သည္ဘက္ကမ္းမွ လြမ္းကိႏၷရီ

သည္ဘက္ကမ္းမွ လြမ္းကိႏၷရီ

ျမေႏွာင္းညဳိ

Pining Keinnari on this bank

Translated by Alfred Balwin

        CHAPTER I

At the right side of the sliding door of the uppermost apartment at the highest right corner of a four-storied duplex, a name plate reading Kyway Shin Thant, No. 16 is embedded in the wall. The window at the right side of the door, screened by the square mesh let see through a light green curtain of lace into the room.

A man wearing Ray ban sun glasses and a black T shirt stood by the window and stared into the sitting room.

The settee was not complete anymore but had only a double sitting chair apart from the table. Two folding chairs with faded polish stood here and there at the mid of the sitting room. Two dark green plastic stools were near the table. The faded green colored telephone on the table looked as though unwilling to enhance the dignity of the table.

On that settee, a young woman was sitting with the left knee on the seat and her right leg stretched out not quite touching on the floor.
She wore a shabby checkered cotton shirt which was of a relatively great size tucked in a longyi around the waist that she could be mistaken as a man at a careless seen. Her hair of about one foot in length was tied at the back of her head with a plastic black clip that her pale forehead looked a bit wider than it really was and made the thick eyebrows more black distinct and graceful. The dim and gloomy eyes were staring at the books scattered on the table.

The man who was looking at her seemed to give up continuing waiting for her change of posture.
"Hey! Kyway-Yoke¹!"
That ‘Kyway-Yoke’ or ‘Porcelain Doll’ was the nick name given by Plonn to Kyway Shin Thant; Shin Thant was her father's name and Kyway meant ‘porcelain’, ‘yoke’ or ‘a- yoke’ was a doll in Myanmar language.

Because of the loud and clear voice that came thru the square mesh of the window, she looked up startled. The face of the man who was staring at the woman whom he just called porcelain doll was a dirty white as though he had been sun burned. Only when he took off his sun glasses, his original fresh complexion appeared around the nose. Only then Kyway indisputably recognized the greeting man.
"Oh Plone, what a pleasant surprise you’ve come to see me!"
While asking, she hurriedly got up from her seat, tied quite tightly the longyi at her waist

and rushed to the window.

“Only the person who intentionally comes to you can arrive to this out of the way place. Well, open

the door for me please!”
"Sorry Plone, please don't mind. I've been really surprised since I never expected to see you."
Kyway walked to the closed door and unlocked the key. At the same time, she removed the hanging barrier chain.
"Did you come back because your ship is in dock?"

"That's it!"
"When have you been back?"
"Last Monday. It’s one week now."
The man whom 'Porcelain Doll' called 'Plone' wearing tight pale blue jean pants and white and dark blue striped walking shoes came in easily and confidently.
"I've been standing and looking at you for about ten minutes. Kyway, what are you thinking about?"
"Me? What was I thinking? I must be staring without a purpose."
"Are you alone at home?"
"Sure. Have you forgotten that my mother had been passed away? It's nearly three years. I was left alone since then."
"I heard about that while at sea. I decided to go first to Aye Yi Ma to confirm it as soon as I arrived. But I had to depart again at once. Even this time, I've to arrange for my stay, food, a monthly paid car rent for my transportation etc. that sure took a lot of time has been wasted! I'm able to come to you only now."
"Have you been to Aye Yi Ma?"
"Yes! I've to go and greet her and to confirm"
"What have you to go to her and confirm?"
"That you're still single."
"You! You are still like before, making a mess out of a simply clear issue."
"Who can say that you cannot have a companion during these years?"
"Aw! You went to confirm that I am still not married!?"
The man whom Kyway called Plone still did not take a seat but st looking about the room. Kyway too was watching his actions and waiting for a barrage of questions from him.

Actually, his real name is Pyey Thet Lone. When they were young, Kyway and Aye Yi Ma and other friends joked and made his mighty name destroyed to Plone.

Khin Aye Yi’s nick name was Aye Yi Ma. At school, all their friends called them by their nick names. Aye Yi Ma liked and thought her nick name as cute. But Pyey Thet Lone did not like his. However, by and by he came to accept it as a symbol of love and comradeship.

Pyey Thet Lone looked at a shoulder bag hanging on the wall with peeling off cement plaster at the side of the door and frowned.

