Four Ngultrums

Reminiscing of this trip I muse with great delight. My first visit to the first city of my dreams with Re.4/- in my big dress pocket. In fact, Re.1/- only belonged to me. Re.3/- was meant for the rat poison shopping. Samdrup Jongkhar was the big city of my dreams and I was dying to be there. 

I was a young boy of eight or nine years studying in Class I in Deothang Primary School. I had a friend who was a few years older than me. He was my tenant’s son. He was by far much well off than me in all ways that I knew of. I was just myself – a good pauper boy with nothing but my shabby self. That’s why he nicknamed me ‘Ngongtorpai’ – not so funny as is supposed to be. Actually, I used to wear loose cotton short inside my dress (gho) which he happened to see while I was defecating in the bush below the road, and so he called me thus. By the way, his nickname was ‘Ganthi’.  Anyways, one day he said he was going to Samdrup Jongkhar and he asked me to accompany him to Samdrup Jongkhar. Without a thought I said ‘yes’. I was deeply delighted because I had never been there, only heard about it. He was visiting his foster parents living in Samdrup Jongkhar (if I remember correctly). 

In the evening, I asked my maternal aunt Aum Barma for permission to go to Samdrup Jongkhar. At first she was shocked to hear me say that and did not agree but she did when I told her that I was going with ‘Ganthi’. I jumped with joy. Saturday morning came and it was almost time to leave. Aum Barma called me and gave me four blue notes. It was the old Indian one rupee notes. Wow, I could not believe my eyes. I was so delighted that she gave me four rupees...FOUR. It was too many and too much for me indeed. Suddenly, she blurted, ‘not all are for your use’. I looked at her, little surprised but not saddened. She continued, ‘with one rupee buy some things to eat for yourself and buy rat poison with this three rupees and if you cannot find rat poison, bring back the money’.  I nodded quickly and took off. She muttered after me, ‘phidara khi yidka mamay na' (don’t forget the rat poison).  

Finally, we were there in the so-called city of Samjongkhar. I don’t remember how we traveled but we had arrived there. I was not delighted as expected. There was nothing much to see anyways except for few buildings and shops. We walked into his foster parent’s home. It was a scanty snacks shop located in lower market just beside the huge drainage and below Punjab Hotel. We enjoyed the snacks treat they served us with. My friend was gifted with few other things, probably some toys for him and some edibles for his family back home. Sadly, nothing for me but it was alright. Then I think I did my shopping – the rat poison. Most probably, I paid 1 rupee (or 2 rupees) for a packet of rat poison. But I bought nothing for myself. We said goodbye to Samdrup Jongkhar after a couple of hours. Don’t remember seeing anything worthwhile then.  Perhaps we didn't have enough time to explore.

Back home, I happily delivered the shopping good to Aum Barma – mission successful. More importantly and more happily, I handed back the balance three rupees to Aum Barma. Aum Barma took it with a broad smile commenting, ‘you are the best’. With that ‘shamu kam’ I would be happy throughout the day and night.  In fact, I was always happy to not spend …for the family. I would not spend a penny just like that because it was rare as gold dust for me and my family. And I would never ask for money from Aum Barma, my mother, father or anybody for that matter. As it is, I was happy without it. That is why Aum Barma would always shower me with her encouraging words, ‘Ata is such a good boy…he does not ask for money’. That’s why I think I learned to value every Ngultrum.

But I never forget my most memorable first trip to Samdrup Jongkhar with Re.4/- in my pocket and  back without spending it. Wow! So I say, if you can’t give to others, at least don’t take from others.  

Note: In memory of Aum Barma, my second mother.