Juan, My Commander

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Madilim na ang paligid ngunit wala pa rin sila Commander.

“Nagugutom na ako, Madam.” Napatingin ako kay Andy dahil sa kaniyang pagod na boses. Nasa loob na kami ng kotse. Nagbuntong-hininga ako’t agad na inabot ang susi na nakapatong sa dashboard.

“Aalis ba tayo, Madam?” Pagtatanong ni Tin na katabi ko sa driver’s seat. Nasa likuran naman sina Andy. Marahan akong tumango. Marunong naman akong magmaneho kaya walang problema.

“We will but we won’t go far away. Let’s just find a restaurant so that we can have dinner. Wala pa sila Commander Shamer at ayaw ko namang magutom kayo.”

“Diba sabi ni Commander na kailangan natin silang hintayin at huwag umalis dito sa kinaroroonan natin? Paano kung dumating na sila tapos wala tayo dito, Madam?” wika ni Carter. Tinignan ko siya gamit ang salamin.

“Oo nga, Madam. Baka may mga sirang daan at mahirapan tayo sa pag biyahe,” dagdag ni Andy.

“I know. I didn’t say that we will go back to Bagmati. Ang sabi lang ng Commander ay bawal muna tayong bumalik sa Central. He didn’t restricted us to roam inside this City. Kakain lang tayo’t babalik agad.”

Pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon sa kanila’y hindi na sila umimik pa’t agad ko ng pinaandar ang kotse. Hinintay ko munang lumipas ang ilang minuto para painitin ang makina bago nagsimulang magmaneho.

Nilibot ko ang lugar ng Bhaktapur. Habang nasa loob ng kotse’y parang walang nangyaring lindol kanina; tanging ang Templo lang ng Dattatreya ang nasawi ngunit kumusta kaya ang distrito ng Lalitpur?

Based on the Commander’s reaction earlier after his comrade reported about the situation of one of the Kathmandu Valley’s district which was hit by the epicenter of the earthquake, it was giving misfortune.

Pakiramdam ko’y hindi talaga maganda ang kalagayan ng Lalitpur. Lalo na’t hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakakabalik sila Commander. Gusto kong pumunta sa lugar ngunit kailangan naming manatili rito. Sentro ang Lalitpur ng napakalakas na lindol at hindi namin hawak kung ano ang mangyayari.

There might be countless occurrence of aftershocks that will cause pipes, pavements, broken debris, and crumbling brick foundations and walls that will possibly fall in front of us.

Hangga’t maaari, ayaw kong bigyan ng ibang sakit sa ulo ang Alphageus. Being there after the massive destruction won’t do good for the soldiers.

After a while of roaming Bhaktapur, my eyes caught a place for us to have dinner. It was one of the cheapest food industry inside this ddistrict, it was Cafe Nyatapola near the Nyatapola Temple.

May napansin akong Restaurant kanina malapit sa nawasak na Dattatreya Temple ngunit hindi na namin iyon nadaanan. Hindi naman kami nag-aksaya ng oras at agad na lumabas sa kotse.

Binalingan ko ng tingin ang aking suot na relo, “We will go back after thirty minutes,” sabi ko sa kanila. Mabilis naman silang tumango. Hindi kami nagtagal at agad na pumasok sa loob ng Cafe.

Gawa ang cafe sa mga kahoy kaya malamig ang loob ng lugar. This Cafe has three settings; outdoor seating, table service, and alcohol service. The place is small and it was crowded like there’s no quake happened earlier.

After we choose the outdoor seating, one of the staffs inside the cafe guide us to the second floor. This place is usually teeming with tourists. Nang makarating kami sa itaas ay hindi ko maiwasang mapamangha, gano’n din ang aking mga kasama.

