Love Twist(Twisted Seri3s~ Book I) ✔

||Chapter Four ~ A VALUE ORIENTATION WEEK||

''In freedom we are monkeys."

A WEEK PROGRAMME GAVE ME SUFFICIENT TIME to roam Thimphu City. Remaining back at school and listening lectures is out of my interest. On March 1, I went to Thimphu. I got out from the van and enjoyed the beauty of Dochu La. The atmosphere encircling the Earth was chilly and unfriendly---a disgusting one but absorbing simultaneously, too. It let my goose-fleshed body to blench itself to conserve water from being perspired under coordination of the Central Nervous System.

I could see numerous pimples-like dots sprouting from the base of my body hairs. The wind whooshed strong swaying the pine branches into different directions so endearingly furnishing the sensation of soaring high above to the ether where we can experience absolute euphoria and tranquility, from the materialistic world of never ending yearning. The landscape of Dochu La was infinitely picturesque flavoured with the wintry snowfall that whitened the entirety as far as my eagle-like eyes can espy.

The famed Darkar La Range, arranged ideally with amusing cirrostratus as its background gave the superb view of the the last Shangri-La. The fluttering flags of Dochu La put about the message of peace and serenity of nature to every flat creature of the entirety, one is so blind and lame not to explore such a masterpiece of the Heaven concealed in our own paradise that we dwell in.

The minuscule one-hundred and eight stupas set up in the idyllic location glitter with the sun and the moon proving their power to bless each and every up-and-coming creature and enliven the beauty of nature.

I prayed with seriousness in my tone of prayers that I have never did before. It was en route my way from Sarpang to Thimphu, a sink where every graduate flows into. I descended down the steps and adjusted inside a Maruti Van reserved from Gelephu with the charge of Nu. 4000, which is about 200Km in length.

The driver was quite drunk and was a drunkard because on the way he visited the bars on and off. I was terrified at his acceleration, driving in gear four screeching on the descending icy road, chances it may slip. Numerous heavy vehicles roared contradiction to our destiny that made mine fragile heart to cower oftentimes.

"Ashang, lower your acceleration. It's risky because there are heavy vehicles flying continuously. " I exhorted him who time and again prepared a mouthful of 'doma' to adorn his red dingy mouth without a sense of terror. The van flied at high celerity but he was not at all getting cold feet, maybe he is expert or maybe may not.

'Haha...what happened my poor chap, hunh? Are you afraid?" He asked showing his dirty teeth, due to excessive chewing of betel nut flavoured with lime.

"No. But, prevention is the best, isn't it uncle?" I asked him, entrenching the seriousness in my voice.

"Yeah!" He said," But this is nothing for me, I can even drive at 50Kmph, do I need to prove?"

"No. No...no...no. No need! You can drive in gear 3 for now as its almost on the point of reaching the destiny. You will be fined by the traffics." I responded, difficult to swallow my own saliva.

The apple orchards came into existence with numerous traditional hut houses with pebbles onto the roof to protect it from sliding or blown away by wind. All the apple trees were naked as the day one was born without a single leaf, maybe due to natural process of abscission. We plunged deeper and deeper.

Finally, Semtokha approached in view and significantly the stout Buddha facing eastward towards Lungtenphu. I joined my palms together right at my heart and vowed with gratitude for my safety throughout the lengthy journey. I cited the mantra, 'Om Mani Pemay Hung' for my long life, though a science student and modernist by time and technology, but still deeply spiritual and religious.