Kachung’a ana lhasetda mai’o, Bawi!

Class XII kachai til, college kakaipan masang chun khatvei ka-bosspu in Graduation boltoh warden’a pan nakop ding ham tin eidong in kenjong “Private teacher pang dia lekhasim kahipoi… nang napan jong phajah nasahlou ham” tin kadonbut paiyin ahileh ima aseibe tapoi. Phat chomkhat jou in BA kahin simpan tan, insung hahsa akihi jeh in masang ding kangaito leh aboi lheh jeng’e. Class kache pan tan, college kai kithang atpi tilou adang aumpoi.

Hiche laitah chun ka-bosspu in ‘kaloiho coaching home khat hinsei ingting sumlo jong hina, experience ding jong hina, warden a pang jeng in’ ahin tikit tai. Nivei jen asei ahiphat chun i-hingpa thusei kingaiphot hen tin kahung kigel lhatai. Hichun “Ahithei ding poule panthei hichula…” tin kadonbut tai.

Hapta ni tobang jouhin chethei din kahung umtan, kaki gong in ka-bosspu toh kakondoh lhon tai. Kache nalhon boarding chu Coaching Home neocha ahi in, chapang 30 valbep um’ah ahi. Warden ding’a kavai kondoh letlud vang chun kum 19 bep kahi nalaiyin, kisonlal nan kadimlha jeng’e.

Amun kalhun chun Principalpa (Boarding neipan) kagel sang in phatah in eina vailhun’e. Principalpa kom’a chun kisonlal nathu kasei in ahileh hatah in ei-tilkhou in; hahsatna jouse a kithokhom ding ahibouve tin eiseipeh-e. Ipiti eitilkhou vang chun kagelleh experience la kaneipon, kakum la chapang cha ahi nalaiyin, chapang 30-40 kahin boipi ding chu hahsa kasah lheh jeng’e. Hinlah Principalpa chun experience neitah tah ho sang in khangthah, ei-kithopi thei kadei jo’e tin ahin seiye.

Hitichun seithei chan kasei uvin ka-bosspu in jong eidalha tai. Kum 19 bep, ipihamkhat lungchang lehlha loulai kahi vang chun ‘Sir’ eihung kiti pantan ahileh lunggel ahung chuompai jeng’e. Hinlah chapang hon ‘Sir…Sir…’ tia eihin koujiu chu kamang toh akilou nalaiye.

Warden a kaum pattil apat Principal pan aha seipen chu chapang ho ‘English’ thosah sohkei ding tichu ahi. Hijeh chun hapta khat tobang jou apat kahung kipan tan, chapang ho English tho din kahin til pantai. Khatvei suh a chejeng thei ahilou jeh in ken katho masa in, chapang hon ol ol a eihinjui diuvin kagel’e.

Kei masang a warden anapo ho jong chun English thoding ana hasei nauvin hinlah amaho tah in atho jilou jeh uva chapang hon ajom theilou ahi tichu eiki hasei peh pen ahi. English thoding chu keidia vang hahsa behlou ahi; ajeh chu eimi umlouna [Meilhei jeng] ahi in, keijeng injong English ha tho ding chu ei-dinga phachom ding a kana gel ahi.

Ol ol in chapang ho kahin siempan in, lhakhat jou apat chun English tholou aum tapoi. Athiemmo pen in jong Meilhei pao leh English achohhal uvin hitichun English tho lampang ah ka-machal lheh uve.

Maths leh English Grammar katheplou jeh in chapang hil kaboi lhehjin, hinlah Oja ho lah a Meitei Mayek he keibou kahi jehchun ka-lhama dehpoi. Meitei Mayek ki-chesah til chu ahitan, Meilhei ho jeng jong ahe tamloulai ahi.

Hitichu jingkah nilhah warden kahi jin, sun leh college ah student kaga hikit jin, hahsa tah in oja pantoh college kai kakop ji. Boarding lentah ahilou jehchun chowkidar, peon kitiho umlou imajouse ei-mopohna tobang ahi in, baithu vang ahipoi.

