan ahi. Chutia Chongboi kipa melput ka mu ngai tahlou chu nopmo ka sa lheh e. 

Jingkhah khat chu ma tahin school kai din ka kigo in, Chongboiin ka kingana ji lhon lamka a lhun masang ngeia lhun masat teia ana nga ding ka ti ahi. Ka kingatona ji lhon koma touna uma chun ka loinu chu kana ngah jing in. Minute 10 lah ka nga nung chun ka loinu jong chu a hung lhung tai. Kana ve jing peh in, a mela chun ka chungah a lunglhai poi ti chu ka he in. Masang chun kana nga jing ei hin mu teng, “O, na ma thei val e, nei nga sot tah em?” tia ei hin houpi pai ji chu ahi in, tun vang kana tou jing a mu vang chun chomkhat a ding in, ei houpi ta pon, ve jong ve kit talou chun a che pai tai. “Chong, Chongboi!” tiin ka kouvin, ja lou bangin aum in. Ka lhai in, a banah ka manin, “Ka chunga ipi lungnopmona na nei ham?” tiin house tobang kisen thim tobang chun ka dong in. Ima jong sei louvin ei hin koi pai in, kidang ka sah lheh e. Ka op-a chun a kingai in, ka le koi deh chom pon. “Numei dang kivoppi tahih o!” kap thim tobang chun a ti in. Ka op-a kingai jing pum chun a kinuh nuh in. Thil umdan chu mingolin jong a hetthem thei thil ahi. Chongboi kipa louna jeh chu Kikim ka kiloipi ji jeh chu ahi. Chongboi chun ei ngaia ei dei ahi ti ka hetthem tai. Kikim chu ana thangthip ji ahi ti ka het phat chun, “Henge, henge, midang koima kiloipi kit ta po’ng e, nang bou hi ka loi na hin, nang bou ka kiloipi ding ahi te. Na ka ham? Kap tahih o.” Ei hin koi jing pumin, “Ka ngai e,” olchan a hin ti in. Chuche awgin chu a ngei lheh e! Ka kineppi lou tah thil a hin seidoh jeh chun ka kin lap jeng e. Det tahin ka le koi pai in, “Chongboi, ke’n jong ka’n ngai e,” tiin ka donbut in. Chuche ni apat chun Kikimin thil ne dinga ei hin kou jongleh kilepna ding holin ka da ji tan ahi. 

Ei dei thu a seia ke’n jong ka dei thu ka seipeh jou, a jingkah Thuso homa ka che chu ka kijachat to lhon lheh in, ka kive to lhonin ka moh nui lhon tai. Jingkah dang khat Thuso homa ka che chu a nu ana dammo in, nasa taha damlou vang chu ahi poi. A nu umpi ding a nop jeha school a kai manlou ding thu chu Jilkungpi koma ana seipeh din ei hil in, note aum jongleh keima note a copy got thu jong chu a sei e.

Chongboi jaolouna ka class u chu thol lhehin ka he in, class jong chu sot chomin ka he e. Kikhen kal bou chu ka ngahlel lheh tai. A jinga Thuso ka ga hom chun angai bangin cha ka don pa kit in, a nu chu ana pha dom tan, hijongleh, anme joha vadoh thei ana hi nai poi. Chongboite nucha hi a khosah lhon a sang beh pon, anu anme johna akona a sum lahlut ho chu neh le chah chuleh insung ngaichat dangho chohnaa a man ji lhon ahi. Ana sei bang chun, Chongboi hin paneo a nei in, a paneote chu incheng thei tah ahi uvin, Chongboi jong a ngailu uvin a lekhasimna sum le pai jouse jong amaho kithopina jal ahi. Chongboi hi amaho ina um ding ham, hostel-a um ding hamin a tem nasa lheh uvin, hijongleh, a nu dalhah ding a gelthei lou jeh chun ana temdoh jou pouve. 

A nu’n umpi angai nahlai jeh chun school jong a hung kai thei pon, ni 2 a kailou sunga subject chom chom note ho chu Pathenni leh ka inluona langa hung copy a nop thu chu a sei in. “Na nu damlou toh hilai ah hin choi ing ka tin, copy na’n na te,” tiin, a nu damlou khohsah jal jong hi louvin, ka in luo lai a mu ding chu ka tijat joh ahi. “Ka nu chu a dam tai, a thu him himin na inluo jong kimu kha nailouva ka mu nom ahi.” Ka lungthimin, ‘Oh, ipi mu khoh khoh ngai em, vet ding jong ima um louva,’ ka ti in. Ka in chu ama tobang melhoi ho va lutna dinga lhingin ka gel pon, hung lou dinga ka sei nah vang chun a mu nom ding dan ka ngaito kit in, ima jong ka sei nom ta poi.

Maljin thupi tah khat ka nei ding ka het jeh chun, a nal thei pen din ka chenna in neocha chu ka sutheng pan tan. Ka janpon nei sun chu pha tahin ka lhep tup in, ka von nei lhomcha jong chu a khaina ding thihkil hoa chun ka khai soh tai. Ka thil nei jouse a umna ding dol taha ka koikhom jou phat chun ka thil nei lhom dan leh ka inluo, mite anhonna mun te jong pha lou ka luo jou lou dan chu ka hedoh kit tai.

Houin kai kikhen khen chun ka kot hung kikiu gin chu ka ja in, “Hung lut o,” tiin kana donbut in. “Na in chu a hol hah lheh bouve, ka holmo kei hi chu o,” tiin Chongboi chu a hunglut tai. “Ka sei peh peh, chujeha na hung pui inge kiti a! Pheh chunga chun ana tou o, touna ding tahbeh jong ka nei lou ahe…” Ka pheh pha achun bohkhupin ka note chu a copy jing in. A koma chun ama toh kinai cha chun note khat joh chu ka copy peh in. Ka thil jih chu ka khut a kham thim jeh chun ka nga in, ka koma thil jih lai, vantil tobanga khop seta melhoi, ka dongmanu hi kit chu mit lha louvin ka ve den tai. Kei langa hung kihei pumin, “Ibola hitia chu mi na vet vet ham?” a hin ti in. “Na hol val a…,” olcha chun ka ti in. Eihin ve jing pum chun, “Nang jong,” a hin ti kit e. A khalhang kitoh cheta kisem chu kang chan ka gah dom tou in, a muh theng sil sel chu ka muh chutoh ka subeh in, ka ni lhona a khatveina ahi ti kichehna din ka himo se su lhon e. Themlou tah puma iti ti hama ka muh leh a muh ka suhto lhon chomkhat jou chun ka kilhakang kit lhon tai. Chutia ka kichopto lhon jouva ka gah vet chun jahcha ahi ti hetthei din a mai ho jong chu a san lha jeng tan, ama vang a deium lheh jeng e!

