VAIGAM ZINNA

Mi’n gamdang zin thu a gelh u leh, e’n vaigam zinna – i mawl i hai thute mah - gelh ni. Huaite mah nuam zaw veh! Orissa khopi Bhubaneshwar a ka zin thu hiven, abul, UBI luttung a pan suttouh ngai leh kilawm. 1982 October kha a mi zuia Imphal leh Gauhati kal lenna a tuang, Gauhati airport apan Shillong taxi a ka zan tun chihlouh vaigam ka zinkha nai kei. Shillong tun nungin N.E. state dang Mizoram ah ka zinkha pan hi.

UBI Lutdan. P.U. ka zillai in Banking Services Recruitment Board, Gauhati conduct bank clerk written exam ka gelh chinga, interview ah kum 18 chinglou chi in hon la kei uhi. A nunglama ka gelh nawn leh Khliehriat, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya a join dingin call letter ka mu hi. BA ka zillai ahia, na zong taktak hilou; experience neihna ding, dotna paizia theihna dinga exam ka hihman leh Khliehriat koitak ahia chih le ki thei ngeiloupi join ka sawm kei hi.

Appointment Letter. Ni khat Ka U Lian in UBI Regional Office, Gauhati in  Police Bazar Branch, Shillong a ka join na ding Appointment Letter a suah hon tawi mawk hi. Thil omdan ka dot leh, amah SBI, Shillong Main Branch a sem hiven; ni khat clearing [khua khata bank om teng in a customerte un local cheque a depositte uh ki petuah a bank tuamtuam pai khawm zel] dinga amau office a va hoh, UBI a sem Dipankar Das toh a kihouna ua Dipanker in ka u Guite chih a theih chianga kei a theikha hiam chih na kan hi. Anau ka hih a hilh leh Khliehriat a bangchik chianga join ding ahiam chih na dong pah hi. Ka U in Khliehriat join utlou ka hihdan leh Shillong bang hithei leh chih khong a na gen chiangin Dipankar in gentamlou in lusu ngauh hi. Shillong leh Gauhati ki nai  ahia bang ahia a ki houkhit uh nithum hiam nunga Shillong a ka join na ding lai ka u a va piak theih pah mawk pen lamdang ka sa lua uhi.

Join taktak ding maw? Theihngeilouh, vaite hi nalai in hon na huchi awlmoh pen a lamdang kia hilouin kisuanlah le huai hi. BA/MA zou lele na i zon ngai thou ding, tuni a i deihlouh tununga muhzohlouh bang hi thei chih khong nasa taka ka saikak nung un minzan kei mah leng UBI, Police Bazar Branch, Shillong ah  ka jointa hi. Suna college kai man nawnlou ding chi’n, tangval puteek Mr. Shanon, St Edmund’s College Principal pa kiang ah Day Shift apan Morning Shift a kisuan ding kava ngen hi. Vangphathuai adiam vangsiathuai, NEHU nuai a graduation level a Sociology subject a introduce khit phet uh ahi a, Pu Shanon in Sociology la ding student muhlouh khak ding ana laugu ten khat  adiam ah, kou Sociology la teng hon pakta mahmah in a college a student tampi lak ah mimal tak in le hon thei hial hi. Huchi’n baihlam takin Morning Shift ah hon koih mai hi. Himahleh hon theihna(deihsakna) bul hi a ka ngaih Sociology subject pen ala kuamah morning shift ah a omkei a, Sociology class ki nei ngeilou hi. Huailam huchitan in koih phot le.

Bank Clerk. UBI a sem, bank clerk ki hita mawk pen it-le-ngaih khat a pham khit thei napi lungsimin a pomtheihlouh bangsim in ki pom taktak theilou nilouh mawk hi. Lawmte College kai, ei kai thei nawnlou maimah! Ut dandan a le ki pawlh theih hi nawnta lou hi. Sepna nei chimahle, i khaloh lah Mizoram, Nagaland khonga kipan lawm khenkhatte’n khatenga inlam apan a sum muh sang ua le tawm zaw lai! Lawmte apan sociology Lecturer, Khasi nungak senior in naupang lua hilou maw, tua sepna a huchi neihpah a chih khong kiza sawn nalai. Lungleng sim mahleh va ki join khata ahih chiangin naupang kimawl banga “ka tawp” va chih mawk theih lah hi chiahlou, sep touh zel ngaita hi.

A mite Khenkhat. UBI Police Bazar Branch a sem Khasi bangzah hiam leh Nepali khat, Bodo khat chihlouh Bengalite ana hi sim ua, a aw bang uh ngaih thei zozen in piching pipi a kipahna uh naupan huai  hileh kilawm bang kasa hi. Kei batch ah khasi nungak muk puak kiukeu khat a oma, amin Safety Niangti hiven. Safety va chih mawk min di le banglou aka ka chi sim a, aban Niangti chih lah a Niang pen eilam min toh hong kinaih thepthup ka chi sim zel hi. A lutthak tuak chi ka hiding ua ka ki theisiam un ka ki lawmbawl pah uhi. Kou gel sanga kum khat a senior zaw Brahma, Bodo tangval samkil lenglung khat le a oma, ana thak deuh lai adiam amah le polhnuam vanglak hi. Smit lama kipan Kharbangar lah kisil mun khollou a diam ah…, a Khasi shawl silh a koilak hiam pen a lu tuamna’n a zanga, a kuva haina a kam, a ha, a chiltui san zezu gige, kuate hiam pau le, sasial ne mah abang ding e. Bank clerk sangin Shillong City Bus lou deuh Bazar Bus conductor hileh houh a kilawm zaw diam ah peuh chihsimin a om hi.

