ESCAPED BUT PUNISHED (PART 2)

We hiked up the steep trail under the moon light. I felt like I reached the temple much sooner that night. We could see the bright city scape of Thimphu. The town was full of people and was busy with activities but here, up on top of the hill; overlooking the whole valley, anybody could see us but I was sure nobody would care to look. Its way too far and people are way to oblivious. 

As we neared the temple, we pulled down our ski mask as if we are breaking into an apartment in the middle of the town. 

We slowly walked inside the gate. The temple felt eerily quiet. I walked around the temple to make sure that nobody was there. After few more rounds, I rallied my two buddies and we broke into the temple. We took all the antiques and the golden statue, about 20 inches long. The antiques included an old cymbal, an old handheld drum, two golden butter lamps and few more other household items.

We hauled them into three different loads. I carried the golden statue and they carried the other loots. The statue was unusually heavy but I knew that was a tell tale sign that I am getting paid a huge sum.

As we walked out the door, I was sure I heard someone whistle "chueetthhhhh wai!". I looked back but saw no one. I looked at my two friends but they seemed quite oblivious.

We reached out apartment and laid the loot on the table. They were really happy and considered it to be their easiest job so far.

We decided to lay low for sometime before selling the loot. We came to a common consensus to divide the money equally after selling all the goods. 

Few nights passed by without much happenins. I went out drinking and did my usual things. However, I never heard from my two friends, which was pretty unusual. They would be dying to get their hands on the money by then. Usually, they are very impatient about getting the pockets filled. Not this time. 

One night, I was returning home at around 3 in the morning, when I saw someone wearing a gho, following me. It was not unusual to find someone wearing a gho but what caught my attention was his wide rimmed cow boy hat and the traditional Bhutanese boots, called the Tsholham. 

I stopped to smoke and looked back. He stopped right by the light pole. Under the crimson light of the street light, I saw that he was wearing a black silken gho, a silken boots and the hat was made of silk too. A very unusual dress, but I was drunk so drunk I didn't care much about it. After all, it's Thimphu, you see anything these days.

I lit my cigarette and I looked back at him but he was gone without a trace. I smoked my cigarette and went on my way. 

I was exhausted and badly needed some sleep. But everytime I closed my eyes, the man I saw earlier would flash before my eyes and scolded me in a language I don't understand. 

So, I went out, got myself a bottle of whiskey and downed it all in one sitting. Next thing I remember, I was thirsty and had passed out in the living room.

This went on for few more nights. I never met my two friends, which seemed too unusual given their nature. I went to check on one of them but his house was locked. If I had phone like we do today, I would have called him but times were different back then. 

I suspected that they might have taken the loots for themselves and left me with an empty bag. So, I went home and checked the good, but it was was all there. 

Few nights passed by, I couldn't sleep so I drank myself to oblivion every night. One night, as I was drinking, I heard a loud knock on the door. Even as I walked towards the door, someone kept banging on the door. I opened the door to find Ratu, wearing a white tank top and a boxer in the middle of the winter.

He stood there for some time. He was whimpering and staring down at his feet. As I looked down, I found that his feet was bare and bloody. I held his face up by his chin but looked pale and lost. He began to cry. I was bit drunk but I was way more confused. 

I have seen him getting stabbed, I saw him fall from a two storey building, but I never saw him cry. I asked him questions but he just kept whimpering. So, I led him inside and after walking for few steps, he stopped and looked at me with hatred and despite. Before I could react, he slapped me across my face and sent me flying away. 

Next thing I know he was lunging at me with his fist clenched. I was on my back so, I kicked him away but he attacked me again. I saw the ash tray right next to my head. I picked it up and hurled at advancing Ratu. The ash tray hit him right on his chest and he stopped. He stood there without moving a muscle. 

I slowly got on my feet and looked at him. I called his name few times but he just stood there eerily. After few more minutes, he started humming a song. I called his name few more times but I cautiously kept my distance. Something was definitely wrong with him.

As I looked at him from a distance, he began to move his hands and legs. He slowly began to move his shoulders, before long he was dancing frantically and singing loudly in my living room. I was too afraid and confused to go near him but I asked him to stop number of times. He kept singing old Bhutanese songs and danced to it.

I ran to the kitchen, filled a cup with water and poured the water on him. He stopped briefly but then he continued with his singing and dancing. By this time, my neighbours and landlord was at my door. They looked confused and irritated.

The landlord and I, led Ratu outside. As we took him outside, I briefly met eyes with Ratu, his eyes looked sad and defeated. It was as if, he lost control of his own mind and body to someone else. His eyes were crying, he was not happy. 

Since then Ratu never got better. He would go about singing and dancing, sometimes crying. He is old and frail now. Last time I saw him was in Paro. He was scolding everyone who passed by him. He was wearing an old gho and had a huge sack filled with rubbish.

Everybody calls him "Chamba Choelo", a reference to his dancing nature. But I know for a fact that he is not insane, he is sane, he just lost it. 

At times, I wonder if it was because of the things we stole from the temple that night. Sometimes, I wonder if it was because he took too much drugs like people say and became insane. Drugs or no drugs, I know for a fact that I am to be blamed. 

You might be wondering, what happened to Tiger? Let's keep that for some other time.