Pindan zau leh eng takah Marie chu an nam lut rawk a. Pindan kil khata mei aina, mawi taka cheimawi chu, ṭhutthleng ban nghahchhan nei lian pui puiin an hual ṭhup a. Meialh chu chak tak maiin a eng hluah hluah bawk a.
Ṭhutthleng zau tak pakhata lo ṭhu tlum than mai hmel a zu hmuh chuan Marie chu mak ti takin a thaw hawk hawk a.
“Paula!” tia au chhuak hlawlin, “Hetah enge I tih. Khaw’nge Mark? Tu emaw berin he’ng thil zawng zawng te hi enge a awmzia min hrilh thei hram em?”
“A hun takah le, duhlai. I hre thuai dawn alawm.”
Paula aw chuan mei a nei hle mai. An inhmuh hnuhnun dan ber chanchin a han ngaihtuah letin Marie chu a tirilah hlauhnain a man a, a khur ru der der a.
‘West End,’ zan lam intihhlimna hmunah niin, chutah chuan Marie chu zaia chhawr a ni. Zan khat chu, a zai zawhin, ṭhianzaho lo leng lutin an dawhkan kilpui ve turin an sawm a. A hreh hle naa, a duh hun huna ṭin an remtih sak avangin an sawmna a pawmsak a.
Ṭhianho zingah chuan Mark leh Paula pawh an tel ve a ni. In ngaizawng, invuan deuh ral ral ṭhin ni awm takin Paula chuan Mark chu a chelh deuh reng a, mahse Marka’n Marie a hmuh hnuah erawh chuan rang takin Paula vawnna chu a phelh sakin, a riru pawh thil dangah a sawhsawn ta zawk a. Thiam taka a pehhel dan leh a zûn chuan Marie chu a hip hle a; uaiin duh mi, ṭhian kawm thiam leh hmangaihna lama lut awl mi ni awmin lang mah se, Marka hipna chu Marie tan a na hle a ni. Chu chuan dawhkan kil lehlam aṭangin huatnaa khat mitmei a chaw chhuak nghe nghe. Midang awm ve te pawh chuan boruak chu an man thiam nghal thuai a, ‘eng thil nge thleng zel ang’ tih chu ennawm thlirin an lo thlir a. Marie pawhin an phawklekna leh huatna mitmei chu a hrethiam ve ta thuai a, mahse Mark-a erawh chuan Marie bak chu engdang mah hriat chan a nei lem lo.
Mark-a mitmei reng reng a hmuh theih tak lohah chuan Paula thinurna chu a zual tulh tulh a, a tawpa tawpah phei chuan a insum zo ta ngang lova. A zan len chhuahpui pa ber a chan ta a ni tih a langtlang sa nia a hriat hnu chuan, rum mangkhenga mengin, a inper tho at a. Nula hmelṭha tak ni mahse chutih lai kher kher erawh chuan a ṭhatna zawng zawngte chu huatna avanga a hmel chuar khawlo te chuan a tihmelhem zo vek a.
“A tawk e, Mark Stevens,” tiin diriam takin a si khum a. “Mimawl ber anga min chhuah hun hnuhnung ber a ni ang. I harhfim lunglen hunah rawn bawkkhup kual kawi duh suh ang che. Chuan, nang mi hniam vakvai nu….”
Mi chhiatna thlen duh tir tur mai hmela khatin Marie chu a melh hrawk a.
“Kan la intawng leh em em ang a, zanina thil thleng hi I inchhir pui zia hre turin I la dam khawchhuak bawk ang.”
Boruak nuam lo zet hnuchhiahin a chhuak nghal a. Marie chuan thawh a, umzui nghal mai a tum a, mahse Mark-a chuan a banah a man bet tlat a.
“Kal rawh se, a thinrim chu a reh leh mai ang.” a ti a. “Engpawh nise, zaninah hian lo tel ve turin ka sawm hlei nem. Amah leh amah a rawn inzep lut ve ngawt alawm. Tunah chuan a lakah eng rilru mah ka pu lo tih pawh a hrethiam ve tawh em chek ang chu. ‘Rawn bawkkhup lut tawh suh’ te a tia maw! Zakthei lo si!”
Marie ngaih chu a ṭha thei reng reng lova. An dawhkan kilpui pakhatin Paula chanchin a sawi zuina chu theihnghilh harsa a ti em em a.
“A hmel kha in lo hmu em?” tia a phun ser ser pah chuan, “Thinurnain a ti a lo chauh alawm. Hmelma atan chuan mi duhawm lo ber a nih ka ringhlel lo. Thu dangalai chuan Sicilian chhual chhuak ni te pawhin an sawi thawm ka hre fuh a ni.”