Jingkah leh 4:00cm a kitho ding, 9:00cm chan chapang ho boipi a chujou teng college jotding ahi. Nilhah lang ahileh 3:30cn apat jan 9:30cn chan boikit ding ahiji. 9:30cn apat 10:00cn sung a-imut tup phat’u ahileh pung som jou apat jingkah 4am chanbou chu phat-ong kinei sun ahiji. Jankah tilou a phat kineilou ahijeh chun chapang ho imut nungteng lekha kave jin, hinlah kichol ji ahitah jehchun ima aki simdoh jouji tapoi.

Hahsa lheh jongleh kahung um’um in ahileh kahung hithei tai. Boarding neiten jong chapang cha kahi jeh chun eingailu uvin, chapang sin’in eisin uve.

Kumkhat nailam kahung umtan, Boarding chu ka-inn tobang in kahin gelthei tai. Chapang ho, adeh a numeiho, mol a jep bolbeh lou kahi jehchun eingai lheh uvin phat-ong seh leh eijen ding, kalu phet ding, ka-changthit dep ding akichutho jeng ji’uve. Kenjong chapang thusim ho kaseipeh jiuvin hitichun kingai tah in kaum uvin ahi.

Hinlah Pasal chapang gollhang deh deh ho leh class IX/X sim numei chapang nungah hiuheu hochu kavet jileh guhthim in kamoh-nui jitai. Ajeh chu mundang a ki-kimu hileh lengkhat dan’a kium nalai ding ahi.

Phatseh a mun jouse a chapang ho kivetup joulou ahijeh in numei-lang a Monitor khat pasal-lang a khat tin a-senior pen teni chu kalheng in warden teni kithopi din kaphong doh tai. Hiche nikho’a kipat chun Monitor teni chu imalam jouse a warden teni ‘khutjet’ in ahung pang jing lhon tai.

Hinlah phat chomkhat jouvin Monitor teni chu alenjo ding ahung kichu lhon tan, warden teni hetlou kah in ana kithik keiji lhon’in ahi. Hichu kahin hetdoh phat in athu umdan kakhol in ahileh numei lang Monitornu Silvia chu aum masa tia chung-nun chu anahin, chuleh pasal lang a pachu ahileh kum tamjep jeh-a chungnun ding go ana hikit-e.

Hichun kenjong Meilhei hohi kum sang a seniority thupisah ahijeh uvin boarding sung kah a Silvia joh upajo din kaseilha tai. Hichu ken imacha kana gellou ahi in, Silvia chun ama lang’a kai dan’a eina gel’a galjou dan’a ana kigel dan ahi.

Gal ajo ni nia kipat chun Silvia chun eihin tumbol tan, atui-aal aneh jouse kaneh khah louding phamo asah lheh jitan ahi. Alang khat a numei le pasal kidinte jing dan’a aum tahjeh chun ahithei chan a pasal hon numei ho alungset a, numei hon pasal ho ajabol din kahilji uve.

Silvia chu anao numei khat toh umkhom ahi in, ama lekhasim ding sang in anaonu joh akhohsah joji. Chutia lekhasim phat seh a anaonu bou aboipi ji chu phamo kasah lheh jeng’in hinlah chapang tampi kivesui ahijeh in ama naonu bou ka-boipi jing theipoi.

Kumla anai teltul tan, hinlah Silvia chun matric exam ding sang in Class-VI bep sim nalai anaonu chu akhohsah joh jing tan, kalung anommo lheh jeng’e. Kagel le pho ding la ahithei jep pon, Silvia kom’a “Nang in nasim ding kisim in; nanaonu chu ken boipiji nang’e” tin kaseipeh in, ama lekha simding deinan study-hours sung atamjo chu Silvia naonu hilnan kamang jitai.

Chutia kahin boipi jing phatchun chubang lekha themmo nu chu hatah in ahung machal tan ahileh Silvia jong akipah lhehji. Lekha kiti hi midang hil ahah pon, ipenpi isopi mong mong vang hah ahi. Hijeh a chu Silvia jong chun chubangse a aboipi vang a kidoilou dan anahi. Silvia chun anaonu lekha ahung machal a, aman jong adei bangtah a lekha akisim thei chu vangpha akisah lheh ji. Hijehchun eihin ngailu cheh cheh tai. Chapang dang chun ama ding nehthei kichohsah dia anute-apate angalal ji ahin, Silvia vang chun keiding joh agelkhoh jo jitai. Khamnathei kwa, jalda, talab kitiho khatcha nelou kahi jeh chun Parents hon jong ei-pahcha lheh jiuve.