"Whose bag is this Kyway?"
"Mine! I use it when I go for French lessons."
"What? Are you learning French?"
"That's it. After I quit from my old job, before getting a new one, thinking and following as what
comes to my thoughts, something like that. It's already three years, chap. I'll get a diplome next
year. Do you know what a diplome is? It is diploma in French language."
Plone was still frowning as he stared at Kyway's bag. Kyway was waiting and thinking what question he would ask again.
"It's been a very long time indeed. There's plenty to tell you."
"Would you like a cup of coffee? It's quick to boil water. But I can't offer you cold drinks. I sold the
refrigerator since mother was no more."
"No, Kyway. I think I rather not. It's better to chat. We're a bit like strangers when we meet after being apart too long."
"I think we're still close as always, Plone."
"No, we're like strangers. We are to behave grown-up."
Plone pulled a folder chair in front of the settee which Kyway had been seated before and sat down.
"Okay then, I think we'd better of our acting."
After laughing again at Plone's comments, Kyway felt open and free. She quite speedily occupied her former seat.
"Have you been to Aye Yi Ma just today Plonn?"
"Sure. Just about an hour ago. Aye Yi Ma's children are three years old, one year old and a big belly. How big that belly is, ah!"
"It's too big! She's in term. Where did you meet her? At Insein³ Bazaar? It's quite long we haven't met, about ten twelve weeks."
"Her husband's left to drive highway bus. It's not a permanent work, but part time, she told me."
"Thank goodness that Tun Pa can drive! Doesn't get a job even after he gets a degree?"
Kyway's mind swiftly wandered back to the past. A decade ago, Plone stayed in ‘Bo Gyan Ward⁴’ farther from Insein Township¹. Aye Yi Ma lived at the ‘Gate One Ward⁵’, nearer to Kyway's home which was center to both of them as well as nearest to the High School where they all attended and learned the courses until they passed the tenth standard. The three of them were inseparable since primary class. Whenever mother asked her to fetch a food stuff at the bazaar, she passed by the bazaar and went straight to the grocery store of Aye Yi Ma's family. Plone too rode the bus from his stop until Aye Yi Ma's Gate One stop and bought whatever he could find most suitable.

The elders were a little uneasy because of the higher price at a home store but Kyway and Plone were anyway willing to buy from Aye Yi Ma’s shop. ‘It's something like a donation Mom,’ was the excuse of well learned and educated Kyway to her mother. Plonn who was much more well off than Kyway could understand well that they should support in what way they could to Aye Yi Ma's shop.

Their life journey became separated by and by, farther and farther apart after the tenth standard examination results were out. Aye Yi Ma failed in the exam. Plonn attended Governmental Technical Institute. Kyway attended the Economic University. They found new environment,

new friends, deal with new ideas, trials and errors, perceptions, and with change of growing up. After the retirement of Plonn's father, their family moved to Yangon⁶ downtown, San Gyaung⁷ Township. They were farther away from Plonn and they could meet again only when there were occasional gatherings, weddings and funerals among their clan.
There was another great change took place. Aye Yi Ma, after failing to the third attempt to pass the tenth standard examination, in a manner like given up, soon runaway from home with Tun Pa. She totally stopped persuing education and become a nonstop baby producing machine. The couple moved to the house of Tun Pa's parents.

As an occasion to remember, just a few months before Kyway's graduation, the old class mates met at a gathering. It was at the religious donation ceremony of their old school head mistress. The old students took all responsibility from start to end and enjoyed a lot. They realized and felt that they had been growing up and matured. They understood well they should value and love their childhood friends.
At that time then, Pyey Thet Lone seemed to notice Kyway (also known as Porcelain Doll) as a woman. He commented with his very loud voice, "Porcelain Doll has turned to be very beautiful when she becomes a maiden."
The last time they met was when Kyway's father passed away. While her father had been ill with incurable lung cancer and at last no more, Aye Yi Ma couple and Pyey Thet Lon supported Kyway and her mother morally as well as in cash and kindness day and night. After that, she did not meet Plonn again. They heard of each other's life faintly and sometimes vividly while struggling to promote and stable their lives. How long was it? Almost three years! Wow!

Aye Yi Ma sometimes met Plone. Plone's mother was a gold and gem seller as well as mortgagee or pawnbroker so Aye Yi Ma worked as her trusted person and she came to Aye Yi Ma once per month. Whenever she was in driver shortage, Plonn drove the car to Insein and he used to sit at Aye Yi Ma's store.

Once, Aye Yi Ma said some words that sounded strange to Kyway.
"Plone is in love with you, Kyway, you know. He asked me whether you're a woman as you've become beautiful. Hee hee!"