Inchhaina lo thleng palh mai mai a ni lova, inngaihzawnna boruak pawh a sang ṭha hle a. Paula chuan Mark-a laka a dinhmun hloh tawh chu neih let leh tumin vawi duai lo a bei a, mahse a hlawhtling thei chuang lova. Chutiang chanchin chu, an intawn hmasak ber zana thil thleng duhawm lo tak kha manghilh tura a duh avangin, Mark-a chuan Marie a hrilh ngai lem lova. A tawpah chuan Paula pawh thil nih dan hrethiam ni awm takin thlakhat chhung zet chu tuma hmuh leh hriat lohin a pil bo ta veng veng a ni.
Tunah chuan mahni tawka hlim hmel tak, mahse, phuba lak chak hmel pu bawk siin a rawn inlar leh tawh a.
Tlai dar 7 vela kawngkhar dar hmehrik a lo rik aṭang tawh khan Marie chuan ngaihṭhat loh rukna riau a nei tawh reng a. Dar 7:30 hmain Mark-a a rawn thleng dawn lo tih a hriat lawk avangin a lo la inpeih lo hle a.
Kawngkapuia ding pa pahnih te chu misual rual ho lemchan hmuhnawma tel ve, mi vakvai, ni awm hmel an pu a. Pakhat zawk chu cher sang, a hmai zum taka mit inhnaih tak, meng thip kar, hnar ngul sei leh hmui pan lam a ni a. A ṭhianpa chuan a dar a chen pha ṭawk chauh a mahse KG 13 awm vel laiin a rih hleih thung a. A kawrlum fual hak pawh chuan a thauna a hliahkhuh zo lo a ni ber. Vir hmel zet mit te tak te pahnih kar aṭang chuan a rawn melh ker ker a, a ṭawng zawng te pawh chuan a biang thau tak chu hmuhnawm lo khawpin a fawn luar luar bawk a.
Marie hnenah chuan Mark-a ṭhian an nih thu leh amah lam tura tirh an nih thu a hrilhin, inthlak buai doh lo tur leh a awm ang anga kal nghal vat tura chah a nih thu te, phut zawkna tham tur thil pekin a hmuah thu te a hrilh bawk a. A rinhlelh takin tih thuah Mark-a kutziak ngei lehkha tawite an pe tel bawk a. Ngaihna hre lo tak leh rinhlelhna derthawng tak nen an pahnih chuan a zui chhuak a. Chak mangkheng maia minit 45 chhung lirtheia an tlan hnu chuan tun hi a lo ni ta a ni. Mark-a awm si lo, a ngaihzawng hlui chauh bakah tlai khaw boruak lahin a phu tawk chan ṭhatlohna a pai sak ni hialin a hria a.
“Mark-a chu a lo kal ve lovang,” tiin Paula chuan a hrilh fiah a.
“A nih, lehkha kha?”
“A! Aw! Kha kha! Mi bum thiam tak niin ka inhre ṭhin reng a ni. I ngaihruat thiam tawh ngei ang a, Mark-a kutziak hi chu ka hre chiang ve thawkhat a ni.”
Hnunglam aṭanga aw dang daih lo ri chuan Marie chu a ti phu zawk a. Ṭhutthleng ban nghehchhan nei dang aṭanga lo ri chhuak, ṭhutna dum nuam tak karah a lo ṭhut pil daih avanga lo biru reng a ni a.
“Mi hrilh fo ṭhin nula chu hei ngei hi maw, Paula. Mit a titlai hle mai. Marka’n heti khawpa a buapui pawh hi mak ka ti love. A lainatawm zawk mahin ka hria chutia….”
“….a tawk, Marcel. Keima’n ka’n ti ang e.” Paula chu a rawn inrawlh nghal vat a.
“I thu ang zelin, duhlai Paula. Tha chakna lamah chuan puih che ka intiam alawm. I duhdan ang zelin ti rawh le.”
Thusawitu chu pa hang lam, mize rapthlak hmel zet, khabe hmul dum tlem zuah leh mitmeng sual hmel tak pu mi a ni a. Kum 30-45 inkar vel ni awm a ni bawk. A sap ṭawng chu sawisel bo mah nise a aw phawi aṭang chuan ram dang mi a ni tih erawh hai rual a ni lo. Marie tan chuan a mi hmuh hmasak pahnih te aia dinhmun duhawm zawk siamsaktu ni hmel a pu chuang lova, an zinga fing ber a ni tih pawh lang tlang sain, hlauhawm rukna riau a nei bawk a ni. A ngaihtuahna chu Paula awkain a rawn la peng a.
