Story of Aila Tshering

It was late autumn of 2014 when I first met Aila Tshering by the roadside. Thereafter, I met her several times during my bird watching expedition.

Aila Tshering back in 2014-2017

Aila Tshering back in 2014

In a matter of a few years, she became really weak, fragile and in fact old. She is one of the elegant and attractive women I have met around the village. Back then she was strong and talkative. Now she has not only lost her weight but also became forgetful and lost her eyesight. It is equally sad to see that all her hair had turned grey. She can't remember the stories we used to share by the roadside. Perhaps, she used to be my Huckleberry Friend then.

I used to ask questions on "Birds."

Her answers used to amuse me a lot "the number of birds have declined so much from her childhood days", but she didn't know the reason for it.

I have shared a few importance of birds to farmers.

Aila Tshering is now 78 years old. She is a tall, fair and beautiful woman with a great personality, to whom I used to share my wilderness so much.

However, quite early in her life, she got divorced when her late-son was not even 2 years old. Through all thick and thin, she had sailed well in life; she protected all her property. She continues to live a very independent and a strong life. However, the second phase of life came even harder when she lost her only son who was in his mid-twenties. His death appeared so shocking and at the same time heartbreaking. Since then everything collapsed but not her perseverance and acceptance of life-and-death. Despite all these sorrowfulness in her life, she continued to live each moment of her life meaningfully.

However, after a few years of such intense hardship of life spent all alone, the news of the death of her ex-husband shocked and aggrieved her further. Thinking of the past memories and –promises made in heaven have perhaps made her mourn for a couple of days.

***

This time I met Aila Tshering-My Old Huckleberry Friend in a different situation. She became very old now.

Once a pretty and fit woman, but now she isn't in a position to keep herself fit and can’t even maintain her poorly built small stone house. She lost all her strength and courage but not her beauty. She does not have anyone to call her own son, daughter or husband. Her house needed a desperate repair. There are two choices -repair an old house or build a new one.

To give her shelter and let her happily enjoy life, Dasho Dzongda and his team decided to build a small bamboo mat house for safety reasons and limited time (as summer isn’t very far away).

When I joined the team, the volunteers and DeSuups had already completed around 60 percent of the work. They have already given a promising structure of Aila Tshering's home. Our team continued the work to give a final touch. After two days of intense sweating, we could give the last touch to Aila Tshering's home and finally we could make her smile.

As I sat for a quick tea break, I chanced up to listen to her feelings. She already felt happy and lucky. Nevertheless, she feels the past few years have been rather quite hard since her health has deteriorated.

***

Her house is located a few meters below Zhemgang-Trongsa highway, which is approximately 12 km towards Trongsa from Zhemgang town. One can spot it on a gentle slope of Pam village under Trong gewog with a majestic view of Tingtibi-Trongsa highway and the East side of the famous Reotala through the little caving window of her new home. One can also have a chance to experience the fresh breeze that rises from the confluence of Wangduegangchu and the Small River that dwells through the valley. Below is the beautiful and fertile valley of Wangduegang and Nimshong village with giant black-mountain as a background, high Kango Pang mountain rises from the base of Mangdechu on the face opposite of her front door and Dangkhar village slightly uphill South. That is where Aila Tshering lives all by herself but so peacefully worshiping the local deity.

***

Although, one of her cousins from her mother’s side is supposed to look after her legally for assuring all her property but time and situations of him did not favor all time to be by her side. They seldom meet and talk to each other. Along with him, Dasho Ama looks after her welfare. She visits on weekends with some homemade foods and other edible items like rice and cheese. She also washes her clothes and helps her bathe.

I would like to thank Dasho Ama for educating her on how to use the toilet and maintain good sanitation. My gift of a SATO pan toilet was surprising but a promising one. As we finally bid goodbye we also promised to visit her sometime and help anyone like her in the Dzongkhag. It was also a great moment for all of us to help and serve such elderly people. This is how we must build a nation together.

We did everything we could to make her happy, safe, secure and comfortable, like anyone of us; she deserves love, care, compassion, kindness and support from all of us. Whatever may be the fate, rich or poor; she should be remembered forever for she lived her life honestly and sincerely. I pray for her good health and longevity.