Ginkhenpau Valte

SIHNA LUIGUAM A ITNA
-Valte Ginkhenpau

"Ka itluat aw, natna-satnate leh gim-gentheihnate'n chikmah chiah i kaal a hon khen zou kei ding," chi a kamchiam bawl thil haksa lua ahi kei. Himahleh, a taktak a hong tun hial chiang in bel...

Kim toh itna khaugui khat lenkhawm a tuanglam khat ka zotkhawm nung uh kum sagih bang pailiamta hi. Huai hun sung in kipahna sang mah in lungngaihna hun ka zangkhawm mun zaw uhi. Mite'n zaw itna huang a luut kichi nuam sak-a-sakthoh uh hileh kilawm in ka mu hi. Itna tangthu ka simkhakte leh lemchiin ka etkhakte ah hun nuam leh haksa kihelh tuah mahleh a zohna tuh kipahna ahi tangpi hi. Hinapi in, kei zohna bang hong chi ding hiam chih bel tutan in leng genlawk theih bangmah ka nei kei.

Mi lian lawtel bel hilou, lah etlawm hun litlet Kim ka muhkhak tuung apan ngaihhuai ka sa pah hi. Ngou lawtel kholkei mahleh a taksa vaksuak in milak ah, kei a ding biik bang in, kilang baih diakkhol se hi. Mi maigum lamdeuh leh kamsiam lou, paukhe bukbuk khat ahi a, a theichian loute'n "mi kiliansak nu" chi sek uhi. Ka itluat ziak a diam ah a kicheina peuh toh etlawm ka sa pahpah mai a, mangtomna vom beibuai toh mukhawn bang hi lengle kilawm sa veve leng kilawm hial in ka kikoih hi. Ek zawle a nei samkha ding a himahleh uih kei inte. A zuntui dawn ngai bang hileh nou khat kia ka deihkhop ka gingta kei top!

Ka kimaikhak nung uh kum khat vel nung a itna kipetuah thei pan phet ka hi uhi. Ka nu leh pate'n sepna mumal a neih louh ziak un ak bang a nektawmzong ka hi uhi. Kim' nu leh pa'n bel khaloh nei tuaktuak ahihman un amah tuh khosakna nuam huntawk innkuan ah khangkhia hi. Sorkal siamsinna mun a kei pen kai ka hih man in sun hun bel khawl ni chih louh siah ka zangkhawmkha thei ngeikei uhi. A pate bang in mi dang, Kim toh kaikhawm khat, deihsakbawl ahihman un nitak teng in leng ka va heel thei kei hi.

Nitak khat, Kim ka heel tuunglai in, kei zak ngekngek in a pate'n amah thuhilhna hiaibang in nei uhi. "Mihingte dam gige lou, natna leh vangsiatnate'n hon buak thei gige ahi. Huaiziak a, naupangsia leng na hih nawn louh toh, na maban ding khual a kua toh, mi bangchi bang toh zatkhawm a manpha ding hiam chih na geel hunta ahi. Na u Pau tuh, na kipah hun leh na dah hun a hon taisan lou ding lawm hoih ahi. Amah bang in leng na maban ding hon khualpih lua ahihna ah, nektawmzong hilou, mi khosathei deuh mah innkuan sung a na mouthak ding hon deihsak lawtel ding ahi..."

Hiai thute a gen zoh un a nu leh pa'n kei kiang ah, "Himah lou mo, Pau?," hon chi phei uhi. Kisuanlahna lianpi toh "hi mah ei" chihnadan in, kilawp ngelloupi in ka lu ka su ngaungau zenpeuh hi. Ka thuzak toh kei hohna san kilehbulh ding hong bang hi. Chiangtak in, guh lang hial in, genkhe kei mahle uh kei bangbang a tualniamte tuh deihsak lou peuhmah uh ahi chih ka manban pah hi. Ka mai khawng hong san tuaituai in ka thei a, dakkhe ngam nawn ngellou in ka kuun dedu hi. Thudang tamkhop leng kei na a thalkiak ding tampi genbehlai uhi. Va dinkhiak phut mawkdan lah om mawk lou ahihna ah bil dimzen leh mai san tuaituai kawm in ka na ngaikhe ngiungeu nilouh hi. A tawptawp in khawl thei khong ua, huchi in kei leng awl in inn lam ah ka pai hi.