A join tung a kihih ban ah ki mawl milmel lua ahihman in a bank sungthu leh a politics lam khong bangmah ki theipha dek suai lou hi. Khasi lamte’n Bah Gaiti (Guite a chihna uh) hon chi ua, kuva hon threh uh i hon hai khawma, hon khentuam leh huphulh tuanlou uh bang ahihman in Bengalite sangin ki unau bawl zaw in, a nopdan khat hong om sim thou samta hi.

Bengali lam ah talkolh deuh mai, bem thetthat val upa khat Bacchu a chih mai uh khat a oma, cigarette tepdan chituam bang a nei se hi. A khuttal leh khut lai kikal a laizial zep in a khut zungte a sima, a tunglam a khuttal kual leh khutpi kikal vang ah a hip tou kuaikuai sek hi. Ama tepdan limtuak diak hileh kilawm. A aw lah ngaih, chiamnuih lah hat in maitai gige hi. Zu a dawn khak chiang ngial in tuh a awt in awng ging mai sek hi. Khasi nungak senior leh zeilou deuhmai khat Marbaniang ka chihmai uh a om a, huainu chalai deuh mai hi in ka thei pen. Bengali dang a tam ua, huaite i gen seng dah ding.

Nasep. Savings Bank, Recurring Deposit leh Current Account hon khoihsak  ua, ka na tuh account holderte’n nitenga sum a hong deposit u leh a hong withdrawte uh ledger a gelh lut (credit/debit) leh a passbook uh update leh (new) Account Opening  leh Account Closing  khong ahi pen. Nitaklam public transaction a bei chianga huaini a withdrawal leh deposit teng  summary bawl/ subledger gelh in Department Headte (officer) kiang ah ki pelut zel hi. A tunga ka boss Nepali, sportsmen leh fit mahmah khat ahi a, pautam lou in a fel mahmah hi. Sawtlou nungin Sankar Chakravarty kichi Bengali hong hi a, hiai le zi neilou a tek dek lampang khat ahi nawn hi. Fellouhna nei ahihkei ngal u leh zi neihak thei na vanglak uh e ka chisim sek hi. Nei lah neilou, ngawl lah ngawllou a chihte uh houh a di uam lah ki theita lou. Hiaipa pen tuh a ngaihtuahna chipha(fertile) deuh ka sa sim hi. Customer a omlouh kala hih ding omlouh changin milem leh bangbang hiam ka thai zela, huaite Safety ka etsak chiangin “Here’s another Romeo” chih comment hon nei vettak sek hi. Enlah Niangnu pen a nungak/ngaihzawng thil lama le ki en mahmah lou hia chihsim in a oma. Bangteng hileh boss pa’n hon na observe gige mah tuh ahi ding chi ni.

Canteen. Sun dak 1:30 apan 2 kikal lunch break hiven, Canteen ah an kine sek hi. Dal leh an masala toh huan khawm, aktui pum huan min khita allu toh masala a kan (egg curry) chih khong hiai canteen a ka nekkhak pat ahi. Aksa, kelsa chih khong mehni le om sek hi. Vai (Bengali) anhuan (masala a diakin zeera kihel tam) ka nek atungin a gim mahmah le namse sesu ka sa sima, i hon neknek leh a limdan khat hong om hi. Canteen ah Table Tennis Board khat a oma, annek ma leh annek khit in ka kimawl sek uhi. A siamlua a omkei ua, himahleh Shillong sunga UBI pumpi kidemna ka neihna uah Dipanker ka zoukei mawk hi. Amah Union leader khat hia, a kum leh taksa lama le piching mahmah enon khat hiven, top spin chikhat specialise riau a neia, huai kia zanga serious tak a hong kimawl nilouh mawk chiangin va zoh teitei sawm bang hong nuamlou hileh kilawmin ki laupian sim mai hi. I Zomi patience in le zoulou ahi ding. Psychologically a zoulou ka hi pen ding ka chi mai. Kidemna a a pshychological (battle) lam le ana poimoh lua khat hi vial inchin.

Bengalite Fel?  Semkhata lakloh, i subject lah morning shift a omlou pawl om ahihman college lam ngaihsak nawnlouh mai ka sawm hi. Seppih Bengalite khatin (union lama heutu deuh mah) College kai kawm ka hihdan leh final exam chianga kha khat bang suti deih ding ka hihdan official a Regional Office, Gauhati, hilh dingin hong kun sek hi. Gelh pah khollou ka hihman, nikhat amah mah in a “dorkhat” ding  draftsa hong pia hi. Hmm.. bangchi dan ahia le? Hiaite’n hon duat na nilouh  mawk uh e. Shillonga posting hon hihfel sak ua, tua laisimna  maban ding hon hichi khual sak nawn uh… Atawpa  hon draft saksa uh copy a ni 30 suti ngetna ka thot leh hon sanction pah mai uhi. Exam hun hong tung, suti lah kila khin ahih mawk manin lawmte note khong a simlouh kal ua etding a lemlem kaikhawm in ka examta hi. Sociology ngial bang, paper nih N.E. toh kisai ahia, examna ah loukhoh dan (shifting cultivation) leh ZNCte movement chih khong leh adg.  keima theih dandan (bang a bang taphet dam ah, tu nungin sim ut huai thak zozen) ka gelh suk mai ahi. Class le tel manglou a ki exam ahihman leh neu apan lai zilna lama ki fail ngeilou ahihna ah tutng exam khit result suah ding ka ngaklah kei khop maia, ngaihven le ka sawm nawn  kei.