“He must be crazy. He means I'm a homo or let's say a lesbian. How can you interpret that he is in love with me! Damn it!"
"No, Kyway, he isn't! He said he's going oversea with a shipping company. He'll ask your hand from your mother when he returns, that's what he said to me."
"Really? He didn't say anything to me."
"You know, this kind of language is extra awkward between friends don't you think so? His fear of you may be included too. He'll propose to you himself when his job is settled."
"At that time, I might be married to someone else and have two three children!"  Kyway said jokingly.
"Hey Porcelain Doll"
"Aha?"
Kyway who was drifting in thoughts came to herself.
"What do you think the conversation between Aye Yi Ma and I could be when we met very recently?"
Kyway felt a little uneasy because of her second thoughts.
"Ridiculous! How can I be able to know what you two talked about,“ She lamely bluffed.
To change Pyey Thet Lone's interest consequently, "Do you remember Plone? Remember our quarrel in Fifth standard?"
"What? Fifth standard? How can I recall it! That's a long time ago!?
"You stuck chewing gum on Aye Yi Ma's chair, didn't you? Aye Yi Ma burst out tears and complained to our class teacher, remember?" Pyey Thet Lon chuckled and blushed.
"Aw, you were furious and challenged me at the mango tree in front of our school, didn't you? You asked me what I like, nan- chu-t ku or bare hand! You were very ridiculous and funny!?"
"But you didn't come!"
"How could I dare come! I already heard you two had reported to the class teacher. Aye Yi Ma reluctantly accompanied you. In addition, the whole class is in front of the school encouraging and supporting you, huh! It would be difficult whether I won or lost! I was helpless. I pretended I was sick and took three days sick leave. Remember? I'd just finished karate training and got black belt still fresh at that time. I was extremely tempted to show how much I could fight."
They both laughed heartily and happily reminiscences the past with fond memories.
"It has been three years we did not see each other."
"Isn’t it?"
"We came to you when your father passed away. That's the last time."
"Yes. It had been that long!"
"Time passes fast."
"You're right. Now we've became adults."
"I had a contract as Second Mate by Taiwan shipping twice."
"They were cargo ships. I have three months leave this time."
"Where have you been?"
"Europe and Africa. I've been to Italy, Dubai, Asian countries, etc. When I was at your home the last time it was a one storey building."
"You've not been to me after this building was renovated."
"I intended to come to you the previous time but I didn't have time even one month off and I had to be on board that I couldn't even see Aye Yi Ma."
Kyway could imagine now what would be the consequence of the phrase? I couldn't even see Aye Yi Ma? Uncomfortable thoughts drifted to another chapter in the past.

When father was with cancer - Kyway had already accepted the family doctor's counseling that father could not be cured. But Kyway and mother were willing to spend all his earnigs to relieve the pain he suffered. When the savings were used up, they sold what valuables they had until everything was gone.

After father was no more - The bereaved family had still left a one storey brick knocking building, as the biggest mass inheritance. The large compound had been dissected several times and sold to produce cash for father's medical fees. The expenses were more than mother estimated so that the diamond ear rings of her had to convert to a cheap gem. Kyway's mother had been a typical housewife and enjoyed dependent life. She did not know transact earn money.

Kyway herself had been wandering at a loss as to what to do for a living. She held the degree certificate in her hand and searched for a job. She read the vacancy announcements in the news papers. She applied one after another. She was rejected again and again. She could not count the number of times she was rejected.

While she was busy job hunting, her mother was left at home. The telephone kept her busy, chatting with her friends from whom she received much information. Through contact of her friends, she was introduced to a contractor business that was to remove their old house and build a four storeyed building in its place. The contractor and her mother were to benefit half and half. But at the completion of the building, her mother died suddenly.

The slightly built but healthy mother did not know that she had a silent and very high blood pressure. Hence, she never had medical checkup. On that day, Kyway was just stepping out to get an interview for a job as a staff as usual. Mother collapsed suddenly and vomited blood.

Kyway was shocked, held up her mother, stained and soaked in blood, knowing not what to do. When her mother did not respond to her calls, she left mother on the floor and rushed to the opposite apartment, ran back and rang to a friend of mother.

While Kyway was shouting for help running to and fro, mother breathed her last. Only when a doctor arrived, examined, counseled and confirmed her death, Kyway accepted, not understand clearly. What the doctor patiently explained to her later that the big blood vessel called aorta had burst due to the long term probing and throbbing pressure. Mother was more fortunate than father because she did not suffer as father did. Kyway and Aye Yi Ma felt sorry and missed him a lot because Pyey Thet Lone was not near them but very far away in the ocean. Only mother and daughter had been living together since father died, and she was used to that.

