‘Athak bangmah ka lakei phot ding. Khanawn chiang in singtanglam ah ka zindek a, gelh manlou ding ka hi. Hiai a ka laaksa teng le ka zin ma in ka zouman diam chi ka hi,’ chi in ana nawlkhin hi. Mi dangte sang a asiamzawk ziak hia ahihkaleh misi himhim atamziak hia miteng ama kiang a hong pai uh mah bang asa hi. Asepna apan kitawp a tua athilhih apat tung lai a zaw sep ding omlou  a sunnitum a athapaih hun tam hive’n, tu in bel tawlngalou a asep in leng mite’ deihzah angahzoukei hi. Sidaak agin chiang in alawmpa toh, ‘Sum ging zel ei,  I hausa lo pah khong di,’ peuh a kichi uhi.

A laisiamlouh ziak hiam a tua bang a neekzong ahikei hi. Laisiamna ah mite’ tung a ahi a, University a leng dangkapi saangzou ahi. A lawmte’n History leh Geography haichilhpa achih hial uh. MA azoh in college ah lecturer nna sem hi. Himahleh alungluutna mahmah thil khat in college nangawn ginatak a kaisak theilou ahihmanin a kitawp a, mahni mandandan a sep ding chi in a tempaina ahihtoh hansuang gelh a neekzon ahon pan hi. Nungak nangawn buaipih manlou ding khop a lungluut khat nei mi ahi hi, ahihkaleh abuaipih siamlou hizaw hiam?

Nitaklam khat dawr khaak dia a kithawi lai un alawmpa ahoupih a, ‘Lian, Khupching leh Ngambawm’ tangthu na theihhteng hon gen dih,’ achi a, Lianpu’n leng, ‘Ngambawm tagah ahi a, Khupching’ nute’n adeihkei ua, akhen teitei ua, atawp in asi tuak ua, misikhua ah a om uh.’ Akhawl toh kiton in, ‘Dik,’ ana chipah a, ‘miteng in huai teng athei uh. Himahleh ke’n huai teng lou leng ka thei. Khawnawn chiah singtanglam ka va zin dia, ko’ng kiik chiah bang ahia ka theih ka hon lak ding,’ achi zuauzuau a, athugen dan in leng kithalawplua, gen utlolai ahi chih akilang hi. Lianpu’n, ‘Tuun hon hilh ve,’ achih thahah leh lawmpa ana kiman lolam ahi a, ‘No’n dot ding ka thei, ko’n hilh ding. Ngambawm dawisiam ahi a, dawi um haattak anei hi. Ngalngam dawi-um sang a leng haatzaw ahi chipawl a om uh. Misikhua a apai theihna ding a akithah dek in a dawi-um, a siallum leh a heipi ala a, Ngazam luipang a kawlhawm lianlou ah aseel a, dawila in a phuisam khum a, ataisan achi uh. Ke’n huai aseelna mun gamlim ka nei. Gamlim lai a gelh ahikei. A phuisamna la tuh a gamlim ahimai, keilou kuamah athei a omkei-
Ziat ah lumsuang, vei ah simsing limlian
Alai a khuul aw ka um leh siallum na seel aw
Sonlouh singta’n banzal lan bang angak leh aw
Lumsuang mun na muanglou aw chiautui na dailou aw’

‘A kho upate un mi’n thei le uh azong ding ua, amu ding ua, khut hoihlouh ah aluutkha ding chih alauh ziak un hiai thu a im uh achi uh. Hiai thu thei a upa teng uh asita ua, kei hon hilh tupa leng nikum in asi hi. Huai pa’n hiai thu im theihtawp a ki-im ahi a, himahleh ZRAte’n ana theikha ua, nikumlam in ahong kan ua, ka theikei ka na chi. Denchiah amu ding ua, thilhoihlou hihna ding in azangkha ding uh chih ka lau a. Himahleh ava zong thouthou ua, Ngazam palsuak dimdem mahle uh amukei uh.  Nang na hihleh thillui zongmi na hi a, na muh leleng thil gilou hihna dia zanglou dia ka hon gintak ziak in ka hon hilh hi. Mi’ muh ding thouthou nang mu inla, khut hoihlou a luutsak hetlouh ding in hon chiam in, chi in ahon hilh hi. Himahleh huailai college a ka seplai ahi a, hun ka neihnawnlouh ziak in ka va zong mankei. Tu’n ka kisathak ding. Hilele a ala in ahon sulung nuamkei sim, suang leh tuite ommaimai lou ding a achih ziak in’ achi a, ahong tawp khong hi. Lianpu’n, ‘ZRAte’n thei uh ahileh zaw va mu leteh le na tang na diam maw, zin leteh lah ahonna theipah ding ua. Dai dide a honna ngak uh leng bang ahimoh de’ achi a, Gouthang in, ‘Va mu lengle a dawi-um pentak zaw bang ding le ka chi hetkei. Palkhuang ah ki-omkei henla, Hanship kipansan leh hon muanmohlouhna ding un. Tuuktui luanma in ko’ng tungkiik di.’

