Kolab Pailin Chapter 1

At that moment, Surya (a solar deity-G.o.d of the sun) was sitting on his crystal chariot, a carriage drawn by a pair of horses, circling Mount Semeru in a direction from east to west through the constellation of the solar system, and thus at its turn, concealed by the great mount, lost its light and there appeared Savitr (G.o.d of the sun before sunrise and sunset). At that time, it was the 15th day of the waxing moon of the month of Karttika in the year of dog, the 4th year in the 10 year cycle, in 2470 B.E.* Chandra (a lunar deity) climbed up his silver chariot and started his journey from the west spreading the silver light all over the earth. Chandra seemed to be smilingly eyeing the roof of a residence residing the west of Svay Pao market, a dome-shaped market in Battambang province**. ***

[*based on lunisolar calendar- November 19th 1926.
**A province in Cambodia
***this whole paragraph literally means after the sun sets on a particular day on November 19th, 1927, there appeared the moon showering its light… and under that light, there’s a house.]

The residence is a type of Khmer traditional house, an old two tiled roof home with board wall, parquet flooring, and round pillars. At the gable craved with a wooden sculpture of Reaho Chab Chan* (eclipse of the moon). Under the sculpture, craved the word “Sereypong”.

During that night, the moonlight was leaking into the house through the window along with the cool and refres.h.i.+ng air. There is an oil lamp hanging by the wall, giving off dim light to the house. Under the light, there is a very skinny old man, looking bloodless like there’s only skeleton under that skin, resting in the room. Near the weak old man, there’s a young man who is taking care of him. The young man’s expression is dull and somber. He has stayed up for 3 days to take care of the weak old man who is his father.

The sick old man who is lying unconsciously on the bed is called Cheoum, his surname is Sereypong. Once in a while, he would breathe a long breathe. He then opened his eyes and looked around the room. His eyes then locked on the man sitting near him. That young man is his dearest son, Chao Chet, the future of Sereypong family. He tried to smile with sadness and to speak with a tremble voice, “Chet, my dear son! It’s already so late. Why aren’t you sleeping? Go, go to bed!” Ta Cheoum* urged his son to go to bed, worrying that he will get sick. Chao Chet** shook his head refusing his father and expressed his sorrow. He then replied “I’m not sleepy yet, father! Father, have you not taken your medicine yet? Doctor advised that you have to take your medicine.”

[*Ta Cheoum – “Ta” = “old man”, Cheoum is the name of the old man.
**Chao Chet – “Chao” = “young man”, Chet is the name of the young man.]

“Medicine?” Ta Cheoum said in a weak voice in a manner of ridiculing the medicine because he knew that the medicine can’t help him. He continued, “My son! Father* already took this medicine many times, did not see how it helps in curing this illness. This kind of illness, father know it well that. In this kind of situation, medicine is no better than lake water!

[*older people usually refer to themselves using their own t.i.tle.]

Before Chao Chet could reply to his father, a middle aged man walked into the room, found himself a seat near the patient and asked, “How do you feel today? Are you feeling any better yet?”

“Oh, Buddha!*” Ta Cheoum exclaimed the moment he heard what the doctor asked him, he then replied, “Oh, doctor, my vision already got blurry, I’m sorry I did not notice you were there.”

Chao Chet, once he heard what his father said, burst into tears overflowing with sadness. He turned to the doctor and begged him to help his father.  However, the doctor shook his head in despair and whispered to Chao Chet, “He can’t make it through the night.”

After that, Ta Cheoum continued to say with difficulties, “I may not live to see the sun rises tomorrow. I don’t think this is strange. Death is a natural thing that ought to happen, no living beings can escape death. As for my body and soul, they are at ease. I do not have any regret. As for my afterlife, it will be up to the heaven to decide.” He then turned to his son and leave his message, “Chet, my dear son! As father will no longer be here, you will have to wander without stake to depend on like a flotsam floating aimlessly on the river.

Chao Chet’s words stuck in his throat, he could only let the tears stream down his face and groveled at his father’s feet. The doctor turned to look at the window, his eyes filled with tears.

Ta Cheoum continued his message with struggle, “Chet, my dear son! You have to remember my words. People believe that prosperity is to be rich with wealth because if you are poor, people will look down on you. Being poor won’t bring you happiness, but, my son, father can’t bring you that happiness. But, you have to remember a proverb Atahi Atanoh Nea-thoh meaning to depend on oneself.

The doctor suddenly interrupted at that moment, “Ta, don’t lose hope too fast, even though your illness is serious, but there’s still hope. You still can get well.”

Heard the doctor, Ta Cheoum provokingly says, “Get well, huh? Doctor, there is no way to be cured. There’s only death awaiting, this morning, tonight or even now. Whenever it is, it is not important.” 

Ta Cheoum stopped and a moment later he continued, “Chet, my dear son. Father is poor, do not have anything valuable for you. After my death, all there is left are this body and advices. My soul can only rest peacefully if you follow my advices. Also, with the knowledge that you have gained, pa.s.s the examinations and get the certificate! From today onward, father can no longer be by your side to support you.”