Hahsatna ima um louvin final exam chu ka hin bol tauvin, bol hoi tahin jong ka kigel e. Result suo masang se chun kilona thei chanin paisa ka kilo in. Result jong chu a hung soh tan, Distinction ah ka pass in ka class uva khatna ah ka hung pang in, a nina chu Distinction ma maa pass, Chongboi ahi e.

Class 10 jong chu ka scool ngai ngaia chun Chongboi toh ka lut kit lhon in. Mihoi ahina jeh chun Chongboi jong chu midang hin deicha a umlou thei pon, hijongleh, a deicha ho jeh chun ka lunggel a nommo chom poi. Ajeh chu ka chunga Chongboi lungthim putdan ka hetchen jeh chu ahi. Mi dangin a hin deichat ahi ti ka het kom jongleh guhthimin ka kiboltheisah jo jin ahi. Amavang, Chongboi hin deichaho laha chun school chom apata hung kai thah, incheng thei tahte chapa, bike bouva school hung kai ji, Ngambom kit khat hi a jao in. Ngambom hi mel hoimo lou, tahsa put jong kilhang jet, loi le gol sottol le ding jong nei, kiletsah leh kiboltheisah tah khat hi ahi. Class khat ka hi vang u chun ka kihou kha beh pouve. A nomlou sa sa in Chongboi chu bike in a thah jing tai. Kho nungin Chongboiin ka komah a nomlou sa saa hung thah ji ahi thu chu ei seipeh in, “A khoh poi,” tiin kamphat manin sei nama jongleng, sunggila vang chun ka lunglhai thei pon, kithah da lhon taleh ti chu ka nom lheh e.

Nilhah khat class kikhena inlam jon dinga ka kisah lai chun, class 4 a pasal chapang khat hin school building chung kisa ban apat chun mi khatin ei mi nom thu ei hin seipeh in, koiham tia ka dohna chu a min a hetlou thuin ei donbut in. Ka lhonpi ding Chongboi chu chomkhat eina ngah din ka hil in. In chung ka ga kaldoh chu, Ngambom leh a loite mi 3 chu ana um tai. A kid hileh kilom khat chun, “O… na hung ham, i khat ahe… Chongboi hi suhboi da jeng tale chun na damna hi jon te. Ngambom toh kingai ahi tai.” A thusei chu thupi tahin jong ka gel pon, donbut kham jong ka sah poi. Ima jong sei louvin ka kihei in, kum suh ding ka go pai tai. Chutilai chun Ngambomin, “A thusei chu na het lou ham? Nang tobang migenthei leh michaga’n Chongboi ho tobang khu limsah da le chun pha’n te, gangchalin kingah doh in.” Ka kum suh got chu ka kilehei pai in, “Ka genthei thu chu na nopleh sei in, ka chagat thu vang sei da le chun nang dia damna hi jon te…” ka chagat thu a sei chun nasa tahin ei sulunghang lheh e. “Sei teh, sei teh, iti nei lo got ham?” ima dang sei louvin ka bag chu ka koi in, ka uniform sangkhol ka lhip tou in, “Umm… nei ngapchat leh a pha e!” “ Na kigot ka nga ahi…” ka sei jou masangin ei hin no khum pai in, kiging jinga um sa ka hi in, a kalkah tah chu ka lhopeh in, a kithalse den tai. A tilchang ka lho khah hi tei ding dan ahi, na a sah dan dan chu a kichom le le jeng tan, kithou kit thei ding danin aum ta poi. A naote laha ei hin khen kigo khat chu kana kun man in, a nahkui don tah chu ka khetpeh kit in, a nahkuo apat chun uicha ngong kiat akona thisen hung kikapdoh bangin thisen a luong jah kit tai. 

Chutia ka husan u a jah phat un jilkungho leh midangho chu a hung lhai tou sou sou tauvin, Ngambom loite dang ni chutoh ka kidel man ta pouve. Thil umdan ka jilkungpu’n ei hin dong in, ka kinahna jeh u chu jachat a umna chan aum jehin thip ka chu tai. Jilkungpu’n, “Na kinahna jeh u ka doh chu na jah lou u ham?” tiin ei hin sen uvin. Ngambom naote khat chun thil umdan chu a seipeh soh tai. A hung tou tila ka koma hung lhai paia, ei hin khohsah leh tija mel taha, “Na kisuhkhah em, i na lo u ham?” tia eihin boipi pai, Chongboi vang chu ka kinahna u jeh a hetdoh phat chun a jahcha lheh e ti chu a mel akonin a lang e. Ka boncha uva ei houset jah jah u nung chun, boina hung kipatna pen Ngambom chu jilkunghon office langah a pui uvin, ipi iti a lo u ham ti lam vang chu ka he ta poi.

Ka kile lhona lampia Chongboiin ei seipeh dan in, Ngambomin Chongboi chu ana jol a, dongma a nei thu leh a dongmapa chu kei ka hi ana seipeh jeha ka chunga lunghang dan ahi. Ka school uva kiboltheisah pen leh kihatsah tah khat ka bolchah jou apat chun ka school uva chun ka minche lheh in, ei hin Raja vet lheh tauve. Amavang chuti ho mai mai jeh chun ka hinkho mandan chu ka khel danglam chom pon, a masanga ka thinglhang lungchang leh kineosah taha hin ding chu ka chepi jom peh in, school-a umchan pha pen leh thipchu pen ka hi jing peh in ahi.

Hoina lama Chung Mangpa’n ka vacha nou kihoi, Chongboi chu midang jouse sangin phattheina a boh danin ka he’n, chutobanga ngaito chun vangpha jong ka sah ji e. Amavang, ka ngai leh lungset lai chu vangse chuom hi tam o? A ngaichat lai tahin a pa’n ana dalha in. Chuche jouvin ama vekol pen, a pa thakhela pang ji, a paneo in hi leiseta pa ti ding nei talou din a dalha kit tan ahi. A paneo thina chu thoh hahsa a sah lheh jeng in, hapta khat tobang chu scool jong a hung kai thei ta pon ahi. A paneo thi jeh chun a nucha lhonin a paneote in langa chun a kilhoh phei lhon in, phatkhat khat leh ka ga vil ji tilou chu ka Vetchimlou lanu chu ka mu kha ji ta poi. Mi vangset tuo laia ke’n ka lungset thu ga sei jing chula thil kilom ahi kit pon. Khopi khat sunga um cheh cheh chu ka ngailai ngaiin toni ka lhum jou ji pon ahi. A jao louva school kai jong chu nom ka sah ta pon, ka lunghel lheh jeng jin ahi.

