DOUGAL IN HONG HAL ZONG LEH...
- Paumuanlal Guite BaBs

KHEN KHATNA
“Kheih....kheih....kheih..... khosung mipi kuapeuh in ana ngai un, hausapute nupa a chinat man un a lou uh nungak-tangval in va khohsak ngai ding...” chi’n ka khua ua tang-au pa hong kikou a, kei leng mi huh a kuan chih khawng ka kithalawp lam ahihbanah tangval taktak hi naikei mahleng kho neuchik adi’n chu tangval bang a ngaih aom ka hihna toh a kuan ding in ka kisa hi. Ka vanken ding tuithawl, tu leh temta ka kawlzalpi a guang in mansa in ka om hi.

Ann nekhin neukha tawldam zek in khomual kingakkhawmna ding mun zuan in ka pai pah vengveng hi. A mun ka tun in kuamah ana om naikei ua, huchi’n kei leng lawmte ngakna kawm in singkung khat a kingai in nahteh ka na muut hiauhiau hi. Huchia ka tutlai in thakhat in ka nung hon kibeng a, lunglen china chia chi’n ka khua ua dia melhoih penpen Chingnu in hon nuihsan selsal hi. Chingnu dia gingta lou law mahmah ka hi ngei ding a ka kiguih zawzen. Ka dawn zokna ding le theilou in ka om heihoi a, ka chi bang a liing pian hial hi.

Chingnu bel melhoih, kamsiam banah khosung adia mi neizou pawltak ahihna ua kei houpih khak bat ding vual in ka na koihkei, himahleh a guk inbel ka zi dia ka na hawiguk gige ahi. Ka tanzoh kei leh leng a tangvalpa khatvei bek vuak thouthou ding chih khawng kana lunggel ahi. Himahleh tu leh tu a ngaihzawng nei ding hial in zaw a nu leh pate’n leng a phal uh ka gingta naikei, phal uh hita him leleng thaikawi tongdam luan ngam ding ka hi tuansam kei.

Lawmte le hong tungkimta ahihna utoh ka khosung upapa uh makaih in lou lam zuan in ka pai uhi. Ka ma geih a Chingnu paikha ahihman in lam paikawm in ka kihou thei zekzek ua, ka kawlzal a sengpuak sung a guang dia hon sawl ahihna ah nial ding inleng ka koih vetkei, kiguk neihsak thou mah i hihchiang in. Ka paikawm bang un midang in Chingnu a houpih khak ding bang uh kana guk ven bawlsim maive, tankhak ni sunsun ahihna toh. Huchia ka paipai sung un hausapa lou ka tung khong uhi.

Neukha tawldam in nasep ka kipan ua, Chingnu kiangkiang ah ka va pang hi. Aman leng honna ngaisim ahidiam hon samzel hi. Hoihsakpen toh pangkhawm na nana chu hat in ka hat mai a, gimna kichi koi aom ahia chi nuam phial dan kahi. Ka lak ua lawmte khenkhat ngial in Muanpu tuni na hatdan a dikkei peuh chi’n honna chiamnuih zel ua, kei bel ahiluate dan in ka om pheuphau hi.

Theihlouh kal in sun ann nek hun hong hi a, huchi’n lou kuanteng in sun ann ka puak chiat uh nedi’n ka kisa nainai uhi. Kei mehpuak zumhuai deuh ka sak ziak in Chingnu omlouhna lam ah ne di’n ka paikhia a, himahleh Chingnu in hon sam teitei ahihman in ama kiang ah ka va tutei hi. Aman a meh puak bang hon hawm a, limsa sim chu ka hi ngei dia ka ann puak bang ka deihkhop kei hial hi. Huchia ann nekhin saulou khawl in loukhoh kong kipan nawn ua, ka panna ngei chiat mah ua pang in lungsim nuamtak in ka khou hi.

Hat mahmah kahi ngei ding ua nitaklam nitum ma in ka khousiang zouvek uhi. Ka zoh un loutaw a luita khat om hiven huai ah kihahsiang kawm in ka khawl tawldam zek ua, ka man vek zoh un innlam zuan ding in ka kisa ngal uhi. Paipan i kisak leh khomual bang ka tungsuk pah mawk ua, amhuai kasa mahmah. Tukum hausapu in lou hong vatpihna nai kasa mahmah a hehtha lamlam a suak, himahleh eikia a loukuan chia zaw nai le kisa bel ahituan hetkei. Ut in utkei leng Chingnu toh kikhen phot maimah ngai, chikchia ka kizuikha nawn diuh de aw chih theihbut ahikei, a inn ua lah a hel a va kikuan ngam samlou ding ahihchiang a.

Inn ka tun phet in kei leng tuithei bangzah hiam seng a pua in khotaw a lui lam zuan in ka kuansuk ngal hi, ka pi kia toh khosa kahi ziak un. Ka pi lah upata inn a annhuan chih khong lou ahihzoh taktak om nawnlou ahihman in numei nna, pasal nna chih omlou in ka kopvek. Naupang chik ka hihlai in ka pa’n honna sihsan a, ka nu’n pasal dang ana neihziak a ka pi in hehpih a honna etkol touh ka hihman in ka pi tawldam tak a omsak leng ka tup ahi gige.

Bangmah loukal in khua hong mial a, kei leng kihahsiang in ka lawmhoih Haupute innlam zuan in ka pawtkhe tou hi. Haupute inn ka tun un ka lawmhoih mah Khamta leng ana om a, huchi’n Haupu sipanish (guitar) pawkhia in khokhung lam zuan in ka vaktou uhi. Nungak lah kihelngam taktak nailou ahihman in kholai a guitar tum a lasak chih khawng ka siam lamtak uh ahi. Khokhung a Chingnute innsak deuh a mawng kung liantak pou ahihman in a mawng kaa a tuang in Chingnu zak ding in zawlla ngaih pipi a sa in ka kikou thoh phial uhi. “Ana, ana e ka khankho hi, gellouh changtan ka ti zong in, ei phal theipoi ka hin ngailutna in...” chih khawng ngaihdeuh mai a sa in khavak toh lunglen puanbang a thak mahmah mai.

Zan bang sawt simta ahihman in kou leng innlam zuan in ka pai uhi. Inn ka tun in ka lumpah ngal a himahleh ka ihmu theikei. Chingnu toh ka loukhoh khawm khawng uh ka lungsim mitkha ah a mang theikei. Pasal thou ka kisak leh Chingnu in ka pumpi hon thuzoh dimdem mawk atave. Ngaih la ngai ngamlou, lah ngai law mahmah, om ding dan chu a hak khop mai. A tawptawp in khatvei himhim laithon pia awle, bang e pasal chi’n laithon gelh ding in ka kisa hi. Ka gelhzel a, hoihsa lou in ka botkek zel, a tawptawp in a hihi himai heh chi’n a nuai abang in ka gelhkhe khong hi.

Lunglai a thamden Chingnu,

Amasa in hiai ka thaikawi tongluan a khumlou zong in a tawptan bek honna simsak di’n k’on ngen hi.

Na siang a thaikawi tong hong luan di’n ka chingzou kei chih ka thei, himahleh na sakmel ka muhchiil apan ka lungsim tengteng na zelsuak hi. Nang tellou a hinkhua zat ding ka gel chiang in hinkhua kichi himhim a nopna ding omlou hi’n ka thei hi. Huaiziak in na hehpihna niampen bek hon tangsak a, kei adia tual hong niam a ka itna naubang hon sansak ding in k’on ngen hi Ching aw.

Na itna tang zoulou a, na hon pomsak theikei zong in lawmvual lai ah zeh in hon zumsak ken aw.

Nang a kinem,
Muanpu

Dakbawm a kawm a rose pak omte khat ka sum neih sunsun a lei in ka lawm Haupu in ana piak di’n a kiang ah kava koih hi. Haupu inleng poimoh ngaih mahmah ahingei ding a, a pe ding in a va kuanpah hi. Innsung a valut ngam samlou ahingei dia naupang khat va samkhe sak zual in a gate bul ua a laithon va pia a, Chingnu inleng kintak a sang in a angkawm a koihlut pah gaih hi.