Phat ahung chal’in, kei BA exam jong ahung naitai. Hijeh chun keidin lekhasim nading phat-ong homtho ahung umtan, von sopding ima aumleh Silvia kape jin ahileh aman jong kipahtah in ei-bolpeh ji. Hitichun bolthei thei kaki bolsah jin, ajo jonan ka-room kisen kasuhtheng manlou teng aloinu toh kakou jin kasuhtheng sahji lhon’e.

December ahi tan, X-mas jong anai huoi-huoi tai. Chapang aneolang hon final exam achai gam tan, winter vacation din inn ajon soh tauve. Hinlah boarding a matric peding ho kiumpi ahi jeh chun X-mas gelpha louvin ka-chuti umden tai. Class-X student hobou toh umkhom kahi tahjeh chun anom jep tan, lekha jong chomkhat khatpi kaki simthei tai.

Jankhat chu chapang ho imut nung in lekha kasim-kasim in ahileh Silvia pam chedin ahung potdoh in ka-lekhasim chu ahin mudoh tan ahi. Hichun lungdong tah in “Sir, pung ijat hitam?” tin eihin dong in ken jong “Pung khat lha ding ahi tai!” tia kadonbut le kakom a ahung tou in “Sir, pung ijat chan chan lekha nasim ji ham…” tin eihin dong kit in kenjong “Kei lekhasim hi aphat aumpoi” tin kadonbut kit’e.

Hitia kasei jou chun “Sir, keiho bon matric peding kihi a imut kal kingahlal keiji a…” tin thusei toh che akop tai. Ache chun imu a che hitante tin kagel’in ahileh lekha ahin kichoidoh in “Sir, nang sim chan chan kasim ding ahi…” ahin titai. Chutia aseiphat chun nommo kasah in 2:30cm vel chan kasimkhom pi’n ahi.

Hiche ni nilhah a kipat chun janseh leh imut ding donlou’in lekhasim in ei-tetkei tan, hichu kalungthim a kakipapi lheh jeng’e. Hitichun lekha kasim ji lhon’in hilthei thei jong kahil ji. Abang leh Matric exam bolding dan leh Matric chai a career semding dan thu ho kaseipeh ji.

Chutia lekha kasim khom jing lhon phatchun keisang in ahung nukhah kigo jitai. Ichol ni leh kima imut a, ichollou nileh pung ni pungthum chan kisim ji ahin, Silvia toh kasimkhom ji lhon a pat cholni-chollou ni aumthei tapoi. Adeh in college kache a kahung vaigei thim nileh kalal dehset jin, Silvia vang chu sun leh ana ki-imut chimset ji ahitah jehchun keidin aboilheh ji.

Nilhah khat chu kalal thim in tousot joulou dia kakisei leh anom tahih beh jeng’e. Student lekha simnom tinten khat simsah louding chula adihthei pon, keila kalal ma ma jeng kit’in, hijeh chun ka-room sung a kasimsah in kei kaki imut tai. Pasal hileh aching a dalhah thei ahin, numei ahijeh a hichu hitheilou ahi.

Ka-room sung a akhovah den phat chun jingkah matah in akithou in, Rising Bell khen dia kahung potdoh leh lekha ana simpan kittai. Hitichun jan leh kei-room ah akhovah den jin, jingkah leh matah tah in akithou kitji. Chutia polang hitalou a ka-room sung a lekha asimthei chu keidin jong anom jon, aman jong pha asah joh dan’in aume.

Hinlah khovah hiel-hiel a kaumkhom jing lhon phat chun achai chai nan kahung kingamsum cheh cheh lhon tan, jan ahungdap teng nupa kingaitah bang’in kaumdoh ji lhon tai. Kei-room a nomtah-a alhat thei chu nom asah in, keidin jong room suhtheng ima anavah lheh jeng’e.

Chutia hinkho kaman jing lai lhon chun jankhat numei lang warden-nu’n tijatah in kakot ahungsu in ipithu hitam tia kadoh leh Aw-kithing pum’in “Sir, Silvia alupna a aumpoi, ipi tiding hitam… suhhol touhol katho vang in kamu tapoi…” tin ahung sei in ahileh kalupna chung a Silvia nangphel phul a kijam chu ahin mudoh paitai. Hichun “Sir…” eitin ima seiding helouvin Dormitory lam alejot tai.