A paneo thi apata lha khat jou tobang chun amaho in langa chu a kile kit lhon tan, lunghel jong a nom chom lheh e. School a kai lou sunga ka note lah jouse chu a copy din a in lang uva chun ka choi phei in. Ama chu ana um pon, a nu bouseh chu aum in, dukana ana che dan ahi. A nu hi a veiset leh na a hatoh jehin a kum sangin a tah melpu in. Anme joha a pot jing jehin ka kihou kha beh lhon pon. A um laiya a insung u ka sunglhah tengle vang, mi houpi a them in, mipha tiin ei sei in, ka mihina chu ching jing peh din ei thumop jin ahi.

School chu pha tahin ka kai kit tauvin. A paneo thina chun Chongboi din lungkhamna dang a sempeh di’n aum kit tai. School fee leh a thil ngaichat ho chohna dinga lhaseh dangka 2000-3000 a paneo in ana peh ji chu a nuneo chun insung lama sum le pai hahsatna a tuo jeh uva a peh thei tahlou ding thu chu a paneo thi apata lha ni nungin Chongboi chu a kouvin a seipeh tai. Hiche thu chu Chongboi nu in ei seipeh ahin, Chongboi vang chun chuche thu ka het chu a he deh poi. Chutobang lungkhamna ho jeh jong chu hin tin, nungah kipah thei tah chu a nui mel jong ka mu kha ta pon. A lekhasim jong a tongkha leu in, 2nd term exam-a jong a pass ham hamin ahi. A lungkhamna chu ka het jehin ka khoto lheh in, bol thei chula ima ka nei kit deh poi. A insung hahsat dan ka het jeh chun ipi hamkhat beh vang bolpeh ding ka nom in. A school fee beh chu tuopeh ding ka ti tan. Principalpa komah a hahsatdan u chu ka sei in, lhaseh dangka 500 ka tuopeh ding ahi tiin ka sei tai. 

Ka thusei chun Principalpa lungthim a khoi lheh in, “Chuti ham o, chutobang ahi lam kana hetphah lou ahi. Fee chu keiman manbei in kaisah tang e, nangin na makhoa din ana kikhol jing jo tan,” ei ti in. “Sir, ahi poi, Pathen jalin paisa kilona ding pha tah tah ka mu jing in, keiman hin tuopeh nang e. Pathen lungset jala miho kithopi theia ka um hi ka kipah lheh e. A thu him himin school fee na ngaidam ding ahi ti hedoh leh nom lou hel ding ahi in, keiman ka tuopeh ding jong hi nang leh kei bousehin i het lhon ding ahi. A hahsat dan u mi dangin a hetdoha a kithopi ding nom hih beh in te. Fee a hung peh ding jongleh a nei chasun ham, mi koma a bat u ham hi ding ahi”. “A paneo in a damlai chun ana pe chai tai,” ana ti mai in. 

A nu chu a dammo jing tan, louin jong a jon jing lhon tai. Louina a kijenna man ho jong a melhetho koma bat dinga a lah tho ngan tobang ahi jin. Chongboi sum muna pen a paneo la a thi tan, a nu la anme johin a vahdoh thei kit ta pon. A insung u dinmun chu mu thei khopin ani ni chun a kem tul tul tai. Jingkah khat ka Thuso hom chu Chongboite inah ka lutpa kit in, a nu damlouva ana imu koma chun ka touvin. Itobang ahi ho chu ka dong in, a phat dom thu a sei jou chomkhat a thip beh nungin, “Lalcha, ven na het bangin ka dinmun u chu hiti hin a se lheh jeng tan, na Thuso jong la jou tapou inge.” Chuche thu chun ichan hamkhat hin ei tongkha lheh e. Ka mitlhi a hung valdoh kigo leu in. Chomkhat jen thipbeha ka kun nung chun, “Heno, chutobang chu sei hih tang em, Thuso hom ho hin copy val khat le ni ka kipoh jiu ahi. Ka hop sung chu ka peh jing ding na hi uve,” ka ti in. Bathroom apata hung doh Chongboi jong chu a insung u dinmun leh a nu toh ka thusei lhon ho jeh chu hi tei in tin, a mitlhi hung pot doh chu ka mu e. Dih tah chun masang apata Thuso man hi kana lah nom lou ahi in, a nu’n lah lou nopmo a sah jeha bou ka lah ham ham ji ahi. “Aw… na pha val e! A thi masanga chu a paneo in school fee jouse ana peh chai dan ahi in, chuti lou hileh Boinu’n jong lekha a sim theilou ding ahi tai”.

Lamlen koma building khat kisahna a chun kilo in na ka tong in. Chuti lai chun ka tohpi ho chu a phun sou sou tauvin, “Che nu khu, a melhoi val e…” tiin a eu lah lah uvin. Haopu chun, “Ve loi o! Chongboi khu… Lalcha dongmanu chu ahe,” a ti chun ka nabeng a hin hol in. Ka kilehei pai in, a vetna lang u chu ka gah ve pai in, Chongboi leh pasal khat bike-a hung kipo, bike apata a hung kumlai lhon chu ka mu in, a kinel toh lheh lhon e. Pasalpa chu ka mu khah sa hi in ka he in. Henge, khatvei Pathenni khat Chongboite ina ka ga kholailen chunga a nu ding damdoi leh nehthei ipi pi ham hin khai luta hung kholaileng Policepa chu ahi. Ka umna jon a hin phah lhon phat chun, “Chongboi, Chongboi…” tia kouvin houpi ding ka go in, a hung kihei in ei houpi deh ta poi. A kilhonpipa chun, “Na kihet lhon ham,” tia a dohna chu, “Ka he kha poi,” tiin a donbut tan ahi. Kidang ka sah lheh in, ka lunghan lheh in, ka jahcha lheh jeng e. Ka lungthimin, ‘Nei hetlou na? Na lungset thu na seipeh chu na hetlou hita na? Nei hetkhah lou tah tah na?” ka lhase pon, ka lunghang joh ahi. “Na hetkhah lou hiti chun kou kit tahih in,” tia a kilhonpipa’n ei houna jong chu ka ja mang chei chei in. Chongboite ni ka natohna kom u restaurant-a a lut lai lhon ve jing pum chun, “Chongboi, Lalcha hi na het khah lou tah tah ham?” tiin ka loipa chu a phun jah tai.