Laithon piak nitak na nana chu kizephawk mah kabang gate pua ah leng ka pawtkhe ngamkei. Lupna tung ah bang achi de aw, hon dawng diam? Hon dawng kei diam? Hon dawng henla hilele ka ngetna hon pomsak lou bang hitaleh bang ka chi dia? chih khawng peuh ngaihtuah in zankhovak in khatvei mah leng ka mit ka si kei.

Zingkhua hong vak a, ka zing nasep ngeina teng sem in loukuan ding in ka kisakhe nawn hi. Loukuan ding a nasep puan teng toh ka kisak laitak in tang-au pa kikou ka za guih a, namkal buaina kipan ahihman in kuamah khosung apan pawtkhe lou ding chih thu ahihman in ka om a lem thei nawnkei. Ka kawlzal lakhe zok in kholai lam ah bangthu om hiam chih kan chiang ding in ka kuankhe ngal. Lamka lam ah unau melhaih ziak in inn kihalsak, khua kiluh kipan ahihman in khosung vengbit di’n pasal peuhmah kho nawlteng ah pang ding chih ka va za a, keileng inn a kik in ka galvan neihsun saili/sing gawphel leh temta toh ka diangkhe nawn pah hi.

Asun-azan chih omlou in khonawl a tangpang a omden ka hihman un ka gim thei mahmah ua, theihlouh kal bang in ka ihmu khasek uhi. Galte hong lut hi himhim le uh leng a dalzou ding ka hikei uh, tupi thau nei mi 5 omlel kahihna ua. Huchih lai in nam sepaihte mi 5 khua ah hong hoh ua, ZNV a pang ding in hon zawn ahihman un gam leh nam adi’n awle chi in ka it mahmah Chingnu laithon dawnna leng ngak manlou in singnuai-gamnuai a hei ding in ka lawmhoih Haupu leh Khamta toh ka kuankhia uhi.

Buaina inlah venlam manoh ta dih lou phot, kou lah training nasatak nei in gamkawm ah ka khosa ua, gilvah a lah ann honpe ngeilou ahihman un haksa chihlouh gen ding a vang mahmah. Kha 4 sung haksatna tampi ka tuah nung un training ka zou ua, galvan hoihtak leng kinei nailou ahihman in single barrel khat mi 2 ka kikop zou hamham uhi. Innlam thu lah bangmah kitheilou, melmuhlouh tongsan (radio) chihlouh lah thuzak ding omlou, i zak sunte leng thu kipahhuai himhim omlou, lungkham huai mahmah.

Nitaklam khat whistle hong ging a, ka camp ua kindeuh in ka kiline ua, ka sappa un tunitak vai kinei ahi a, kuapeuh kisasa in omchiat ni chi’n thu hon pia hi. Kou leng sappa gen bang in minute 5 sung in ka man diam ua, khua luh ding, paina ding lampi, kisuktuahna ding chihte hoihtak a genfel in nitak dak 6:20 geih in ka kipankhia uhi. Ka khua luhna ding uh dakkal 3 val ka painung un a khomual uh ka tung ua, a panmun teng uh theisa ka hihman un a hih ding dan bangkim feltak a hih in khokhung lam leh khotaw lam a kikhen in ka beisuk uhi.

Amau leng a khauh mahmah ua, beihpi a beih a ngai hi. Thauging lah khawllou, himahleh vualzou zaw deuh ka hi ding ua inn bangzah hiam hong kuang pah liahliah hi. Kikaplup, inn kihalsak chih khawng thuhoih ahi hetkei na a huai nitak chiah inchu kipak in khut ka beng maive ua. Paina lamlam ah siluang toh si dek a thum huthut toh a nop vak kei. Himahleh vangsiat huaitak in ka veilam baan hon kapkhak sak ua, sisan in ka dim. Damdawi abang lah omlou ahihman in ka dial in ka gak a, gum thuak ahitop mai.

Liamkha ka hihziak in ka camp ua ka tawldam a, a lehlam a anop mahmah vanglak. Nek toh lup kia ahimai a saapte sang inle ka saap zaw zek. Huchih lai in ka lawm Haupu nikhat ka room ah hong lut a, ka khua uh kiluh, a nu leh pa banah ka pi bang leng sikha ahihthu hong hilh a, ka pawna mahmah uh. Pasal toupi kaplou ding ka chi ua himahleh ka khitui uh bel a luang zungzung. Chingnu bang ana chikha de aw chih ka thei ut mahmah, himahleh huai kanna ding kuamah aom tuankei. Hehna ngen in hon tuamta, phuba lak ut in lungsim a sou vutvut mai.

Kha khat zoh in ka damsiang thei vanglak a ngeina bang in gam ka kuankhe thei nawn hi. Thanlon, Dialkhai, Guite kual kho tuamtuam ah ka kawipai ua gimhuai thei mahmah. A mi kidaih zou nailou ahihman in gamteng kawmtuah angai, kho luh a i kuanlouh ni inleng a luhte nungthuap ding a kuan a ngaih hun a tamzaw. Hiai hun khawng chiah inzaw gimhuai mahmah napi in eimi khua khatpeuh ah ngaihnatna kitang mahmah, nungak utut ngai lengle kitangzou vek leh a kilawm hial. Himahleh gilkial-haksat toh khosung a mi ganta utut kaplut khak hun inchu bangmah hon gen ngamkei mahle uh aguk a mi hamsiat chu kidong tam veve inteh.

Kum khat bang hong pailiamta a, buaina inleng ven lam hon manoh in kilemna bang hong om theita hi. Nikhat ka sappa un a utteng omsuak theih, a utloute innlam ah paikik theih hon chi chu a kipak a nui vevu toh, om dingdan theilou toh ka om vengvung uh. Kou lawmta teng ahihleh kholam pai ding chih ale khua kihaltum, innkuante si vek, lamet ding om tuan nawnlou ahihman in omsuak mai ding hia, ahihkeileh Lamka lam a pai a nektak zon ding dan lampi gel ding hiam chi in ka buai mahmah uh.

A tawp in Haupu toh Khamta toh ka thum un Lamka ah paisuk himhim ding chi in ka kisakhia uhi. Ka bahara ding khop uh banah zattawm ding tamlou chiat sappa’n hon pia ahihman in huai zang in ka pai ua, Lamka damtak in ka tung uhi. Lamka ka muh patna uleng ahi a, thupi bang kasa mahmah uh. Singtang dawn a inn 30 khong kan kimu kha vaklou ahihman in. Kou leng gim toh kingaihsiat toh chi in zu zuakna bang kan masa zawzen in zu dawn di’n ka kizuilut pah uhi. Khamsim chiat ka hi ding ua bangmah phawklou in nuam kasa mahmah uh. Khomial kuan in dawr neite’n dakchiam gingta chi’n hon nohkhia ua, kouleng giah theihna ding hotel ka zongpah ua, hotel ah zan khat ka giak uhi.

A zing in Haupu pute New Lamka aom ahi chih thei ka hihman un ka va zongkhia ua, huai ah ka zin tung phot uhi. A pu in kilohna ding khong hon zonsak pah a, huchi’n nikhat om awl man hamham in kiloh in ka kuan nainai uhi. Kilohna ah sum muhoih thou mahle ung nitaklam man a a kimkhat bang beisak pahpah ka hihman un ka pu uh tai chu ka tuak tam viau mai uh. Hon nohkhiat ding lah hehpihhuai honsa, hon omsak det ding lah buaihuai honsa, ka va subuai zou khopmai uh.

Huchih lai in Army kila ding chih thu ka zakha ua, kou leng huai a tel di chi in naktak in ka kisakhol pah uhi. 14th December 1998 zingkal hong hi a, kou leng sepaih kilakna lam zuan in ka kuanpah uhi. Sawtlou ka ngak nung un honna taisak pah ua, ka thum un ka va taiching uhi. Taiching nung inleng highjump, longjump leh a dangdang hon hihsak ua, training zousa na nana inchu haksa ka savak kei uh. Ka thum un sepaih ching ka hi maimah uh. Kal khat zoh chiang a sepaih kuan ding a kihitamai ve. Ka pu un hon kipahpih mahmah napi in a lungkham mahmah zel, denchia zu hai khong a ka va sih gaih khak ding uh ana laulua dan ahi.