“Hmeli, tun hun hi rei tak ka nghak tawh asin. Golden Bucket ka chhuahsan zana ka thusawi kha I la hria em?”
Marie chuan a duh aiin a hre chiang mah mah.
“Chuan, duhlai Mark nen chuan in inngaizawng ta em em a, ka hrethiam e. Tun aṭang chuan in ni tawh lovang. I chunga ka tih tur ka hlen zawh hnuah phei chuan Marka’n a en leh tawh ngai lovang che a, tu mipa mahin an en leh tawh ngai hek lovang che.”
Tur ang maia chu’ng thute a chhakchhuah lai chuan Marie chu a lo ip chawih chawih a.
“Mark-a nen ka ṭhiante hmaah min timualpho a, tunah chuan ka hun a lo thleng ve ta. A hmasa ber atan inphelh ruak vek phawt la, Marka’n engvangin nge a duh em em che ka lo thlithlai ve teh ang.”
“Ngawi teh Paula, I ti mah mah lo maw! Min tihṭhaih nasa tawh teh mai a nia, ih….”
“….ti mah mah teuh lo nasa mai,” Paula chuan a rawn ṭawng khal leh vat a. “I thuamhnaw te kha phelh rawh ka tih chu. Gorky-a ṭanpuina I mamawh te a nih ngawt loh chuan.”
Nuih pahin, pathaua chuan a ke a lo phiat a. A ṭhianpa chu kawngkhar hnungchhawin a ding a, tlan chhuahna kawng a kaw lo a ni tih lantir tum ni awm takin. Marie chuan an ti tak tak a ni tih a hre chiang ta. A inphelh loh chuan zawng pathaua chuan a phelh lui tho tho dawn si a, a biang thau tak leh Paula-i a melh zuai hnu chuan Marie chu a chiang leh zual a ni.
Muangchangin a kawrchung-lum a phelh a, chhuatah a tlak tir a. A kawrhnuai kilhna chu kutzungṭang khur der dera kheuhin a phelh a bawk a. A pawnfen inkhaina kilh a phelh leh a, a kephah bul velah chuan a tlak tir a. A pheikhawk, mawza sei leh darbak te a phelh zel a, hnute chanve khuh ‘Bra’ a hren leh kekawrte langtlang thei, te tak te, chauh a inbel tawh a. A kekawrte aṭanga thil dum hlawm khawm hmuh ruai ruai theih chuan a vun mam leh ngo tak mai chu a tichiang hle a ni.
“Enge I nghah?”
Marie-i, nunchang mawi leh zahloh theihna hmawr tawpa a din laiin Paula erawh chu hnehna avanga lawmna hmel puin a khat a.
“Kha pawh kha.”
Beidawng takin Marie chuan a hnute tuamna kilh chu dim takin a phelh a. A thawmhnaw dawrawm tak chu a hnunhnung berah a mal thlengin a hlip thla a, a inphelh zawh chuan ruak ngal ngatin a ding ngil ta zarh a.
“Ka tiam ngam sak a che Paula, ka rin phak bakin hei zet chu a ṭha a ni,” nula ruak ngalngat a han en thlithlai vel hnu chuan Marcel-a chu a ngawi reng thei ta bik lova. “Duhlai, I ban kha phar la, han vir kual vel teh. Chiang tawk takin ka lo en teh ang che.”
Hun engemaw ti chhung chu a tim deuh titih a, mahse Marie chu a vir kual ta a. Pathaua khawih kual vel nih ai chuan eng pawh a thlanawm zawk a ni.
Paula erawh chuan eng lemah mah a ngai ve lo thung a.
“Awle Marcel, I ngaihmelh hun a tawp ta. Kan tih tum ber pawh a ni lo. A bul ṭanna’n he’ng te hi dekral ila.”
Kun pahin Marie thawmhnaw hlih zawng zawngte chu, kawrchung-lum tel lovin, a la lawk a, meialh zuai zuaiah chuan a vawm lut a. Reilo te a inmut hnu chuan an alh ta hluah hluah a, hun lovah meivap nawi dumah an chang zo ta vek a.
“Kha’ng ho kha chu I hmang leh tawh ngai lovang,” elhsen takin Paula chuan a tih khum a.