Hichibang teng nung in, bang chichi hiam in, Kim toh itna ka na kipetuahkha veve uhi. Nu leh pate deihsak ngellouh toh kingaih a lemtan louhdan leh a haksatdan tuakkha leh thei hoih mahmahte lak a khat hi ngeingei ding in ka kikoih hial hi.

Ka kingaih nung uh kha li vel a hong chin in a nute'n mi dang a deihsak pen uh toh phutluih in kitensak sawm uhi. Huai thu Kim in hon hilh gu pah a, amah ka it taktakleh taipih mai ding in hon kun nilouh hi. A nu leh pate' lungsim ding ka theih luatsa ahi a, ban ah, sunghta-putu a kineih nung a kimelma a om det ding chih mawk pen ngaihngamhuai ka na sak ngei himhim louh ziak in Kim thukup ka nial hi. A tawptawp in, amah leng hong engpan a, "Huchia na hon taipih nop keileh ka nu leh pa hon deihsak pen toh ka kiteng ding ua himai... Hon it taktak a kei toh kiten kaal ngaklah ding ka hon saklai a..." chi in, khasetak a kap kawm in, hon paisan hi. Huai nung kithuzak lou in sawtpi ka om ua, tongsan zangkhai a houpih ka sawm sek hang in a la ngeikei.

Kha nih vel kithuzak thei nawn lou bikbek in ka om uhi. Huchi tan in leng ka lungsim ah Kim toh ka ki-itna guikhau uh kitatta bang in ka kingaihtuah thei kei. Amah dinmun ka theisiam. Ama'n leng hon it taktak ahi chih ka haih kei. Itna guikhau a hualkhop nihgel ka hih man un. Itna i chih khut lumleh bang ahi kei.

Kithuzak tuah lou in ka om tou zel ua, huchi in kum khat bang hong ching man hialta hi. Thu khonung ka zakdan in, ka kimuh nanungpen uh nung sawtlou a Kim tuh damlou in Lamka Damdawiinn ah puaklut in ana om hi. Amah kithah sawm hi ding in ka muangmoh pah ah, himahleh huaidan ana hi kei. A panglak naa sa in thuum sek chi ua, a khenchiang bang in naa sa in lupna tung khawng ah kilumlek in kizialton volvol sek chi uhi. Gilpeng naa hi ding in muangmoh mahle uh huai leng ana hi tuankei.

A chinat kipat tuung in amah kibawl hi ding in muangmoh ua, huaiziak in a nu leh pate'n doctor ana naihpih pahkha lou uhi. A nung in doctor ensak mahle uh damdawi a gelhsakte uh phatuam ngellou zawmah hi. A huchih chiang in tualsuak natna mite gen minthangte peuh hi ding in muangmoh nawn get uhi. Rengkai leh Khomawi lam khawng a thumdam thei a chihte uh kiang khawng leng va naih ua, phatuam zek bang zel mahleh a natna beisiang taktak thei tuanlou hi. Soudopsiam a chihte uh bang leng va naih ua, thil tuamtuam ngoh mahle uh damsiangna taktak a ngah thei kei. Kwakta lam bang lunggulh khong ua, huai lam ah leng a lamet zah uh damna va ngah tuanlou uhi.

A nu leh pate'n inn hoihtak a lamna ding uh leh gari mantam huntawk a leina ua Bank a a sumpuk uh ditna toh a tanu uh etkolna in kibunggam uhi.

Hiaibang teng a panlakna a neih nung un leng Kim tuh damkhe thei taktak tuanlou nilouh lailai hi. Huchi in, Imphal a RIMS Hospital va naih khong uhi. Huai ah a natna a bul apan suutpih detdet ua, natna tuamtuam tamtak zonna a bawl nung un a kal hoih lou ahihdan theikhia uhi. Ginatak a etkol a ana omkhak louh nilouh man in a kal langnih in ana kise gawp man hi. Doctor-te'n lah a kal khek ngai ding chi uhi. Huai ding in Kim naute lah a pe thei ding in kumching nailou ua, a nu leh pate lah kum sawmguk tunglam mi ahih ban uah a damtheih ngellouh uh toh amau aa toh kituak lou chi zel uhi. Kim a deihsakpa un leng bang tan hiam etkolpih hi. Himahleh a hong damlouh nilouh chiang in awlawl in kihepkhiaksan a, tu bang in midang zi a nei dek chih thuthang peuh om hi.