Kumte hong pailiam zel a, kum 2 bang sepaih ka panzoh nung un ka lawmta un innmun khat chiat bang New Lamka ah ka leizou ua, teen theihna ding tan inleng ka bawlzou vek uhi. Vengsung kivaipuakna YPA leh a dangdang ah a poimoh bangteng ka hihfel pah ua, veng mi leh sa hihna ka neipah uhi.

Suty zang a innlam omlai nikhat ka veng ua misi hong om a, kou leng lawmte toh haan khatvei va kuan himhim ni uh chi in ka va hoh uhi. Gintak sang in mi ana phatuamngai thei mahmah ua, haan hoh a tam mahmah. Haan khuksung a lut in khatvei khong toupan i kisak chiang in hon kaikhe pahpah ua kigim man mahmah lou. Phatuamngaihna hichizah a nei nam a ka omkhak hampha ka kisa a, kisaktheih huai mahmah e.

Haan toute ading nungakte’n singpi hong hawm ua, a mel uh ka na ban et daudau leh khat ka muh in hoih ka sa mahmah a, ka mit mun dang ah a taikhe thei nawnkei. Meltheihsa lah bang ahi alah thei tuanlou. Kua ade aw chia va kan mawk di lah khatvei haan hoh sunsun nungak va buaipih ngal kilawmlou deuh hiau. Lung chu buai mahmah, hiai nu bangchi leh ka tangzou dia chih ngaihtuahna ah dim nawn, Chingnu bang ka phawkkhe thak vungvung mai.

Huchih lai in huai nungaknu’n nui selsal kawm in nou inn koilak e, kimu ngeikei na uchia chi’n hon houpih a, kenleng ka inn uh hilh in inn aom khollou ka hihdan uh ka gen nawn hi. Na min bang a chia kan ut law mahmah napi denchia halh honsa law pepop inteh chih lungsim toh ka kan kei mai, himahleh thei ut kisa in ka phe velvul hi. A tawptawp in ka kiang aom khat kia hiai nu ka theihngei bang e, amin bang a chin ka kan a, Chingnu khong houh ade aw ka chih leh Mercy ahi, YPA Miss nu ahihdan leh a feldan bangkim a gen a, a zak nop mahmah. Ngaihzawng a nei hia chih behlap dia chu hoih mahmah napi kibehlap ut nai tadih lou.

Haan touzou innlam ka pai ua, lampi ah lawmte toh Mercy tungtang ka houlim khop ua, Chingnu toh kibang kasa thei mahmah uhi. Hun lem khat a inn ua va hoh a va houlimpih ding chih ka sawm uhi. Lungsim sia le ahimai diam misi bang omom leh chihsim maimah in aom ve. Huchilou alah muh na ding lampi om tadih lou ahih maimah chiang a.

Huchia lungbuai tak a omlai in nikhat sidak hon ging taktak chu mi dah aom vengvung ei ana kigukpah heuhuau a om mawk aka. Haan hoh din ka kisapah ua, hiai ni chu hanmual gate hongtu bang in ka va pang hialve ua. Sawtlou ka om nung un mi hunkhop hong kuan ua, haan toh ka panpah uhi. Lamet banglou takin Mercy mel muh di’n hon kilang ngei hetkei a a hehhuai sim velvul. Haan ka zoh tan un leng a mel muh in aom kei, bangchi ade aw, pasal houh ana nei hia chih khong lungsim ah hon lang duanduan mai.

Misi vuiding in haan ah hong paipih ta ua, siluang zuite lak ka na etet leh lamet hetlouh in Mercy ka galmuh cheuh a, lungsim bang zaang huai zawzen e. Paichia houpih khak teitei ding himai chih ka tup a hiphot. Ka tup bang geih in sivui zoh in Mercy munkhat ah amah kia ana ding ahihman in a kianglam ka va zuan a, ka tuntak in “Mercy, na tanaute uhia haan lam ah non hoh hetkei a?” ka chihleh aman leng ka pi ahi chi’n hon dawng a, nitak hong lengkhawm teitei un aw hon chih behlap a, keile thumu ka kisa mahmah, nitak hih ding kal ngaklah tak in ka ngak hiuhiau hi.

KHEN NIHNA
Sunkhua bang sawt kasa mahmah a, nidang teng sang inleng ni sawt kasa zaw. Kilawpsim hinapi ngaihtuahna khat om dedu a ka om nilouh nung sawtlou in khua hong mial a, keileng lawm tegel tawn in lenkhawmna innlam zuan di’n ka kisa ngal hi. Sawtlou nung in lenkhawmna mun ka tungpah ua, gintak sang in mi ana tam nai hetkei, va tungbaih lawkha leklak lechu ka hi ngei ding uh. Mercy ka galmuh pah a, aman leng a tutna apan honna nuihsan pah selsal chu omdan a nuamtel mai. Numeite nuihmai lel inleng pasal toupi khat hindan khekzou hi maimah sim ve aw.

Sawtlou nung in nungak-tangval innsung-innpua hong dimpah a, lenkhawm a nop mahmah. Damsung a hiaibang a nuam lenkhawmna ka tuah patna leng ahi di. Himahleh theihlouh kal in Val Upapa’n hunchiam bei ahihdan gen in lenkhawm hon khakpih hi. Va tut nilouh lai bang uthuai sim lah inntek hihial lou I hih chiang in chi’n ka paisan mai uhi. Innkong ka pawt un Mercy in chibai honna buk a, ka bilbuk ah zingchiang lenkhawm tawpni ding ahi, hon lengkhawm nawn teitei in aw umuan hon chi cheuh hi. A zak anuam, zankhovak in I lengkhawm di chileleng kingap maimah sim dan eive.

Inn ka tun in lupna ka bawlpah a, ka lumngal hi. Himahleh Mercy gu in hon zenzou mahmah ahidia ka ngaihtuah khop, ihmu thei ding vual ka hikei. Huchi’n window hong in khavak lunglen huaitak mai enkawm in ka Walkman ka lakhia a, Muana Ngaihte laa “Solkha tang aw, solkha tang lenmual khumta in, vangngaih ka sial lenpuan bang thak e...” chi’n lungzuan ka khikhia hi. Khavak enkawm a laa ngaingai lai ihmusuak kha chu ka hi peuhmah dia, vasa haam chiakchiak, ak khuang ngelngelte’n hon phawng guih a, kei leng thoukhia in ka kihahsiang pah fitfit hi.

Kei kia a inn a khosa ka hihman in inn nna teng ka sem nawnpah a, ka man in lawmte inn ah ka va zing pawt hi. Ka mit khong san nelnul ahingei ding a Khamta in Mercy ngai a kap houh nahi hia chi’n honna chiamnuih heihai zomah hi. Mokmok nungak ngai in kap viallou e ka chihkhum sam hi, himahleh a kikap simsim lezaw hive aw I utkei lawna a.

Sun hun bangmah lou in ka zangbei nawn a, nitaklam ann nekhin lengkhawm di’n ka kisa nawnpah hi. Mercy in bangziak a kei hon zot khelkhel ade aw chih peuh ngaihtuah in hon ngaisim hidi peuh in ka koih a, a hoihlam chu ka kipe mahmah. Kipiak louh theihvual inle ka ngaikei mi a za asim laka kei lengkhawm dia deihtuam a zot ka hih mawk chiang in. Ka mansiang zoh un lawm tegel mah toh lenkhawmna inn ka zuan nawn ua, zannitak banglou deuh in khuangpu line bel ka va tang nawnhial sam kei uh. Mi lengkhawm, lasa a mitsi diaudiau zen a aom lai un kou lawmta bel halh sim deuh le ka hi ding uam nungak teng ban etna hun in kana zang uhi.