In ka kile chu ka tha a bei hel jeng in. Ka thilto ho jeh chun gilkel lam jong ka he ta pon. Lekhasim ding ka lungthimah a um pon, imut jong a soh chuom ta poi. Tulai ei houpi nom louna jeh chu hichepa vang chu hi tei inte ong? Dongma ana nei jeh dan ahe ong? Ipi jeha chubang banga ei dei leh ngai ji chun ei dalhaha midang a bel thei ham? Ole, eina daichatvai mai mai joh ham? Ei dei thu a sei jing chula ahin, hitobang bep dinga ei kijoulhep thei mong a ham? Kei chun la ka dei in, ka lungset tah tah ahi in. Ka bolthei chanin ka lungset dan jong chula ka vetsah ji in. Tu jengin jong ka lungset lheh in, ka lungset val jeh leh ama dinga pha joa ka gel jehin kei chaga, nikhotha kilo mai maia khosa sanga a phatchompi thei joh, chuche policepa chutoh damsela a khosah lhon theina ding tiin lungthimin deisahna ka lhan tan. Mitlhi va lha chut chut pumin hiche thulhuhna hi ka sem tai. “Chongboi ka mu kit tah lou na’n Thuso jong pe ta po’ng e. Ka kigamlat lhon theina’n school-a jong houpi ta po’ng e,” a hahsa val jeng e! Hiche jan chu mit khatcha jong sing louvin, jingkahin Thuso hom din ka kondoh kit tan ahi.

School kai din ka che khom ngai lhon ta pon, ka kile khom ngai lhon ta poi. School a absent jing lheh tan, Thuso ka peh tahlou jeh chun Chongboi jong chu ka mu kha ta pon, hijongleh ka ngai ji lheh e. Lungset dang a nei tah jeh chun ngai jing thei din ka kigel tapon, ngailou thei la ka hi kit poi. Chutia ka lungsetnu’n midang a kingaipi jeng chun ka chungah nasa tahin na a tong in. Imacha thanopna ka nei thei tapon, koima hetphah louvin ka thohlel lheh jeng e. Chongboi chu ka lungset dan ka seipeh tam lou hin te tiin ka gel in. Ka lungseta ka dei je he hileh hitobang lom hin ka chungah thilse bol sam pon te tiin ka gel kit jin. Phatkhat leh numei khat jeh mai maia ka lhasetna chu val ka sah kom jong aum kit jin. Hinlah, Chongboi banga numei melhoi leh deium jeha lhaset chu jachatna a ka gel lou kom jong aum kit e. Ajeh chu natpi kham set ahi mong in ahi.
Final exam chu ka bol tauvin, subject nukhah pen ahi tai. Ka lungthimah lunghelna nasa tah a hung lut in, “Tuni hi hiche school-a simlai ka hina nukhah pen ahi tan. Chongboi ka muna nukhah pen jong hi ding ahi tai. Ka nung mu kit na dem?” tiho chu ka ngaito in. Guhthim tahin Chongboi chu ka ve ka ve jin ahi. 

Result jong a soh in, First Div ah ka hung pass tai. Jing nilhah leh Imphal khopi dalha ding ka hitah jeh chun, a chaina ding behin tiin ka ngai tah Chongboite in lang chu ka jon kit tai. Kot ana kikhah in, ipi ti ham tia lungdong taha ka din jing lai chun a inhengpau hung kile chu a chungchangthu ka dong in. A nu damlou jeha louin lama a kipohlut lhon thu leh chua pata hung kile ahi thu chu ei seipeh tai. Itiha lut lhon ham, ichana dammo ham tiho ka dohna eihin donbut pum chun, “A nucha lhonin lungset aum lheh e, damdoi chohna ding tahbeh jong a nei lhon pon, kithopi ding a ngaicha lheh lhon e,” tiin ei seipeh tai. A thusei chun ka lungthim a tongkha lheh in. A gana gangin ka in langah ka kile in, kum 3 sung ka kilona akona ka sum mu bank a/c a ka khol, gampama lekhasim ban jop dinga ka che tah ding jeha ka lah doh dangka 40000 apat chun dangka 15000 ka ladoh in louin lang chu ka del pai tai. Louin ka lhun chun nilhah nidan 6 a val tan, kang cha’n a umna lhon room chu ka jon phei in. A nucha lhonin a nu damlou lupna a chun kikoito delin ana imu lhon e. 

Lupna koma thil koina boma chun, drip kikhai sa kehkhat tobang um, sehlhum pum ni, patchon lom khat leh tui thei khat bouseh chu aum in. Hiho jouse chun inhengpa’n kithopi a ngaicha lhon e tia a sei chu a sudet lheh e. Hiche lungset um tah nucha hin kithopi ding a ngaicha mong mong lhon e. Kikoito dela a nucha lhona lungmong sela a imut lhon chu ka ve in, “Pakai, ipi jeha hibang loma genthei leh hahsa thoh dinga hichete nucha hi na hin sem ham?” tiin lungthimin ka phun phun in. A nu chu ka gah ven, “Heno, gentheite leh vaichate Pathen chungnungpen khun damna na pe ta hen! Na chanu ding beha hi na dam angai e.” Ka nunlui, ei suna lheh ta jongleh, ka lungset jing ahi ti kichen taha ka het, Chongboi chu ka ven, “Chong… na nu phate’n ana vekol in lang, Mangpha lhon to!” tiin olcha’n ka sei in, a nucha lhonin ka kimuto kit na diu em ti jong he louvin pindan chu ka dalha tai. 

Nurse duty ho rooma chun ka lutin, nurse khat koma chun ka paisa poh chu ka pe in. A pehna ding nuchate ni min leh a cabin no. jong chu ka seipeh in. “Na min ei doh teng iti ka sei ding ham?” tia ei dohna chu, “Pathen sohpa ana ti mai tan,” tiin ka donbut tai. 