“Engvanga khatia ti kha nge I nih?” hlauhna vawrtawpin Marie pawh a ngawih tir reng thei ta bik lova, a lungawi lohna a tilang ve a.
“Ngawi hmak rawh, tenawm nu,” Paula-i’n a ngur chhar chhar a. Mi thah chak hmel pua a chhuah zan ang hmel chiah kha a pu leh tawh a ni. Chhantu neilo nula hmaah chuan a ding ang veng vawng a, na tawk tak maiin a beng ta chawrh a. “Phuba ka la la ang tih ka hrilh lawk che a, tunah hian hlen ngei ka tum a ni. Tu hmeichhe tenawm, hniam bawk si mah hian nuihza burah min hmangin, min tlan bo san dawn lo hrim hrim. I chhuan em em Mark-a pawh engahmah ka ngai bawk hek lo. A finvar loh bakah a thu a duh bawk si, remchangah ka la mai chauh a ni. Mah reng reng se, I thil tih kha tithei turin thiam channa pakhat te mah I nei lo bawk.”
Chiang taka en chhuk chhoh reng pahin Marie chu a kal hual a.
“Mmm….Mark-a chuan hmeichhe pianṭha hi a hnial ka ring lo reng a ni,” tiin a phun ser ser bawk a.
Marie pian chu a ṭha tak reng bawk a ni. Zaia chhawr ni mah se lam velna hmunah thawk ta zawk se chuan mi tam tak lung a ṭhawng ngei ang le. Eng ang zawng pawha tehin a pian chu a dik fai vel vek a. Tunah erawh saruakin, chanhai leh phuba lak tuma tihnat tum, mi â ni zawk awma mawi, thuneihna hnuaiah a kun a.
“Ka rin ang ngeiin I taksa chu a lo itawm a nih hi,” hlim takin Paula chuan a chhunzawm zel a. Malsawmlo fahran maiin, “Thil hi a mawi poh leh a mawina tih chhiat hi a sawt duh a ni.”
“Tun ang hunah hian engtinnge ka tih ang che tih ka ngaihtuah fo mai. Awlsam tein ka tihmelhem thei che alawm. Dik tak maia chem hriam tak han vih siah siah hian hun lovah hmelṭha tak pawh a tih danglam theih zia hi a mak asin. Marcel-a khan min hrilh ngei a ni lawm ni kha! I kut emaw, I hnute pawh awlsam takin kan tan chhum sak thei che, mahse ṭha tawka kan hriat loh bakah I tan a la ṭha tawk lo deuh. Thil danglam bik ni thei se kan duh a, chuan Marcel-a thurawnna remchang tak angin han cheibawl dan tur che dik tak kan nei tain ka hria.”
Nunrawng leh diriam awka takin a belhchhah leh a:
“I laka ka tih tur ka zawh hnu chuan I dam chhungin tu ngaihzawng mah I ruk sak leh tawh ngai lovang.”
Marie chuan a thinlungah hlauhna namen lovin a man khawng vek niin a inhria a. Huatnain chhia leh ṭha hriatna piah lamah Paula chu a hruai bo tawh a ni tih a lang chiang hle a. He’ng misualte ṭanpuina hian a chungah thil rapthlak tak tih a tum ngei a ni tih pawh a hrethiam a ni.
“Kan titi rei ta e,” Paula chuan a ti a. “Ka remruatnate chu a taka chantir a hun ta e. Kal ang u.”
Hma hruaiin pindan inkal pawhna zau takah a chhuak a, Marcela’n a zui a. Marie’n a zui leh a. A saruakna chu nawmsip bawlna atana it hmel takin mi tawrawt pahnih te chuan Marie kal chhet chhet chu an zui ve a.
Inkal pawhna kil hla takah chuan kanwgkhar te tak te hian Lei (Step) a pawh thla a. Tlar khata inzuiin, kailawn eng lo tak chu an zawh thla zel a. A mawng an thlen chuan kal tlangna zim tak, In relh hnuaia kal tlangna ni awm tak an zawh leh a. Lungchhuat rualrem lo leh thap tak chu, ke lawnga kal, Marie chuan vawt a ti hle a. An chhuahsan tak pindan lum nena tehkhin phei chuan, boruak hnawm bawk si nen, a taksa a tikhawng lo chauh a ni.
Kawng daltu kawngkhar, sasawthing rit tak, hawlh kalhna chu Paula chuan a phelh a. Kawpza rik ṭuah ṭuah paha a inten hawn hnu chuan banga electric hmeh enna chu a hmet a. Pindan lo lang chu engin a chhun khat ta vek a. An luh kim vek hnu chuan kawngkhar chu khar lehin, nghet takin an kalh a.