Lenkhawm tawp in kou lam pang a tuteng a pai nunung ding ka hikha ua, miteng paizoh in kou leng ka pai namnam sam uhi. Innkong ah inntekte chibai buuk in ana kivual dendan ua, kou leng ka ban chibai uhi. A tawpna pen ah Mercy ana ding a, “Umuan, non lengkhawm ua ka kipaklua” chih toh lai khat honna pezauh a, kei leng nui themtham kawm in ka sakhau a ka guanglut zat a, ka paisan pah ngal uhi. Inn tun in lawmte’n leng honna mugu ahihman un na laisim phot di chi’n hon noh hehu ua, guksim theih ding vual hilou ahihman in ken leng bangtak e chi’n ka lakhia a, ka simkhawm nainai uhi.

Deih a chibang ka tel Umuan,

Amasa in hiai ka thaikawi honna simsuak sak di’n kon ngen masa ahi.

I gam ah dougal hong laang vang in na thaikawi tongluan hon thukkik theilou in kum 5 bang ka na om a, na ngaihsiamna k’on ngen masa ahi.

Anbang itna simthu tong na hong leelte ken leng naubang kana sang hi. Himahleh ka pom simthu hong leel thei ding in na sakmel a kum a sim ka na mukei a na kasa mahmah. Ahizong in tu in na mel ka mu ta a, ka kipak mahmah hi. Himahleh ken ka hon theihchiang bang a ka sakmel na hon theihtup nawnlouh un ka sinlai a na sak mahmah.

Tu in zaw singdang siang ana zuan leng na hita maithei, himahleh ken zaw nang apan thu bangmah ka zakma singdang siang hon belhsan lou dia tong ka na chiam pel nailou kahi chih ana thei in aw umuan.

I kal simthu ah nin leh siang hon khen ding in ka hon ngen thakthak hi.

Nang a kinem,
Mercy (Chingnu)

Ka simzoh un ka ki-entuah luakluak zawzen uh. Kholui lamlam bang ka phawk ua, khatvei Mercy va muh a hun paisa va sutpih ding ka lunggulh mahmah. A laithon apan kei adia ana ginom mahmah ahihdan ka muh in kipakselua khasiat lamlam bang a suak hi. Hichituk a chitak, ginom nungak chu YPA Miss chingtak mah eive chihsim in aom.

A laithon thukkik pah hoih ahihdan lawmte’n hon genpih ziak un leh kei mahmah inleng lunggulh ka hihman in lawmte toh a thukna ding lai gelhpah ka sawm uhi. Kou lawmta lak ah Khamta laithon gelh siamdiak ahihman in amah chih dandan in ka gelh uhi.

Itpen Mercy Chingnu,

Kinep phak nawnlouh nung a na tongdam nem zak nuam hina maizen e. Nang bang a numei chitak leh ginom mihing om ding in leng kana koih kei. Na tung a kipak chihlouh gen ding ka theikei.

Na kiang a ka itna thu lai a k’on gelh nung numei dang kuamah kiang ah ka na gelhkha nawnkei a, ngaih leng tunitan ka na neikha naikei hi. Nang kei adia nana ginom zahzah a kei leng ana ginom kahi chih honna theihpih di’n ka hon ngen ahi.

Na gen bang in kon muh tung uapan Chingnu hingei di’n kon muangmoh ua, himahleh Mercy hon chih chiang un midang dan in ka na ngaikha ua hizaw ahi Ching. Hon ngaidam in aw.

Tuapan nang a athak in ka hi gige ta ding a, nang leng kei adi’n khuambang ana kip gige lai in aw.

Nang hon it,
Muanpu

Ka gelhzoh un zan dak 12 bang ana pelta ahihman in kuamah a pai omse lou in ka giakkhawm ua, zingkal baihtak a ka lak ua gum deuhpen Haupu in a va piak ding in ka kihoulem uhi. Huchi’n lungnuam tak in ihmu di’n ka kisa uhi. Lawmte hon nak puak pah doldol ua, kei bel Chingnu ngai in zankhua in huibang ka mauden. Zing khovak tan inleng ka ihmu thei zawzen kei hi.

Zing baihtak in Haupu leng Chingnu tuitawi na mun a va pe ding chi’n a kuankhe pah hi. Kou leng Khamta toh hong kik di ngak in ka na om uhi. Sawtlou nung in kinoh hehu in hon tung a, bangchi a mahmah de aw chia ka kan uale a sakhau vang pen a pawkha a lampi a ke mangsak, va zon thak ngai ding chi’n hon gen hi. Kou leng poisa kawm takin ka vek un a zong di’n ka va kuankhia pah uhi.

Lampi ah Chingnu heh mel deuh in hong pai a, “Umuan, nou bang a hon mu zawzen e, zum theilou honsa tuan umaw?” chi’n heh kisa in san zawzen hi. A bangchi a mahmah de aw ka chih uale ka laithon khak uh a kiatsakna a tangval nou kiphasak hon in ana mukha ahingei ding ua Notice board a ana kitak velval hi. Heh lah suak mahmah lah nuihza sim hemhum in ka om uhi. Haupu lah kisuanglah in om tettet zawzen a, huchi’n kenleng Chingnu kiang a athu omdan hoihtak a ka gen leh hon theisiam thei vanglak hi.

Huchi’n kou leng inn chiat ah ka paikik ua, nitak Chingnu kiang a hoh ding in ka thukim uhi. Sun in inn sung a siatna nengneng khong bawl in ka buai mahmah a, tawlkhawl kawm a bench a ka lup leh ka ihmu suak kha hi. Mang lamdangtak ka nei a, ka mang in Chingnu a nu leh pa’n ka kiang apan kaikhia in pasal khat kiang ah a sawlsawm uhi. Amah lah ut mahmah lou in kap in a kap hi. Lamdang kasa mahmah a, ka nguai zou dimdem hi.

Theihlouh kal in khua hong mial nawnzel a, kei leng nguaisim kawm in lawmte ka va tawn a, huchi’n Chingnute innlam zuan in ka pai uhi. A inn uh ka tun un a nu leh pa (a nu leh pa taktak gal a si, tuate’n a ta ding ua alak dan uh ahi) toh tangval thausim khat ana om uhi. A nu’n ka omdan khong uleh ka khosak dan khong uh hon kan a, kou leng hoihtak in ka hilh uhi. Chingnu kia ana om henla hoihtak in kihoupih theile chih ka ut mahmah aziak ahihleh zingchiang a ka sepaih panna lam ua ka kuan nawn uh hun ding ahihtak man in.

Chingnu ahihleh ka tung ua a siam mahmah a, kou ngen hon houpih sim hi. Himahleh huai in a lengla khatpa leh a nu suheh sim mahmah ahi chih a mit hah uapan ka haih hetkei. Ka sun zalmang dik taktak eide aw chih khong ka ngaihtuah dedu hi. Zingchiang in kipaisan leh ka omlouh kal khawng in a lengla pa toh ana kingai maimah ding uh chih khawng ngaihtuah in ka lungsim a buai mahmah hi. Huchia ka omlai in a nu un lawmte na lawm uh Mercy inleng pasal nei hak nawnlou ding eive hon chi chu etna ding a vang mahmah. A kiang a ompa bang lah kipak in ana nui heuhau a, huai in ka hatang a thaksak mahmah vilvel hi.

A tawp in ken leng lawmte kia pai phot maini ule chi’n ka dinpih hi. Chingnu in gate tan hon kha a, “Umuan,....” hon chipan ken leng “Hichia muangsa in bangziak a ginom dandan a lai hon khak a hon khemse e?” chih toh gate khakbuk ka thuah a, hon dawnna ngak man nawnlou in ka paisan uhi. Inn ka tun in lupna le bawlse lou in ka lumsuk dolh a, bang ngaihtuah ka hia chih ding le ka theibun nawnkei. Chingnu...chingnu chihlouh gen theih ka neikei. Ka ngai law mahmah, neulai hunzat dan bang, hausapu lou a ka kuankhawm lai khong uh mitkha ah hong lang dundun. Na nu leh pa damlai hilezaw hichi hiallou ding hia maw ka chi vungvung mai hi.

