The story of old man..

Felt the warmness and aroma of butter lamp while stepping inside the shrine. The entire front space was filled with butter lamp and the statue was unable to see clearly as it was covered up with silk. The glittering blue ferocious face was shining along with the reddish yellow radiant of the butter lamp making more frightening. The hair will be disturbed whoever sees such frightening statue.

rain start falling ...

Nearby, father Phentsok uplift his face and prostrate thrice stretching his body and hold his palm toward forehead while kneeling down. He pray “Oh!! deity, as you know. Although I take birth in human life but due to lack of merit accumulation, until now I spend my life in depress and hard labor. Now for the sake of next life, with intension to get bless from venerable Sakyamuni of Potala, I came for pilgrimage and it’s been six months since I left my village and till now more than forty pilgrimage sites and monasteries were visited. Now I came by you deity. Tomorrow is the 15^th day of the lunar month and Saga Dawa as well; now it’s time to get bless from venerable Sakyamuni. Till then I request you to protect us from obstacles” father Phentsok took the cane nearby knee and slowly stands up while putting right hand on the shoulder of young boy who stands by left.  He keeps glancing again and again at the statue while walking away from it.

Suddenly thunder start thundering and lighting, watching the black clouds rolling in the sky, father Phentsok knew that rainstorm will fall so, took a shelter nearby. Father Phentsok recites Mani while rolling beats of rosary through his right fingers, before completing a circle, rainstorm start and quickly he kept the boy in his lap and continues reciting and wishing it to stop sooner or later. The lady of house come to know that there are people sheltering under her roof. She saw an old father and son cuddle with each other when she checked the door. Afflicted by hunger and exhausted, fatigue, sallow and thin old man was holding a young boy in his lap. She understood the circumstance when father Phentsok honestly response the question the lady asked.

When she examine from head to foot, old father’s chupa was covered up with patches while kneecap were reveal out as a trousers was tore. Bare foot touches the earth as the sole of the shoes has worn out. A young boy has nothing to wear even no trousers that he was covered with short ragged clothing cloth. His hair matted together and became disheveled, dirt has form as if coal was put on a face. Through nostril the snot hang up and down with the inhaling and exhaling process. 

TO BE CONTINUE.....