Ajing jingkah apat chun Missnu toh kaki vetto uleh aleng jap jap jeng tan, anom hihbeh jeng’e. Silvia jong ahounom ji tapon, keijeng jong ei-dalbol lheh tai. Hichu athu seidoh ding jong atija kit in a-im chahkheh’e.

Thu-umdan hopi chu kagel le kaki iomo lheh jeng in, seiding aum hahsa kasah lhehji. Silvia in la eihin ngai cheh cheh tan nikhat jeng jong kei jaolou a hingjou lou ding abang tai. Hijeh chun kisulhase khaleh a-exam bol boi khante tin hahsa sa san exam kichai chan umpi din kaki gellha tai. Hitichun boina umlouvin exam ahinchai tai.

Exam kichaini jan chun lhavah noi ah katou khom lhon in kaki houlim lim lhon in ahileh “Sir, nei kichenpi ding hinam, nang in nei dalhah le vang akichai kahi tai… Meitei te lah a kidah umtah, phung le chang su-minsenu kahi ding ahitai” tin ahin seiyin kavet leh lhavah noiya chun alhi ana vel setsot jeng’e. Hichun kenjong exam la akichai tan ‘Sir’ neiti tahih in, ‘Dada’ joh neiti ding ahitai tin zonchih tah in kadonbut-e. Hitichun akipa pa nading kaseipeh in alung damjep tante kati phat in “Silvia, nang numei nahi in, Meitei jong nahin, eini ikichen ding hi nang joh nahung boiding ham kadip achah e; keidin imacha aboina aumpoi” tin kasei in ahileh boijong leh alouthei lou ahitai tin eihin donbut’e. “Sir, keiho lah a numei ahina khatvei mang chu mihem’a koiman agellou ahi tai…” tin ahin seibe kit nalaiyin ahileh athusei ding aseichai masang chun “Sir hilou, Dada joh…” kagah tipeh e. Akamcheng ho chu apolang a imacha gellou dan’a kaum vang in asung lang’a gel hahsa kasah lheh tai.

Kaki houlim lim nalai lhon in achainan kenjong “Silvia! Eini kichen leh kichenlou ding hi tun kiseithei ponte. Ajehchu houle bih kibanglou ihikeo hilouva nang jong chapang cha nahi nalaiyin, lekha phaten hin-simphot tadi inlang kichen leh kichenlou lang chu Pathen khut ah koi hite… Ijemtia ikichen khahlou jong leh Pathen in aphat phat nan hingong nante” katileh ahung lunghang jah jeng in mei-am kithamkha abang tai.

Hichun kenjong lhep’a kidoi ding chat ahipoi tin kahung pengjah jeng in ‘tu-mama a ikijam ding hitam’ kati leh ahung khenem in “Dada, hapao hih-in, min jante” tin ahin seiye. Hichun kenjong ajanom nom in jahen, ipi ham! tin kapeng be nalaiyin ahileh kakam ahinsip in kahapen lou nadin akatho jengtan hichun keijong kathip tai.

Chutia kapen awgin chu Missnun ahin jadoh in ahungpot in ahileh kei eimu phat in ima seilou in room’a alelut tai. Hichun kenjong oltah in ‘Silvia, ken kaseiho hi eini ding mama ahi” tin kasei tan ahileh “Sir…” tia thu ahin seigot chu kakhah tan in “Dada…” kagah ti leh “Da… chapang akihi jeh a ase-apha kihekhen jilou ahi, lunghang hih in” tin awnem heuchan ahin seiye. Hichu chance lahnan kaneiyin tulai koima akitupsel aum tapoi, imacha olmo hih in. Pasal jong abep, numei jong abep ahibouve. Nalawi ho jong khu ahidan dan’a umthu’u ahin, nang sang a khohjo ngen hidiu ahi katipeh leh alungdong lheh jeng’e.

Hitichun kaki houlim lim lhon in ahileh ah-masa ahung khong tan kenjong “Kho vah ding ahitai, room lut ta hite” tin khatvei kagah kiss in ka-room kajon tai. Silvia vang chu imu talouvin aga kisutheng jotai.

