A Long Distance Love

By tshewang (narangpa) phuntsho

At 10 at night, the phone rang on and on. It vexed the dozing Rabsel on his cosy bed. “Who was the caller?” he quizzed Rigdrel next morn. No answer. “Was that Lhamo last night?” he had to name her to get an answer.
“Yes,” Rigdrel nodded. Rabsel has known Rigdrel for three years but never met Lhamo, his pal’s unknown gal.
“Hi Rigddrel,” the voice went last night. “How’s everything these days?”
“I’m good. How about you?”
“Nowadays I’m learning Japanese and British accents”. Suddenly the line went dead for a few minutes. At the back of Rabsel’s mind, he thought Lhamo worked at a call centre in Thimphu. She was back on line again. “I’m sorry, Rigdrel, there was call from Japan”.
“Didn’t you miss me?” he said as if they’d met before.

“Of course, I missed you. I love you!”
Their talk was peppered with ‘I love you’s’.
To cut a long story short, knowing each other’s voices well, they decided to marry sight unseen. Every night, they talked for hours and hours like real lovers do.
After being together, yet apart, for two and a half years, Rabsel asked himself why he didn’t love Lakzeen any more. She was his first love and it had been a major assignment for him to win her hand.
Her long hennaed hair, her heart-shaped face and slim body, he loved her to pieces. When she’d pass by, he acted like he’d seen the most beautiful girl in the world.
Rigdrel was tall and handsome. He had a nice smile. Wenches would flock to him. Lakzeen loved him but she didn’t confirm fully.
“Lakzeen, what happened to you today? You look sick and pale,” he asked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be alright. It’s just a headache” she murmured. He patted her back and felt her forehead.
“Had lunch?”
“No, I don’t feel like eating boarder food.”
“Let’s go to the canteen then for lunch”. And so they did. Love can be very costly.
For a few months they were all but lovers, but their love grew.
It was late autumn when Lakzeen lost her appetite for him and threw cold water on his burning desire. Rigdrel was left in agony.
He looked for another love. He frequented bars, met buddies and drank ale to the lees. It was here that Rigdrel got Lhamo’s number from a friend.
On the final day of college,Lhamo’s photo came in a colourful envelope. He opened it with a smile which was immediately wiped off his face. Had he seen before what he saw now he’d never have said ‘I love you’ and call to say it again and again.
With a heavy heart and a great sigh, he switched off his cell phone.

Source: Kuensel