Beisei nei leh hlauthawng rilru buai taka Marie’n a enkual vel hnu chuan inhnuai pindan zau takah an awm a ni tih a hmu thei a. Eng vuah chawp te chuan pindan kil zau lai ber hliahkhuh zo lovin, a enna chuan an thuruk te a pholan sak zawk mah a. Tun hma chuan Uaiin dahṭhatna pindana hman ṭhin a ni ngei a ni tih chu hriat mah se tunah erawh chuan chutiang hmel reng reng a pu tawh lo.
Chhuata thirtlang bial lian tak pahnih inphum tih lohah chuan engmah reng hmun luah khattu dang an awm lova. Mihring awhna tur thang, khuarkhurum, khuhna ni awm hmel an pu a. Feet 10 velin an inhlat bawk a. In chung han tawng pha lek lekin, sang tak maiah, hrui pawh sanna lirtthei a inkhai a, chu lirthei chu thirthleng pahnih chung zawn chiahah khai niin, pindan lai taka lungban awmah chuan thlun zawm a ni. Thlun zawmna hrui lo ep let zawng tak chuan darthlalang lian ṭha tak mai hi ban nghenchhanin din tir a ni bawk a.
Banga hmeh enna ṭhenkhat chu Paula chuan a’n hmet leh a, pindan lai tak chu eng nasa tak maiin a rawn chhun kuau a. Zaizirin paliana chu a va bia a, a niin eng hnuai takah Marie chu a nam phei a. Thirthleng pakhat zawk bulah chuan din tirin, a ban rekah a man nawk nawk a, a ipte aṭanga hruizen chhah tak phawrh chhuakin, nula kut chu a ṭawn khawm nghal a. Hruizen hmawr lehlam chu hrui pawhna lirtheia hrui rawn uaithlaah chuan a ṭawn zawm hnu chuan Marie kut chu a lu chung lamah muang changin a pawt chho a.
A pawh san deuh hnu chuan hruizen chuan Marie banrek chu a hreng na hle a. A ke hmawrin lei dek pha ṭawk ṭawka a pawh din mar at hnuah chauh chuan hrui chu banah a ṭawn bet ta a.
Saruak, ṭhal hrui anga mar leh chhantu nei lo tak maiin Marie chu a inkhai ta reng a. A ke zungpui hmawra lei a zu deh chhung zeuh chuan a bana rihna kham awmkhawm chu reilo te a chhawk zuai thei a. Chuti a nih loh chuan tawrh hreawm khawpin a taksa rihna chuan a banreka an ṭawnna chu a tina zual zel a ni. A hmalam a en chuan darthlalang seiah khan a inhmu kim thei vek a.
“Kan sawifiah tawh ang e,” tiin Paula chu a lo phei a, pachera thil tih chu duhkhawp takin a en kual vel a.
“Kan tum chu ho te mai a ni. He’ng chhin pahnih hnuaiah hian inbiakhlatna bawm (telephone box) tiah vela zau leh sei khuarkhurum an awm a. A mawng zu thleng tur vela mi han thlak nana tawk vel chiah a ni. Pakhat zawk hi acid in a khat vek a. Chutah chuan I taksa pumin chiah I ni dawn a ni. Minit 1 vel chiah I nih hnua I awmdan tur awm ang chu I suangtuah atan khek rih ila. I hmel leh taksa khawilai pawh kha acid chuan a ei dawn che a ni, chuan I taksa chu a lo so phuan buan buan ang a, khawvel plastic surgery zawng zawng pawhin hun hi an her kir sak leh thei tawh ngai lovang che.”
“A pahnihnaah han lut leh ila. Nasa taka tih hmelhem I nih bakah, na namen lo I tawrh bawk dawn avangin, a tihdamna chu nunna atana hlauhawm tur a ni lo a ni. Chuvang chuan, acid tuiah chiah I nih zawh hnuin khuar pahnihnaah chiah leh I ni dawn a. Chutah chuan acid hnathawhin I taksa a tihchhiat lutuk lohna’n, a chakna tibo zawk turin, tuibur al tak dah a ni.”