Kyway sold three apartments out of four of her mother's share. She refunded, and at the same time, she mortgaged. She faced artificial gold and diamonds. At last she had the telephone and the apartment she stayed

Plone noticed Kyway’s far away look.
"Hey, Kyway! Do you still remember that I'm here?"
Kyway smiling, "How could I forget someone like you?"
"You should not forget me Kyway. I said I've to tell you something very important."
"Go ahead then. Why all the time preparing!"
"Okay. I'll tell you right now. I'm determined that I will implement my plan this time."
Kyway was amused waiting to hear what she thought a joke while Pyay Thet Lone was talking with various gestures.
"When I fetched Aye Yi Ma at the Insein Bazaar, she was selling at their store. The breast feeding baby is left at home with her mother-in-law. She's to assist selling the fabrics at her in-law's. That couple look tired. She told me you always help them."
"Well, sort of. When they need, I loan them. When they can, they repay. Simple."
"Anyway it's good that you can be a helping hand."
"I'm quite broke myself! I can't help them much. Since I got a degree, I've been applying
and applying and jobless for a long time. Then I worked at a biscuit firm as an accountant about one year. I quit when the contract term ended. The pay didn't meet my transportation fees plus cost of living. I didn't gain any knowledge either. Meantime, I taught English and computer three periods a week to children at an orphanage school in Shwe Pyi Tha⁸. The conclusion is I'm learning French and job hunt is still not okay."
"What's the idea to learn French may I know?"
"The convenience of transportation is one reason. I leave home at six thirty sharp and take
number 8 bus from Aung San⁹ Bazaar stop. I alight at Ma-har-myaing ¹⁰ stop and arrive l'allianse francais. On the return trip, the bus heads opposite direction towards business center so it's very convenient."
"I assume that your intention may be more specific than that."
"I'm all the time at home when I am out of a job. It’s a shame to waste time so let's say I learn French to be able to read more. I even thought to hire my telephone to get some income. But I'll be cut off from outside world if I don’t have a telephone."
"Do you need a job desperately?"
"Exactly. I've debts to pay. I can stay under a roof of the building only because the debts are not
prodding. If I can't still have any income, first thing I should get rid of ID telephone, later, the
apartment will follow."
Pyey Thet Lone stared at the neatly covered closed books on the table. A French-English Dictionary; A French booklet named Antoine de Saint Exupe'ry Le Petit Prince translated by Doctor Khin Lay Myint to Myanmar.
"Tell me Kyway. What will you do when you finish French class?"
"I'll get a diplome next year. Diplome means a diploma, you know. I'll stop attending classes if I
get a job before that."
"Otherwise, I'll work as a French tourist guide after the diplome."
"Can't you get a job rather than tourist guide?"
"Um, I'm now negotiating with a Mdme. Michelle."
"What's the job? Where? How much will you be offered?"
Kyway wanted to confide in him about the coming job she was expecting. At the same time she wanted to postpone until she met Michelle tomorrow when the job offer would be certain.
"Leave your telephone number. I'll tell you when it is certain. I've to ask the procedure for my possible foreign trip. You've the experiences as to how to proceed."
"I don't have a phone. I stay at an inn for the moment. It's my home until I start shipping again. Is your phone number the same as before?"
"Sure. Call me tomorrow night, will you? Call me about nine. Maybe I'll have to go to American center and British Council too. If application for scholar is invited, I'll fill the form and submit it. I'll attempt if there is an interview. I never have been chosen. Not once. I say time and again that for experience. The reality is apparently job hunting. I've to rush to the orphan school and give English lessons. I need to attend refresher courses on computer too. I'm scared of forgetting what I’ve learnt."
"Therefore,"
"Therefore? There's nobody to pick up the phone when I'm not around."
"I understand. I'll call you only after nine thirty tomorrow night, okay?"
They continued chatting about fifteen minutes or so mostly about their childhood days. When Pyey Thet Lone left Kyway's apartment, she saw him to the door. He usually called her Kyway Yoke. Now he would change. He decided to call her just Kyway from now on.
"Bye, Kyway, see you." he uttered as he stared straight into her pretty brown eyes.
He felt that Kyway noticed his feelings. Kyway's eyes confronted his. That retaliatory kind of Kyway's nature, one should be careful. Or Pyey Thet Lone could heels over heads end up.

Anyway, she just nodded a little as if she decided to stay quiet.

Pyey Thet Lone felt relieved and even amused. He came down the stairs of the four storey building and walked to his White Sunny Saloon. He had rented car for the whole month and intended to continue renting until he went back to sea. He stood beside his car taking off the car key and looked up at the building. Although it had been more than three years, Kyway did not look much changed. She was ever the same innocent girl.

Oh! Kyway Shin Thant! Pyey Thet Lone sighed. Why didn’t he say the three words ‘I-love-you’he intended to say?

Pyey Thet Lone did not specifically know the construction structure of Kyway's building. After locking the door, Kyway walked along the wall to the fold of the veranda. That fold of the veranda was in the shadow and one could see clearly to the base of the building from there. He opened the car door with the key while looking up Kyway's apartment.

Kyway bent her body and hid even though she knew Pyey Thet Lone could not see her. A few minutes later, the Sunny Saloon rolled from the shadow of Kyway's building. Kyway left the veranda and came back into the room locking it.

As soon as Plone had left, the sound of voices disappeared and empty the room remained totally silent and empty. She had been used to silence like that but now it seemed intolerable.

Maybe that is a very human nature that longs for a companion.