Tuansifar. BA exam khin, office kai nawn panpan i chihleh, vualzawlna koilama pan hong pai ding chih theihlouh bang deuhin gintaklouh pi in Khliehriat a kisuanna lai hong tung tageet hi. Pai di maw, pailou ding, paikei le koia bang chi ding, examna lah ki hih gina lou, a bula patthak dinglah zumhuai. Bengalite’n lah na va pai dinga, na tun phet chiangin kisuan ngetna na hon  thehlut ngal dia, kha guk sungin Shillong na hong tung kik ahi mai chita zel uh. Huchi ahihleh lah  kha guk sung bang kichi sam ding lah hiloua chi’n Khliehriat  pai dingin lungsim ka bawlta hi.

Shillong a kha guk khong ka sep nung ahi a, ka nau Jocob in hong kha a, Meghalaya State Transport bus a tuangin Khliehriat ka tungta hi. Khliehriat khua, amite, sepna toh kisai gen tuak tampi om mahleh hiai ah i gen seng dah mai ding. Manager- Auguster Davies Lyngdoh, CCG- S.Chakravarty, Cashier- Iang Purbot leh Substaff- Hardingstar Nongbet ahi ua, CCG pa gen deuh zual le. Bongaigoan lam suak, Bengali ahia, nikhat office kai sungin charminar bawm 2 bang a gaia, nasep siam, ama nasep poimoh mahmah dan a bawl thei khat ahi. Hiaipa’n Bongaigoan a transfer ngena, a thakhek ding Khliehriat a painuam kuamah a omlouh mana kum 8 bang ana ngakta ana hi tazen hi. Ehem! Huai Shillong a union leaderte’n huchituka honna deihsak ziak uh ka theita! Ke’n va jointa ka hih manin lawmpa kipak in nui heuhau gige mai hi. Manager pu kianga maitai taka nitenga amah release dinga a nget gige nung kha khat bang kon sepkhawm khit chiang un Bongaigoan lam ah lungdamtakin hon paisanta hi.

Option Letter. Chakravarty pai nunga dotna dawnhak khat om tuh amah dana taangkha ding maw?? Kha guk om dia kuanpa kum 8 bang om ngai mawk leh... Kliehriat noplouhdan lah chu..(a lem leh mun danga gen ding). Lungkiat huaisim mahmah hi. Service sunga khatvei mawngmawng  ei utna penpen a kisuan ding ngettheih chi uh hiven, Shillong a heutute’n le hon thehlut ngalin hon chihsa uh ahih toh Shillong a kisuan ding ngetna ka thehlut pah hi. Kha guk in zaw ahi hial sam kei. Hon suan ngei ua, himahleh ka reliever dia hong join new recruit, Jaintia tangvalpa kal khat a kai nungin hong kilang nawnkei mawka, ka tangkhata hi. Hiai thu le suut tham zet zaw om ding hiven. Hiai genchiang na dingin Khliehriat Branch boruak nasa taka sut phot a ngaih tuaka, tutung in  zaw huai lam va banpha dah phot ni.

Gauhati Ah. Khiehriat ka tun December kha tawp lam ahi a, kha nih nung March kha sorkal kumtawp kiginni hiven, nitaklam khua muita chih dingin Manager pu in ka statementte uh Pathianni a Gauhati a Regional Office a thehlut ngeingei ngai ahi, tuni azan-azan a na va pai ding  hon chita mawk hi.

 “Pathianni a office kai ding uh amaw, Sir?” ka chih leh

“Kai ee” hon chi hi.

Pute thu bang nial theih ding le kisalou hiven.. Ahihleh chi in Khliehriat Police Station a Police duty-te mei awipih kawmin Silchar night super kana ngaka, zinglam dak 1 khongin hong tung hi. Tutna omkei mahleh ka bag, bus tuang tunga koihin huai tunga tu in ka paita hi. Ka samul puandum shawl silh mahleng Meghalaya phalbi zanvot bus sunga douna ding in pan lua ahihlam ka phawka, Shillong khonga Meghalaya phalbi vot ana ki thuak samta himahleh huaizan tuh a votdan a lamdang diak a bang hi.

A zing dak 11 velin Gauhati ka tung ua, mundanga pailouin G.N.Bordoloi Road a UBI Regional Office ka zongkhe pah tingteng hi. But, Office ana ki kalh mak mai a le! Chih ngaihna omlou chu! Paltan Bazar a pai in Shillong Hotel geia bang hotel hiam gimse deuhmai khat ah a ka giaka, Vaiphei pata khat ana om zenzen ua, a zia om vanglak hi. A zingin Regional Office ah ka statementte uh ka va submit a thil omdan ka gen chiangin “A bangdia na heutupa un huchia hon sawl ahia. Sunday holiday eivoi” hon chihsan uhi.

Bang a chihna a diam ah ka zinna TE bill ka submit chiangin hotel a ka giahman "you are not entitled for reimbursement of hotel bill" chi in boss pan hon reimburse lou lai zomah! A circular a bang chih le lah va ki kan nawn tuan lou, a chih dandan ki pom suk mai dan hi’n teh. Bosste chu nu-le-pa dan a kingai mai ahih chiang in.