A kihoulim nalam un dawr bang akhaak zekai loh uhi. Dawr akhaak khit in a biak ala a, ataisuk a, nidang a ahihngei bang in dawr ah kuva ahaisuk a, innlam zuan in atai vengveng hi.

Khua niimkhol leng hiloupi in a zin ding zingkal in vuah azu nilouh a, avan hauh toh abuai mahmah lunglung hi. Station ava tun leh a paina ding bus leng singtanglam a sia hong tunglou ana chi zomah ua, tawpkiik nadan lah om salou in New Bazar kiim ah paitheihna ding truck beek omhiam chi in vuahzu nuai ah akivialleh nilouh hi. Atawp in akawt dimdem nung in truck pai ding khat ava mu zenzen a, akaltou pah hi. Atung bang ginatak a akikhuhlouh toh avante akawtgawp ding alau mahmah hi. Vangphat huaitak in a kipatkhiat nung uh sawtlou in vuah ahong theupah vanglak a, himahleh khonim athenlouh ziak in alung anauam phakei hi. Ami toh avan toh hentheih henmoh a kihen ahi ua, lemtak a tut chih leng omtheilou in avangkim a gari kiseep toh tutmuang chih himhim a omtheikei hi.

Singat ahong tung ua, mi singpi dawn ding a akum souhsouhlai un amah bel mei awng kal a nisa aam in avan kawtte alem dandan a nisa a sukkeu sawm in abuai mahmah hi.  Singat kheng lelah lampi hoihlou sem dia chi in tutna ding abawllem vuvut hi. Tua bang a abuai vingveng lai in mite ahong kal nawn ua, gari hong ging in akipankhe nawnta uhi. Amahbel a tutna bawl a atu in tulem akisa mahmah hi.

Sawt tai manlou in Tuivel ahong tung ua, gari ahong khawl a, anntang suah ding om chi’n ahong kikou uhi. Gari zuipa ahong dianglut a, anntang ipte ahong baanveel a, atawp in Gouthang kiang ah kaangzual ding in angen a, Gouthang akaan phet in atutna ah TV chih ana kigelh a, ‘Hiai eive’ chi in a lepkhia hi. Lemlou chik in a tusuk nawn hi. Pumlawng atun un ann ne ding in akhawl nawn ua, aman leng voksa leh sihzou pok deihkhopteek a ava neek zoh in ahong kalnawn a, atutna ding bawl nawn ding chisim mahleh gintaksa sawt nelokha ahi ding a, mi ana tudim manta uhi.

Awlawl a akitawltouh nung un nitaklam annhuan hun vel in Hanship khopeetna atung ua, tonpih ding khat beek om ding hiam asakleh kuamah a omkei a, amahkia in apaita hi. Nipi kipanpan ahihmanin gamlak akuul nai hetkei a, lampi leng ana thoveng mahmah hi. Lamsak lamkhang ah the akhuang chelchul geuh ua, angaihpen kituh uh abang zezen uhi. Singkung teng ah luaileng leh saheite akai ua, melhoih lou (powder) kitaatlou buang ding in tuh ahoih khana uhi. Lamtawn a limlaak buaipih den ahihmanin Hanship atun in ni aniamta hi. Nidang a atunna zel anite inn ah aluut a, anite loukuan ana tung naikei ua, naupangte ana om uhi. Ngaihlun in amuhphet in, ‘Ah, Pugou, hongzin maw? Koi a bang hihdek neita?’ chihtoh avan asangpah a, Lamka a hun sawttak ana zangta, tua bang a van kisaansak chihbang atheihlouhna sawtta ahihmanin a hihuai zezen hi. Loukuante hong tung le uh ann neek hun pah ding ahihmanin in, ‘Lun, ka va kisil di aw,’ chi in sawtlou a tawlngak zoh in luilam ah kisil ding in akuan hi.