Tunitak chiah inzaw ka pasal na abei, ka mittui a luang zungzung. Simthu leel leng na vangngaihna simthu, maimit si’ng leng maimit laukha’n lang e, sambang zalleng zalmang in meel mu’ng e, zaila awi leng na vangngaihna zaila hi ei Ching. Kimangngilh sak thei hile’ng ut hina ing e, gellou ding ka chih chia’n lah lungsim ah lang semsem. Hiai bang a hun haksa a din zaw haksa hina lawmlawm e...

Ka zanhak dimdem a, khua hong vaak tak in ka bag ah ka van poimoh teng guang mengmeng in ka omna Kargil tang lam zuan ding in ka kisakhe nawnta hi. Lawmte’n nguai honsa mahmah ua, himahleh hon theisiam mahmah uhi. Shillong a ki-report masa ding ka hihman un Blue Hill ah ka tuang uhi. Ka gari uh pai ding in hong kisata a, kei leng window a ka dakkhiat leh a gal khat ah Chingnu mittui nuul kawm a ding ka galmuh hi. Va pai a va tawp tonton bang a uthuai, himahleh midang zi ding ka khoihkha ut nawnkei. Ahihhang in ka lungtang zaw hon sunkha mahmah veve.

A kal a sim bang ka pai nung un Kashmir ka tung thei khongkhong uhi. Ihmu lah ki-ihmu gina ngeilou, ann lah kine zoulou ahihman in ka taksa a kiam mahmah. A lehlam ah Chingnu ngei leng ka va hoh nung uh a nu’n ana gelgawt mahmah a, koimah leng pawtkhe saklou in a inn ua khumbuchilh hi. A deihsakpa uh Lianpu chihlouh himhim pasal toh kimuh ding leng a phalkei. Huai in Chingnu khase sak mahmah a, kei hon ngaihna toh a kahkahna toh a taksa leng nidang bang in a hoihzou nawnkei hi.

Ka duty na mun uh mun lauhuai mahmah, Pakistan lamte’n hon kapkap sek ahihna ua kigalgingsa aom angai gige hi. Nitaklam khat radio a Paite programme ngai in ka om a, la tualleng telni ana hikha geih a, ka ngaih leh Lamka aom Chingnu in Kashmir aom a UMuanpu ngaih dia ateel chi’n S. Chingnu in asak “Gam khuva bang a leng thei hileng, lengnuam veng selung hel in...” chih ka za a, lungsim hon thaksak tuan mahmah. Chingnu ka ngaihna uang diakdiak a bang hial hi. Chingnu inzaw hon ngai taktak mah hive aw, a omnate’n huai mi thau keikui Lianpu a deihsak ziak lel uh hidi hia, hehpihhuai na e ka Chingnu ka chi vungvung hi.

Huchia Radio a laa ngai a ka om laitak in thakhat in thau hong ging a, ka etleh ka khut ah sisan ana dim hi. Lawmte’n kindeuh in hon zawngkhia ua, gari khat ah hon pawkhe ngal uhi. Kei leh kei nasan bangchi ka hia chih ka kithei kei. Namkal buailai a ka thuakdan mah a thuakkha kana hi maimah zel hi. Army hospital ah hon pawlut ua, ka khut khong hon tuamsak lelu uhi. Leitung lungngaihna gam a omom sang in a si himai leng hoih di hia maw. Nu leh pa taan nung a hon enkol ka pi taan, huaitan aleng beilou a ka itpen Chingnu ka taan laitel zaw na kasa mahmah. Ka khut liamna sang in Chingnu ka ngaihna na kasa zaw.

A kha a sim bang hospital ah ka lum a, a chimhuai thei khopmai. Radio loungal lah kihehnepna ding dang bangmah omlou. Asun-azan Chingnu ngaihtuahna in hun ka zangbei hi. Kha thum lam bang ka lupnung in nikhat dak hawmpa hong pai a, “Muanpu, na laikhak ding om” chih toh piak hon thuah hi. Chingnu apan hingei ding in kinepna ka neipah hi. Hong ngam pah zawzen lou in ka lukham nuai ah ka koihlut hi. Nitak khua hong mial in ka lawm tegel leng duty zou ahihman un ka kiang ah hong hoh ua, huai in ken leng ka laithon muh lawmte kia ka pia a bangthu ahia hon sim un ka chi hi. Lawmte’n leng kithalawp tak in hong pah ua, himahleh a mit hah uapan kipahhuai hetlou thu ahi chih ka theingal mai. Lianpu leh Chingnu kitenna ding a chialna ana hi maimah.

Ka lungsim natna a lian semsem hi. A lehlam ah lah Chingnu hichibang a chiampel hial dia aom ka gingta theikei. Ka mittui hon luangkhe keuhkeuh a, ka ang a kawtzou hial hi. Lawm tegel inleng hehnep ding dan hon thei tuankei ua hon kahpih top mai uh. Hiai hun chiah inzaw ka lawmte un ka kapkhawm ua, vaite bang in lamdang honsa thei mahmah uh.

A tawp in ken leng lawmte kiang ah a kiten ding uh December hiven enleng Krismas zat kawm in suty I la ding ua hoihtak in I va uap ding uh ka chi a, lawmte’n leng hoihsa ahingei ding ua ka kithukim pah uhi. Ahitak in keizaw Chingnu pasal dang toh dohtam tunga a dinkhawm uh en ngam ding vual ka hikei. Hiai tan tungta ahihngal uale ken leng Chingnu ka lungsim apan ka paihkhiat hun hita lou hiam ka chih chiang in ka itna lian dedeuh hile kilawm in a kilang a, ka ngaihtuah sawm louh zahzah in ka ngaihtuahna teng a lamang veve hi.

Hun leh nite hong pailiam zel a, December kha hong tung petmah ta hi. Kou leng December ni 4 a pai dia ka kinget uh phalsak aom ka hihman un ticket ka lapah ua, ka van puak ding uleh a poimoh bangkim saifelsa in ka koihdiam uhi.

KHEN THUMNA
Innlam pai theih ding ni hong tung petmah ta a, kithalawpna leh kithalawp hetlouhna toh lungsim kisualtuah kawm in ka camp uapan station lam zuan in ka paikhia uhi. Lamdung teng ah Chingnu lou ka lungsim ah bangmah dang a lut thei mahmah kei. A pasal neihna uap dia kuan hinapi uap ngam taktak na ding ka diam? chihpeuh ka kidong toutou hi.

Ni bangzah hiam ka painung un Lamka ka tung khong uhi. A khua inleng honna thuakpih hiam chih ding khop in nisa muh ding in a kilang kei, vanpi vom gemgum in khua a nopchi hetkei hi. Kou leng ka inn ua pai in neukha ka tawldam uhi. Ka ngaihtuahna a paisau mahmah, Chingnute inn a lah va hoh ngam ding vual hi nawnlou, lah amah mu lou a omzou ding vual ka hikei.

Ka tawldam zoh un kihahsiang in Chingnute innlam ah va vak himhim ding, lampi khong a melmuh a aom khak zenzen leh chi’n ka kisakhia uhi. Awl a ka paiphei uale Chingnute innkim khong ah mi a tamsim mahmah ua, pasal neidia kisakhol uh hita eive maw chi’n thanem tak in lawmte innlam ah ka kiikpih mai hi.

Theihlouh kal in khua hong mial a, Chingnu lah muhkhakna dan omlou ding chi’n inn ah om nilouh ka sawm mai hi. Ka Walkman ka lakhia a la aka ngai hi.
“Lunggimna aw lunggimna zanmial,
Nopna ni suaklou ding hita hiam?
Ka hinkhua aw gentheihna hinkhua,
Sanggah kei di’n sulkik lelta aw...” chih khawng ngai in mittui toh ka om nilouh hi.