Hichidan thute ka zak vek nung in ka kingaihtuah vungvung hi. Kim' nu leh pate'n hon bawldante uh khawng ka ngaihtuahkik nilouh hi. Ka lungsim in, "A tuakkhave ua! Hon hichi simmoh vial uh, ka ngaihsak hetkei ding," ka chi hi. Pharoah bang in ka lungtang ka khauhsak giugeu hi. Hauhsakna khenlam a Pathian om ahihdan a phawkna ding ua a tung ua hiaibang hong tung hi ding ahi chi in ka awi mahmah hi. Kim lamlam leng ka ngaihtuahkha ban nawn kei a, a nu leh pate hon halna tung a ka thangpaihna lam kia ka lungsim ah hon kilang hi. Hehlung a phuba laak utna lungtang bang hong om mawkmawk hi.

Zingkal khat ka thohkhiak ma in ka nu'n hong phawng hi. "Pau, na lawm Kim' nu hong lengla eive. Hong thoukhia ou," hong chi hi. "Amah toh kei bang kisaikha ahia?," chi a ana kihehsak in ka puansilh kaitou in ka kilukhuh hi.

"Huchi mawk kei dih! Sih leh hin kaal a Kim om ahi chih thei lou na hi maw?," chih teng gen in ka nu'n hon paikhiaksan hi.

Ka nu thugen in ka lungsim naktak in hon deng hi. Ka kilukhuhna puan hawkkhia in biching ka et tou gelgol hi.

Kim.

Sih leh hin kaal ah!

Ka itluat Kim.

Natna, satna, gim-gentheihnate'n a hon khen zoh louh ding Kim!

Sihna luiguam a ka it Kim amah kia a om!

Ka dip hong hawmhuai in ka thei hi. Ka lungphu bang hong kinoh a, ka sigui teng ka sou in phunoh gawp!

Kintak in huai ka taksa tung a puan om tuh ka tuankhia a, ka thou tou guihta hi. Kihahsiangna pindan ah lut in ha ka nawn somsom a, ek bang suak nemnum zawmah ahihman in ha nawn kawmkawm in ka daileng hi. Ka mantak in Kim' nu leh ka nu omna pindan ah, zum sim chemcham kawm leh lungphu kinoh dutdut kawm in ka va lut hi.

"Pau..."

Kisuanglah kawmtak in awl in Kim' nu'n hon na houpih masa a.

"Na lawm... Eh! Hilou. Na it mahmah Kim," chi in awl in mittui paak niuniau kawm in hon sunzom hi. "Lupna ngak in tu'n sihsual in om veh e..." Kidek zou lou in kapkhia hi.

Hiai kampaute ka zak chiang in ka lungtang puakkham ding hong bangta hi. Ka lungphu hong kinoh deuhdeuhta a, ka om meimuai hi.

Ka nu ngei leng kidek zou lou in, a dial in, a mittuite ana nulnul mai hi. Etna ding ka theita kei. "Koilam mitsuanta ding ka hia, Kim aw...," chi in ka ngaihtuah vungvung hi.

"Kim in khua a hon phawk sunsun chiang in ka kipak petmah uh. Himahleh kei leh a pa om lou bang in midang zon nei hileh kilawm in, peih lou sasa in, dakdak maimah veh aw... 'Nu' chi a hon sam masa ding a ka na lametlai in nang mah, 'u Pau' chikhe masapen eivoi..."

Kim' nu kidek zou vuallou in kapkhe zoihzoih hi. Hon naihphei in ka liangzang ah a tal nga in, a kam hum tonton kawm in kap keuhkeuh hi.

"Doctor-te'n a kal tegel kisegawpta. A kal khek lengle phatuam nawn loulai maithei ahi chi ua... Hong dam khakleh a kal khek teitei ka sawm hang un a kituahpih ding ka mu zou naikei uh..."

A beidotdan Kim' nu'n hon gen hi.

"Na gen noptak tuh ka kal langkhat hong pe mai leng chih eivoi maw?," chi in ka kilungtang khauhsak thak hi.

