A telsuibuuk (laboratory) a Lianpu a omlai in a lawmte khat in ahong sam a, ‘Innkong ah suahlam kelkong bul ah mikhat in hon ngak. Singtanglam a hong kipan abang,’ ahong chi a, singtanglam chih azaaktak in kintak in a diangkhia hi.

Kongpi kiang ah mikhat ana ding ngei a, apuansilh leh a kawlzaal kuah apan in singtanglamte ahi ngut chih atheihtheih hi. Ava naih a, ‘Lianpu ka hi, hon zong na bang a,’ achi a, mipa’n, ‘Hi, na lai di khat k’on pua a,’ chi in laithon khat apia hi. ‘Hohna ding dang le ka nei a, ka paipah mai ding,’ achi a, Lianpu’n, ‘Hilou e, singpi beek na dawn ke,’ achi a, himahleh mipa’n kin ahihdan gen in apai teitei hi.

Kintak in asimpah a, agintaak bang ngei in Khupngil apan ahi a, keimi tungtang ahi hi. Bet sawmta ahi ua, a utleh telsam ding a achialna ahi. Kintak in a telsuibuuk ah aluutkiik a, alawmpa kiang ah khakhat veel zinkhe ding ahihdan a gen a, a nnasep lel uh hoihtak a enkai ding in athukhaak hi. Huaizoh in a profesor pa ki’ah a va pai a, thil omdan ahilh khit in innlam azuan hi. Zingchiang a gari alemliai leh zin ding ahihdan a sungte ahilh hi.

Azing in kintak in New Bazar a delhsuk a, paina ding gari khat beek ana om a lam-en hi. A tunsuk in truck khat ana kidoh a, akan leh sing-at tan pai ding ana hi a, gari dang lah muh ding a omlouh man in a lungkesim a, himahleh ngak tadih ding in a kisa a, akiang a hotel khat ah ava luut a, singpi angen hi.

Sawtlou atut nung in mini-truck khat ahong kidoh a, mi tamlou atuang ua, anntang khawng aguang uhi. Tuantheihna ahihkhaakleh chi in ava naih a, koitan pai ding uhiam chih ava dong hi. Songtal a Raja Goukhothang College a hostel neek-le-taak ding va koihdek ahi ua, a utleh tuang thei ding achi ua, tuakkha kisa in atuang pah hi.

Ahong kipankhia ua, Tuitha luidung khawng ahon zuihtouh uleh tuma a Ngaihliante toh nuamsa a achiaktouh vengvunglai uh alungsim mitkha ah ahong lang a, atheihlouhkaal in a mittui ahong dai mahmah a, atuanpihte’ theihkhaak ding lau in akiguuk nul hi.

A lungsim kinohziak adiam ah gari bang haatlou asa a, aning akitel mahmah hi. Atawp in Suangdoh atung khong ua, kum in leivui a kiphiatsiang a, koihiam aleng khawl tawldam sawm tuanlou in Suangdai lam manoh in ahong kipankhe ngal hi.

Adaak nalam peuh ah Ngaihlian mel hong lang hileh kilawm in athei a, lungleng leh thazoitak in kal ahon suan a, kipasalsak teitei in ahong paizel hi. Tuma a akhawlna uh singliim ahong tung a, Ngaihlian adia vasalem asuisakna singhalte leng ana omlai ua, a ngaam ngimngem gouh ua, akideek zoukei sim maimah hi. Lamkiim a the khuangte’n a lunglen apuangsak semsem hi.

Khomual ahong tung khong a, khua agal-et a, a dai mahmah zikzik hi. Kithalawpluat leh lit ngoihngoih athuah a, om didan leng atheikei hi. Sawtlou adinkhawl nung in khosung luut ding in ahong kisa hi.

Sunkamlai ahihman in mi akam mahmah zikzik hi. A gaal skul a naupang kikou chiilchialte leh a vangkim a akpi kokeek chihlouh thawm zaak ding dang himhim a omkei hi. Khupngil in a inn ua tung ding in gen mahleh ama’ behte leng omsam ua, amau lah ana tanau bawl tabuang uh ahihman in mundang a tun teitei ding nuam salou in abehpa Thanggou inn azuan hi.

