My little room isn’t
the only world
My work experience (18-22 July) - My work experience may not flow in a stream of eloquence
and poetry, yet it was something that has triggered me to at least give a
breath to my little word of expressions. Although my parents and cousins have never let
me to go for the physical work, I have decided myself turning deaf to their
words. I refused despite there several calls to leave the site. I knew they must
have had tension since I have never been to a work site since my birth. My aunt
wanted me to leave the work site immediately, yet I was firmly adhered on my
stand to never betray my decision since I wanted to experience and be
experienced. My thought behind my stand was I wanted to reduce burden imposed
to my parents for my expenditure at least. Being an adult, it is shameful on my
part to beg money all the time from my old parents and of course I strive to
learn to stand on my feet.
I loved a camp by the road side and listened to roaring
sound of vehicle, or to sit in the tent and hearing the rain pattering on the
roof, playing card ‘Cold Piece’ with friends was fun. Other friends waiting for
a chance would say ‘Winner Challenge’! Well, that was only solution for boredom
while raining cats and dogs. Khuru was another solution to boredom when cats
and dogs stop there play (sunny day). But this was only if and when there was
rain and no resources which has hampered the continuity of our task. The most
fruitful thing that we reaped was the holly stream bath which was historically
famous and medicinally valued for the people who are in ill at ease.
Well, beside those little enjoyments, we had gone through
various difficulties where it was infested with leeches and
biting insects. Working in marshy
area alongside the road towards Gasa where our friend would remind us about the
story of Gasa lamay Singye and Changyuel Galem. To remove mud for the first
cutting was tiresome and making mixture of gravels, sand and cement was another
challenge for us. Of course we wished not to have a parasite like leeches and
flies sucking our bloods unnoticed. But it was sorry for us to be the victims.
Although we did not work in heavy rain, we could not escape from the scorching
sun. We have used our t-shirts and grasses as parasol to refrain from sun-burn.
We have exchanged our laughter on seeing the black patches burned by scorching
sun. Working with cement is hazardous to our health yet, we never failed as a willing
labourer. By the way I have forgotten to mention you that Gasa is a remotest
dzongkhag in Bhutan. Going through the remote place is never an easy challenge.
To visit the small canteen we had to travel despite our daylong tiresome work. We
have walked in the dark night fully drenched with monsoon rain without
umbrella. Not only had it rained like cat and dog but it was continues.
July 4, 2015- It was my unforgettable
journey from Gasa to Punakha (lobesa). My ever ride on the vehicle called ‘farm
tractor’. Despite my ill health due to the month- long tiresome work, it was
terrible ride on tractor. We had to come by hook and crook since waiting for
motor vehicle in Gasa was like expecting the rain in the desert. Hair might go grayish waiting for the lift. At
least I would have been happy if there was paved road. It was no better than a
mule-track (rough and narrow) indeed.
Can you imagine travelling in the Farm tractor with empty tummy along
the unpaved road? For your surprise, we have gone through this hell. Thank god,
we got to eat two packets of Mimi each on the way to suppress hydrochloric acid
destroying fragile stomach cells. Although it was unforgettable journey, we
enjoyed dinner in a tourist hotel. We were 12 of us talking about the strong up-thrust
when hits on the irregular flow of roads. On that night tiresome journey has
given me sound sleep.
We enjoyed, yet some of
our colleagues gave up for home, they were paid with their wages accordingly.
But we were 6 left with full hope and determination not to leave our works
undone. With the hope to make some additional works we have been courageous
like a bull although it was beyond our capacity to get works to be done. But it
was my juniors who have really had courage to never leave their task undone and
I got along with them. Until we reach in Lobesa, Punakha, we have another
series of events to be narrated. We were left almost 2 weeks without works.
Although we were lucky that they served meals, our aims and purpose was never
to get just eaten by food or we eat meals whatever. Oops!! After a week- long
wastage of our golden time we were again left idle since they have failed to
discuss about the construction of Kudung chorten in Lama Serpo Lhakhang. Thank
god! I at least got a chance to dedicate my service to the religious site for
the sake of accumulating merit. Some of my friends who were also waiting with
the hope to work with us were doomed since works were limited. I felt pity on
them having no words to convince them. Nonetheless, some left home but without
wages. Although it is quit embarrassing to say we were free lancer, but I
rather say social service (zhabtog) since they let us work without wages saying
that the working days exceeded the allocated budget.
Our faces were darkened with
scorching sun, hands blistered, legs blackened, body bitten by insects and I
was fully exhausted. Had there been more works to be done, I would have given
disappointingly lackluster performance. Eventually, we were done with the
construction of Kudung Chorten, perhaps, it was the success gained through everybody’s
sincerity and dignitiy of labour where we have rendered our best ability before
their say. Alas!!! We were completely doomed when we are not fully paid for our
weeklong hardships. We nodded reluctantly upon his consolation. We could not
utter a word since he acted innocent; nevertheless we came on consensus that he
would make full payment on Gasa work site as soon as possible. By 1:30PM, it
was time for departure and we have exchanged wishes for safe lives ahead
although we were doomed with the half payment made. We set off for our
respective destination. I went to hostel accompanied by one of my labour mates.