Sum le pai lama ei kithopi ding dang um lou nah nah chu gampama ka umna a jong chun ka kilo jing angai tan. Sun teng class ka che jin, kikhen apat jan lang peh geiyin hotel-ah waiter in ka pang in. Bangalore ka lhun nung jong chun Chongboi chu ka ngaiin ka lungthimah a cham jing jeng e. Haimil ding nom lheh jongleng thil jouse chun ei geldoh sah jin, ka lungthima chun a hung soh thah kit ji e. A nu chu dam jing nan tem tiho ka ngaito jin, a nucha lhon chun ka taopeh peh jin, amani damna ding leh a hinkho lhon nopna din ka taopeh jin ahi. 

Pathen lungset jalin hahsatna ima um lou chun class 12 jong ka chai kit tan, college kai thei din ka um tan ahi. Bangalore-a college pha loi pen khata chun admission ka hin mu tan. Chuche college apat chun graduate jong ka hin chai thei tan ahi.

Sum muna tam jo BPO a tong din phat sot tah kana tohna hotel chu ka dalha in. BPO a ka tohna sum lahlut akon chun UPSC exam-a ei kithopi thei lekhabu sim ding pha tah tah ka kichoh pan tan ahi. Kum khat val jen ka jo chana ka kigot nungin Civil Service exam jong chu ka pe tai. A mite taona sang jing, “Thum un ka peh ding na hiuve” tipa, Chungnung pen Pathen chun kana tohgimna neocha chaho leh, tantih nei louva taonaa kana lhut jingna ho chu ei hin donbut in, chuche kuma UPSC exam-a bol hoi loi laha chun ka hung pang tai. Hitichun, India sunga officer len pen loi, IFS leh IPS laha ka dei pen kilhen thei din ka hung um tan. Chutobang phattheina ka chan ni chun kipana mitlhi luong pumin, kum 10 val masanga eina dalha ta, ka nu le pa vaicha tah teni chu ka ngai lheh jeng in, ka kipana chu ei kipa khompi lhon thei leh ka ti lheh e. “Heno, hepa nei hin ve lhon o! Na chapa lhon hi, hiche gam len tah, mihem asang aja tam tah chenna gama hin milen leh mithupi ka hi ding ahi tei,” mitlhi va chut chutin ka ti tai. Ka nu le pa thi nunga a chapa lhon mong mong banga ei vekol a, a nei leh gou jong it louva lekha eina sim saha Imphal tolpi chana eina kaisah, ka paneote nupa jong ka lungthimah a hung kilang kit in. “Paneo leh nuneo, ka kipah e. Ka tu dinmun hi nangma jeha bou lhung thei ka hi e. Tu apatin vang koima vaicha tapouvin na te, na chapau ka hung pilhing tai,” ka ti in. Ka numei lungset masat pen leh umsun, numei ei sunaa ei kasah umsun jong hi kit, itihlai a jong ka haimil theilou, mi anglai chang ta, Chongboi jong chu ka lungthimah a hung kilang lou thei pon. “Chong… na golpa, tumasanga vaicha tah, go noi dai noia thakilo jingpa chu tun vang a chan dinga lom lou phattheina a chang in, i chenna u gam India gama officer len khat hi ding ahi tai. Ka kipana hi nei kipapi tei nan na te na?”

B Sc 3rd year ka sim kumin ka loipa Haopu’n ei hin houpi in, thil tam tah ka sei lhon in, chuche laha chun ka lungthim natna tah thu khat jong kana ja e. “Hiche policepa chutoh a kicheng lhon tai.” Hichu Chongboi jinei ka hetdohna ahi. Dihtah chun midang komah ei nungsunin tin ei suna lheh ta jongleh, itih phat hamkhat leh ka hinkhoa a hung kinungle kit ding tahsanna ka nei in, hichu Pathen koma ka taona thupi pen khat jong ahi ji e. Ka lekhasimna lama jong Chongboi jeh chun nasa jo chehin bolthei chan ka bol jin, Chongboi dinga jipa pha hi ding ka got jeh ahi. Hijongleh, hiche ka gotna leh Pathen koma ka thumna chu imacha lou hi tam tiin ka gel jin ahi. 

Ka neolai apata ka dei leh hi nom pen, IPS chu ka lheng in, kum khat jen Police Academy-a ka training jouvin gam sung leh gam pam mun chom chomah ka kholjin jiuvin. Hazaribagh, Jharkhand-a Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) in ka um pan tan, government in quarter len leh nom tah khat ei pe uve. Mi innoi leh in neocha luo jing ka hi in, ka in thah chu len leh loupi ka sah lheh in, ka luo val set ahi. Ka paneo chate thum chu ka koma lekhasim din ka kou in, ka lunghel ji jong chu themkhat a ol chuom tai. A mina Police office len khat hi ta chu ima jouse ka ninglhing lheh in. Solle ding, ka nehding ei sempeh, ka in sutheng ding, ka gari tol ding, itih laia jong ka in leh keima ei veng jing ding chanin ka nei soh tai. Office natoh tilou toh ding dang um talou chu umdan jong ka themmo leu helin ahi. High school ka simlai apata ka graduate chan kum 10 sung tobang chu phat-ong nei manlou khop in class ka neilou komleh tha ka kilo jin, tua hitobang phat-ong ka nei ji hi ka um them lou joh ahi pen e. 

Office suty ni ahi in, ka computer masangah ka touvin Manipur lang news vetna ding tiin Facebook a/c ka sem tai. Eimi FB group um dinga ka gelho chu ka hol in, group phabep a jong chun ka pang tai. Lungthimin Chongboi ma ma a hung kilang kit in. Fb a kichep ding gingcha’n a min chu ka pheng hol jeng tan, ana um ngei e! A limlah ho chu ka ven, mi melhoi ahi jeh chun a limlah jouse chu like leh comment atam thei lheh e. Hapta masa bep-a ana upload jong a um in, a melhoi ngaiin a hoi jing in, themkhat vang a kumtam chu a kilang e. Lunghelna jouse a kaithou kit tan, a profile ho chu ka ven, relationship status chu Married ti louva Single tia a koi chu kidang ka sah lheh e. Hijongleh tulai FB kichem jinei chanei sa mi tam tah boldan hin te tiin ka gel in. Gah add ding ka nop lheh vang chun nunlui geldohna mai mai ahi ding jeh chun ka add chom ta poi. Chuche ni apat chun FB ka lut sehin Chongboi profile chu ka ve jing tai.

