Caged Flower

Autumn

When all the people around busied themselves over-harvesting crops, lhazom groaned of the pain of labour. She wasn't expecting the baby to come soon.

Unexpectedly impregnated and now unexpected delivery.
She didn't know that it was already Autumn until the yellowing of leaves and the harvesting of the crops made villagers heavy with work.
She suffered a lot.
The cursing words of her parents crushed her soul into pieces yet she didn't give up.

And the social stigma didn't leave her side,  badmouthing of villagers.
She wanted to wake up and believe it was a very bad dream but reality drained her energy, shaking the ground beneath.

She infused energy and gathered all the pieces of her soul to give life to another soul.

She was a very beautiful woman with her brown big eyes, fair skin, long silky hair hanging over her shoulder and a perfect body a woman is supposed to have. She was a dream of all women to be in her village and a desire of all men to take her as their wife.

Similar to the blossoms of the spring she radiated her rays of beauty in the village as women burned with jealousy within.
Every man tried to win her but she wasn't ready to give her heart.

One day her eyes caught hold of a merchant with goods crossing the roads. She wondered about buying one item that attracted her eyes.

'Kuzuzangpo tshongpoen, what goods do you have for a woman?"

'I have different colours of brocade from Nepal. Wanna look in? The colours of the brocade are all beautiful which will suit a beautiful woman like you.'

His voice was sweet to listen to and with a closer look on his face, she was mesmerized by the handsome face and a muscular body to match his looks. With hats on, she couldn't directly look into his eyes but to her, he was the most handsome man she has ever seen in the village. Her heart melted eventually.

' Hello, hello bumo.'
Being off guard she blushed but said nothing. 

She looked through brightly coloured brocades and she got confused to choose one.

' Can you suggest one colour from this beautiful brocade?'

'Hmmm, let me see?'
He touched his chin and scanned the colours and then took out blood-red coloured brocade.

' This colour matches with your rosy cheeks. This will definitely let you shine.'
He said it just right he thought. He was really mesmerised by her beauty.  He felt so attracted to her yet maintained his dignity. He was afraid that she might take him wrong.
He didn't want his first meet with this lady to be a crooked one. He thought he needed to give the best first impression. He came all the way to Gaki ling upon hearing of her beauty.

'How much does it cost?'
'3 white baytrang.'
*baytrang- coins used in the olden days In Bhutan.

'It's costly though. I am short of one baytrang.'

'It doesn't matter. As the price of one baytrang, you can offer me a place to stay for tonight.'
'Really?'
'Of course, bumo.'

'It dawn already be my guest then.'
It was common for the merchants,  travellers and people to stay a night at the host's place.

She welcomed him to her house. In her culture, she made salted butter tea (suja).

She served him tea and zaaw  ( roasted rice).

"Ahhhhhhh, ama I am going to die."
She profusely sweated the whole night and put all her strength until the baby came out. It was dusk and she could see the first sun rays falling on the tip of the mountain opposite her house.
She cried out of joy at the thought of having someone besides her and to call her own. After all, she gave birth to a baby girl. 

"Kadrinche kenchosum for looking after me."
  Ama gave her the child and asked, "what will you name her?'