Ann neekkham  in hausa upa Pumngul teh ava hoh a, thukhothang khawng ava houlim uhi. Pumngul in a chiing leemkawm in, ‘Bang hih di deuh ahong na hia? Thillui zong ding mah na hi hia?’ achi a, Gouthang in, ‘Huchi pilua hikei. Palkhuang gam khawng a Khupching leh Ngambawm’ sulnung khawng hong endek  hilel ing,’ achi hi. Pumngul in ‘Tulai in ZRAte’n Ngambawm’ dawi-um azong uh achi ua, taktak mah hiam ah theikhang,’ achi a, ‘Tulai a hong kilaakzel uhia?,’ chi’n Gouthang in adong a, ‘Avangkim in hong kilaakzel mah uh. Kalmasa in leng nithum hiam hong taam uh, tuma a huai Mangsum’ Nuisuk leh Zamkang na muhte bangloh na hiam?’ ‘Lamka Museumte’n ahon lei uh. Huai ah a om.’ Tua bang a ahoulim sung un zang ahong sawt a, mangpha kikhak in akikhen uhi.

Azingchiang ann neekkham in awl in Ngazam luilam ahoh ding in akisa a, tempawng khat leh khautang kihual khauhual sausim tak toh avan tawi ngeiteng toh akuankhia hi. Agintak sang in lui ana gamla vial a, atunsuk in ni  asuun nuamta hi. Asuahkhiatna mun apat lui a kumsuk alemtangkei a, aluidung azuitou a, singkung liantak zung kikhung lemlom zui in akumsuk hi. Luikam atuntak in luinaklam a en a, luitawlam a en a, lui tawlam zuih masak hoih asa hi. Ala in taklam ah suangpi om ding a, veilam ah singkung lianpi om ding a, lai a kohawm om ding chi hi. Saukuamtak azuisuk a, Palkhuang gam bang va peelsuk hial mahleh tua bang ding himhim amukei hi. Tengkol ana tam mahmah a, tengkol peuh atom kawm hi. Atawp in aleh zuihtouh nawn a, akipatna peellampek  va zuitou mahleh amu tuankei hi. Atawp in ni bang hong niamta ahihmanin agintaak a achiamteh mun nihte zingchiang a va etthak ding in a taisanta hi.

Inn atun a atengkolte ani apiak leh ani’n koi a atop hiam chih adong a, ama’n Ngazamlui ahi chih ahilhleh ani’n, ‘Thahah, Ngazam a tengkol hiai zahzah bang no’n chingah eita? Tengkol a omlouhpi.’ ‘A om a himailou di hia huaiteng hon kingah hive’n’ chi in ani’ lamdang sakna athulaaksakkei hi.

Azingchiang in avanteng toh akipankhe nawn hi. Akohawm pen menchim in vuk hi ding in a gingta a, apoimoh leh chi in tupi khat atawi hi. Alui a kumsuk dia akisak laitak in akiangchin hileh kilawm ah sakhi khat ngaihtak in ahong hawk a, anaak kiguih ngial hi. Vasate leng zaan sang in ahaam naak zaw un athei a, va uk khawng a haam ukuk uhi. Luitaw atunsuk in aisa hon ana phe noinoi ua, lamdang asasim mahmah a, zan a lah khat le mulou a chi in alung anuamkei sim a,lah thupilua in akoihkei hi. Zan a achiamteh tegel a agintakpen ava naih a, tumlampang khou ahi a, taklam a suang neuchik khat akhou apan ahong dawkkhia a, veilampang ah singkung lianpi khat apou venvon a, alui tung ah azamphei hi.  Akaal uah sialkhupdawng leh loupa dang apoudim a, tuate vel a a omlai in atung mahmah hileh kilawm ah sakhi ahong hawk ek nawn a, alung anuampha nawn ngelkei na a, akipasalsak teitei hi.