“Thil dang pakhat leh chu, chutia na I tawrh nasat dawn avang chuan I hreawmna tihtawp tumin acid lem ngei I tum ang tih pawh kan ngaihtuah lawk, mahse ka sawi ang khan, chu chu thleng tura kan duh loh bakah, mitdela I awm kan remti lo bawk a ni. Chutilo zawng mi rapthlak tak I nih hunah I duh ang tawkin I inhmu thei nang. Chumi atan darthlalang hi! Chuan, a bik liau liaua siam thil kaw hnawhna leh tuamna te kan nei bawk a ni. I mit leh I ka kan tuam ang a, I hnar leh I beng te kan hnawh bawk dawn a ni. He’ng thil te tih lohah hi chuan invenna dang engmah I nei dawn lova, chuvang chuan I inphelh ruah vek a pawimawh chhan chu I hre thiam tawh mai ang chu.”
Rap tak maia a thusawi a ngaihthlak lai chuan Marie chuan a banreka an ṭawnna na em em pawh chu a hre chang tawh lo reng reng a. Paula hnunga ding mi pathum te chu chhan beisei takin a va melh ṭhin a, anni erawh an phur hmel em em a, chhan tuma inrawlh chak hmel pakhat mah an pu bawk lo a ni. A taksa tih chhiat chu an hlimpui zawng tak a nih hmel zawk a ni.
“Pathian hmingin, Paula, I ti tak tak dawn a mi?” In chhanchhuahna’n chuan eng pawh tih a huam tawh a, he mi â nu bula ngen a, mahni intih zahawm loh pawh nise.
“Aw! Ka thutak lai ber a ni e,” tiin Paula chu a hlim hle a, ama lam pana Marie a vah tir theih phei chuan a ṭha hlei hlei.
“Ka hun a lo thleng ve ta a, ka bansan I ring em ni? Engpawh nise, hun engemaw chen chu ka han chen ve reng reng teh ang, mi dai khalh ni kha ngaihtuah letna hun ka pe dawn bawk che a ni. Chuvang chuan darkar khat vel kan kalbo san ang che. Chutih chhung chuan I thil tihsual te lo ngaihtuah let leh la, I pian nalh tak kha a tawpna’n lo thlir bawk ang che. Kan lo let leh hunah I tana hremna chu puitlin a ni ang. Marcel, kal ang. Light kha chu ti eng rawh, Gorky.”
Marie chuan kal tlangna lama an ke pen ri chu a hre zui thei zel a, a zawi tual tual a, thawm engmah a hre ta lova. Amah chauhin a awm ta.
A ban an phuarna a nat tawh em vang a ni mai thei, tunah chuan thlaphan tak tein a thlaphang tawh a. A ngaihtuahna la peng theitu dang awm bawk hek lo le, a buai chiai lek lek a, a rilru fim pawh hloh hial dawna inhriatna a nei bawk a ni.
Marka’n a In a lo thleng anga, a awmlo tih a hriat hunah ‘engtin tak ti ang maw?’ tih te a ngaihtuah a. Rawn chhanchhuah chu sawi loh a awmna hriat theihna kawng pakhat te mah a nei dawn si lo. Chhanchhuah emaw tlan chhiat chu thil theih a nih loh zia a ngaihtuah ringawt pawhin a dinhmun khirh zia tilang chiangtu zawk mai an ni.
Hun eng chen nge thamral tawh pawh han chhut chhuah theihna tur pakhat te mah a nei si lo. Minit tlemte chauh an thang bo pawh a ni thei, an rawn let leh mek tawh zawk phawh a ni thei.
A suangtuahna a ni em, nge pindan kawngkhar bulah thawm a hria em aw! Hai rual lohin thawm chu a hre leh a, darthlalang hnung lam aṭang chuan tu ruangam emaw hi a rawn lang a. Paula niin, a hmel duhawm takah chuan sualna tih at hmel chhe zawk kha a la lang reng a. Marie hmalah lo kalin, ngawi rengin a rawn thlek vang vang a.
“I hun hnuhnung chu I chhawr ṭangkai em?” tiin a zawt a. “Minit 20 vel I la nei. Kan….a! Hun lo tlan khalh lutuk lo teh ang. Patling ho an lo let leh hmain thil pakhat hrilh duh che ka nei a, chuvang chuan rawn hmuhfal che ka duh a ni. Nakinah zawng, ka thusawi tum hrethiam thei dinhmunah I ding tawh dawn si lova.”
A ṭawng chhunzawm leh hma chuan ngun tak maiin Paula chuan an awmna chu a melh kual te te phawt a.
“Mark-a chanchin ka sawi kha ka ti tak tak lova. Ka la hmangaih reng a, neih let leh ngei pawh ka tum a ni.”
A kawng dawmin Marie hmaah chuan a ding ang el awl a.