Innsung ah siam kitat ging aza a, Nenem in om ahi chih atheipah hi. Innka a siikging leh kongkhak a aakchiang ahong tang luapluap a, kongkhak a khenging noknok hi.  Aakchiang ahong khawl tak in kong kiuh leh luut athuah a, Nenem in amuh tak in kisuanglah tak in, ‘Eh, nang lah na hi zenzen a ULian, aak di hon sa i ka hia. Aak khellaw mahmah a,’ chih toh asiam kisuut ding in akisa a, Lianpu’n kisuut seselou ding in hilh mahleh kisuut in avan a va sang hi. Dawn ding tui apiak kawm in ann aneek leh neeklouh a dong a, nelou achihphet in in a ann ding buaipih ding in akisa a, himahleh Lianpu’n duhlou ahihdan gen in buaipih lou dia a hilh teitei ziak in tawpkiik hi. ‘Huchia ann neek sawmlou taktak na hihleh hiai baalke huan ne veleh,’ chi in baalke huan chiang in alui hi.

Vaikuante ahong tung ua, Lianpu hong zin amuh un anuamtuam mahmah ua, chibai kibuuk in a zinna san khawng houlim in a om uhi. Anneek hong hunsuk pah ahihman in ann hon ne uhi. Ann nekhin amau buai chiat in abuai vingveng ua, Lianpu ahihleh Khupngilte’ hoh ding in a diangkhia hi.

Nenem’ pa’n Nenem’ nu kiang ah, ‘Lianpu hong zin ahihleh zingkal chiah i aaktal khat goh le na chikei ahiam?’ achi a, aaktal khat goh ding in akhum uhi. Nenem lah hoih mohlou ahihman in siam theihtawp suah a ut uhi.

Khupngilte inn ava tun in ann ana nelai ua, a meikiang uah ava tu hi. Khupngil in mi inn a tung seselou a amau inn a tungmai ding a deihdan ana gen a, Lianpu’n behte om ngal a, lah a tanau bawl utoh, pelh teitei nuam salou ahihdan ahilh hi.

Ann nezou meikiang ah a kihou nilouh ua, gamat dingdan khawng gen in a om uhi. Khupngil in, ‘Tuma in Chindalte’ keel ahong la a, khosung a gan omlam theita ahihman in avangkim in ahong luut ding a, bangchi hiam a hingmatzoh kilam-en i hi. Himahleh khosung chikchia hong luut ding chih theihlouh ahiman in gamlak ah thang i siah masa ding ua, huchia i lohsp ualeh inn ah thang i siah ding uh. Zingchiang in i kipanpah ding uh. Gamkha khaliikma ngei a leh ahoih ding. Zan in Thiaupumte’n nahkha guamlam ah sakei khap thak amu ua, huailam ah i pan ding uh,’ chi in vai ding agen hi.

A zing in antah ding keel khat toh vai akuankhia uhi. A mun atun un a thaang ding uh a buaipih pah ua, thil teng abawlfel tak un a sawlpa buukbawl uah a ngak uhi. A gim uh azaak theihlouhna ding in a sawlpa buuk uh aaksi a theh uhi. Sun ahong hi a, bangmah muh ding a omkei hi. Kuhkal tak a ngak in a tu nilouh ua, himahleh thawm ging beek leng zaak aneihlouh ziak un leh ni bang tum ding a kisata ahihman in pai ding in akisa uhi.

