ESCAPED BUT PUNISHED (PART 1)

I wasn't planning on stealing the statue, but I did. I never meant to smuggle the antiques but I did. I knew I might get caught, but I never did.

I wasn't planning on stealing the statue, but I did. I never meant to smuggle the antiques but I did. I knew I might get jailed but I never did.

People make mistakes, some live to learn from them, some don't. Some people, like myself, make mistakes and lives, but just to question our whole existence. An ordeal worse than death. If you die, your pain and suffering ends, period. If you were to live, live it, no questions asked. But to live and to question your own existence and doubt all your experiences? That's what I believe is living hell.

I never believed in deities, spirits and all those "superstitions". 

I dropped out of high school and have been doing odd jobs since then. I moved to Thimphu in 2011 to work as a construction helper. Since then, I got stuck in Thimphu. Living in Thimphu is not easy, especially without a proper job. Money I earned was never enough for the rent and the food. And that meagre sum becomes way too less for someone who drinks and smokes a lot like myself. 

Before long, I was robbing and stealing, looting and cheating. Working hard never paid me enough. Soon, I was peddling drugs and smuggling antiques. At times, I thought I should go back to my village and live a normal life. A life where I don't have to put my life on the line, every day and night. Mind you, the money was never enough. NEVER.

Yet, I seem to deny myself the chance to go back to my village and start a life of my own. A happy and content life. You know, help my parents, take care of the cows, plant some crops, grow some vegetables. Don't have to pay rent. Won't have to buy vegetables. No credits. No loan. Just living.

However, a distant hope of a better life in Thimphu seems to keep me trapped here. Or maybe it is comfort of modern luxury; like the shower and the night life that kept me trapped here in the city.

5 years passed so fast under the trance of booze and drugs. Nothing ever occured to me except for the next pint of beer and a puff of cigarettes. If I can get that, it was a successful day.

One night,I was out strolling with a friend of mine, Tiger. We always dressed like a fine gentleman. We learned that a nice dress can take you a long way, especially if you are trying to impress some young ladies. 

That night, we met three girls in a karaoke. They were Desuups. Initially, all of us were bit hesitant but after a few glasses of Soju and beer, we were laughing and dancing like we have known each other our whole life.

I had my eye on one girl, she seemed so fine and pretty. Every now and then, I made sure to drop a smile or have her catch me staring at her. 

We hopped around to different bars and karaokes and by 1 AM, the girls decided it was time for them to go home. I insisted for them to stay a bit longer but they told me that they must go. We offered to walk them to the taxi parking. 

While walking, I got myself closer to Nima, the girl I found pretty. I asked her if we could meet the next day but she told me she already volunteered to go and clean a temple above Lungtenphu.

In hope of impressing her and to get to know her better, I asked her I could join. She gladly agreed. 

Come next day, I was hiking with a group of Desuups and volunteers to Thadrak Goenpa, an old 18th century temple above Lungtenphu. The climb was steep and arduous. It took us about 3 hours of huffing and panting to reach the temple. 

After reaching there, we divided ourselves into groups and began a thorough cleaning campaign.

The temple was old. It housed some amazing statues and antiques. But to my surprise, I learned that there was nobody to look after the temple, no guard, no caretaker, nothing. And it is far away from all the civilizations and prying eyes. 

A devious scheme began to form within my mind. I planned to steal the golden statue and the antiques. I day dreamed of buying a bike and taking Nima on long rides after selling the statue and all the antiques.

After we reached back, I called two of my closest buddies, Ratu and Tiger, and told them about my plan to steal the statue and the antiques. They were reluctant at first but I convinced them. I told them that an old and unguarded temple like that is a gold mine. I persuaded them that this is our chance to get rich, once and for all.

They were very hesitant of the protective local deity, who is known to be very wrathful and ferocious against those who steal from the temple. I waved it off and told them it was just a made up story to scare people. I even said that after selling our loot, we will have enough money to built temples and offer generous donations to pay for our sins. Finally, that got them on their feet and after three nights of conspiring, we were hiking up the steep hillside towards the temple.

To be continued...