Chapter-2

2016, November, Mahabandoola Park, Yangon

LIN suddenly turned his steps into Mahabandoola Park which has, in its center, the obelisk Independent Monument. He wanted his weary mind to stray from his daily cares and concerns.

This was a kind of solace on which he relied whenever he needed something different from the boredom of his daily job, which included daily visits to book stores and shops which lay downtown, especially along Pansodan Street.

Lin was living with his uncle in a suburb near downtown Yangon. His uncle, U Thein Lwin was engaged in book distribution so Lin worked in his uncle’s office.

Lin had graduated from university three years ago but his aim was to be a successful author. He was striving to achieve this goal. Actually, his mother sent him to live with U Thein Lwin who was Lin’s mother’s elder brother.

As soon as Lin entered the park, he directed his steps towards the whitewashed obelisk where there was a flight of steps on which he could sit. He didn’t expect many people to be spending their time there. He chose the elongated strip of shade provided by the monument, and he readily sat down, putting his Shan bag down beside him.

Lin took out his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped some grease and sweat off his oval face. Within time, a breeze blew gently, and he enjoyed the coolness of it. He thanked the breeze because at this time of the day he really needed it.

One could say that Lin’s appearance was normal in terms of handsomeness. Lin was not a good-looking man, but he liked to keep his countenance neat and tidy. He liked to keep his hair short too because in his childhood his mother kept his hair short and applied coconut oil to it every day.

Suddenly, Lin noticed that this was the only place which totally muffled the noise of the traffic and reckless honking of impatient urban drivers. He thanked the people who had built this park for people to take a rest in.

Lin looked around and saw a few people sitting around the obelisk. They were in their own gaits and postures. Some were chatting, some were standing against the plinth of the Lion, some were reading journals, and some were feasting their eyes on nearby young and pretty girls who posed for photographs while chuckling away.

Lin saw different ages, types, sexes of people. But, he noticed too that there was no one who bothered to read the declarations by late Prime Minister U Nu written on the base of the obelisk. They liked to sit down and relax rather than reading inspirational and serious words from the circular surface of the Independence Monument.

While there, Lin saw an unofficial guide with a white shirt and Kachin longyi who looked more than forty years old due to his receding hair in front and on top. The seemingly officious guide was with two adult visitors, and he pointed his finger towards the pillar. The man audibly explained about the history of the independence monument and the history of the park so that people started to glance at him. His mouth’s twitch was a feat to everyone.

Out of curiosity, Lin eavesdropped on what the guide was trying to say to the visitors who occasionally nodded their heads towards the guide’s careful and meaningful explanation.  It seemed that they were trying to appear fascinated by his explanation.

‘’This park has got several names, namely, Tank Square, Fytch Square, Queen Victoria Park, and finally Mahabandoola park,” the guide poured out.

“In the place of this obelisk there used to be a statue of Queen Victoria, which was removed by the people and replaced with the independence monument to let people know that Burma gained its independence back from the British”, the guide sounded proud.

Without stopping, the guide explained more, but it seemed that he failed to notice the emotion of his visitors who showed more interest in the red brick high court standing gracefully in front of them because they glanced occasionally at it with much wonder and affection.

A feeling which showed Lin’s irony towards someone else’s fault shot up and a smirk suddenly appeared on his face. He felt a prickly feeling making him tickle. He almost let out a laugh so he turned himself away from them. But, in his mind he thought what a negligent guide this man was because although the guide had enough knowledge, he had not enough sense. He should know what his visitor’s were most interested in. If not, it was just a waste of breath and energy.

But, the guide happened to notice Lin’s distorted composure when their eyes met, and the guide glanced at Lin with contempt, but he did not show his vexed expressions, and he led his visitors towards the High Court.

Lin’s eyes followed the back of them, and they were leaving, slowly getting further and further away from him. Unconsciously, he looked up to the sky in which some crows were flying south-west, cawing at the same time. He envied their life, so carefree and with so much freedom.

Lin exhaled heavily. He leaned fully against the pillar, and closed his eyes in the hope of gaining back his strength which he used up walking around downtown. As soon as his eyes closed, the face of a book shop owner appeared: much unwelcome, and ugly.

The book shop owner he met this morning had got big eyes, a big nose, and thick eye brows. Everything about this man was cumbersome. Not only were his features rough and big, but also his sentiments.

Lin arrived at the book shop this morning to collect the payment for books which he had distributed to them three months ago. Before he went there, he called the book shop first to let them know he would collect the payment today. A female clerk told Lin that he could come today and collect it.

When Lin explained to the owner of his arrival at the bookshop, the book shop owner turned down his explanation, and the owner insisted that Lin come back next week, saying that there had been no sales today.

Lin felt like he had been kicked in his chest with such a force that he forgot to breathe in. All his energy and strength were almost gone; he was disillusioned, and dismayed. He cursed under his breath inaudibly, and turned his back on the book shop. Decidedly, he said to himself, he would not come to this shop again.