Chao Chet, once he heard all the advices, tears continue to fall down his face. He groveled at his father’s feet and said, “Father! I will remember every words you said. I will followed everything you have advised. Father, don’t worry about anything and as long as I live, I will protect the value of our family.

After that, Ta Cheoum’s condition got worse. He seemed to be trying to grasp for breathe. He got weaker and weaker. As time drew close to his death, he spoke to the kind doctor in hoa.r.s.e voice, “Doctor, I will die in the next 2 or 3 minutes. I thank you so much for your kindness for taking care of me and my medicine fees and ask nothing of me in return. I do not have anything to pay you back. Oh! I can no longer hear. Chet, my son…”

Chao Chet hugged his father as if not wanting to let his soul leave his body. However, it was of no used. His wish can’t be answered because people born, grow old, get sick, and die. No one can escape that. Even lord Buddha had to face death.

Finally, at the same time the moonlight started to disappear, Ta Cheoum took his last breath and pa.s.sed away in the hug of his son.

Life as an orphan

Only after he’s done with the funeral, did Chao Chet realized, “I’m all alone now, there’s no relatives or anyone to depend on.   Forget it, I have to go through all the hards.h.i.+ps. I’m an orphan now and like father said, [Chet, after father can no longer be here, your life will be like a flotsam floating on the river].”

Chao Chet thought that the world is a big and happy world for other people, but it’s a small and cruel world for him, an orphan without any relatives who doesn’t have anyone to depend on. No one would want to help a poor man like him. He thought, “Why is my life so hard? But, as a man, I can’t fear hards.h.i.+p. I have to go through all the hards.h.i.+ps to see what it’s really like.”

Chao Chet was standing against the wall thinking of finding a job. He then looked up to the moon in the sea of cloud that is showering its light all over the place. Along with the cool wind that is travelling the place, there’s the sound of monk chanting from Wat* Preah Pi Theara. Hearing the chanting sound, Chao Chet started to think of his father who has recently pa.s.sed away. Not knowing what to look at, Chao Chet returned to the room. Inside the room, there’s the dim light of the oil lamp, the place where his father used to sit and eat Sakae Naa (Combretum quadrangulare). But now, there’s only him alone. Without him realizing it, tears then started to fall down his cheeks.

[*Wat = a type of Buddhist temple.]

At that moment, Chao Chet turned and saw a familiar person dressing in while walked in. Chao Chet stood up and asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me. Chao Chet?” the man replied and asked.

Chao Chet knew that it’s the doctor, he invited, “Please come in, doctor.”

The doctor then entered the house and sat down as invited by Chao Chet. “How are you doing, Chao Chet?” The doctor asked.

Chao Chet replied, “Doctor, if it’s about the physical condition, I’m doing fine. But, I’m very depressed. Since the death of father, I can’t seem to see any light.

The doctor nodded his head and continued to ask, “Have you found a job yet?”

Chao Chet replied with a meaningless laugh, “Doctor! I can’t find any job here, every positions seems to be out of reach for me. Although I did learnt a lot, but it seems that all the knowledges can only be used to check some doc.u.ments and monitor the program of theater and cinema.

The doctor replied with sympathy, “I also pity you, Chet!” and advised, “You are a man. You will need to face with more hards.h.i.+ps in the future. Let me think if I can help you with anything.”

Chao Chet remained silent. After a moment of thought, the doctor smiled and exclaimed, “I know! I have an uncle who is quite rich. You might get a job if he agree to help. But, the job might be a little hard at the beginning.”

Chao smiled and replied to the doctor, “I can tolerance any hards.h.i.+p as long as I can a job to earn a living so that no one can look down on me. Even if it’s digging the ground, moving heavy stuff… I’m willing to do any of them.

The doctor looked happy and replied with satisfaction, “I always thought that you are a man that can do anything. But, Chao Chet! The job is not in this city. It’s in Pailin city.”

“Pailin, is it?” Chao Chet lost his smile and replied, “People say that life is very hard there. Only the Kula people can bear to work there. I’m afraid I can cope with the climate there.”

The doctor advised, “You are right, but many people got sick because they were careless. Didn’t you learn some remedies to take care of yourself while taking care of your father?” He then continued, “My uncle used to be an official, his t.i.tle was Hluong Rotano Sambath*. He is 50 years old now. He is a good man and also has good relations with the Kula people. A few weeks ago, he sent a letter to me looking to recruit someone to work for him. Mining gemstones needs honest people. I trust you.

[*an official t.i.tle]

Chao Chet replied, “Mining gemstone is a new thing for me.”

“The Doctor said, “It’s better than doing nothing, right? If you accept the job, I will send you there soon because I believe that you’re a hard worker that would definitely please my uncle.”

Chao Chet saluted the doctor to show his grat.i.tude. Before he bid farewell, the doctor left Chao Chet a letter.