Phallha nisim 2 ahi in, office-a coffee sa thit thet dona ka tou pum chun FB ka lut kit in. Ka bol ngai bangin Chongboi profile chu ka ve kit in, pungkal khat masanga bep-a hiche status ana update chu ka mu tai. “HBD! Aw… pasal ka lungset masat pen leh umsun, tunin na penchampha a lhung kit te. Ka kipapi lheh e. Nang ngaina’n selung ka mong jou poi. Hoilai munah um tan na tem o? Na dam jing ding ka kinem e.” 

Tuni hi koi Birth Day ham? Keima birth day ngei ahi. A chesa kum 30 masang chun kana pengin ahi. Phat lou taha ka nu le pa’n eina dalha jehin ka penni jong ka he geldoh pha ta pon ka lom kha chom ta poi.

Kum 11 masang Phallha nisim 2 Pathenni ahi in, ka kotkha kikiu gin ka ja in, hung lut dinga ka sei jongle a kiu kit jing jeh chun ka dingdoh in ka ga hong tan. Chongboi chu ana ding in, “Happy B’day” tiin a hung me sil sel in. “O… ka birthday ahi lam jong kana hetphah lou ahe, na fel nalom e!” tiin in sungah ka lut lhon tai. Lekhasa boma til kitom khat chu ahin khai lut in. In sung ka sunglhah lhon nung chun a thil khai chu ipi ahi ka dong in. “Na mit sing o na!” A ging lah lah in, “tun hah ta o,” ka gah ve in. Leiset chunga football player ka ngaisan leh dei pen, Lionel Messi, Argentina football team sangkhol, a chunga a min kitat ngei mai chu a hin khai doh in. Nui selin, “Nanga ding” a hin ti e. Ka kipadan dan chu sangkhol chu ka la pai in, ka ah pai tai. “Na kilom val e… kipamana ipi nei peh di?” a hin ti kit in. Jahcha thim tah chun ka gah nai phei in, thingthembol them tahin kitoh cheta a sui toh banga kitoh chet a muh san am pih peh tah chu ka chop peh tai. Ka inluo sunga a limlah tamtah ka tah leh ka ngaisan pen ahi ti a het jeha, ka birthday thilpeh dinga Kolkata apat ana thot khoh khoh dan ahi. Ei lungsetna thuh dan chu ka hai ding aum poi!

A status chu kei ei seina ahi ding ka gingmo in, hijongleh midang a seina jong ahi thei kit thou e. Birthday kibang pasal tam tah a kium e tiin ka ngaisah beh pon, a khensa hi nama jongleng, a lungset masat pen hi chun ka kigel kit in, a lungset, a umna jong a het tahlou chu ka hi tei di’n ka kigingmo kit tai. Ji a nei tan, pasal khat bouseh a lungset banga a kisei chu a jipa lou koi dang hi pon tin, a jipa chun a hetphah louva a dalhah khat tou hin te. Ka lungthima chun donbutna um lou thudoh jeng ahi tai.

Christmas mang din Ollha nisim 10 nilhah lam nidan 2:45 ahi tan, ka bodyguard Sanjay Yadav leh ka naote mi thum toh Tulihal Airport ka lhung tauve. Kum 9 jen ka dalhah nunga, ka penna leh seiletna gam Manipur ka chotlut kit chu, a gam umdan leh huinun dap jin jen chun ichan hamkhat tah chun ka lunghel a kaithou lheh e. State Guest House ah ka kinga uvin, ka lhun ni jingkaha ka High School chaina neipate ina kholaileng din, Manipur Police Dept lamin Manipur ka umsunga ka manchah dinga ei peh, Bolero vom khatin Sanjay chutoh ka lhai phei lhon in. Traffic a jam nasat jeha ol cha chaa ka che lai lhon chun New Lambulane pheia anme joh nupiho laha ka melhet sa khat mu bangin ka he in. Phate chaa ka vel vet nung chun, ka “Nunlui ngailai”, ei sunaa ei ka sah Chongboi ngei chu ana hi e.

Chubang taha High School a kai laia jong lungchang nei tah, insung neh leh chah tailou bol ngailou Chongboi in, anme joha a tou ka mu jeng chu ipi ham tah chun ka lungthimah khotona a hung lut pai in. A khosah dan u hahsa val hi tan te o, tiin ka ngaito tan. Gari ngahna thei mun kilem khata ding di’n Sanjay chu ka hil in. Gari apata ga kum lhaha ka nunlui, kum ijat ham jen ka mu tahlou, ka lungset jing jeng Chongboi chu ga houpi ding ka nom lheh in, chutiho jeha chu gari jong kingahsah ka hi. Hijongleh ka ngaito kit in, masanga ka dongmanu hi nama jongleh, mi ji ahi tan, kei la gollhang ka hi kit in, ga houpi lou chu pha jo’n ka gel lha tai. Ka kingahna lhon leh Chongboi touna mun chu lam 5 bep ahi. Sanjay komah dangka 1000 note khat ka pe in, Chongboi chu koh pumin, “A ankam johlai lom khat khu hiche paisa hin ga cho in. A lena imacha na’n lah lou ding ahi. Paisa hi ga pe’n lang a ankam lom khat khu ga la jeng in,” lungdon thim tah chun Sanjay jong gari apat chun a kumin a che tai. Sanjay kum lhah nung chun Chongboi chu gari apat chun ka ve jing peh in. Masang ka Chongboi het chu hilou ngap ngap hi tam ti thei khop in a vun ho chu gal apatin jong a mam ta poi ti a kihe thei e. Insung minu ahi tan, insung neh leh chah ngaitoa, go noi dai noia natoh jat chom chom a toh jeha a lim leh mel jong kikhel hi tan te tiin ka kigel kit tai.