Bhubaneshar A Training Ding. Khliehriat a bangtan hiam ka sep nungin, Bhubaneshwar a Induction Training dingin Gauhati lamte’n hon nominate na lai uh hong tungtou hi. Office a bawngtal loukai pen a zat a ki hih man manger pu in hon aam lua a Bhubaneshwar a training ding ni nihin a sap ni in hon release khongta hi. Ticket lak didan le ki theilou, thei hilele, Khliehriat a a lakna di omlou ahihmanin pute thuthu a om helhel mai ngai dan ahi a. Sunma lama hon release vanglak ahihmanin huaini mah a Shillong delhsukin, nitaklam in Sheba Travels, Police Bazar ah Shillong to Calcutta lenna ticket ka va la ngal hi. Calcutta to Bhubaneshar pen rail a pai ding, ticket Howrah a nak muh law ding hon chi  ahihman in huai dingin ka koihta hi.

Rail lu le mukha nailou, Platform a chih u bang le bang ahia chih khonga buaigu simte’n lai a ki hihman in a nitakin ka U Thang kiang ah rail ticket lak dingdan khong coaching ka la hi. Bubhaneshwar a pai ding a rail min/number khong zonkhiak phot ding ahihdan leh ticket lak didan khong ka unau un ka kihilh ua; Howrah tunphet chia  Railways Time Table lei ngeingei ding chih khong toh confidence nei pian in ka omta  hi.

Calcutta Manoh. A zingin Umroi lenna phual lam manohin Sheba Travels, Police Bazar apan ka ki pankheta hi. Umroi Airport kong ah Nepali tangval gawng giuhgeuh, a mela pan damdawi khong hih dia ka gintak mawkmawk, "sumdawng ka hi" kichi khat toh ka ki houthei piañ uhi. Airport sunga ki lutthei pahloua a konga ka omlai ua novel khong sim in sappau bang naal taka pau thei leh ki khanvual deuh a ki hihmana ken le neel bawl deuh pah ka hi a. Tei mahmah hi. Bang sum dawng a diam ah, zinmun sim tuh ahi ngei ding; security te toh bangle a ki thei ua, amah tuh check le a check kei uhi. Lenna sunga tukhawm ding i chih sim leh seat zontuam khat nei hileh kilawm, ka tukhawm theikei uhi. Calcutta 4pm lakin ka tung ua, thil bangkim a kidang ban ah a gim nangawn ana tuam abang a ki mikhual sim pah hi. Lawmpa kianga Calcutta ka pai patna ahihdan khong ka gensa ahihmanin amah ka bulbawl deuh maia, aman leng hon ngai poimoh ahi ding, Dumdum Airport kong, main road ah Howrah tan paiding ahi chi in City Bus khat ah hon khum hi. Thil tampi va dot beh teitei theih lah hinawn lou, ka bag toh bus sung a lut in ka tu pheuphauta hi.

Howrah Station. City Bus a i pai leh traffic bang jam leh point teng a khawl ngai in gintak sangin Howrah ki tunghak vial hi. Khua bang hong muisim maia, conductor i dot bawl chiangin lah tung nailou hon chihsan gaih zel mai a ( ahimah ahi a). "Gamla na e.. A hiloupi zaw hi ngal ke’n teh maw.. Howrah rail station kong chiah a khawl ding a diam" etc etc lungsim ah dotna tam mahmah. A tawpin khomial nungin ka tuanna bus munkhat ah hong khawlta a, conductor in last stop ahi hon chi hi. Huchi ahihleh chi in ka bag lain ka kuma, ka dakkual leh a pam zekah HOWRAH STATION chih kigelh ka muta hi. A khanglam, tulaia Old Gate a chihna lam uh ahi a. Ka luta, ka U Thang toh ka gen bang un ENQUIRY COUNTER ka zongkhe masa pen hi. Huaia Bhubaneshawr pai ding bang train khong oma, bang huna pai ding hiam chih khong ka va kan chiang in pawlte’n ei theih ut banga detail a hon hilh man deklou ahi ding ua; kamkhat khong in hon zohsan gaihgaih uhi. Theih utte ki thei tuanlou, ki chiang tuanlou, va dot teitei na dan lah om nawnlou hi in ka thei hi.

Time Table En Theilou. Huchi ahihleh chiin, Railway Time Table ka leia, ka hon et chiangin Shillonga Telegraph Sunday Magazine a etdan ka theihpen toh hong kibang nawn hetkei mawk hi. Bang chi a diam ah ka ensiam nawn hetkei maimah hi. Ettam leh buaihuai deuhdeuh abang zawsop hi. Awlin bangchi chi hiam in Bhubaneshwar pai ding train min, a hun nitak dak 11 nunglam hi dana idea neita ka hihmanin station sung a thuklam deuh ah ka va luta, ka bag kuahin, a rail station theihna ding leh tlangnel deuhna ding chi in dakkal khat khong ka vakkual phot hi. Huai nung na hong vakdeuhta abang hi.

Paina lamlam a lawikhat in koia paiding, ticket deihmaw chia hon zui den ahih manun Bhubaneshwar paiding chih leh ticket deih ka hi chih khong ka hilh ngamta hi. Ticket hon ngaihtuah sak ding a chi ua, kihou zel, ticket lakna ding a sum hon nget chiang un lah ka muang zou kei zela, a taimang ding peuh uh lau in ka pe ngamkei  zel hi.      