A zingchiang in a panmun ngeimah uah apang nawn ua, akuanlam ua a paamzek a sakei khaap thak amuhziak un hong suak ding in akineem mahmah uhi. Huchia angak khiinkhian lai un a paam uh ahong ging siatsiat a, hong suak peetmah ding hita chia a daawi kiikeei lai un amai uah sakhi tal kipha mahmah vengvong khat ahong suak a, a enlah mahmah ua, lah athil taan uh a awlmoh ziak un a kaap ngamkei uhi. bangtan hiam adak leplep nung in kintak in a zuankhia hi. Huchia akiginna uh khahkol a, muangchang tak a atutsuk nung un sakei ahong suak peetmah a, tat leng tang ngamlou in bang ahong chi peuhmah de aw chi a banghiam ahong chihleh gamtang pah dia kimansa in a kaang khiingkhiang uhi. A keel antah uh ahon naih peetmah a, aboh toh kiton un mau leng kintak in a diangkhia ua, len a awk sakei a kibohhuan uhi.  himahleh amau a ding in sakei a kinlua a, a lenkip ma un akipeek kol man hi. Huchia a kitut nalam in a mailam a pang Pauchin’ mai aphuaikha ek a, munthum ah akiziik heekhuuk hi.  Hucia mitphiatkal lel akibuan nung un apeektol a, ataisuah hi. Chindou in athau tawmzok in kaap zui ding in akisa a, himahleh Lianpu’n kaapke’n chihleh a thau bohkhiatsak athuah hi.  A lawmpa uh liamna etkai pah poimoh ahihman in kintak in innlam ahon zuan uhi.  A lawmpa uh liam toh, tuni a asukphang khaak utoh, buhtuh tha-it laitak ahihtoh zingchiang khawlphot ding lem asa uhi.

A nitak in Lianpu leh Nenem mei-awi in sawtpi atu ua, bangbang hiam houlim in a om uhi. ‘Chikchia Lamka lam a paisuk nawn di e Nem,’ chin Lianpu’n Nenem adong a, ‘Ka nute buh khawng kituhkhit pih phot leh huailam chia sawm hi ve’ng aw. Kolez lah luut na’ng gamla lai thou a. Zingchia bang mah hih di na neih tuankei leh lou hong kuan sam ve. Kihihhalhna kawm di’n ah,’ chi in loukuan ding in a zawn a, Lianpu’n, ‘Lou le muh uthuai eimah ve,’ chi in adawng hi. Zan bang sawtpianta ahihman in Nenem in mei-am a vutphual a, alum uhi.

‘ULian, lou n’ong kuan utleh thouta ou,’ chi’n Nenem in Lianpu ahong phawng a, Lianpu leng ahong thoukhia hi.  Akiphiat zoh in ann ane ua, vai ahong kuan uhi. Lianpu’n ama a sengpua a pai Nenem a et-et chiang in Ngaihlian toh kibatna nei sa in ngaihnathuai asa hi. Amau gel lampi a khawl munsim uh ahihman in lou atun un alawmte uh ma ana pangta uhi.  ‘Na ut-ut ana hih in aw ULian, kei le ma k’ong pangta di,’ chi in Nenem leng mapang ding in a kisa hi.

Buuk a bangtan hiam a omnung in chim kisa in lounawl gamlak ah ava vaak hi. Guam lianlou chik a luita a ngate kimawlpih a a-omlai in a khou tung hong ging siatsiat in athei a, dingthou a adaakphei leh khoubang tung ah sakei khat ana ding gemgom a, amuh in a kiguih a, laulua in tat leng tang ngamlou in a ding khekhaw hi. Sakei in angiik a, gim adiik vutvut zel a, huchia bangtan hiam a et nung in kihei in a taikhia hi. Lianpu a hahuai a, akiim-akiang a-en a, bangmah amuhlouh tak in kintak in loulam azuan hi. Koimah a vaakkhe ngam nawnlou in buhtuhte’ kiang leh buuk a kawmtuah nilouh a, paikaal angaklah mahmah hi.

Nitak ann nekham Khupngil teh ava pawt a, athiltuah agenleh Khupngil in, ‘Ngaihlian ahi ngeingei ding. Na gim hon theitumlai hi ding eive. Zingchiah kisa leng i manzou ngeingeita ding uh,’ ana chi hi.

A zingkal in baihtak in akipankhia ua, zan a Lianpu’n atuahna mun ah panmun abawl uhi. ‘Tutung tuh apeeksuah zohkeeilouh na di’n i bawl uh awle,’ chi in len a zalh uhi. A pang tuak ah khoubang a om a, a khunglam ah ngakiik a om hi. Huai sung a akhumkhaak uleh tuh baihlamtak a manzou ding in a kigingta uhi.  Sunnitum in angak ua, thoupi leng ahong kilaakkei hi. Ni aniam taak man in pai vai ahawm ua, huchihlai in thawm a za ua, a daak uleh sakei in khou tung apan khounuai a kel kikhih a ensuk a, adaak vialvial a, awl in apaikhia hi. A hong kilaak nawn khaakleh chi in a hungaih lai ua, lah ahong kilaak nawnkei a, khua leng muita ahihman in a thang uleh a antah uh huchia nusia in apaisan uhi.

