The engine was running and the guri jee shouted,
"is everyone back at their seats. please check the seat next to you make sure that your seat partner is there". There was no response from the passengers and the bus started to move.
"Sonam, the smell of the beatle is still there huh?".
"well, dont worry about it, the sack with doma in it has been moved towards the back. Keep your window open and the smell will fade away in a while".
The passenger sitting infront of us was glad that the sack was taken away. He was telling the driver how glad he is. Seems the smell was actually bothering other passengers as well.
Since Jurmey heard the conversarion with the driver, he knew Sonam is hungry. So was he. He opened up the chips he brought during the pee stop and offered to Sonam as well.
"Care for some chips?".
" Sure. i thought you would never ask. ha ha ha"
and he casually reached out for the chips.
At this point, Jurmey was sure that Sonam is someone he could rely on. He talks politely, he can handle simple situations and he knows what he is doing. The way he handled the sack of beatle nuts was beyond Jurmeys imagination. He handled it so well that Jurmey started to admire his quality and being the same age, he knew, Sonam was way ahead of him in terms of life and its turmoils. Sonam was confident, acceptionally polite, comparatively taller than most typical Bhutanese and he knew whats in fashion.
"Jurmey, since you havent gone beyond Wangdue, do you have any plans where you going to spend the night in Bumthang?".
This brought him back to reality. He left his house alone, going to a place he has never been to before with plans he set a week ago. He suddenly lost the taste of the chips they were having, got a cold feet but he had to answer the question.
"Actually i have no idea. Since i havent been to Bumthang ever, i really have no idea how i could make an arrangement for a hotel. I hope i will be able to find one. After all, its just for a night. You have been travelling this route a lot. Do you think it will be hard to find a place to stay for the night?".
" Dont worry, we will have plenty of room. We are travelling on the first bus to Bumthang, so we should be able to get a room. Even if the rooms are booked, i know a few tourist hotels where they provide seperate rooms for guides and drivers. I will make arrangements for the night stay. But we have to share the room charges alright?".
"off course, off course. Its obvious we share". Though Jurmey is not normally accustomed to such situation but he had to agree through basic instinct.
He just realised that the smell was gone. It was a huge relief for Jurmey and he couldnt have been glad.They have been climbing for a while now and the weather was kind of chilli. Jurmy took a jumper from his bag pack and made himself warm and comfy and just while Jurmey was about to dose off, they reached Dochula(highest pass from Thimphu to Wangdue). Approximately 3000 mts above sea level, it provides the scenic view of the himalayan mountain ranges and the place also holds the monument of 108 stupas namely The Druk Wangyel Chorten built in memory of the victory Bhutan had over the insurgents of asam(ULFA) back in 2003. Just above the monument, there is also a temple(Druk Wangyel Lhakhang) also built in homage to the 4th king and to the solders who fought during the battle. Jurmey was imagining in his mind how beautiful the paintings and the statues were inside the temple feom his earlier visit.
Guru jee made a full circle of the stupas and Jurmey in his mind thought that he has never seen this view so mesmarising than this moment though he travelled through this very road a few times before. The clear blue sky with little clouds but it didnt block the view of the himalayan ranges. Jurmey thought to himself that this could be a sign, a good sign that his journey ahead of him would be a life changing one. He prayed in his mind and genuinely he prayed for the journey to be safe and to give him the strength to make the right decision. The journey from here would be down the road untill they cross a little further from Wangdue. And the entire journey till the passangers reach their destination would be all ascendeing and descending through various passes as the country is a mountanous country. The descend started through the lush green forsest.