“Tunah chuan tunge a thlan zawk ang tih inchawi I ngam ang em? Ka taksa mam puak nge I taksa ut bang rapthlak tak tur chu?”
“I ngaihzawng thar Marcel-a kha engati nge?” hlau aw zawi raihin Marie chuan a zawt a. A rilrua awm ni lo mah se engemaw tal sawi ṭhain a hria a. An inbiak zel chuan mi â nu thluak buai tak chu tihdanglamin a awm hlauh thei a ni.
“Min fiam vel elaw? Ani leh a ṭhuihhruai rapthlak pahnih te saw I laka ka thil tih tum puitlinna’n chauh ka hmang mai mai alawm. Zanin bak chu ka hmu leh tawh ngai bawk lovang.”
Marie chu a ṭim uaih uaih a.
“Uggh….thinlung tenawm tak ze pu mi a ni a. Mi han khawih vel chang te pawh hian ka rap ngawih ngawih ṭhin.”
“Chu zawng ngaihnawm tak a ni, ka duhlai Paula. Tu nge ka rin tak tak theih ang tih hi hriat a ṭul ṭhin reng a ni.” Talhfiak hlap rik ṭhuai ang maia nain Marcel-a aw chu kawngkapui lam aṭangin a rawn ri a.
“Marcel!,” Paula chu a au ṭhawt a. “I thawm ka va hre lo ve.”
Kar lovah, midang chaldelhtu a nihna zia chu a tuiral nghal vek a. Hlauthawng hmel tak a pu ta zawk a.
“Ka hriat belh zel e.”
Pindanah Marcel-a chu a rawn lut a. A mei hnungzuitu rinawm pahnih te chuan an rawn um zui nghal bawk a.
“Sawtah sawn I lo ding rei hman em?” Paula aw chu a zam ta hle mai.
“Rei thawkhat e.”
A awka aṭang chuan engkim a hre hman a ni tih hai rual a ni lo. Inrin hmanna pawh awm lovin a phe zeuh a, dimdawihna pakhat te mah tel lovin a biangah a beng chawrh a. Paula chu a pai let chawt chawt a.
“Chu, chhiahhlawh ang maiin mi lo rap a maw?”
A mei pahnihte lam chu a va hawi phei a.
“Hmeichhe dik lo zawk kan khaiin ka hria. Thlak thleng nghal vat rawh u.”
Silai ri ang tluka rangin, a thupek chu, ṭhuihhruai te pahnih chuan rang tak maiin an bawhzui nghal thuai a. Gorky-a’n Paula a hnungkhirh lai chuan a ṭhianpa zawkin Marie an khaina hrui chu rang takin a zai chat a.
A ban kham tawh lutuk han hahdam ta thut avang chuan Marie chu chhuatah tlu lek lekin, a inkam ding lui hram hram a. Fimkhur takin chhuat laizawl aṭang chuan kawngkapui inhawng lamah a hnung tawlh phei zal zal. Thil thleng inthlakthleng teh thut dan chu a hriatthiamnain a la man pha chiah lo a ni. A hriat chin zawng chu, rawn hnuh let leh pawh tum se, a tha neih zawng zawng hmang ral ṭhak khawpin a ṭang tawh ang.
Patling pathumte lah chuan a awm ve leh ve loh pawh hrechang tawh lovin Paula chu buaipui berah an nei ta zawk a. He hmun rapthlak tak hi ṭih hle mah se kawngka bulah chuan a tawi khawmuang rih a. A hlauhna aia nasa zawkin a aikaih tlat avangin pindan chhunga thil thleng rapthlak tak chu a en reng a.
A theihtawp chhuahin ṭang ve teh mah se, Marcel-a ṭhuihhruai te’n Paula chu a banah thlungin, Marie an khaina ngeiah khan an khai kang ta thuai a. An chet zung zung dan aṭang chuan mi duh lo chung an khai vawikhatna a ni lo tih a lang chiang hle. An zeizia chu, nula phelhruah hna an zawh hnu phei chuan, a chiang leh zual a. A bana an khai tawh avangin, pachera zawk chuan, Paula thawmhnaw tam zawk chu chemin a zai thler a, Gorky-a chuan nuam ti tak maiin kawr ṭet bang te chu a lo pawtthler ve zel a.
Chutih chhung zawng chuan, ngawi rengin, Marcel-a chuan a lo thlir a, mahse Paula-i ruak ngal ngata a awm tak hnu chuan thu pekna dang a chham leh a.
“Kaw hnawhna kha.”