Ticket Buaia Buai. I buai vingveng leh gilkial lamlam le ki phawklou ahi ngei ding a. I na hong vak deuh chiangin i Zo nitak annek hun bang peel lua ahihtak lam khong hon ki phawk pana, gil bang hong kial mahmahta hi. Howrah Station sunga koia bang ann ne mawkta ding chih in ka hong buai gu nawnta hi. Zon bawla i dakdak lelah om tuaklou ahihman nahtang khil khat leiin ka neta hi. Gilkial hong phadawm deuhta a, ticket lakna counter a mi ki line na ah ka va ding ve ta hi. I khohei hon na enen mah ahi ding ua, line a ding ticket counter i tunma in pawlkhat hong kilang zel ua, tiket hon ngaihtuah sak thei ding ahihdan uh hong kun nilouh geet uhi. Line apan a paikhia in ka kihou pih a, ka muang zou tuan kei zel hi.  A tawpin Meiteite kiang ah honpi ua, enin amaule Manipur apan mah ahi uh, Madras paina ding a ticket uh ka laksak uh ahi. Ginlelh ding bangmah a omkei a hon chi uhi. Manipur a pan a chihte unle, Meitei pau in hon houpih pah ua, siam dandan in ka dawng zek hi. Lehlam ah pawlte team khat houh hi zaw ve un teh aw chih bang hong ging zel a, hong buaihuai sim zel hi.

Huailai a lamdang kasak pen tuh ke’n kamkhat le ka kipatna genlou napi Manipur apan ka hih hon theihmawk uh ahi. Ka Airbag (huailai a kithang mahmah, Moreh lama pan, Manipur mi in ki hahzat deuh) ziak ahi de aw ka chisim. A tawptawpin hon taisan mai un, hon buaipih nawn dah un chi in ka ngen a, sum thaloh a ticket ngaihtuah hiam hon khem sawm ahi zaw u hiam chih chian theilou a lungsim ka kinial saksak kawmin hon awlmoh mahmah  uh abatna om sa ka veve thou hi. Bang teng hileh ki pasal sak in ka kikhen pihta.  Ticket lakna a va ki line nawn in, Bhubaneshwar a ding chiin 1^st class khat ka leikhe khongta hi.

Train Lut Ding Lungbuai. Ticket ki leikhin mahleh, lungbuaina ding dang insawng bangin hong omtou zel mawk hi. Nidanga ute khong leh midang khenkhat Shillonga a zinte’n Dimapura rail sunga tutna a kituh dan uh, cooliete seat kham dinga guai in van toh cooliete kihenlut masa in seat na kham sak sek uh a chih khong uh ngaihtuah ah hong lut tageet ven chin… Tuale coolie goih ngai mah lai ding a de aw chih khong hong ging nawnta hi. Platform chihbang zaza mahle, bang chibang a de aw chih khong lungsima dotna omte Rail Station a dakkal bangzah hiam i hong cheet khit chiangin  ee.. chi in ki chiang mahmahta a, huai ban lam a puansan silhte eive le cooliete chih khong ki theimai sam hiven, platform khong ah kava paia, coolie tuamtuam khong houpihdan chi tuamtuamin ka houpih zel hi. Houpih dan tam chihbel, akulna, a hun leh amun ah tuh ei khomkhomin lungsim kizang (chalak) thousam hih tuak.

Lungsima Dimapur thubuai ki suveng zou nailou ahih chiangin pichin mel deuh  a ka theih coolie khat ka bulbawl deuha, a train hong paina ding platform, a hun ding, a lutna mun ding chih khong ka theita hi. Aman le hon panpih ding a kihuam ahihdan khong hon gena, a meel le gintakhuai mahmah ahihman in ka muang pian a; hong ngetna tangtung sakin hong buaipih man ding advance in Rs20 bang ka ki lan hial uhi. Ken le ka ngaihven zui tuan keia, sum kipiak  nungin bel muh le ka ki mukha nawn kei uh. Howrah Station a mi phe vengvung laka tangkhat taka om kawma houlimpih theih leh ka theihnop tampi hon theisak ahihna ah 20 piak pen kiman kasa thou hi.

Train Tuang. Train a hongpai a, ka luta, gintak sangin mi a dim hetkei hi. Dimapur a cooliete ki henlut sak a chih u toh kibat tuak kei na e chihsim in om phet aka. 1^st class ticket ka lak reservation tel hia ahihkeileh a seat kia chih le ka thei kei. Rail Ticket la top ka hi mai. Train a hong tai pat chiangin tuankhawm pih Orissa mi khat toh ka hong ki hou uleh gintak sangin fel mahmah vial hi. I hai dungzuia, a hun leh a muna mi fel leh hon panpih thei ding Pa in hon na pe zel mah ahihtuak. Ihmut hun pah ahihman in pawlte hong ki phelh ua, a puan uh hon khek ua, payjama khong hon teng deuh in a lupna di uah puan phah in hong ihmu diamdiam  uhi. Kei tuh puan phah, puan suah, puan khek omse louin, ka Jean toh T-Shirt toh ka bag mah lukham a zangin rail tutna/lupna nem tung ah ka lum sukta hi. Khedap le suah ka hia suahlou ka thei nawnkei. Midangte tuitakin ihmu mahle uh, gim tawk mah le huai zanin zaw ihmut a lim law tuan kholkei e. Theihlouh gama, theih ngeilouh bing phut ki hi sim ahihmanin lungmuan damtui ki dawn manlou hi pen lou ding hia. Rail sung khong ah buh-al khuang hileh kiza mahmah leh kilawm. Zingkal baihtakin Bhubaneshar ka tung ua, ka tuanpihpa’n ka paina ding rickshaw hon zonpih in aman ding zah khong hon dawppiha, huchi in rickshaw a tuangin ka paina ding (a omlai diam ah, file lui khong etlouhin zaw a mun min le ka thei nawn kei) ka tungta hi.