"Hilou e, bawi aw...!," chi in kap zoihzoih kawm mah in Kim' nu'n hon ngawngkawi a, "A lungnopna ding in khatvei beek na mel hong lak leteh chih hong ngen ka hi," chi hi. "Ahi a, lem na sak keileh bel nang thuthu hive maw...," chih toh thuah hi. "Kou a nu leh pate hai man hi, Pau. Na hon ngaihdam zoh keileh lah...," chi in awl in ka liang apan kihemkhia hi. "Na lungsim na khekthakna khat a om zenzenleh a luang beek hong en hamham in aw, Pau..."

Kim' nu'n hon paisan hi.

Ka kipasalsak zou nawn mahmah kei. Nan zoh vuallouh in ka mittuite hong takkhe zungzungta mai hi. A nu hon gendan apan in Kim a hong damsuah ding lamen zou nawn mahmah lou ahi chih ka thei pah hi.

Kim kiang a va hoh ka ut hang in kikhumchip hun toh kituak ahihman in kei a ding in lemtang hetlou suak hi. RIMS Hospital apan Shija Hospital a kisuan zawmah ahih man un a mun, a mual ka theih louh toh buaihuai semsem suak hi. Kim' nu va zuih mawk ding lah kingen ngam lou zel in ka om a, silh-le-ten ginatak neilou a amau gari a va tut ding bang ka zum tuntun hi.

Mi bang a neih-le-lam nei deuhte mah zaw koppih ding a deihhuai ana hi eive maw ka chi thei lel hi. Huh nuam lengle kei pan theihna ding om in ka thei kei- sum-le-pai lah nei lou, ka kal langkhat piak sawm leng lah a lim, a al ne zou lou kei kal toh amah aa kituak loulai maithei. Pathian kiang ah ka thuum a, Amah lemgeldan a hon pii mai ding in ka lankhia hi.

Nidang in kolai ah mite chiamnuih buk ka suak a, enghouna leh simmohtak a nuihsanna ka za ning mahmah hi. "Phulouh vangngaih a natdan mite'n laa a hiai zah vei ana phuakta ua, nang ana khanglou hak lua neivoi," peuh chihkhum in ka om hi. A hong damlouh nung bang in khente'n, "Na bumna va lehkiksak maive, Kim it taktak na hihleh," khawng hon chi zialzial uhi. En lah koi a kua bumsak theih ahia chih leng theipha lou kihi. Lehkiksak a hong dam ding hileh ka na chi mahmah mai a, lehkiksak ding a hon enghoute kiang bang ah koi a lehkiksak theih ding hiam chih peuh ka lehdot zel hi. Huchia ka dot chiang in hon muangmoh semsem ua, kigen gingta deuhdeuh uhi. Hun tomchik kingaihna hun ana zang pan ung a, kei thiltuah piandang hina tel e maw ka chi vungvung hi.

Khatvei ka nasepna ua sunkhawl a singpi ka dawnlai un, ka kilohnate pa doctor hiven, ama'n Kim' nu leh pate buaina thu poi a sakpihdan leh lohsam thei phut dinmun a ding gige uh ahihdan a lawinu kiang ah ka zak un kum nilouh hi. Doctor minthang khat kam ngei apan lohsam thei uh chih ka zak phet in ka dip bang hong kawhuai zezen a, ka tha teng bei dekduk in sidang hileh kilawm in ka kithei hi. Kim in kei kia hiai leitung a hon nawtsiat khak ding lauh petmah in ka lauta a, diphawm leh patau in ka liing hial hi. Nna bang sem gina zou lou ka hi ngei ding a, ka heutupa un ka leingawi tokna suahdul hong laksak in ka hih dingdan awsang kawmtak in hong hilh hi. Ka dinmun hon thei lou ahihman in ka mohsa kei. Himahleh, thagum ka nei zou mahmah tuankei. Kim a damkhiak theihna ding lampi bang om ding hiam chih inntekpa va kup ding kiakia ka lungsim ah om hi. Huchihna lam in ka seppihte hon houpihnate bang ka dawng khialkhialkha a, hon sal loiloi sek uhi. "Tuni bangchi na hi? A pul dek hia, ahihkeileh gulau khawng na bang a," peuh chi in hon chiamnuih zialzial pawl a tam uhi.