“Ni lo Marcel, khawngaihin….” Paula chu a au chel chul a, mahse a ka leh hmui te chu ṭhelret hnawhnain an hnawh pin sak a, an tuam phui leh tlat bawk a.
Hun engemaw ti chhung chu a tal buai ta lova. Mak danglam takin thawm pawh a reh ṭhuap a. Marcel-a chuan a va pan hnai a.
“Reilo teah, ka duhlai Paula, nang zawk hi a ni, miin an khawih reng reng che pawha tikhurtu tur zawk chu. Heti mai maia mi bum tur chuan I inngaihtuah chiang tawk lo a ni.”
Kawngka bul aṭangin, Marie chuan, chhantu nei lo taka nula inthen chu a thlir reng a. Kaw hnawhna nunrawng tak kar aṭanga lungchhe taka nghik ri faih faih thawm a hre thei bawk a. Paula-i kha lo ṭawng sual ta hlauh lo se chuan amah zawk hi khaikan tur a ni tih hre reng mah se a lainat rilru em em tho a. Chhanchhuah a ni lo nachungin pindan rapthlak chu a tlan chhiat san mai thei chuang lova.
Marcel chuan han banin Paula taksa pumpui chu a zut thla a. Lo tawlh sawn a tum zuai a, a tal leh ta chiam a.
“Hun I khawhral tampui tawh lovang u,” tiin Marcel chuan thu a titlu ta a.
Khawl ang maiin patling pahnihte chu an phe leh nghal thuai a.
Paua beng chu ṭhelretin an hnawh a, khuarkhurum khuhna thleng chu an hnuk sawn a, khuar kaw zawn takah chuan an khai kang ta va va mai a.
“Rang takin,” Marcel chuan a ti a. Pachera zawk chuan an mi khaina hrui a tihhniam lai chuan Gorky chuan Paula hnar te chu a lo hnawh ping leh a.
A taksain khuarkhurum a pan thlak mek lai chuan kaw rapthlak takina a lo hmuam tur lak ata in chhanchhuah tumin Paula chuan a ke a leng kual vak vak a. Patling pahnihte chuan an ṭanrual thiamna namen lo an thawh hnuin chhuat awngah chuan an thun thei ta hram a. A ke lam zawng a pil bo hnu chuan a taksa dang zawng chu hnim pil harsa a ni tawh lo.
Tuiper ri zawite bak tih lohah chuan, minit khat awm vel hi, pindan chhung chu a reh ngawih ngawih a. Misual pahnih te thaw pawh a chham hman titih a. Marcel chuan a sana a en reng a. Marie chu a khur hlawk hlawk a mahse a awm ngaiin a awm reng a. Acid-in a hmai leh taksa a ei chhiat lai, leh a hmelhmang a tih khawloh laia Paula na tawrh dan tur chu ngaihruat thiam phak rual a ni lo.
“Awle, la chhuak ula khur dangah khan thun leh rawh u,” tiin Marcel chuan thu a pe leh a.
Khaina hrui chu pachera chuan a uai a, thil ṭihbaihawm leh vial tup tup, tuibur hmuamda pawh ral hma lawka nula duhawm tak ni ṭhin kha, a rawn inkhai chhuak a. Tihrawl sen seng sung aṭang chuan thawm ri ser ser hriat tur a awm bakah kaw hnawhna kar atanga thawm lo ri chu mihring chhuak pawh a ni tawh lo.
Khuar aṭangin an hnuk chhuak kim ṭep tihah chuan khaina hruihrual chu a bung ta hmawk mai a. Tui per ri chuai karah chuan a pil bo ta vang vang a. Pachera chu hnunglamah a pai let ṭawk ṭawk a, anchhe lawh mual mual pah chuan a hrui vawnlai a thlauh thla a.
“Acid khan hruihrual a ei tel ve a ni mahna, boss!” a ti hu a.
Rang takin Marcel-a’n rilru a siam fel a.
“Engti kawng zawng mahin kan la chhuak thei tawh chuang lovang,” thu pe awk takin a ti a. “A thawmhnaw pawh kha vawm lut ula, chhin phui leh thlap ula, he hmun hi I chhuahsan vat ang u.”
Marie erawh a lo chhuak fel diam tawh a. Khuarkhuruma Paula tlak thlak leh thawm khan lo thlir ve reng tura aikaiha a awmna ata kha tiharhin, hmanhmawh baklengin kailawnah a tlan chho a, saruakin a awm a ni tih pawh hre chang tawh lovin, awrawl theih tawpa auvin zan khaw thim hnuaih a tlan chhuak ta a ni.
Thawnthu Khawvel 