A zingchiang in akipankhe nawn leuleu ua, a tangpan ding dan peuh uh, a gintaakna mun peuh uh gen in lamtawn in ahoulim uhi. A mun atun un Lianthang amasapen a pai hive’n, ‘Eh, i thang ulah akisai a,’ chihtoh delhphei athuah a, alawmte’n leng ahon delhphei uhi.  Sakei ana awk peetmah a, tutung tuh apeeksuah zohlouh mawngmawng ding a abawl uleng ahihim hi. Singtuai asaat ua, tua in a delhkip ua, huchi’n a khe leh kam agaak ua, innlam ah ahon zawng uhi. Hichi bang a baihlamtak a amattheih uh lamdang sa in lamtawn in agen nilouh uhi. Inn atung ua, akul ding a abawl uah akhum ua, naupang hon in a um lutlut uhi.

A kihtaakpen ulah zouta uh ahihman un alungmuang mahmah uhi. A nitak in Khupngilteh a pawtkhawm ua, keimi toh kisai tangthute khawng gen in a om uhi. Khupngil in, ‘I sakei mat uh keimi ahihleh khakhat veel nelou in koih lehang ahong bah dia, agial ahong mang dia, mihing ahong suak ding hi. Huai chiang in let lehang mihing ahidenta ding,’ chi in agen hi.  A zing in Lianpu leng innlam va pha phot ding in akisa a, ann nekham a kipankhia hi.

Hunte ahong kivei a, Lianpu leng innlam a omthei taktak tuanlou in ahong zintou nawn pah hi. Nenem toh kithuah in hunte azangzel ua, a nini a kingainatuah deuhdeuh uh hileh kilawm in akithei uhi.  Nitak khat mei-awi a a-omlai un, ‘Khosung nungak-le-tangvalte adia kizaaksakna. Zingchiang zingkal ann neekkham in mimang zonna om ding. Nungak-le-tangvalte kisa chiat ni,’ chi in paunaihna in thu ahon puang hi. Akua mimang hi ding ahia akichituah ua, zingchia mimang zon di nei i hihleh lumpah ni aw kichi in alum uhi.
Zing ann nezou anntuun pua in kingakkhawmna ding achihna uah a va pai ua, mi ana tamsimta uhi. Kua hihiam chih akan uleh tangval Khupgin zan a zawlsui dia kuan inn tungkiiklou ana hi hi. Pawl thum a kikhen in a vaikuan nalam zong ding in a kipankhia uhi. Ni akaita a, amau pawl in bangmah muh aneikei ua, alawmte’ thawm leng bangmah zaak aneihlouh man un amau leng muh neilou hi ding in a koih ua, huchia kiikphot mai ding akisaklai un agaallam uate’n thau ahon gin ua, lawmte’n muta uh ahi ding chi in innlam ahon zuan uhi. Lampi ah pawldang khatte toh kituak ua, nou hilou na hi uhia thaugin chi in akikantuah uhi. Khomual ah pawl dang khatte ana ngak ua, khomui dong angak hang un angakkhe zoukei ua, apaisan uhi.

Unau melhaih hun in thauginte pawl ahong tung ua, bang thu hon puak uhiam chia ana kan uleh puanthem leh kawlzal mu ua, akiim-akiang a zon uleh lah bang mah mulou ua huchia khomui in lap a hong pai phot ahi uhi. A kawlzal muh uh a innkuante alah uleh ama’ a ana hingei a, angaih uh aphakei hial hi. Nitak in a inn uah nungak-tangval a va pawtkhawm uhi.

A zingchiang in sunnitum in azong nawn ua, himahleh muh ding bangmah aneikei uhi. Upate a kihou ua, ‘Tutan i muhlouhzaw hon zawng nawnkei un achi a ahita ding. Ninih-nithum i hungaih dia, huchia ahong tunkei leh i pomsiam mai ding uh ahi ding,’ achi uhi. Huchia a hungaih nung ua leng bangmah ahong tunlouh tak in avuina hun a zang uhi.

