The Missed Coffee and the Desperate Thought of a Car

Hardly anyone asks us for coffee in Thimphu. But when a few do, we are always in a hurry, Karma Yangki, ne… Today I missed many things simply because I do not own a car. At thirty minutes to seven in the morning, my father dropped me at Charkilo, letting the cold bite my thighs. Soon after, I was in a cab driven by a Fast and Furious fan. In 20 minutes I reached Hotel Osel, an hour and a half early for the meeting. I missed my Samdrup Jongkhar where I could be in the office anytime I wanted. After waiting 30 minutes, I went inside the 4-star hotel full of confidence. I entered the conference room and sat. There were a few people inside, and they were gazing at me. I could make out from their faces that something was not right about me being there. I pulled the program list to confirm that I was in the right room and realized it was their second day. Haha. After the meeting, I was supposed to meet my friend for coffee. But on the other end, my cab was waiting, and it was the only cab going toward my home. The decision was as hard as choosing between two paths in the poem The Road Not Taken. So I called her and told her that I could not drink a Thimphu coffee today. Haha. Coming back home and thinking about the day’s incidents, I realized all this fuss happened because I do not own a car. A car is a need in Thimphu. Even to find a loving, affectionate wife, I think the car might be a factor. Haha.