In the previous issue
Tseten, Sangmo and Tashi, are all new immigrants in New York.
Tseten has a soft spot for Sangmo who gets involved with Tashi,
a married man. Their romance is cut short with the arrival of
Tashi’s wife and children. Circumstances puts Tseten as
Sangmo’s room mate and a romance between the two was in
the horizon.
Darkness descended on the wintry skies. A whiff of spicy tandoori,
red sputum marks of paan on the black tarred road, blasting
bhangra music from the open-hooded sports car on this wintry
day, the loud noise of the elevated rail – the 7 train
clanging above as Tseten made his way home from Jackson Heights
to where he shared the apartment with Sangmo in Woodside. Jackson
Heights, the tea, the aimless loitering – many have wondered
what it is that attracts young people like Tseten to places
like Jackson Heights and the tea shops there. For youth like
Tseten, as part of a new immigrant community in New York, areas
like Jackson Heights make up for the lack of community spaces
for youth to interact. Neither community centers, nor any community
activities to take part in — young people like Tseten
needed space to meet others from the community and bond. Areas
in Jackson Heights somehow filled that need in a strange manner.
Five years ago, when Tseten had come to New York, he had lived
in Brooklyn in a crammed apartment, which he had shared with
friends. As the years passed, he had wanted to move to Queens-
to Woodside, which was becoming a favorite with the community.
He had friends who had lived in nearby areas of Sunnyside, Jackson
Heights, Steinway and Elmhurst and he had always wanted to live
near his friends. Climbing up the steps, Tseten took out his
monthly metro pass — seventy dollars it was. Like all
New Yorkers, Tseten took the recent fare hike very seriously.
The monthly pass — seventy dollars spent in a moment was
something of a risk if the pass was lost. Tseten had lost his
pass once and it meant that he had to plan out his month more
carefully. He had paid for the pass in cash and couldn’t
ask for a refund on the pass to be credited in his account like
others in the family.
A quick swipe at the turnstiles and he was in the station.
The 7 train slowly but steadily pulled its way through and soon
Tseten was seated in a cultural motley of people from virtually
every part of the globe. Two stations later Tseten got off the
station at Woodside and looked forward to getting home before
Sangmo arrived from her long week working for her employer in
Long Island. Woodside was ideally located for the duo.
Tonight was going to be special for Tseten. He would profess
his love to Sangmo. He had waited too long and the Valentine
party tonight would be the night. He rushed home, got the apartment
cleaned up for Sangmo, and a bottle of wine and some candles.
The moment seemed perfect.
The clock struck eight when Tseten emerged out of the shower;
the ninth stroke was not of the clock but the bell. Sangmo was
here. The door opened and the slight whiff of air that came
with it blew out the candlelight. Darkness descended on the
room. The romantic atmosphere was replaced with darkness and
in the next moment by harsh, cold fluorescent lights. The deep
red roses in vases contrasting with the cold white light.
It was a wrong beginning.
Sangmo entered the room, the roses in the center of the low
table made an abrupt end in her gait. She stopped, stooped and
on her knees took in a full volume of the air that surrounded
the roses. A clanging sound filled the room jolting Sangmo out
of her reverie. The 7 train passed less than a block away from
the apartment. Sangmo shrugged, Tseten had left the windows
open once again. Tseten preferred to have window open, letting
in fresh air he called, while Sangmo preferred to have the air
conditioning on. Although this had posed no problem, it was
a mild irritation to each. Sangmo preferred the quiet and the
sounds from the train seemed to have no effect on each.
Tonight was Valentines Day. Sangmo was aware of the feelings
that Tseten had for her and she was glad. While Tseten was not
her Prince Charming, he was not the beast either. He was caring
and appreciative and that mattered. Sangmo held back her feelings
for Tseten initially. A construction worker was not someone
she was looking for. She had higher aims. But as she came to
know him, she began to see him in a different light. Tseten,
the construction worker, had a bachelors degree from Delhi University
in Commerce but had to work in the construction industry, as
his degree was not recognized in the States. While Tseten’s
education did not help him find a job, he utilized it in helping
out others. He was always occupied in weekdays and weekends
filling out forms, writing out applications, helping people
fill in utility checks and small errands that took a chunk of
his free time.
Sangmo thanked Tseten. She needed some time to fix herself
up and then off they went to Kasturi. Tseten held a rose to
Sangmo and garnering courage that he never thought he had whispered
those three words “I love you”. A surprised Sangmo
looked into Tseten’s eyes. His eyes looked back into hers
— a Kodak moment.
Sangmo had sensed it all the time that they were together.
She looked forward to seeing him, talking to him, grew anxious
when he did not show up. She had cajoled herself saying that
it was just friendship — but she had known it all along.
She was in love herself. She smiled at him, took the rose and
gave him a peck on the cheek. A while later, they left for the
Valentines Party. When they arrived, a long line of people did
not deter them. They were here to enjoy themselves and they
would. What both did not anticipate was the presence of Tashi
at the party tonight. He was at the party as his repeated attempts
to get in touch with her were being spurned and he had heard
from friends that Sangmo was definitely going to be there. He
wanted to get back with her and leave his wife and children.
Sangmo knew better, she was not going to fall for this again.
Her love for Tashi died the day; Tashi left her for his family.
Tseten was her present and she looked forward to spending time
with him, discovering him and loving him.
