Khin Hnin Yu - Myin Mo Taung Foot Short Stories

Santhira

Today is my niece Santhira's birthday. She is (16) years old, as beautiful and tender as a white lotus flower. That day, she wore a blue brocade longyi and sapphires. The silver flowers on the brocade longyi were sparkling. She was always proud of her beautiful blue eyes. "Santhira is so beautiful. Her blue eyes are so cute. May Santhira be healthy." Various ladies praised Santhira's beauty and prayed for her.

Ko Ko Naing from the other side of the yard also arrived soon. Ko Ko Naing was a junior lieutenant in the air force. He came on a short leave to celebrate Santhira's birthday. Santhira's father was the Minister of Justice.

“Hello... Richard,” I heard Santhira say, and I turned around. Santhira was running and greeting the man who was following Ko Ko Naing. I was so excited to see the way they shook hands. It was so breathless. But my niece was at a famous military academy in Yangon, so it wouldn’t be strange. Soon Santhira was sitting at a table with Richard, holding a bouquet of roses and pearls.

I was busy with the boys as the feast had already begun. Ko Ko Naing Ko could only smile. I passed by the ladies and

"That blue-eyed one, Your Majesty, is the one who has the most faces, and he's the one who's going to play with this boy named Richard, you know?"

"You know, you rich man, this girl won't last long. She's a little bit of a bitch."

I felt a pang in my heart when I heard gossip from the ladies. My niece, Nant Pyae Pyae, was not it? They had already written a letter to the Minister of Justice about Santhira’s beauty earlier. They even praised the little blue eye. This class of people around here must be the same. But in my heart, I felt disgusted by these people who were full of pretensions rather than gossip. In fact, they would not care about me if I was still ugly and shy. I was not someone who deserved to be cared for. Although I was the youngest sister of the Minister of Justice U Maung Gyi, I was not well known. Since I had no parents, I had no right to interfere except in the back room when I had to take refuge in the shadow of the mountain. That is why this environment has forgotten me. But Ko Ko Naing not only respected and recognized me, but also fell in love with Ko Ko Naing two years ago.

I feel bad for Santhira. The urge to “talk about it” is beating inside me. Even when I am near Ko Ko Naing, I still can't control myself.

Even though the sun was gone outside, our house was lit up with colorful lights. The colorful fans were slowly fading away. The little lights were also extinguished. After putting everything away, I went into my bedroom. I was disappointed as I changed into new clothes. I was in a state of confusion. My anxiety for Santhira was really pressing inside me. What kind of person was Richard? They were hanging out like friends, so I was confused. Santhira was going back to school tomorrow, so I felt a little better.

I opened the windows and lay down on the bed. I was thinking about whether I should tell Santhira's mother, Daw May May Khin, about this. I went back to Santhira's school. The school was in Yangon, but she was sent to boarding school. We lived in Insein.

My sister-in-law, May (aka Daw May May Khin), is not feeling well. Even after Santhira goes back to school, she doesn't go out and stays in her bedroom. Her illness is heart disease, so I don't tell her the sad things about Santhira.

Sometimes May would wear glasses and choose diamonds from black velvet. Santhira would tell me with a smile that she preferred the stones she chose herself.

One day, while picking pearls,

“Have you sent the book World Famous Women to Ma Thet Phyu Santhira?” I told her that I had.

"Santhira knows how much White and May want her, how much they love her. My daughter will know. Let her try to do the same. At least if the Minister of Justice is a good person, I will be satisfied." I listened to her words in silence.

In her free time, she only picks out pearls. In fact, even though she is unable to read for long periods of time due to her eye disease, she chooses gemstones for her daughter, no doctor forbids her.

Since Santhira's father retired, he has been spending his time in the library.

I have to meet Ko Ko Naing tonight. Ko Ko Naing is also going back to Mingalardon tomorrow. I went out to see Ko Ko Naing.

The red leaves of the Thaukka tree were also drying and falling to the ground, dripping with silvery sap. The gentle evening breeze blew, carrying the scent of jasmine flowers from afar.

I gazed calmly at Ko Ko Naing's face, which was shimmering with silver through the branches. Ko Ko Naing was not beautiful, but he was certainly handsome.

"White, let's get married next fall, Ko Ko Naing. By then, you'll have a promotion, right?"

In fact, I am very happy. I am happier to be free from the control of others and live in a house with my lover than to be a housewife with a house full of lights.