A mel a chun lhaset mel ka mu in, hijongleh ka di’n vang leiseta numei melhoi pen ahi jing in, hi jing ding ahi. A koma kolpa hung a mu phat chun, a thiljoh ho chu a leh le le’n, chohsah tei go in ana houpi in. Meilhei pao themkhat jong he lou Sanjay chun ima jong sei chom lou chun, ka sei bang bangin a ankam joh lai lomkhat chu a la in, dangka 1000 note chu a pe’n, a hung kile pai tai. Chongboi jong chu a touna akonin a dingdoh in, paisa le din a sap tho jah jah in. Sanjay chula ima helou bangin gari lam jonin ahung pai tai. Sei ding bol ding peng jong he louvin Chongboi chu a moh din den in, a paisa choi chu a ve in, gari lang chu ahin ve kit jin himo tah chun aum e. Kum tamtah ka lungset jing ka dongmanu leh ka golpha tah, Chongboi ka mua ka houpi lou chu ka dinmun san tah jeha houpi nom lou danin ka kigel in, kiletsah in ka kigel in, themmo ka kichan lheh e. Kile kit a ga houpi ding chula gari kiheina a kilem kit tapon ahi. Office natoh ijat hamkhat Imphal tolpia ka nei jehin hapta khat tobang chu ka cham angai in. Chongboi mu tei ding kinem in New Lambulane pheiah nilhah seh ka che jin, amavang Chongboi mel mu ding aum ngai tapoi.

Chongboite chenna in chu ka ga lhung in, concrete building len tah khat ana ding tai. Door bell gin jaa lut dinga ei hin kounu chu ka mu khah sa ahi ti ka hen. Koiham tia ka kingaito jing lai chun, touna ding ei kopeh pumin, “Ka mu khah sa toh na kilou e? O… Pathen sohpa chu na hi chu na?” tiin pha tahin ei hin ve in. Umm… ken jong ka he tai. Bangalore langa ka che kona Chongboite nucha eina pehpeh in tia paisa ka peh, nursenu ngei chu ahi. “Aaa… i kimu kit tah hila,” tiin ka kichibai lhon in. Chongboite nucha chungchang leh iti lampanga a inmun u chu amaho chang u hitam tia ka thudoh chu, “Hichu o, hiche inmun ka chohna u hi kum li tobang a che tai. A nu natna chu cancer ana hi in, Kolkata langa refer ahi. A nei uvin a to lou jehin, mi paisa bata kilah pumin aga che uvin. Hitichun kumseh checkup dinga a che u angai jing in, a bat u tam toh a sahna ding sum le pai la natong thei a um tahlou jeh uvin, a nei chasun a in leh lou a joh u angai tan, keihon ka chohpeh u ahi tai. Lungset um tah ahi uve.” “Hichu o na. A jipa’n na a toh lou khat ham, chutobang lom loma a hahsat jeng u?” ka ti in. Kidang sah thim tah chun, “Koi a jipa em?” “Chongboi jipa la?” “Hoiya Chongboiin ji a nei ding ham. A hahsat lhon toh ji nei dinga iti ka no vangin a nom naisai poi. Ipi jeha jinei nom lou ham tia ka doh leh, pasal khat lungset a nei tah jeha midang nei nom louvin a kisei ji in. Hiche pasalpa chu a lungthim a suhnatpeh thu leh chuche nung chomkhat jouva a koma pata a vamang tah thu bou a sei sei jin. A dam jing ding a kineppi in, itih hamkhat leh a koma a hung kile kit ding a tahsan thu a sei ji e.” Nursenu thusei chun ichan hamkhatin kinepna thah ei pe in, hiche pasal a lungset chu keima hi ngeiin ka kigel e. Ka chunga Chongboi kitah taha a panna chu itih hamkhat leh a koma ka kile kit thei ding tahsanna chun ei kipasah in, a langkhatah ka khoto lheh kit e.

Hiche nursenu min chu Hoinunthem ahi. Thethemin a seidan in, a khosah lhon chu chu a hahsa lheh tan, anu kijenna a sum tam tah angai jeha themkhat beh a ngai jangkhai thei jongleh tia Chongboi chun ana kivoppi ji policepa chu a naikhum dan ahi. Hijongleh, chuche jan ma ma chun pasalpa chu a tohna lama thil poimo tah aum jehin a lamkaihon a hin le kou tauvin. A jipa chedoh nungin pasalpa nu le a sopi numeiho chun hiche chaga, vaicha leh cancer vei chanu tiin a seise jah jah tauvin. A lungthim nat val jeh chun jan khat cha jong a jipa dingte ina a ge masangin kisih leh kap pumin ana kile kit tan ahi. Chutia policepa a del khum thu chu ahi, ka loipa Haopu’n eina seipeh chu. 

Khonunga ka thu jah danin Thethem hi mipha tah ahi in. Koi ahi jong helou akona sum ana pe son jeh leh, anu damlou jeha nuchate ni’n a jot jing lhon hospital-a nurse ahi jeh chun, Chongboi leh Thethem hi hung kihedoh lhona gol phatah hung hi tou lhon ahi tai. Chongboiin jong Thethem chu a tahsan leh a kineppi, a lungdon ngahna leh imajouse a sei ngamna umsun chu ahi. Chongboite’n mi sumpa a lah tia Thethemin a sei chu, Thethemte hi ana hi in, hongphal taha a sum le pai u jong ana to jiu ahi. A in u akona ka potdoh kon chun, “Thethem, ka het nom jouse nei seipeh jehin ka kipah e, kei jong che mai tange,” tiin ka kipatdoh in. “Khongai teh, nang hi Chongboiin a sei jing, pasal a lungset chu na hi lou ham?” tiin eihin dong in. Chomkhat ka thipbeh in, “Hihhh… hi louve, che mai tange,” tiin Chongboi golnu ahi ti ka het jeh chun min chom ka kisah in, ka hina IPS officer vang chu ka im deh poi. “Ahileh gah khongai tem aw. I kimelhet lhon kipapina’n jing nilhah leh ka Hotel u kum 10 lhinna ka lop diu ahin, na hung thei ding ham ka ti ahe? Na hung thei leh kipa um lheh in te”.

RIMS louina damlou numeiho umna lupna no. 12 a chun Chongboinu chu ana imu in. Natna in a suhset chai sa a tahsa kilang laiho chu a gukeo tobang ngan ahi tai. Ka mu nom pen Chongboi vang chu in langa ana kile lai dan ahi. Ka lungthimin, “Heno, ana lungkham tahih beh o, ka hung lhung ta e. Thainile ka kho lang uva ka che tei tei angai in, ka hung kile pai ding ahi. Na damna din Kolkata langah keima tahin na pui nang e,” tiin lekhabom, a sunga dangka 6000 um chu, ka kho lang uva ka che kaha ana man lhon din tiin a puonsil kaha chun ka jeplut tai. 