Ala in, ‘Sonlouh singta’n bangzal lan bang angak leh aw, lumsuang aw na ommuanglou a, chiautui aw na daailou aw’ chi ahihmanin banghiam hong chihkhakleh chi in akhauhual tawi tua singkung ah kiptak in akhih a, among langkhat ama kawng ah akhih hi. Huchi in a gintakna mun ahon tou a, taklam a suangpi lian a dawk hiaihiai a, himahleh sawtpi atoh nung in leng kohawm ding himhim a om chikei hi. Tawp ding lah hi sadeuhlou in tounawn ding a atu liiktou a aom laitak in sakhi ahong hawk ek nawn a, kiguih naaklua ahihmanin a tupna leng toukhakei hi. Himahleh atupi a tumpok a, leihawm khat tuh toukha ahi peuhmah chih athei hi. Tua athohna ma ahon keeklian a, kohawm ana hi ngut a, himahleh luuttheihna ding in toh ek angailai ding hi. Sawtpi akeek nung in khukdin a luutzohna ding ahon khuatkhia a, diip kisai litlit leh chiliingsim pepelh in a om a, a torchlight de in a luut hi.

Kohawm liantak ana hi a, salhveel leh suangpeek khat ana om a, tua suangpeek tung a thil kikoih liipliap amu hi. Ling pepep kawm in anaihphei a, ana puang khilkhil geuh ua, amun atun in athil zonzonte ahi chih atheipah a, kintak a limlaakna lakhia in lim ala a, huaizoh in khoih ding in a kisa a, banghiam hong chihleh chi in taina ding bang hoihtak in a en masa hi. Taklam ah asiallum a om a, veilampang ah ah a heipi a om a, alai ah umta a om hi. Awl in heipi ala a, bang hong chi hiam chi’n adawi keikoi a, bangmah bel ahong omzenkei hi. Huchituk a sawt kikoih hinapi in atui-ek hetkei a, angam ngimngem hi. Aveel zoh in umta ala a, a kawlzal ah aguang a, siallum la in pawt ding in a kisa hi.

Kohawm a avan teng koihpawtkhin amah hong pawt dia akisak laitak in khutbet ging aza a, adakkhiat leh thautawi mi nga ma ah ana ding uhi. ‘Na hihhoih e. Sawtpi ka na zon nang no’n muhsak a. Tu’n pautam hetlou in umta hon pia inla, huai heipite zaw na muhman a kipahman a ko’n piak hiheh’ chi in amakaipa un nui nunulh in agen a, ahong pawt khit in a kawlzal adapsak ua, umta ala uhi. ‘Hanship na hong tun apan ka honna etzui ahi. Ka thilzon baihlamtak in na hon muhsak ding chih ka thei a,’ chi’n a sunzom a, huailaitak in sakhi ahong hawm nawn a, ‘tua sakhi Ngambawm’ dawi-um lopna dia I meh ding uh ahi,’ achi hi. Himahleh tua genkhinphet husa ahong om honhon a, bang hihiam chi a adaklai un luikhou a suangte hong tolhkhe sosouh ua, thakhat in asaklam uapan tui lian ahong luangsuk a, luikhoulam adelh sung un tuilian in alap man a, tui in ataihsuk kawm in a kikou vomvom geuh uhi. Gouthang ahihleh luibang kiang a ding ahihmanin a heipi leh siallum kintak in ala a, akhuahual pansan in luibang ah ana kahman a, himahleh amah leng akalkhe mantuankei hi. Tui in akawng apan anualam teng atumman thouthou hi. Tui ahong daihtak in awl in akaltou a, hiai eive maw aphuisam chi in innlam ahon zuan hi. Nitak in athil muhte en ding in akhote uh ahong kheukhou ua, kuapeuh in akhoih ut chiat uhi.

Azingchiang in gari omom a pai ding chi in Guite lamlianpi lam manoh in ahong kipankhia hi. Sawtpi angak nung in go pua truck khat ahong pai a, ana kham leh akhawl zenzen a, akiguang a atuangta hi. Khupching leh Ngambawm toh va kithuah khinphet mah abang a, ahi heihuai zezen hi. Alungsim ah amaute ahong hiing tuan mahmah uhi. Huchia gari tung apan vandum kiikiai a et leh musi khat vanlaizawl a laam diaidiai a mu a,

Ching aw na laukha thangvan kimchiang ah
Melmuh ding in silmu’n hong leng e
Ching aw na laukha tang bang ka kholh ni’n
Tung sunni vai bang thamsawt hen aw  

chi in Lamka lam zuan in a mualkhum ta hi.