Thawtar Swe - Short Stories of World People

Fist of fear

In the drinking world, my friends acknowledge that I can be a bit of a brawler when I'm drunk.

Some cry in sorrow. Some sing and dance. Their nature is harmless. Those who quarrel like me have many consequences.

In my life, I have been hospitalized for drinking and driving accidents. I have also been in and out of the office. I have had scars on my body that will never heal in a lifetime.

I don't know how I get the urge to fight when I'm drunk. I clench my teeth and punch out. I have to find someone to fight with.

That desire to fight is not just about winning for me. Ha-I don't think that if I challenge this guy, he will be defeated, and I don't want to do it with people like that. I just want to fight him back and forth. Winning or losing is not the main thing in my desire to fight. Sometimes, when others challenge me and after a fight, I remember how warm and salty it is to lick the drops of blood that drip from my face with my tongue. At that time, we are always smiling and satisfied. However, when the next morning comes and I am sober, I

I feel very sad that it was my fault. Even if I go back, I still think that the person will take revenge and I am afraid. I have been hurt, but I never think about taking revenge. What is done is done.

On January 29, 1949, at about 11:00 p.m., in the dark of night, I was alone with four or five men led by Thein Maung, and I was taken to the hospital that night. My injuries were not minor, and I had severe scars on my head, lips, and feet.

Thein Maung's relatives came to the hospital and told him to be gentle because he was drunk. Thein Maung was on bail.

I am

“You don’t need to talk. Just let Thein Maung go.”

The next evening, when Thein Maung arrived trembling...

"Hey, don't be afraid. I've been depressed since I cut your lip that night. I won't do anything to you. But the police will do what the police have to do. But I'll leave to make you feel better."

When I was in court, I was a witness for the police. They urged me to say that Thein Maung did it. If I came out like this, I could have been sentenced to 9 years in prison for physical abuse. But I was relieved when I said that they were working in the dark at night with sticks, knives, stones, and I didn't know who did it with what. (It was true.) Still, I ended up in prison for 9 months.

By the way, I'll tell you how a villain got into this.

I was discharged from the hospital and was lying at home with a POP plaster on my leg. One day, a thin, dark-skinned man came to me and said that he was from Thein Maung's family. Thein Maung would give me 300 kyats. When the conversation started, I suddenly got angry and said, "Go... call Thein Maung." I sent my brother-in-law away, and he hurriedly left the house. I said, "Hey, man... stay here," but he said, "I have something to do, I'll come back later."

When Thein Maung arrived, I told him... "Yes...that's the man. He told me to come to my house and tell him that if he gave me 50 baht, Ko Kyin Swe would testify to clear my case."

Look, he came like a golden body to collect 20 rupees from the refugees. If I don't satisfy my grudge against Thein Maung, his plan will succeed. There are people like this in the world.

I felt very sorry for Thein Maung at that time. In reality, it was because of me that he was originally from Sobi, the land of origin.

That evening, at a house where liquor was secretly sold, I was over 90 degrees drunk, and as usual, I wanted to punch Thein Maung, who had come to drink by himself, and started to play the role of a jinn.

Since it was about to happen, I had been thinking about the plot and I was a son, but he couldn't compete with me. I was one-sided.

This angered his wife and students. Thein Maung was a shoemaker and had many workers in his house. At about 11 o'clock at night, a large crowd of soldiers gathered in front of my house. I, who was fast asleep and drunk, could not wake up. After a long time, I heard their shouting in my ears. At first, it was unclear. I was confused as to who was there and what was happening. Then I heard my name clearly and then I heard someone say, "You are brave, my friend, now you are calm." I jumped out of bed and pushed away the housemates, saying, "Hey... they are coming," and ran out into the street.

It was only because I suddenly fell down empty-handed that I wrote novels about hospitals and names. If I had drawn swords, I would have written prison novels like Luthu U Hla and Bhamo Tin Aung.

This case doesn't bother me at all, but Thein Maung Kham's 9-month imprisonment has affected his business and his employees. His wife and children are in trouble. For me, it's a pity that the left side is losing the right side. Even if I plant a new one, I won't get the original left side.

This is the only time in my life that I have experienced a sad experience with another person because of drinking and getting into trouble.

Once again, I encountered this. After feeling so sorry for the man, my courage turned to fear and became a bit of a joke.

1951 (I can't remember the month) Beautiful

He had been in England for 2 years and returned on leave because his wife was ill.

The night after he arrived, he was in the tower.

We had a drinking party, which was quite competitive.

It is being held. Among the writers are Min Shin, Aung Lin, and

There are other friends. Behind the counter.

There were 2 tables in a secluded area, and there were 8 of us.

There are only a few. They are drinking one after another.

I have only been to a few places, across land and sea.

We are amazed by Tantal's record of success.

As they listened, their level of intoxication increased. They came to 10.

At about 1:00 a.m., a man from the middle table of the hotel

The man got up and started to riot.

He shouted nonsense loudly, throwing glasses at them. Breaking soda bottles. Then he climbed onto the table, stood up, and in English...

"Out of all the people in this hotel, come out and have the courage to shoot one by one. I'm ready to shoot anyone," he shouted repeatedly in English as soon as he found a mouth.

Boy Kala went to apologize and was slapped in the face. The entire hotel took care of him.

But no one moved a finger.

"Come on... Aren't there any brave people... If you don't dare to fight alone, then fight together... It's important to fight for your own safety... Come on."

He was generously inviting me. I thought to myself, “Well... I’ve found someone like me.” But here, Colonel Thawta was the only one who dared not stand up. The man’s physique was impressive. He was not small, he was almost 6 feet tall and had a short torso. A man with my physique would have been tackled by Goliath in a movie.

That's why the other tables were quiet. He drank one glass of wine after another, and the manager, the Chinese, couldn't do anything.

Standing up on the table...

"Ireland, everybody, the hotel," he shouted repeatedly, throwing glasses and bottles."

A broken glass fell on our table, and I jumped up...

"Come on, he can surround you with as much force as he wants. Come on, get up..."

However, my friends are not the type to fight, so they asked me to sit down and

"Let him be drunk, Ko Swe Ya, you guys keep drinking."

I am not happy anymore.

It was the new moon day, and every table in the hotel was full of people. Some of them got up and left because of the man's rudeness. Some pretended not to hear or see. Some just stared.

There was no one else at his table, just a young man, acting all alone. He was a strong man, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, and he was very handsome. I have never seen anyone so arrogant in my life.

Looking at his appearance, one might think that he would be strong and agile, or that he would be skilled in skills such as the long sword. I was reminded of Zaw Heik, the protagonist of Master Shwe U Daung, and I felt a sense of fear again.

That man's violence did not abate. He continued to tear down the entire hotel.

At that moment, the oldest man at our table (I won't mention his name, because he's a senior officer now) our friend got up and walked over to him without saying anything to us. They were about the same height. I thought, "It must be good to see you."

But we, the people, are the ones who go to apologize.

"Here, my friend, you all are afraid to come. Come here to have fun, and relax."

He didn't finish speaking. The man, as before, started playing the gong that was used to call the boy, back and forth.

I was so touched that I couldn't stand it anymore and they hung up on me. Moreover, the person who had been slapped was apologizing to me. It's amazing how many people can endure it.

I'm not feeling well anymore. I feel ashamed when other people see me being beaten up at my table.