“Sana may ganitong Cafe rin si Pilipinas, Madam. Kahit maliit, sobrang sarap naman sa pakiramdam habang nandito sa loob. Hindi masasayang ang bayad at mabibigyan pa nang magandang pahinga ang mga kustomer. It has a good view,” usal ni Andy habang nakangiti. Naglakad ito papunta sa unahan malapit sa terrace habang nakikita ang kabuuan ng square mula sa kaniyang kinaroroonan.

“Malabong mangyari ‘yon, Andy. Alam mo naman, walang masiyadong Templo sa Pilipinas. Nasa ibang bansa tayo, tsaka Durbar Square ito, kung saan napapalibutan ng mga iba’t-ibang Templo. Kaya nabibigyan ng magandang view ang Cafe,” sabi ni Carter at agad na pinuntahan si Andy. Tumingin ako kay Tin.

“Umupo na kayo. Ako na ang bahalang mag order ng hapunan natin.”

Pagkatapos ay agad akong naglakad papunta sa counter, nag-order, at nagbayad. Nang maayos ko na lahat ay bumalik ako sa aking mga kasama’t paharap na umupo.

This place is slightly expensive and food but in fairness, the Cafe allows us to watch a good view of the hustle and bustle of the square, marketplace, and the Temples. However, it was also located in the middle of the street facing the glorious Nyatapola temple which grabs our attention.

“The cafe offers excellent view to Nyatapola Temple and Bhairavnath Temple,” Carter said. Magugulat na sana ako kung paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ng mga Templo dito pero sabagay, isa naman siyang copywriter at hindi bago sa kaniya ang maghagilap ng impormasyon.

Habang naghihintay sa pagkain na i-serve sa aming mesa, nag-uusap silang tatlo habang ako’y nasa ibang bagay lumulutang ang aking isipan.

Gusto kong baguhin ang desisyon ng Director tungkol sa pagpapadala ng kompanya sa Reporters Team pero siguro’y ito na nga talaga ang oras kung saan kailangan ko silang harapin.

Sobrang tagal na din ng panahon at palagi akong nagtatago’t tumatakbo. Hindi ako takot; ayaw ko lang tanggapin ang nakaraan na alam kong hindi ko kaya. Ayaw kong pilitin ang aking sarili ngunit siguro’y masiyado ko nang tinatalikuran ang kasalukuyan para lang sa nakaraan.

I let out a deep sigh. I already have an idea about the Reporters team leader’s introduction tomorrow once she set her eyes on me and this time, I will gradually face her team without stumbling on my own feet.

Maya-maya pa’y dumating na ang aming mga order. My team liked the foods in front of our table. This is our first time eating Nepalese’s cuisine together. The cafe also provides asian foods and I made a listing a bit for them. Baka kasi hindi magustuhan ng aking mga kasama ang pagkain ng mga taga rito ngunit nagkakamali ako.

“This lassi, a blended yogurt drink is very tasty, Madam!” Tin hissed as she take a sip on the glass, “It’s refreshing,” she added.

“This Gurkhaz Grill is twice as good with a normal pizza in our country, Madam. I thought you’ll be ordering something that was good for meal pero kahit mediyo kaunti lang ang offer nila na mga pagkain, still, I enjoy this!” usal naman ni Andy.

“Yeah, it’s good. I can’t say anything. Sinabi niyo na lahat ang pagpupuri,” hindi ko maiwasang matawa sa reaksiyon ni Carter.

I was glad that they like the foods. This Cafe has a limited menu but the food was quite good with reasonable prices; extremely recommended. The greatest perk of Cafe Nyapola is the beatufiul and mesmerizing view on the Taumadhi square.

When I was done eating, I watched the view below us. Being here was definitely worth it, as the view is superb. It helps people not to think too much about the earthquake happened earlier and while hanging around up here, I feel relaxed.

It’s extremely scenic. I hope that the earthquake and any upcoming dilemma won’t break this beautiful place. Darbur Square’s properties and the view are one of the best area of this country.

But sometimes, disaster falls upon to those alluring places.