Training. Gintaklouhpi in Training College ah Shillong a ka seplaia ka seppih Brahma (Bodo pa) le ana om mawka, hiai vaigam ah tuh a mel bang ana hoih lua abang hial hi. Midangte Allahabad, Calcutta, Dhanbad, Titabar, Sibsagar etc khong apan ahi ua, vaite ngen ahi uh. Numei bang le a omsam ua, a mel uh bel va gen taak a om kholkei. Khat Hema Malini bang deuh theihthaih bel a oma, a pasal suun ahih tuaka, puan kang kia in a ki thuam hi. Kolkata lamte hiam pasal khat toh aki manpah ua, kizuizui uh hiven. Bangtan a tung di uam ah. Ka tunni mah in training kipan pah ngal hi. Vaite le return ticket felsa a neilou pawl om ahihtuak sam ua, trainingna a heutute’n return ticket deihte a dingin travel agent hon sapsak ua, a chihzah uh sum pia in paikikna ding ticket lungmuang takin ki ngak tadih hi. Kalkhat training program pen i theihlouh kalin hong beidak pah sam hi. A tawplam genma in a memorable deuh khat le nih gen lut zual ni.  

Ngalu Lian. Training College mah ah anhuan (cook) a oma, meh khong a huanlim thei vanglak hi. Nikhat  an ka neklai un angeina danin  dal leh abanglou teng bowl a hon hawm khitin cook in nga hon hawm hi. A lu pen vaite’n ana nolh vek ua, a tawpin kei hong pia hi. Kenle nga lu ne ngei khollou leh ngaina lou  ka hihman in ka na deih bik keia ka nolh tei leh midang a piakzoh ki lamen nawnlou a diam kei dawhkan tung, kei maia nuse teitei in paikhia ahihman nolh zoulou ka suaka  ka pomta hi. Nak let khiak hiven!, Ngalu kihuan kamuh lak ah lianpen lai in teh! Kg khat phaleh kilawm zozen. Hoihtaka a kangam khit nunga a masala leh banglou teng toh a huan nawn a hihtuak a. Kuamah nek utlouh ne suak ka hihmanin nuamsa chiahlou in ka hih leiluai sima, himahleh kon nek chiangin mui mahmahin  a guh abang chih paih ding om tuamlou in nek theih vek mai in lim kasa mahmah vial hi.

Zan Kholai Vak. Nitak chiangin kholak ah a honin ka vak khia ua, field chihdan khong a va tuin la peuh kasa ekek ua, ei nam la chiat sak ding peuh ka chi uhi. Lasak siam kei lele a dangteng in hon sak chiang un saklouh kiphamoh ahihmanin “hiai vaite a siam louhlouh u toh, amau a sak theih u leh banga.. “ chi in Lia leh Tangte Lengtongte cassette a Ampau sak:

“Mawng bang i ki kawilai in sen ngaihnou

Gibang khen zong ngilh kei ni

Chi’n tong nong lelte

Ngilh na hiam, vang ngaih lianu

Ken ngilh mawng ee.. “

Chin hihtheih dandanin ka awikhe riahriah mai sam hi. Vaite’n nalh asa mah di uam ah..

Nitak khat numeite ngailou in pasal bangzah hiam ka vakkual uhi. Bar CHK deuhmai khat, amin le KONARK ahi in ka thei,  lut ding hon sawm ua, pawlte navak deuh khenkhatin bear um 3 hiam hon lei ua, a guka kenglutin huai bar apan um 3 hiam la in ka dawn uhi. Nou nih chinglou chiat khongin ka tangzou uhi. Calcutta Bengali khat Amitabh Bachchan mah banga sang gekgak, amin dia le Amitabh mah ka chih suk mai uh om hiven, kamkhat hon valh khit chiangin hong pau ut mahmah in Amitabh filma zukham a apaudan khong in hong pau ziahziahta mai hi. Brahma toh ki en in ka guk nuihnuih uhi.

Puri Beach Lam Ah. Bubhaneshwar a hoh, Puri phaklouh ding hi salou chi in Training College lama heutute’n hunlem hon bawlsak ua, a paina ding arrangement teng hon sai fel sak uhi. Sum 200 chiat hiama kithoh in khat-le-nih in hong makaih ua bus ah Puri lam maohin ka paita uhi. Puri tunkuan in vai temple, Jagannath Temple ahiam hi in ka thei, leh bangbang hiam amau ngaihsante hon etpih ua, khedap suah sese ngai ahihman in ka suah nuamkei chitchiata temple sung ah kei kia ka lut  kei hi. A sahkhomi chia vai biakin sunga lut nuamlou dan le hi zozen lou in va etnop luat ding le ka thei kei bok a.

Vai Siampu Hawktui Dawn. Sea Beach lutphei deka Puri khua ah vai siampu chih di hia, nin nemnom, mukmul leh samsau deuhmai - a sam bang nin kisa a  gahkhe tektok zozen khat hong pai hi. A awngphah leh nou leh banghiam poimoh zualte a kenga, Adam suit dektak, a poimoh zual lai teng a puansan au (chih di hia, saffron rong, hindu rong ka chi maia), in tuam lel hi. Nullah gei ah hong khawla, a nou lakhe zokin, nullah a tuinin a noua thal zokin hon dawn kutkut tazen hi. Huailai ngaihtuahna a lamdang ka sak mahmahte laka khat ahi. Howrah Station a Manipur mi ka hih ka genma a hon theih mai khit ua lamdang kasak nawn khat ahi. Ei khong in huchibang nullah tui dawn zenzen le bang aki chi phet diam ah.. Damdawiin nai a omkei ngial leh koilam ah YPA a om ua chih ahihkeileh paina di lamlam a ki paisuak pah mai  leh kilawm.