Sakei amat nung uh kaal thum bang ahita a, a gilkial mahmahta ahi ding a, ahang mahmah hi. Huchia agial ahong kiam angakzellai un nikhat Lingthuuk khua apan khualtai ahong pai a, a siampupa uh khogal zek a a chiing sahna mun a gamsa in that ahihdan ahong tun hi. A liamdan apan in sakei khutma hi dia agintaakdan uh leng agen hi. Hiai thu azaak un a lung uh azing mahmah a, ‘I pusa un hon paih ahita ding, kum hiaizah i nuaisiah dawite khut a piakkhiat hita i hi ding,’ Khupngil in achi hi. Lianpu’n Ngaihlian hong kiiknawnlou ding chih angaingam mahmahkei a, hiaitan atun nung a tua a tawpna hun tomchik sung a vaai teng ahong kikheel maimah apomsiam theikei hi. ‘Bang i genta dia, Lian,’ Khupngil in Lianpu’ ki’ah achi a, ‘i theihtawp i suah nung a athil hihtheizawte’n hon nan teitei uleh bang i lohta dia? Kihihhaat inla, innlam ah paita mai in,’achi hi. Lianpu bel adai dide hi.

A zingkal in mikhat in, ‘Hiai hong en dih ve,’ chi in Khupngil ahong sam a, sakei’ kullam ah a tonpih hi. A kul atun un mipa’n a thil muh Khupngil alak a, ‘Aman lah apolam laibal theilou dia maw, bang hih hipeuhmah ding ahia,’ chi in lamdang asa mahmah uhi. Sakei’ kul uumna na dia kiphut singtuai ai mahmahta ahawng akikiatthel nengnung a, sa chin hiam mahmah hiam, ahihkaleh ha hiam mahmah in ahihlouh ngal ahih ding dang a omkei hi. A ngaih uh apha hetkei a, akitheilam a hiai sakei i hihlup uh a chidamhuai ding akichi uhi.

Lianpu’n pai mailouh tuh hihtheih a omkei chih athei a, himahleh hichimai a nutsiat mai ding angaihsut chiang in haksa asa mahmah hi. Khenchiang in houh amah leng keimi suahsuk mai bang a ut hi. A nitak in a ihmuthei himhimkei a, atawl mahmah hi. Aak bang hong khuang hialta hi. Thakhat in athou a, sakei’ kul ah ava pai a, akong a ding in, ‘Lian ei, kiten hunnuam zang a ngeisokte’ paakna mun ah k’on hohpih ding ka chih na theilai hiam?’ mittui kai niuniau in a va chi a, sakei in ana ngik ngumngum hi. ‘Hon ngaidam in aw, Pathiante’n i vaihawm ahon lumlehsakta uh. I kaal ah i kaanzoh vuallouh ding guam thuukpi ahon khunsakta uh. Ngeisok paakna ah ka hon hohpih theinawntakei.  Himahleh nang bel na hoh ding,’ chihtoh a kul tung ah akal a, a kongkhak kalhna singzawl a dokkhia a, a kong ahong hi. ‘Tai in, Lian, na thaneihtawp suah in tai in. Gaal a ngeisok paak nuai ah nang adia pathiante’n ahon sehsak un honna ngak. I omna guamgaal tuak ah lungkim kizil mai ni aw,’ achi pipilh hi.  Sakei tuh a pawtpahkei a, ‘Hon taisan ngamlou na hi hia Lian?,’ chi in akikhasiat deuhdeuh hi. Sakei tuh awl in ahong ding a, apawt a, Lianpu a en a, angiik ngumngum a, awl in a taikhia hi.

A zingkal a a khosung uh buai vingveng dingdan ngaihsun in Lianpu tuh innsung aluutnawn a, ihmulou ding khat in alumnawn hi.
Zin-le-sian in tongsa e ka kungtung ah
Deihbel heisa kei in gialzou e
Kei in gialzou e tatna dangzou
Simlei ah tui bang gawm ngilhta ni e

Sian’ hawm zu bang nial a deihbel toh ton di’n
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Ka gialzaw maw laitan ka pom zaw
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