This hardship played a central role in
shaping who I am and have to have a pity party for me.
Payments- We were Tom, Dick or Harry, yet did not mess up their work. We have
rendered our best ability possible. We were drenched, sweated and blistered,
had no mercy upon seeing our exhausted body strength; faces distorted and body
fats melted, become thin and bonny. Upon reaching to college, one of my friends
described me black, although I was whitest among the friends. He instantly
questioned me, “what happened to your face?” but I had no answer then to have flashback of our hardships. Despite all this those hardships, we were saddened
with the pending payment. Despite our several calls inquiring about the
wages, they said they have got no money to pay us. We have even given enough
time to adjust our payment but they did not.
Although we had no written agreement since we could not avail any
stationary at our work site, yet they have promised us to adjust our payment
even before the release of budget or handing and taking. But there silence murdered our trust and we
are being deceived. We were not only the
group of workers unpaid but there are other groups of students who have not
qualified for the tertiary education. They are also being deceived as much as
we are.
Until September 20, 2015
we had loosen our patience waiting almost three months for payment. I did submit the application to our provost
stating, “We will be grateful if Dr. could kindly help us to get through the
process to get ourselves paid for our hardships that we have gone through.”
Instantly, our application was approved and forwarded to office of Department
of Roads (DoR). Ah!!!!! Got relieved, the day after tomorrow, the notice came
to us to make our presence at office of DoR at Thimphu contact him immediately.
Perhaps, it happened with the help of my generous teacher and we were grateful
indeed.
September 26,
2015- It was
6:30AM when cock crowing over my mobile and friend knocking the door
simultaneously woke me up. I called and confirmed our taxi to thimphu. I
prepared breakfast, got ready for the journey and left around 8:20 AM. We
have known the fact until the day we reached to their company office exactly at
10:30 PM. We waited almost 6 hours with empty stomach for the sub contractor to
come. Frustration grew over his late report and we really has become hungry
man is angry man. Despite his late arrival, he even warned one of my
friends before a word we uttered. The way he welcomed us really has fueled our
frustrations. With the fear that some fishy things might go between them, we
kept our eyes on them while they are rectifying the bill. Oh! All of a sudden a
sound came at the top of our main contractor’s voice saying, “I will slap you!”
On the other hand, sub contractor argued to slap him immediately. That happened
when the sub contractor didn’t agree with the receipt that he issued
advancement worth Nu. 10,000. At the mean time we have screamed to pay us first
and then go for whatever talks they have. Yet, there was no sign of peaceful
resolution rather than to quarrel pointing at each other. Yes! Ap Rock, our
taxi driver who has been waiting patiently for us came into and negotiated our
conflict. But then it did not happen
since everybody stands on their own stand. We have insisted him to pay us then
and there. Ah!!! What a response? He said we may refer to any other higher
authority rather than saying us to pay whenever he will be able to. Yeah, that
was a fuel to fire ablaze and made us to write an application to police. A
police came, he almost drag him to detention room until we came to the
consensus to pay us within a given time frame with an agreement. We have given
him one week time to pay us. Yes, of course, it reminded me that my own little
world was not the only world and that my attitudes and approaches could do with
some reshaping in the context of the radical changes that were taking place all
over the world.
October 3,
2015- as par our agreement we were to be paid on October three. I and my friend
had been to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. We were discussing along the
way that we had been to Thimphu like visiting lavatory while suffering from diarrhea
attack. Having said that, coldness gave me gastritis attack in reality where I
could not hold the gas rather to fart openly. We were at least delighted that
they made sure some amount of Nu.10, 000/- for us. It wasn’t up to our
anticipation and it is against our agreement yet we have stretched to one week
timing for our full payment upon our consensual talk. By then their smooth and
flattering speech deceived the hearts of the unsuspecting. Let no one in
any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, character
is deceitful, devious and cunning as in a variety of guises. He seeks to
influence people for his own ends.
Anyway, for now I have almost given up
to beg him with pleasing words. It has reached to the full stop to sink in for it
may symbolize the emergence of new life to my cruel strategy to drag him and
drop. I am waiting for better time and strategy to win the battle against the silent
warrior like him and of course thanks to him for letting me to attain manhood- I
am out from the cocoon, I knew my little room isn’t the only world and really
understood what the hardship is.
Whatever said and done, I
would not forget to apologies for lacking laconic wit and would like to extent
heartfelt gratitude to my readers for having patience to flip my event of life.
……I would love to write for the
next battle I would fight for…..