Puri A Bual. Heutute’n le tuipi (sea) a kibualna ding chance mu mengmeng lou ding (or mu nawn khollou ding) hon chih bawlin ki bual dinga hon hasuan nak lua uh ahihman in Jeans khekol leh Shillonga Dreamland Cinema Hall sak deuha Glamour a kalei ka T-Shirt hoih neihpen suah selou in kei le ka tawmlut sam hi. Lawmte’ a nu apa in a kibual ua, nuam asa thei mahmah uhi. Ken bel huchi tela a nop na di le ka thei kei, nuamlou va chih luat na di le ka thei tuan kei. Vaigam boruak leh bangkim a ning leh chimtaak pian, bangmah a phur zou taktak lou ka hi pen in ka thei. Heutute hon awlmoh man a ki bual ka hi top mai. Sun-an (lunch) khong koia bang chi nek ka hi ua chih ka ngaihtuah chiangin ka ngaihtuah khe zou nawn kei. Nitaklam hong hih chiangin ka bus hire ua tuangin ka kik nawn ua, Bhubaneshar ka mialtun uhi.

Ticket Confirm Lou. Training tawpni in Travel Agent ticket la ding a ka ngansiahte uh hong kilang ua, train ticket confirm lou ahihdan hon gen pan uhi. Lawmte khenkhat ana fel deuh a di uam ah (travel agentte goih deuh ngai a diam) a confirm pawl bang a om a, confirm louh pawl ah ka telkha chitchiat tageet hi. Himahleh waiting list number sanglua zaw ahi kei. Station muna reservation  list hon tak khiat chiang ua  hong confirm mai na ding a chihman un huai a kingak mai ngai hi.

Bhubaneshwar Station. A station omdan le ka thei zou nawn kei e. Training zou, maban mahni mun/inlam chiata paikik ding ahita. Kal khat khong lel om khawm himah le ung, India gam mun tuamtuam apan paikhawmte ka ki ngaina mahmah man uh ahi ding. Kou NE lam Calcutta tawna pai ngaite ka train uh nitaklam dak 6 lak khong a paikhia ahia, India gam mundang ate zan kim lam khong ahihmanin a pai nailou dingte in Rail Station ah hong kha uhi.  Station ah lawmte amau buai in kibuai chiat ua, a confirm lou tawmchikte’n station a Reservation List kitak ka en uhi. Waiting List apan confirm tawm ahihmanin lawmte toh  compartment kibang ah ka omkha kei zel hi.

Lawmte kuamah le ki munawn manglou ahihmanin kei le ka compartment hia ka theih pena ka va lut leh huaia kei seat/berth hi a ka theih ah vaite a dim teek in na tu metmut maimah uhi. Bang chidan amawka chia a lohngaihna theilou lawmte va zon bawl mai ding chi’n rail apan ka kumkhe nawn hi. Huchia a dakkawm a ka pai leh Allahabad lam mi, amin Lahiri, kou hongkha konga na ki vial leh lai ka muta hi. Train bang tai sawmta ging vouvou, awlawlin hong kikhin pian ngawingawita a, thil omdan ka hilh leh kintakin compartment ah tawmlut ngal hi. Kenle ka bag kuah toh delhzui a ka lut leh, lawmpa’n kei tutna a na omte nohin hon nohkhe zungzung ta mai hi. Jesu in temple a thil zuakte a delhkhiak toh va teh zozen di lah hikei ven. Ehe! Vaigam hichi dan ahi maw chih phetin a om hi. Rail paita hat dekta ahihmanin lawmpa leng tawm pawt pah ngal hi. Huchi in rail sung dima vaite toh tuangin ka hong paita uhi,

Calcutta Tungkik. A zing in Calcutta ka tung ua, Howrah Station ah  compartment danga omte toh ka ki mu nawnta uhi. Ka Bodo lawmpa toh ka kizui ua, amah bel kuanlam a le Assam House a na tungsa ahi a, huai a a mangerpa bang le a meltheih khin hi. Na piching zaw leh khovel na mukha zaw tuh a hipeuhmah a, a lem ding a thei mahmah hi. Assam House kong ah thawllang (half bottle) ki contri in hon leipih a, Assam House a managerpa a puak hi. Huchih ziak khong ahi diam ah, dormitory himah leh room khat lupna 4 hiam kia om, lupna nuamtak ka tang ua, Assamese nih hiam leng a hong giak tei uhi. Zana huai Assamese tangvalte pauging chu ngaih kasa mahmah tohtoh ve. Bang gen a di uam lah ki theilou. Assam House chia ki inteek sak deuh chu a hi peuhmah ding un ka ging.

Air Ticket To Gauhati. Ana fel deuh chihsa bangin lawmpa’n a kikna ding Calcutta to Gauhati, Air Ticket leng confirm sa anei diama, kei a ding ngaihtuah tawm ngai geet ahihmanin Assam House konga Travel Agentte ka guai nawn uhi. Huailai in nikhatin Calcutta apan Gauhati flight nih om ahihtuaka, ka lawmpa a zing dak 9 laka pai pen ahia, huai pena ticket om nawnlou ahihmanin ka Travel Agent un keia ding nitaklam dak nih lak (ahi in ka thei) pen hon la a, huai le Waiting List No. 3 ahi  zomah lai hi. Chihdan dang om tuanlou ahihman huai a kingak ngai nawn geetta hi. Huaile airport a ngak khiak ding ahi mai.