Ka ginchat bang bangin ajing nikho chun office kinin ka boi nilhum kei e. Nilhah in, kino tahin von ho chu ka kiah in, hotel lang chu ka jon pai tan. Building len tah, song nga chan khat chu a um in. Chuche building maia chun CHAVANG HOTEL & RESTAURANT ti a kitah in. Gari ka koi tup jou chun waiter khat toh 3rd floor chan chu ka kilhon tou lhon in. Kot len tah khat ana um in, chuche mun ka lhun lai chun hiche la, a ngai kha jousen avel vela a ngai kit ji, Chongboi toh ka tape recorder-a Pathenni seh leh ka lha ji lhon, Melanie Thornton & Lane McGray(Labouche) in ngainom taha a sah, “Do You Still Need Me” ti chu ging val jong hilou, kichen taha jah thei kham bep chun ana kilha e. Ei lamhilpa waiter chun, “Pu, PINDAN VANGNEI a khu na lut ding ahi,” a ti jouvin ei dalha tai. Hiche floor-a chun pindan dang aum pon, restaurant sunga chun mun danga tobang bangin table ijat hamkhat leh a kimvela touna kido ho chu aum e. 

Pindan Vangnei a chun ka lut tan, chutia ka gah lut lai chun numei khat ei nungngata tou hi ka mu in. Ka lut khel joh ham tiin lutna chunga thu kijih chu ka gah sim pha kit in, pindan kisei chula ahi kit e. Numeinu chu hotel lopna programme a jao ding hung ma lhun mai mai hin te tiin ka gel in, kei jong ka lut pai tai. Chulai muna ana tou numeinu chun lungthima thil nasa tah ngaito nei bangin a masanga pahcha khon kitung chu a ve ve in. Mindang hunglut aum lam jong hepha lou banga a tou jeh chun ka gah khu ging in. Chutia awgin a jah phat chun olcha’n nunglamah a hung kihei e. Ka kalse chu ka nga in ka ding den tai. Hiche numei chu na, ka mu nom pen leh ka lungset jing pen, ka lungset chullou Chongboi ana hi e. Kimu louna kumkho sot hen lang, muol le lhangin ei khen lhon jongleh, a pasal lungset masat pen leh umsun ka hi jeh chun ei hai thei ahi poi. “Nang!” tiin a hung ding in ei hin koi pai tai. Ima ka sei pon, ei koi dan bang bang chun ka kido in. “U Lal.. U Lalcha.. nangma mong mong na hi nai, na? Ka hipoi ti hih o, na!” Ama bouseh chu a kap pon, kei jong Chongboiin ei mu jeha kidang a sah dan leh a kipa val jeha aum chan ka mu chun ka lunglai a khoi in, ka nuhbing kigo doh tai. Ka koi chahkheh in, “Heng… henge… keima ka hi nai!” ka ti in. Kinit theng pumin, “Na melse val e! Hitih chan nei dalhah na, ka ngaidan leh ka lunghel ji dan hi na het lou ham, o!” tiin ka op-a chun a kingai in. “Tukal teng na dalha kit ta ponge,” tiin a nunglang sam chu ka jut peh peh e. Chutia Chongboi toh kikoi chah kheha phat chomkhat jen kana din lhon lai chun la kilha jong chu ahin that tauve.

Chuche restaurant stage apat chun numei aw nal tah khat hin, “Pi le pu, gol le pai deitahte ho, eina hethem uvin lang tujan hi jan loupi tah ahi. Tujana hilai muna hung kalsong laha hin deichoma kicheng dinga kitepna nei nom aum in, pinda sunga teni khu ahi e”. Chutilai chun pindan kisemna puonjal chu ol cha cha’n a hung kikhai tou in, Chongboi toh kikoimat cheta ka um lhon chu mipi mu thei in ka um lhon tai. Mi jouse chun keini lang ahin veuvin, jachat jong aum lheh e. “Pasalpa khu Lalvanghao, IPS officer, tua Hazaribagh, Jharkhand a ASP ahi in…” Chongboi chun eihin ve tou in, “Tah tah ham?” ati in. Ka lu ka su jap in. Kipah tah chun, “IPS officer na hi ta!” ahin ti kit in. Ka lu ka su jap kit in, lunglhai sel leh lhamong sel melpu chun ei hin koi chah cheh tai. “Numeinu khu Nengneichong ahi. Tujan hi kimuto louva kum 10 jen kingai tah leh kilungset taha muol le lhangin a khen nung lhona a kimuto kitna lhon masapen ahi”. Chongboi nabenga chun, “Khutjem jong ka po pon! Nei kichenpi nom hinam?” ka ti in. Nui selin, a lu a gah su jap e. Ei kipapi u vetsahnan chuche restaurant sunga um jouse chun khut a beng lah lah uvin. Khutbeh gin kichai phat chun thuphongnu ma ma chun, “Kipa um tah kit khat chu, tujana hiche kitepna kingon hin sem leh hiche hotel neinu hi kit, Pi Thethemin a loite ni kimuto kitna leh kipapi vetsahnan tu jana hilai muna hung kalsongho neh leh don jouse jong ama’n a pohdoh ahi”. Mipi chun kipahin khut a beng ging lah lah kit tauve.

Thethem leh a jipa jong chu a hung ding doh lhonin, “Ka kipapi lheh jeng lhon e,” tiin ei chibai lhon e. Thethem a mu phat chun Chongboiin, “Ka kipah e Heu Them,” tiin a mitlhi kitheh theh pum chun a koi chah tan. Thethem jong chu kipa jeha mitlhi luong jin jen pumin, “Ka nao, tun vang lungkham kit tahih o! Lungmong leh lhamong selin um mai tan, na vaichatna kumkho a sot val tai. Masang jep-a Pathen sohpa, khatvei nia na ankam lom khat dangka 1000 a na chohpehpa leh, janlhaha na manchah diuva dangka 6000 ana koipa chu tua na jipa ding hi ahi”. A thu het chu kidang a sah ahi ti Chongboi mel akon chun a kimudoh thei in, ei hin ve ve e. Ahi mong e, tua Chongboi toh hitia ka kimuto kit theina lhon hi Thethem gontoh leh suhto le le ahi. Hotel lopna kingon leh phat jong a nikho toh kitoh lou beh ahin, PINDAN VANGNEI jong keini LalVANGhao leh NengNEIchong min choia keini ngailutna jala a semthu sah ana hi e.

Hiti chun, ka neolaia ji dinga ka lungmita kana gel jing numei, melhoi leh deium, ka naguh mang Nengneichong chu toh ka kicheng lhon tan ahi.