Natnwe - A collection of short stories about the literary world

From the moment I saw the invitation, I could tell how big the wedding was. The price of the invitation was just one ice cream and two cakes. Is it the Inya Lake Hotel? The Beach Road Hotel? The President Hotel?

A beautiful flowerbed, printed in seven colors on ivory cardboard. The sight of it gave off a faint scent. The names of the bride and groom were in yellow, sparkling with jewels. But he didn't know them. He had never heard of their names.

Ko Bummar stared at the large invitation for a moment, then picked it up. Whose children would the bride and groom be? Was he invited by the boy or by the girl?

She didn't know the groom's parents. But she had heard of them. A prominent official. His name had been in the newspapers for many years. The groom was also an official. He was the youngest son. The names of his brothers and sisters were also printed. They were also officials. She had heard the names of one or two of them. They were great relatives.

Ko Bhumma guessed that it must be the bride's side who invited him. He didn't read the invitation anymore and walked away, wondering who it would be. Two friends, three.

The name of the man appears in the title. They have grown sons and daughters. One is a doctor, their family doctor. One is an officer, someone they have business dealings with. The other is the owner of a film company.

He continued reading the invitation. A "aww" came out of his mouth. It wasn't the person he thought it was. It was a school friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

Ko Kyaw Pe was not a childhood friend. They met at university. They shared a room in the Pinya Hall. He was the president of the Sahaya Association. Ko Bum Mar was the secretary.

The last time they met was more than two years ago. While Ko Bumma was waiting for a three-wheeler in front of Bogyoke Market, a Familia car pulled up in front of him. He saw Kyaw Pe's smiling face.

He was taken to the Kukkai swimming pool. Kyaw Pe kept talking like he had done at school. There were white beer foam on the table. A thin layer of blue smoke was coming out of a three-piece cigarette.

A girl in a black swimsuit dove backwards into the blue pool. Her whole body was bent. Her thighs were yellow.

2

The waterfront hotel maintains its tradition: national costumes, buttery cashew nuts, small beer bottles, lion-emblazoned shot glasses, and red-skinned foreigners.

Ko Bummar had attended before. With a movie mogul. They were discussing making a movie of his character. Widescreen, Academy Award-winning actor, Academy Award-winning actress, Academy Award-winning director. He would receive three hundred thousand baht. But he wouldn’t act. He would be paid three thousand baht and three hundred thousand baht. (Now, he is seen at the Beach Road Hotel and the second floor.)

When he arrived, the front of the hotel on the waterfront was full of cars.

The waterfront hall is quite narrow, compared to the city hall, the presidential palace, or the Inya Lake. However, the four walls are decorated, making it look like an art exhibition.

It could also be true for a gemstone exhibition. Diamonds, emeralds, and rubies are scattered everywhere, lit up by the sliding lights.

In the middle of the hall, there are people receiving gifts. On three tables, neatly arranged bundles of gifts are arranged in rows.

Ko Bummar hurriedly took out a small envelope from his bag and entered the hall. Loud music greeted him. Electric instruments, low voices.

The band is on the other side. White shirts, white pants, dark ties. The latest amplifiers.

He was standing. He didn't know which table to go to. In a sudden glance, he couldn't tell who it was. He didn't recognize it.

3

"Hey, are you late? Are you alone? Is your wife not here?"

When he turned around, he saw Kyaw Pe. He was happy. And he wanted to laugh. The bride's father was wearing a big hat, a crocheted shawl, and a silk veil.

"Come, they're waiting for you. They were talking about you earlier."

Kyaw Pe dragged him away. Who would be waiting for him? What would they say about him?

"Here comes the doomed writer you've been waiting for."

Kyaw Pe held both of his shoulders and spoke to the people at a table. He looked at the people around the table.

Oh... is it Ko Kyaw Maung? This old man is here too. He is excited. Ko Kyaw Maung is older than them. He is in the senior class. He was their big brother in school. When he spoke to them, he would open his mouth and speak. But no one was angry with him. He was kind. He was honest. He was still at the university. He was a teacher.

He suddenly didn't recognize the person sitting next to Ko Kyaw Maung. He looked back twice before catching sight of the young man. He remembered the name. Thein Zaw, from Sagaing. I could write a novel about him. But then he remembered when he was young. I don't know what he's doing now. He joined the army back then. I haven't talked about him. I've even forgotten.

Thein Zaw didn't know the person next to him. He didn't know the other person either. They were looking back at him with curious eyes.

Oh . . . Ko Hlabu is also a friend. He smiles and is very polite. I meet him often. He is a journalist. He has been abroad. I read his articles.

"Sit down, the chair is not your enemy"

Ko Hlabu patted his butt and said, "

"I'm not distinguishing between enemy and friend. I'm thinking about male and female."

Ko Bummar sat in his chair, smiling. He looked at the two strangers. Kyaw Pe, sensing the situation, introduced them. One was an officer from the Department of Mines, the other

He is a construction engineer.

"You've studied French too. Don't you know if a chair is male or female?"

Ko Kyaw Maung began to speak. Ko Bummar stared at Thein Zaw. Thein Zaw became restless and asked, “Ko Bummar, don’t you remember me?”

“I found some novels written by Ko Bhummar. I read them, but I didn’t read them. I didn’t have time.”

“Ah...but Ko Thein Zaw is in the army now?”

"No. It's trade."

"Aw... aw"

Kyaw Pe moved on to another group. The five of them were left behind. Three of them were classmates, two were strangers.

People are still coming. Some individually, some in groups of two or three. Some with families, women and children.

"Hey, isn't that property worth a million dollars?"

The journalist pointed and said, "We saw a tall, handsome man with gold-rimmed glasses enter."

"Yes, this guy."

The teacher supports it.

"Is the one behind him his property?"

Thein Zaw asked, looking at the woman with Sophia's hair, Khin Than Nu's body, and the man. The woman turned to them. Her upper eyelids were blue-green. She had long eyelashes.

"Yes, that's number four."

Ko Hlabu confirmed. He had an encyclopedia in his head.

"This guy is really amazingly rich. I can't believe it. He just bought a house at the top of our street the other day. Last year, when I was in the mountains, I saw his house. It looks like Hollywood inside and out. I remember MGM building it.

"What are you doing now?"

Ko Bummar asked. They looked at each other.

"Only God knows"

The journalist spoke softly, driving a pickup truck.