Hunlem hong omthei zok kei. Nasem ka tawp nung un ka om tuantual hi. Lawmte paikhit vek nung in inntekpa ka va naihta hi.

"Eh! Bangchi, nang lah na omlai a. Paikhin vekta hon sa ka vele."

Kisuanglah sim in ka om leiluai a. A guuk a liing sim susup kawm in...

"Pa Khup, huai tusun singpi dawnlai a damlou na gen pen toh kisai ka hon kum thei diam?"

Ka thugen a zaktak in pa Khup in a khut a sehnel dopna baltin a tawilai awl in koihkhia hi. Lamdang sa sim in hon en hoih thakthak hial hi.

"Genve."

Thumu kisa in gen ding in ka kisa pah tingteng hi. Ka gawl bang khuah phot zezen.

"I maw, pa Khup. Huai damlou na gen pen maw, ka ngaihzawng ahi. A nute'n kei toh hon deihsak louh luat ziak ua a damlouh hang a va veh thei lou nilouh ka hi."

"Gen zel oh, ka na ngaikhia."

Lungluttak in pa Khup in ka tanchin uh ka gente ngaikhia hi. Ka gen sung mah in a innsung uah hon lutpih a, tutna ah hon tutpih in ka tanchin uh ngaikhia hi.

"Thil omdan ka theisiam. Tua Kim a ding a lametna omsun tuh a kal khek ding ahita phot mai. Himahleh a petu ding tutan kuamah om lou..."
"Pa Khup, ke'n ka pe ding."

Ka na pautuh phut hi.

"Pau, a thu a gen mai baihlam sim na inchin a taktak a di'a thil tampi kisukha thei ding om ahi."
"Bangbang a, pa Khup?"

Awl in hong tu hoih phot zezen hi. A gen pat zok dingdan buai ahi chih a kam kat heuhoudan leh a hon etdan apan in ka theithei mai hi.

"Na nu leh pate'n pe ding a a hon lemsakpih uh bang ngai ding. Ban ah, amahmah leh a nu leh pate'n leng a hon lemsakpih uh ngailai ding..."

Ka na pautuh a...

"I maw, ka nu leh pate lemsakpihna tuh mu ding in ka kilamen a. Kim' nu leh pate'n lem a sa ding uam ah..."
"Amau zawle a tanu uh damna ding deih ahi ua, lemsa mahmah ding un a gintakhuai a..."
"Pa Khup, huai zaw lamet theih ahi thouna a hilehle amau theihsak louh ut ka hi."
"Amau theihsak louh chih mawk tuh... Ahi a, amau toh doctor-te'n thukimna bawlkhawmle uh hithei thou inte."
"Lemchiin khenkhat a a hihdan ua kal petu kuamah in dongkhe lou ding in kithukim theihleh zaw maw, pa Khup?"
"Hmnn... Huai kia hilou ahi. Nang kal pen amah kal in a pomna diam chihle omlai ahi. Na damtheihna bang leng hoih mahmah ngai zawmah ding. Na theisiam maw?"

Damtheihna lam ka ki-et chiang in tuh soiselna ding ka kimu tadih kei a, ka lungmuang hi. Pa Khup tuh Shija Hospital a thuneitute toh kithei leh a thulak mahmah uh khat ahihman in poilem ka na sa hi.

Pa Khup toh ka kihou nung uh kha khat hong bei man nawnta.

Khovel buaipih COVID-19 natna bei tuanlou nilouh ahihman in Kim va veh ut mah leng lemtang lou nilouh hi. Khatvei tuh pa Khup in Shija Hospital phakna ding a neih man in hon zawn a, ka va zui hi. Amun ka va tun un amah kimuhpih ding pen ana tung naikei a, huchi in Kim omna pindan ah kei hon va hohpih hi. Ka lut dek tuung in ka chii bang a kiling a, Kim' mel-le-puam sawttak mukha nawn lou ka hihna ah kilawpna leh litna kithuah in ka guuk lungbuai hi. Ka muh phet chiang a bang chi houpih masapen ding ka hia chih khawng ka ngaihtuah a, gen masak ding pen leng ka thei zou kei.