Ipithu umjong leh hiche nikho a chu kikhen ding kahi tauve. Silvia chu alawi ho lah a alhat nah nah vang in amaiso a kipana aum tapoi. Sunlang pikhat chun keijong alah uva kaga chejap in ahileh alawinu chun eihin vejap in “Silvia, kikhen ni vang koichom din nomdeh ponte na” tin agah dai in ahileh Silvia chun jahcha thim tah in eihin sihvet in “Kikhenni hoiya ba nomding ong…” tin adonbut’e.

Chomkhat jouvin a-innkote apuidin ahung tauvin Parents ho masang ahi phat in ima aki seithei tapoi. Silvia nu le pa jong chun anaonu phatah a kana boipi a chubang lekha themmo nuchu final exam a first class a ahung lolhin jeh in kipathu aseichim lhon pon, khatvei beh nehkhom neipi din eihin tiem lhon in ahileh Silvia chun “Sir, hung tei tei ta ong, kei buhon naneh ding ahi” tin kichung chop leuvin ahin seiye.

Aumchan chu apa in agah sihvet le athip chet tan, hichun kenjong Matric result kiphon teng ngaito naute kati peh’e. Hitichun chomkhat kaki houlim uvin amaho jong cheding akisa tauve. Achekon un Silvia chun “Sir, nalop lop toh kache kon’a nehthei kachoh pehlou hi nalunghan maithei hichu o; Ash lunghang hihta na dukan kacheman loujeh’u ahi” tin wrist watch khat ahin ladoh in “farewell gift” tin eihin pe’e.

Hichu apa in aphoh in ipiding natia a numei pung chu na-Ojapu napeh ham tin asei in ahileh “Hepa, khohlou pi. Ka-Sirpau hi Homo ahin numei thil adei a adei ahi” tin ahin seikit nalaiye. Hichun apan jong “Sir, kilah in, chapang ahi nahlai jeh a ase-apha ahetlou ahi, nommo sah hih in” tin ahin seiyin kenjong “Eh, ibol a nommo kasah ding ham” tin pung chu kakilah tai.

Gari kaldoh ding akisa tauvin; kenjong Silvia chu kave kave in ahileh Car window achun ahung dahdoh in mitlhi luongchut chut in Bye…Bye… eihin bol’e.

Chomkhat jouvin chapang dang hojong apotdoh jou tauvin, keijong ka-kigong in innlam kajon tai. Kakikhen nung’u hapta khatvel jou chun Boarding a nungche kitding kadetthei tapon, Principal pa ka-phone in session thah adia warden chom kihol din kahetsah tai.

Keijong kahung kumsuh in phai’a kaum kittai. Phai kahung umjou kum khatvel achenung chun Silvia in khatvei phone eihin bol in amajong phai a school kai ahidan ahung kiseiye. Kumkhat jou langpeh a ka-no. ahin kimaidoh chu kagelleh kalung adong lheh jeng’e. Phone a kakihou lhon chun ama no. jong kaki-save din eihin hetsah kit nalaiyin ahi. Hichu amadin kipana tah hijong leh keidin vang lungkham najoh ana kikha tai. Hijehchun ki-ngolsah louva lekha phate a simdin seipeh thei thei kaseipeh joi.

Kaki houchai lhon chun kakigel in ahileh Silvia in ka-contact no. anei chu kati ajathim tan, “Silvia, Ojabu warouganu ko!” tin message khat kathot in ka-Sim chu ka-paimang tai.

Hinlah thil umdan hochu kagel le themmo kakichan jin, khonung in hung kihedoh leh ipi atidem tin kalung aboi lheh ji. Abang kom leh Teacher le student kingai, Oja a-chapang toh kicheng tiho tampi aum kahin geldoh kitjin “Min abollou bon hilou, ima akhohpoi” tin kalung oisel kitji. Ahin, “Teacher hohi student hodia nule pa [tobang] ahi” ti kahin geldoh ji teng kaki oimo lheh ji. Hijehchun ama kom’a seithei hihjong leng tin kalungthim’a “Silvia, kachung’a ana lhasetda mai’o, bawi” kati tai.

(This fiction/article was written for Laijon Digest )