Zan dak 8:30 vel in ka kong hon kikiu a, kua a mahmah de aw chia ka va hon leh Chingnu lawmhoih Mawite ana hi a, lamdang ka sa zawzen. Zan nungnung a nang bang hih dia hon hoh e ka na chipah a, aman leng hichi’n hon gen ngal hi.
“Ka lawm Chingnu a nute’n u Lianpu toh kitensak teitei sawm uh, amah lah ut mahmah lou, nang min kia gen dan. A huchih chia a nu’n niteng a vawden, ann leng nesak ginalou ahihziak in a gawng gawp a, koimah leng hohkhe lou in lupna ngak in aom den hi. Tua non tun lam uh theile kipaklaw mahmah ding ahi, himahleh a nun a inn uh na sik ding uh hon phal ka gingta kei, kei a lawmhoihpen leng ka muh ding phal nawnlou ahi” hon chi a, ka lungsim a kidang zawzen. Kenleng “Mawi ahihleh Chingnu inle a ngai a hilou di maw, amau a kiteng dek uh hilou maw, kitenna ding chialna lai hong khak ua huai uap dia suty hong ngen kahi uh” ka chihleh, “Mawkmawk, kiten di thu bangmah kuaman genkha kei, Chingnu utlou bikbek ahihman in” hon chihkhum nawn a, “Ahihleh a chialna lai uh kua hon khak hi di, Chingnu lou lah hon khak di omlou dia?” ka chi nawn a, aman leng “Huai zaw u Lianpu thu bawltawm ngen ahi” hon chih khum hi.

Bangmah leng ka gen theikei, Chingnu ka itna pung semsem. Ka hehpihna lian deuhdeuh, kei ziak a hichizah a haksatna ana thuak ahi chih ka ngaihtuah chia’n na kasa mahmah. Ka pasalna a bei, ka mittui in hon pumtuam hi. Chingnu thupina ka muchian semsem a, himahleh keilam ka ki-et chiang in bangmah ka hihlouh dan a langchian semsem. Chingnu in a nu leh pa taktak damlai a ngai mah ding chih bang ka mitkha ah a lang dundun hi. Bangteng hileh hon phal leh phallouh thutuam zingchiang a Chingnu kiang va phak a, etkol dia va nget ding chih ka thupuk hi.

Zingkhua hong vak a, ka zing nasep ding teng ka sem mengmeng hi. Ka man in ka lawmte kiang ka pha a, sunchia va dak himhim di’n ka va zawn a, amau leng lem honna sakpih pah ngal uhi. Zing annte nekhin in lawmte toh Chingnute inn a hoh ding in ka va kisakhia uhi. Sawtlou ka pai nung un a inn uh ka tung ua, car hoihpipi bang ana om ahihman in innsung lut ding ka zumsim mahmah uhi. Himahleh zum leh saili a si omlou pupate’n chi uh hiven chi’n a gate ka hong ua lut di’n ka kisa uhi.

Ka va lut uleh innsung a mi hunkhop ana om ua, kou leng kuaman hon sawlkei na ua ka va tu tei uhi. A lak ua Chingnu nu toh Lianpu tukhawm letlat ka mupah ua, honna en gelgawl ahihman un nuam ka sa hetkei. Himahleh hampha ka hi ding uh Pastor pa’n ana veh laitak a va lutkha ka hihman un bangmah hon genkhum ngam samkei uh. Huchi’n ken leng a nu kiang ah “Chingnu ka va en thei ding uam?” ka chihleh hon dawngpah kei a, huaikal in Pastor pa’n damlou veh dia kuan va en un, va en un honna chi a koule thumu kisa in ka lutpah uhi.

Chingnu lupna tung ah zoi tak mai a lum dildel, drip kikhai in ana om hi. Ka muh in ka khasiat hon suaklua a himahleh ka kidek hamham hi. Chingnu lu ka va khoih a, “Ching, hong hoh keive ua” ka chihleh a mit hong hak kuau in a mitsi suk nawn hi. Huchi kawm in Chingnu mit apan kham vuallouh mittui hong luang detdet chu et a haksa khopmai. Kei kia leng hilou in ka lawmte nasan leng kidek zoulou ahi ding ua mittui nullou ka omkei uh.

Huchia kihou lou, ki-entuah gialgial a ka omlai un common room apan “Muanpu, nou a bang zong a hong hoh e, kin a kin in paita un. Nou ziak a ka innsung uh buai, Lianpu nasan hihbuai dimdem nahi uh” chi’n a nu hong kikoukhe loiloi a, Chingnu in leng za ahingei dia ka khut hong len a, hon khahkhe utlou ahihman in ka paikhe ngamkei hi. Pastor pa ana pai naikei leh chih huai hina maizen e. Huchihlai in a nu hong lut petmah a, ka sam ah hong kai in Chingnu toh ka kiletna uh ka khah ua, common room ah hon kaipawt hi. Lianpu in hon en a, “Kei kong lut louh hampha mahmah chia, kin a kin in pai unla hon subuai nawnkei un, na hon sukbuai lai ngeingei ualeh na tal a thautang thun di kahi aw” chi’n hon vaulai a, kou leng pau ngaihna omlou chi’n ka lawmta un zum sasa in ka pawtkhia uhi.

Inn ka tun un lawmte toh leng a kihoumel omlou in bench khat chiat ah ka lum ua, ngaihtuahna sau a pai mahmah. Chingnu neukha bek hong halh henla kitaimang pih maileh bang achi dia chih khong ka ngaihtuah a, tua aom dan in omom leh dam zoulou ding ahihman in a lampi ding ka ngaihtuahtuah mai hi. Himahleh a lampi ding dan ka thei zoukei. Ka nih ua sihkhawm bang ka telzaw mai hi.

Ni bangzah hiam nung in Chingnu ngei leng hon muh nung halh deuhta ahihdan khong leh innkim khong a pawtkhe zouta ahihdan Mawite apan thu kana zazel a, huai in ka lungsim hon tawldamsak tuan mahmah hi. Himahleh sakmel kimuhtuahna ding lampi a haksa mahmah mai. Mawite kiang ah a lampi ding hon sialsak din ka ngen zel a, himahleh aman leng deihbang a kimuhpih theilou ahihna ah hun a haksa mahmah.

Lungzuan khongai a hun ka zattouh nung uh nikhat Mawite hong vak a, “UMuanpu, Chingnu in tusun hong hoh heh, ka nute u Lianpute tousa gohna a hohdek, ann nesa a hong pai ngal ding uh” chih hon hilh chu a zak a nuam petmah. Kei leng kisapah in Chingnute inn a hoh di’n mansa in ka om hi. Thu tampi kikuppih ut ka hihman in ka lawm tegel leng ka zawn sese kei a, kei kia a mu ding in ka kisa hi.

Sun hun hong hih in awl in Chingnute innlam zuan in ka pawtkhe phei hi. Kiphur deuh leng ahidia ka tungphei baih mahmah hi. Chingnu leng a gen bang ngei in amah kia ana om a, hon muh phet in bangmah le genlou in hon pumkawi a, a mit a khitui hon luang keuhkeuh a, kenleng awl in ka nulsiang sak a, huchi’n tutna tung a ka tukhawm tittet uhi.

Itna thu kikum in ka chim thei mahmah kei uhi. Haksatna ka tuahte uleh ka kingaihdan thute uh sut in nuamsa tak in ka om uhi. Chingnu in keilou pasal neih sawmlou ahih thute khong hon gen in ka lungsim a kipaksak mahmah a, ken leng dougal in hong hal nung a itna khukpi a kilutkha taktak pan ahihbang in ka itna omsa nungkik ding vual hi nawnlou ahihdan ka hilh a, amah leng kipaktak in aom hi. Hiai ni kan a ka nih ua kipaktak a ka khosak hun uh chikmah in ana omkha naikei a, chikmah chiang inleng ngilh in aom nawnkei ding hi.

Huchia nuamtak a ka omlai un thakhat in kong hon kihong a, ka et ualeh Lianpu leh Chingnu nu ana hi ua, etna ding mun leng ka theikei uh. A heh mahmah ua, Chingnu nu’n Chingnu sam a kaitou in tuanglai ah a sawnpuk a, singkhuah khat la in sat petmah in a sat hi. Keileng om theilou ka hihman in ka va kidoh a, huaiphet in Lianpu in uttak na hih ualeh chi’n kei leng a utzah tak in hong sat hi. Khophawklou aom ka hingei ding a, khua ka phawk in damdawi inn ah ka na lum a, ka lawm tegel in hong ompih uhi.