Kong awl in pa Khup in hon hong a, dantan masa sung ah Kim' nu leh pa ban ah tanaute mi thum hiam lel ana om uhi. Makaipu pa Khup mel a muh chiang un a sung a ana tute kipah mel dawk pah siuseu hi. Ahi a, kei ka luttak in bel pindan sung hong daizik hileh kilawm hi. Kim' nu awl in hong dingtou a, tutna ding mun dang leng a awng om hi napi in amah tutna pa Khup kiang ah awn hi. Pa Khup leng awl in tusuk a, nuam ka sak louhkhak ding khual a diam ah amah kiang a tu sam ding in hon kawkmuh hi. Huai zoh in, inntekte toh ka kitheih lam uh thei lou hileh kilawm hial khop in, Pau ka hihdan gen kawm in Kim veh dek ka hihdan genlang hi. Huchi in huai a ana omsate toh ka kichibai daudau uhi.

Kim' nu'n theitui hon sung a huai zoh in kei tanchin hon gen daldal hi.

"Pau tuh i thei mahke. Kim lawm khatle hi inchin. Kilawm hoih lua i sakleh hong veh ding inle a kichialkhe zou kei tel a hiven," chi hi.

Ka etna ding ka thei kei. Ka mitte a taisia hi. A thugen a dik mah leng ahi. Khatvei mahle Kim veh ding in kal ka suankhe kei mah.

A thugen hon sunzom nawn hi.

"Zingkal khat a inn ua i va lenglatleh hong thoukhe pah lou aka. Sihsual a Kim a om laitak ahih toh ei lah lungkham-mangbang a ki-om... A hong thohkhiak a Kim tanchin i genleh 'kei kal na deih mah uh hia' hon na chihsan tel a..."

Dinkhiak a inn lam pai vengveng uthuai mahleh mi nung zui lel ka hih man in huchithei ding vual ka hita kei.

"Pathian a hoih a, tu in mi kiphal a kituakkha a, Kim leng hong halhkhiak pah lamet ahita. Na va mu ut kholkei na di'a hiven, Kim zaw huai dantan nunglam a lupna tung a lum hi a."

Ka piankhiak apan hichibang a enghouna naa ka zakkhak lam ka theikha naikei. Himahleh Kim' nu'n a hon hehsanna ziak leh san leng dik ka sa mahmah zel hi. Va vehkha lou mah ka hihchia.

Bangteng hileh chi in, kei leng ka ding tou a, lin simpi in dantan puanzak tuh awl in ka laikak hi. Kim' khenkhuantaw zawn toh ka dinna kituakkha geih ahihman in a khadang apan a mel leng ka mu tou thei hi. A mitte apan mittui mal bangzahhiam ana pawtkhia ahi chih ka mu pah a, a mitte a san gilgialdan apan in kapkhin phet ahi chih leng ka theithei hi.

Ka sap sawmleh ka aw a suak kei. Ka gawl khuah toh va naih touh ka thuah hi. Kim' taksate a et hak mahmah mai a, sisan nei lou bang mai in a mual hi. A mitkuak bang leng ana thuuk a, a khabe bang leng zumzaw hi in ka thei. A ban ah damdawi tui kikhaina phim kisiatlai om a, a kikhailai sisan leng bei nailou hi. Ka na theih luatsa hi keileh Kim tuh ka haih zou mai ding e.

Lupna tung a kikham zinzen a om Kim' veilam khut awl in ka va khoihsak hi. Himahleh kiguih zot hileh kilawm in a khut a awm tunglam ah latou gaih hi. Et leng a hon en kei a, a kiang veilampang a ding ka hihlam thei lou mah a bang in, taang lou hial in, lumtang zinzen hi. Himahleh, sel vuallouh a khituite tuh a mitsik ah bawkhe zungzung mai hi.

Khatvei kisa thak in, khasia a awling pepelh kawm in, "Kim," chi in awlkha in ka sam kiau a, a ban ka genzom thei nawn kei.

"Ka min leng hon sam nawn k'oh!," chi a vantunglam en gelgol a mittui luang zungzung kawm in hon dawng hi. Nakpi in leng a gen zou kei a, kei leh amah zakkhop ding lel hi in ka thei hi.

"Hon ngaidam in, Kim. Kei fel louh man ahi," ka chi thei lel hi. Ka mittuite khaam zoh vuallouh in bawkhe huahua hi.

