Summer
2016 (May-June)
The
spring semester of 2016 ended in first week of May and before my exams were
over, I was impatient about going home. I packed everything and it was ready
but exams weren’t ended. I was extremely excited and hurry to meet my family,
friends and especially my old grandfather who was bed ridden for almost 7
months after his minor accident (now almost a year). He was healthy and strong in
his 70s but few years later everything seems bothering him and making him weak.
About his current condition I was haunted and couldn’t live in serenity. Mom
and other siblings and especially my grandfather he didn’t think that he could
wait for me to get home. As his health was deteriorating and giving him immense
pain his hopes were lessen. And only I could
say was please hold a little longer, I am going to be home soon through a video
call.
Nevertheless,
I made up my mind to support him and make the best use of my 3 months vacation.
I neither try nor apply for any internship and conference. Whereas, almost all
my friends and mates are busy modifying their CVs and resumes, some rushing towards
printer, while some rush to scan the documents and some busy in interviews.
Other junior friends they register for summer courses and some engaged in
summer projects. Many emails were unread from CDC although I wanted to try some
but I choose my family first. My brain was occupied with hopes and wishes to go
home immediately after my exam and start my grandfather’s treatment as if I am
like an expert doctor. But the fact is I couldn’t do anything to him even after
arriving there. I just assisted him to wash his face, brush his teeth and serve
meals. Sometimes, help him exercise once or twice a day.
In fact, it wasn’t
simple and didn’t work out what I planned. Countless troubles one after another
kept on mounting at home. My mom, sister, and in-law will be gone early morning
to do transplanting, weeding and watering the field. Sometimes they are gone to work for
neighbors and stay working for whole day. Only gathering we could hardly
manage was during breakfast time. Otherwise, all split into different directions and
sometimes I used to fell asleep before my mom was back to home from work.
Sometimes
I substituted my mom in looking after the cows and she went for others work. On
the other hand, my grandma stayed whole day with grandpa serving drinks,
porridge, and flushing pee and feces mostly. I wish I could substitute my
grandma as well but I couldn’t. The days elapsed as usual and all summer works
such as ploughing field, cultivating vegetables, paddy, and millet plantation were
done one after another without omitting a single day even it was a bright sunny
day or heavy rainfall.
I ponder over numerous
difficulties we had and its solution but I was left without any answers to my
question. I wouldn’t bring a change in that monotonous situation back at home.
I was helpless, hopeless, tired and upset. I couldn’t bear the pain that my
grandpa have to endure, couldn't gaze at grandma frequently going in and out to throw urine, and mom and sisters with their immense pain working everyday. Grandpa sitting on a bed for months and months, longing to take
a sun bath but couldn’t elevate his legs. We neither help him with the
wheelchair as his body couldn’t fit in it nor carry him. But he was happy when
my siblings and I were near him. He enjoyed listening to our chats and jokes.
Children around him throwing tantrums but frequently he was in pain and gets
irritated by the children’s cry.
We
try to keep cheerful and lively around him but often reluctantly had to leave
him alone in that huge traditional house when my grandma had some other vital
work. Despite, our rough and tiring days seldom we find a day to chit chat and
enjoy meals together. We visited temples and offered butter lamps
during auspicious days and few wefies together to refresh ourselves. And the best
time that we spent together us during our rituals at home.
By then, the time has already arrived to go back to college. My mom and sisters started preparing pickle, and other edibles for me. Many people came at home to visit me with tea and conflakes, some came with largesse and I still remember their wishes and prayers for me. I don't know whether my presence was helpful or burden to them but I did my best to support them from every possible way. However, I am immensely glad that I could meet my grandfather and thank God for letting me see his face and be nearby him.
I am grateful to God indeed and I hope he will continue to bestow his blessings. My special thanks of gratitude goes to my cousin Phuntsho and sister Choki for bearing all the expenses of my journey and my uncle for his perpetuate encouragment and advise and making me move forward. Overall, I am grateful to my grandpa for holding it longer and seeing in brighter side. He helped me to walk when I could hardly take a step as a baby. Now, he can count on me to do the same but I am sorry I couldn't be your side all the time. I am extremely sorry for that and I hope he can still wait for me for few more months. Your Zhomo (sister my common name at home) always loves you so much and miss you May May (grandpa) and all family members. Take Care. (