Ka halhphet in lawmte kiang ah Chingnu ka kan ngal a, amah a serious lua ahihbanah test tuamtuam ngai ding ahihman in Imphal lam ah pawsuk uh ahihdan hon hilh uhi. Ka pawna mahmah a, lah loh theih ka nei tuankei. Bangziak a hichitel a haksatna neu apan ana thuakkha ka tel de aw ka chi a, vangsia ka kisa mahmah hi.

Ni thum damdawi inn a ka omzoh nung in inn a tawldam ding in ka pawt uhi. Inn ka tun ni nitak un Chingnute inndongtate ngaihdam ngen di’n singpi khai in hong hoh uhi. Ken leng ngaidam lua ka hihdan leh ka neutung uapan Chingnu toh ka kithuahdan uleh anuam ahaksa a kikhen ngeilou ka hihdan uh hoihtak in ka na genkhum a, banah Chingnu a damsiang ma kei mahmah hon kolsak un, ka koldam dia azoh chiang in bangmah loh hetlou in inn ah ka hon kha ding chi’n ka ngen hi. Himahleh a thusapa un hiai tungtang zaw tu’n kon dawng theikei tunitak kon kihoukhawm ding ua zingkal in thu ka hon zasak ding achi a, huchi’n ka vek un kipaktak chiat in ka kikhen uhi.

Zingkhua hong vak tak in bangthu aom de aw chia lungngai kawmtak a ka omlai in Chingnu nu toh a thusapa uh hong pai ka galmuh geih a, a nu om ahihman in thu kipahhuai zak ka kilamen kei hi. Innsung ah hong lut ua, thusapa’n Muanpu na hon ngetna bang in neu apan lawmta leh a nuam ahak kitheipen na hihna utoh a damlouh sung na va etkol hon phalsak kahi uh hon chi a, kipahna in ka dim hi. Himahleh a kiang a tu Chingnu nu bel a kipahtuak lawmlawm kei chih a mit hah a alang chiang mahmah. Huaiteng a gen khit un hon pawtkhiat san uhi. Gate a tun un a nu hon lehkik a “Muanpu, a kol di kia nahi, a dam hunhun ka kiang a non khak ding, a pasal ding ka gen felsa uh ahi” chihteng gen toh pawtkhiatsan hon thuah nawn hi. Kenbel tangkha zoukei lengle a haksat, damlouh hun a koltu a ka pankhak hampha kisa in ka lung akim veve hi.

Chingnu kol thei dia phalsak ka hih toh kiton in kei leng ka kisapah a, Imphal lam a hohsuk ngal ka sawm hi. Kei kia a kuansuk mai ka sawm lai in ka lawm tegel in hon taisan utlou ahihna ua amau leng hon kisa ua huchi’n ka thum un RIMS zuan in bus ah ka tailiam vengveng uhi.

Dakkal 2 vel ka painung un a hospital ka va tung khongkhong uhi. Himahleh lianlaw mahmah ahihchiang in ka paina ding san uh leng theilou in ka buai mahmah uhi. Huchihlai in eimi nurse sem khat in hon mu a, buaisim hidia hon gingta ahingei dia ka hohna ding uh hon kan a, ka gen uale a man hon makaih in Chingnu room tan honkha hi.

Chingnu ka muhphet in a kiang ah ka va tupah a, himahleh houpih taktak theih in aom naikei. Ana ompih a ni kiang a thil omdan ka kan ua, kou paina san leng hilh in huchi’n amah innlam a va tawldam ding in ka sawlkhia uhi. Tangval thum in nungak khat ompih lamdang sa ahi ding uam ka kiim ua om meiteite bang in hon mu ut thei mahmah uhi. Himahleh koubel ka tup uh lohching bang a ngai in ka kipak mahmah veve uhi.

Kal nih bang ka ompihta ua, a zun, a ek hi’n bangteng hileh ka siaksak gige hi. Itlua, ngailua ka hihman in noplou sakna ding himhim leng ka neikei, Chingnu pauzou taktak naikei mahleh kisuanglah thei mahmah ahi chih a omdan apan ka thei mahmah a, a kisuanlah louh teitei na ding in ka omzel hi. Banah damdawi lei ngai hiam, ann lak a ngaih hun in ka lawm tegel a fel mahmah ua, amau tung a leng ka kipahna a lian semsem hi.

Chingnu leng awl in hong halhkhe hiaihiai ta a, kihoupih theih banah a lupna apan bangtan hiam bang a tuzou zelta hi. Hiai in kipahna liantak honpia a, amah ngei leng a kipak mahmah. Damlou gimtak a kikol himahle ung ki-ittak omkhawm ka hihman un nop kasa veve uhi. A kal in haksatna mun om mahleh a kal inzaw kipahna hong omzel sam hi. A lehlam ah sawt ki-enkol thouta ka hihman un ka sum neih teng a bei a, himahleh ka lawm tegel inleng ana neizek ahihman un amau atoh zang in lungmuang tak in ka omthei veve uhi.

Kha nih bang ka om nung un Chingnu leng hoihsiangta chih theih in omta a, kou leng ka suty uh bei ding hita ahihbanah Doctor inleng nikhat zoh chiang a pawtkhe theita ding hon chih man in kipahhuai mahmah bang napi lungngaihna in hon tuamzel hi. Zingchiang lah kipai ding hita ahihman in chi’n a nitak damdawi innkong ah Chingnu ka va vak halhpih a, mun thoveng khat a ka tutkhawm pih hi.

“Ching, na nu’n non pawtphet chiang ua inn a non khak ngal ding chi ahihman in nute thuman a nah lohpek ahihtoh kon kha suak ngal ding aw. Kha nih bang I duhthusam tak in I kikol thei a, kei adi’n kipahhuai petmah kasa hi. Himahleh na nute’n kei hon deihlou bilbel uh ahihman in khasiatna in na ngai kei dia, hon deihsakna bangbang un pai phot in aw” chihteng gen thei in ka khitui in hon buak a, ka pauzom thei nawnkei. Chingnu ngei leng a mittui toh a kidim a, a pau thei zawsam omlou in sawtkhop ka om uhi.

Awl in ka tung ah Chingnu hon kingai phei a, “Umuan, hon gusuak maive, nanglou a hinkhua zat ding zaw ka ngap mahmah kei, nang hon ngai nawnlou maw huai non chih” chih toh kah hon thuah nawn a, ken leng “Ching kon ngaihdan na thei mahmah, nanglou a hinkhua zat ding kenleng ka ngai ngamkei, himahleh nu leh pa toh kituak aom thupi ahihman in huai di’n I kisa zaw ding” ka chihkhum a, bangmah a gen nawnkei. Himahleh ka awm teng bang a kawt zou hial Chingnu mittui in.

Zan bang hon sawt gawpta ahihman in pai di’n ka zawn a, himahleh a ut tuankei. Ken leng a utlouhna a ka paipih teitei kei. Ka ki-itna thu bang uh ka sut ua, nu leh pa hal a haksatdan bang genkhawm in a kallak in ka kapkhawm zel ua, a kallak bang in ka nuizel uhi. Huchibang a hun nuam zang a ka omom kal un khua hong vak man a, zanhak suak dimdem ka himai uh. Khua hon vak hial inchu ka omna room lam uh ka zuan ua, ka gei ua omte bang in lamdang honsa thei mahmah uhi.

Kou leng ka vante uh bawl mengmeng in auto khat ka la ua, Lamka parking lam ka zuan uhi. Bus tampi ana om a huaite lak a apai masa pen ah ka tuang ua, Chingnu toh ka tukhawm ua, lawm tegel ka nung ua a tukhawm uhi. Lam tawntung in ka tung ah Chingnu hon kingai den a, kenleng ka kawi den mai hi. Gen ding haulua hizen napi in gen ding pen leng theilou in ka om maimah uhi. Theihlouh kal in Moirang ka tung ua, kei leng ka va kumkhia a Chingnu nek ding tuamtuam, singju leh a dangdang ka va leisak a, a bag ah hoihtak in ka guansak hi.