"Bang hong hih e?," awlchik, lah khauhtak mai in hon chi hi. "K'on poimoh hun a om lou tuh k'on mu peih kei," chih toh thuah hi.

Pau zou lou sasa a gen ahi chih ka thei hi. A pau chiang in a gawlguite bang kikang ponpon hial hi.

"Na hon poimoh hun in ka omkha kei a, hon ngaidam in aw, Kim. K'on it lua..."
"Hiai mo na hon itna na chih?"
"Bangchi gen leng theisiam thei ding na hia chih leng ka thei zou kei. Hon ngaidam in ka chih louh ngal gen dingdan ka thei zou mahmah kei, Kim ei."

Kim in kei om louhna lampang ah a lu hei a, hon hehsan lua a hon mu peih lou ahi chih ka theithei mai hi.

"Ka khanloh teng a nang hon kan gige ing a... Nang lah hon phawkpha lou a inn a lungmuantak a om maw, u Pau. Na hon itna hiai tan lel a dai ding ka na sak louh hi a..."

"Kim..."

Ka nih un ka kidik hithitta mai uhi. A lupna pang ah ka khukdin suk a, a veilam khut ka let ding phalbawl kei mahleh ka letsak teitei hi.

"Na inn ua i nu... Eh, hilou... Ka nu... Kei nu... Hon sawl ing a... Hichitel a ana hou ding ka hon sak louh hiven maw, u Pau... Ka itpen in lah hon it lou kia thamlou hon phawk lou hitel a... Kei ding in hiai khovel haksatak ah lametna himhim a om nawn kei... Ka nute kiang a leng hon enkolkol nawn lou ding a ka gen sek zaw hiven..."

Kap kawm in huai teng hon gen a, a mittuite'n a mai teng pumtuam hi. Kah a kidekna lam in a taksa bang kising zungzung hial hi.

"Kim ei, kei hihkhelh ahi. Hon ngaidam mahmah maive maw...," ka chi a, himahleh a hon ngaihdam zoh vual bel ka gingta tuankei.

"U Pau ei, nang ka kinepnapen zaw hi chin a maw... Midang leng kuamah lunggulh thei lou hial a ka itna taktak hon na pe mah hi veng..."

Huaite a genlai in ka veilam khut in a maitang keilam ah hei ding in ka kisa hi. A ut kei a, ka hei teitei hang in a mitsi in hon en ut tuankei hi.

"Kim, khatvei beek hon en ngalve maw. Hehpihtak in a tawpna ding ahih hialleh leng maw... Na hon muh peih kei luatleh nidang chiang in ka hong veh nawn kei na ding..."

A mitsi lailai ahihman in ka khasiattha hong suak deuhdeuh a, kipasalsak louh a kahkhiat zoihzoih mai bang ka ut tuntun hi. Ka taltang leh amah taltang awl in ka sutuah suk a, ka kidik hithit maimah hi.

Huchia ka omlai in a veilam khut ka letna ka taklam khut apan kitutkhiak sawm in, a tha neih tengteng in hon sawn ek hi. Ka pang langkhat, ka tai lak vel hon sawnkha ahihman in, nakpi in, "Anaa!," ka chikhekha guih hi. Huaitak in Kim in lamdang sa lua in a mittang hon hak lian kuau in hon en kilkel hi. Ka tai lak vel ah sisan hong pawt nilhnelh a, ka t-shirt hon let hi. Huaite Kim in mu pah in lamdangsakna mit toh en vungvung hi.

Kei leng kintak a kihemkhe ding in, Kim khut ka letna khah in, dantan puanzak lehlam zuan ding in ka kisa hi. Huai hun geih in pa Khup leh Kim' nu leh pate hong lut ding in puanzak ah hong dak sesauh uhi. Banghiam gen ding in pa Khup in a kam kaa dek a, himahleh ka lu ka peisan hi.

"U Pau...," chi in Kim in hon sam mahleh nunget lou in puanzak lam ka zuan hi.

Pa Khup in ka taklam liangzang ah a khut in hon na khaam a.

"Kim, na u Pau toh kikhen thei vual na hi kei uh. Amah na taksa a thilsianglou omte khaihsiangtu ding a hong teenglut hita ahi," chi hi.

Beita.

(A taktak bang thei ding a phuahtawm pumlum ahi).
©Valte Ginkhenpau, 2020