Dumdum Airport. Ka pai di ni un zing le ka thoubaih ua, breakfast khong nekhin in ka lawmpa zing flight delhin Assam House ka nuse pah uhi. Airport tan taxi ka share khit un sum lam ah ki niam sim mahmahta a, Gauhati apan Shillong taxi tuanman daih ding lel khong ka neita hi. Rs200/- kia khong i chih chiangin i confidence bang hon effect sim nawn pah maimah hi. Lawmpa’n hon taihsan dek chiangin kisuanglah sim pipi a ka nget bawl leh aman le ka nei nawnkei hon chihsan hi. Lawmpa paikhit in kei kia in nitaklam dak 2 lam (flight timing chiah ka chiang nawn kei) Dumdum Airport ah ka ngakta hi. Waiting List No.3 ki pai mahmah na ngallou di hia chihsim in a oma, lehlam ah "WL hi mawk ahihmanin pai theikei le sum lah ki nei nawnlou, bang chi ding??" chih bel ngaihtuahna thunawn in hong pang veve hi. "Utleh Airport sung ah ka giak mai ding… giah hon phal di uam… " chih khong ngaihtuah kawma zingkal apan nitaklam dak 2 lam i hon ngak zaw sawt mahmah sam hiveh.

Check-in. Hun le tuiluang banga paipai sam ahi dinga, a tawpin kou tuanna ding lenna check-in hon panta uhi. Hon pat phet un Counter ah kava paipah a, thil omdan leh ka pai ngeingei ngai ahihdan khong ka va gen pah lawlaw leh Counter a pan ana ngak photin hon chi hi. Ngak chih a le mun gamla a ki pai ngam houh na sa? Counter kiang nai sim ah ka dinga, a table tung ah sticker pek khat lenna seat number omzah kigelhna koih hiven, mi ava check-in chiang un huai sticker a seat number khokkhia in a Boarding Card uah a na belhsak zel ka na enen mai hi. A sticker a seat a hawmkhiak zah leh omlai zah kimu ahihman in a omlai zah bang kana simsim hi. WL No.1 a pa a checkin lai in seat 19 bang omlai in ka thei hi. Tam lai mahmah ei, number 3 chu ki tang mah ngal lou di hia chih lungsim ahi lai tadih.

Khat Kia! Awlin confirm ticket neite hong ki checkin zel ua, seat leng hong kiam hiaihiai hi. WL No.2 a piak takin a sticker ah seat 3 kia omta hi!. Beihseih huai lai thou veh e. Kuamah le a hong pai nawn mang kei ua, hon peta mai ve ka chih leh na khawl in hon chi lailai zela. Mi hong pai beh zek a om ua, ka na etet chiangin seat KHAT kia hong omta hi. KHAT KIA! WLte kha serial a pelou a a vai deuhte kianga ana hawmhawm ahia abang ahia ka thei kei. Hmm! Security check lah a patna uh sawtta! Seat khat kia omlai, lung nuam thei nawn hetlou ahihman in sum ka neih nawnlouh, meltheih le neilou Calcutta a tam thei ka hih nawnlouh dan khong genin ka ngetsiam theihtawp in ka ngenta hi. Huchih chiangin lawmpa’n khual zin ding in i zinma a hoihtaka plan lawk di hilou ahiam peuh hon chihsan lai hi. Hih zaw himah in teh, hilele huai laitak huchibang ki genkhum hun hi in le ka thei kei. Va heh mawk di lah ei ki jangh zaw phet ding. Lah hon pe tuan lou. A hun lah ching ding hita. Tension chu sang mahmah eive.

Tununga i ngaihtuah thak leh lawmpa’n beiseih nei ahi hiam or huchia mangbang taka ka om khong kha hon munuam a hon soisa a de aw peuh ka chi sim hi. A tawptawpin hon pia a, kintakin security ah ka tailuta, lenna sunglam ah ka taisuak pah hi. Passenger laka lenna sunga lut nanungpen in ka panga, lenna a tut nung nangawnin confirmsa hong pai a om thei lai diam.. hon samkhe thei lai di uam… chih khong ngaihtuahna ah hong lut lailai lawmlawm hi. Thil paizia theilou leh experience neilou a phut hi ana gimhuai sim ten dan aka hia J

Kha Neilou Leng thei. Omlou tuh ahi di ua J ka lengkhe khongkhongta uhi. Lenna sung a Indian Airlines Airhostess te gintak sangin ana tak gengam ua, ui sawt deuh ngai ding a chihte uh ngen ahi sim hi. Huailaia kithang cotton T-Shirt ban omlou ka silh leh lenna sung ah vot kasa law sim hi. Huaibanah midangte hoih taka kichei zetzat ngen khata om ahih manun kei kicheina tuam deuh se bang kasa sima nuam chiahlou hi. A dena i tension  teng toh, motor a accident bang hile leilak hipah a vangphat leh sihlouh theih, tua zaw a lei i tukna ding mahmah le gamla law deuh hiveh aw chih khong toh i ngaihtuah kawm leh lenna sung dakkal khat khong pen sawt mahmah thou hi. Dak 4 ginma deuhin Gauhati Airport ka tung ua, lenna apan pawtkhia a leilawn a i hong kum suk chiang in chu huih bang na zaang mahmaha, bangkim a kilawmin a nuamvek maita hi. Kha neiloupi a LENG THEI hial hileng kilawm in ka kithei in ka thawveng hi. A nopdan tuh nuam tak ahi. Va genchiang sawm lele a experience khaloute’n a thei tuan kei ding uh. J

[2008 kuma gelh ahi