Bangtan hiam ka taitouh zoh nung un New Bazar ah bus parking ka tung uhi. Window a ka dakkhiat leh Lianpu leh Chingnu nu ka galmuh ngal a, ka lungsou a kipan nawn ngal hi. Bus apan leng kumkhe khin nailou in Chingnu nu honglut a, Chingnu khut a len in pawtkhiat pih pah a, Lianpu in a van na sang in Lianpu car ah tuang ua, kihou man a leng om nawnlou in hon tailiamsan vengveng uhi. Lungsim a na mahmah a, a gari bang densiat sak a uthuai zou top hi. Hih ding dan om nawn tuanlou ahihman in kou leng thazoi tak in innlam zuan in ka pai uhi.

Inn ka tun un ka kisilsiang pah a, huchi’n lupna tung ah tawldam kawm di’n ka lumsuk hi. Ka kingaihtuahtuah a atawp in nitak Chingnute inn a va hoh a, Lianpu kiang a piakkhiatna va neih a a zingnawn chia suty bei naikei deuh mahleh paikik ding ka lemgelta hi.

Nitak hong hih in keileng lawm tegel mah toh Chingnute inn ah ka va hoh ua, a nu leh pa banah Lianpu toh a thusapa uh ana om uhi. Chingnu nu’n hon muh phet in Muanpu nou bang hong hih dek e honna chipah gega a, keileng ka tutna apan dingtou in zingchia paita ding ka hihman in tunitak gen ut tamlou nei kahi chi’n ka gen hi.
“Chingnu toh ka neuchil uapan kithuah, nungak-tangval tung ka hih uapan kingai kahi uhi. Himahleh vangsiat huaitak in gal in hong khumkha a, I nam sepaih ding in ka va kuan ua, huai nung kimukha lou in ka omden uhi. Himahleh kimukei mahle ung tunitan kuamah chiampel ka om kei uhi.
Tagah belh ding neilou a Lamka a kon paisuk leh sepaih ka va chingkha a, huai nung in Chingnu toh kon kimukha nawn ua, ka itna masa uh taisan lou in ka kilenkha den nawn uhi.
Himahleh hal in ka omtou den ua, kimuh ding nasan leng na hon phalkei uhi. Chingnu kiang ah leng ka genta a, bangteng hileh nu leh pa thuman kan omlou ahihman in tuapan na nu leh pa hon deihsak bangbang in na om dia, kei hon lunghimoh ken. I dam ding ua kuamah kituambawl lou in anuam ahaksa a I pangkhawm tou ding uh. Tunitak apan ka hon subuai kei ding a, Lianpu in ngai taktak ahihleh amah khut ah ka pekhia a, duattak leh ittak a honna etkol sak ka ngen hi.”

Hiai teng genzoh toh kiton in lawmte ka paipih ngal hi. Chingnu nu’n singpi bek dawnphot un chi’n kikamsiam sak tak in hon sam a, himahleh hih ding poimoh dang nei chih paulap in ka paisan vengveng uhi. Koimah ah leng hoh tuanse lou in inn ah ka paisuak a, lupna tung ka kidenna ngal hi. Hiai nitak chu ama nitak bang in ihmutna ding hun ka neikei, ka mittui toh zankhua ka zang bei dimdem nawn hi.

Zingkhua hon vak tak in ka van teng pua in lawmte toh station lam ka zuan nawn ua, Lamka nusia in Shillong ka manoh nawn vengveng uhi. Shillong ah hun zangzek in a zoh ka headquarter lam ua ki-report ding in ka paisuak ua, ka omna mun tak uh nipikal khat ka painung un ka tung nawn uhi.

Nidang khong azaw suty pai ding kilin thei law mahmah hia tutung chet inzaw a hun tungma bang in kipai zawzen hi. Bangziak a tankhak louh ding hichi lawmlawm a ngai ka hiam aw, bangziak a kei a lou ding pi adia sum leh pai, ngaihtuahna teng hichitel a zang bei ka hia chih khong ngaihtuahna ah a kisualtuah den. Chingnu ka mangngilh sawm zel a, himahleh mangngilh malak ah amah ngaihtuahna in ka hun tamzaw ka zang bei gige. Amah leng ana hichisam ding hia maw chih bang ka ngaihtuah a ka hehpih tha a suak thei mahmah.

Ngeina bang a duty hun teng a duty in ka sepna ka sunzom nawn hi. Kha khat val bang a pailiam nung in nikhat Mawite apan lai hong pai dakhawmpa’n honpe gaih a, ken leng ka simsuk pah hi.
Lawmhoih Umuanpu,
Dam a na omna mun uh na tun ka lamen hi.

Na paizoh apan Chingnu in housiat tuakden a, a kahkah na in gawng gawp nawnta hi. Hehpihhuai thei mahmah a, lah hih thei ka nei tuankei. A nute’n Lianpu toh kitensak teitei sawm in kum den ua, himahleh amah utlou bilbel aom ahihman in inn apan hawlkhia ua, ka kiang ah zan khat hon giak a, ken leng aom sawt hoihlou sa kahihman in ka sum neih tengteng ka pe gai a, tu’n koilam zuan hiam chih ka thei nawnkei. A nute leng patau in a langlang ah zong den mahle uh tunitan in muzou nailou uhi.

Na lawmhoih,
Mawite

Hiai ka simzoh in ka lungsim gimna hon kibehlap semsem hi. Chingnu koi apai hita ding, gamlak khong a va si maimah hia, ahihkeileh koi hiam khua khat khong a tai hia? ka lung a buai mahmah. A taina mun thei ngeingei leng a pi a va kuan ding ka ut mahmah. Lah bangmah theih omlou, phone a bang lah omlou ahihman in a lungdon huai mahmah hi.

Sun leh zan Chingnu ngaihtuahna in hun ka zang bei den hi. Huaiziak mah ahidia ka tha chau in duty leng nidang bang in ka pawzou nawnkei hi. Chingnu khatvei bek ka mu ut lai mahmah lah a lampi ding aom kei. Inn lam ah va pai hilengle muh ka kinem tuankei. Vangse ding inleng a vangsiat huai sawnsawn ka sa mahmah hi.

Ka laithon muh apan kal thum nung nikhat gate duty pa’n hong mu ut om chi’n hon sam a, kua a mahmah de aw chia ka va etleh Chingnu ana ding mawk a, lamdang sakna toh kipahna toh bangmah leng gen theilou in ka va pumkawi gawp hi. Gate duty pa bang in lamdang honsa zawzen a, ka kipom zoh un pautam lou in ka camp sung ua ka lutpih a, awl a paitou kawm in ka CO pa uh innmai ka tun in Ching hiai a ana omzual in chi’n ka va lut hi. Sappa ana om a, ken leng ka tanchin hoihtak a gen in quarter aom theihle ka ngen ngal a, aman leng hon hehpih mahmah ahidia, tu leh tu a buaihuai ahihziak in kal nih sung suty konpe dia, hotel ah na va om ding ua, huai kal sung in na omna ding uh ken konna ngaihtuah fel sak ding hon chi a, ka kipak mahmah mai a, nui kawm in ka pawtkhe nawn hi.

Chingnu kiang ah “Ching, tuapan koimah ah hon khahkhe nawnlou ding kahi, ka omna munmun ah na om dia, ka neknek na ne dia, ki-ittak leh kingaitak in I khosa khawm denta ding aw” ka chihleh a kipak mahmah a, “UMuan, nasa nonsa hia kei nanglou aom ngaplou inga na omna kankhia a kon zot vengveng mah ahi” hon chi a, ken leng “Ching, huaite ahi itna diktak” chih toh ka sappa uh toh ka kihouna teng uh ka hilh a, huaizoh in camp sung a ka vante lakhia in hotel lam zuan in ka paikhiat pih hi. Hiai ni a kipan in daltu zatam om zong leh huaite’n hon dalzou kei, leitung damsung khenna ni om nawnlou ding in nupa ka hitamai uhi.