Chinthe in me

My name is Sithu Aung.  ‘Aung ‘ is taken from the last name of my father, U Hla Aung. My parents named me ‘Sithu’, as I am a Tuesday born. Subject to the day I was born, a Burmese alphabet was thus selected according to the Burmese 8 days a week Astrological calendar. We Burmese are an individualistic lot, we need not have surnames nor follow the customary patronymic or matronymic systems.  However, being a modern Myanmar, my parents followed the Burmese Buddhist tradition while also following the patronymic system, best of both worlds I suppose. Should we apply the Burmese-Buddhist zodiac animal sign, I am a Lion or Chinthe in Burmese. A Chinthe is a leograph (a lion like creature), usually are found in pairs in front of Pagodas as guards. I like to think that I guard my parents, brother and myself at the same time. The Minder.

When I was about eight years old, I once asked my mother what does Sithu Aung meant and why was I christened with that name.

Mother replied, “ Your name Sithu Aung is in two syllables. In ancient Burmese, ‘Sithu’ was a high-ranking army title, and ‘Aung’ means success. Therefore Sithu Aung is to mean successful titled general and it was also in keeping with your Burmese zodiac sign. The reason for christening this special name was because you being a Tuesday born, we wanted you to be blessed strong and powerful like a Chinthe and have every success in life like a general at war. Want to change it? ”

“No mother, I like it just fine. I wanted to know so that I am aware of its meaning and the reason.” Satisfied, I continued the serious business of playing with my mates.

I also have an elder brother by two years. His name is Aung San Hla Aung. A Sunday born, his name was taken from the most famous martyr of our country and to mean successful beaming. Even though we have our own rooms, we share our thoughts and he always let me have the toys and the games I wished to play. Always making leeway for his little brother and father and mother also spoils me silly. In short, I was the little brat of the family. I suppose this is one of the benefits of being the youngest in the household. My demands, may be how ever trivial, becomes a reality. Fabulous!

Sithu Aung’s father is a Senior Engineer with the Rangoon Municipality and mother is Daw Su Su, a doctor, general practitioner, with the Myanmar Customs. As such, we were never out of stock for seasonal products and fruits. Gifts galore would pour in from satisfied customers and patients in the form of rice bags, peanut oil in cans, seasonal fruits, Thanakha wood, charcoal, etc. etc. House is also privately owned, built according to his father’s drawings and specifications on Kanbawza Road, Bahan Township, well respected high-end residential area of Rangoon. The house is a two stories brick building with a comfortable compound. A property many can only dream about, and the land, which was handed down by grandfather from father’s side. Understand he was a First Secretary with the then, Burma Foreign Service. The land prices those days must have been exceptionally cheap, or his salary pretty good or must have enjoyed a windfall from the family. It does not matter either way, as it’s ours today.

My father’s job fringe benefit included a brand new Mazda Jeep and a driver. The driver takes me to school before he leaves for office in the mornings and fetch me back in the early afternoon. Mother’s transportation was a ferry by the courtesy of her Myanmar Customs. During those days, everybody including the police knows that a Mazda Jeep was only assigned to executives, over a special position of the governmental service. Most automobiles try to give it a wide berth where possible. Besides, some automobiles were fearful of possible sustaining damages should there be an accident, as the other party was a rugged Jeep. When I was fifteen, in the ninth standard, I would sit behind the steering wheel with the driver by my side. We would enter into the school compound together with the school bus from Yankin, and stop together five minutes before the first morning bell in front of the school gate. I wanted to show off and impress Shwe Zin, my classmate with her pale molasses or coffee with milk colour skin. Same age as myself, budding slim figure with blossoming boobs and short hair. Her skin was silky smooth without a trace of blemish, honey nor butter cannot do justice. Always smiling and eyes of sparking diamonds was the darling of our class. We boys or young male adolescences would love to win her heart. All our eyes were on her, hoping she would return our glances, for us to workout courage to approach her. Our school was known as Teachers Training College, or TTC for short. It was one the top three schools in Yangon. Shwe Zin sometimes utilize and dip in the university swimming pool, a walking distance from our school together with her sisters and brothers. I have seen her in a red swimming suit. She sure was a beauty, a most desirable creature, top prize for us adolescence boys.

With time, we all passed our matriculation examinations. With two distinctions, I was permitted to attend the BSc (Bachelor of Science) Physics course. The thoughts of Shwe Zin disintegrated into the sunsets, as the competition was most plentiful at the university. My brother Aung San Hla Aung was attending the Yangon Institute of Technology reading Civil Engineering for his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. Civil), thus the campuses were different. At times we drove him to his campus and he stops by a pharmacy on route. There he topped up his stock of condoms, I was sure he was scoring but did not know whether with his regular girlfriend(s) or ladies of the night. The irony was, I never even got a chance of holding a girl’s hand. My brother never did share his escapades with me anymore we were all growing up very fast.

During my second year at the university, I applied for a position at the Institute of Marine Technology (IMT) to be a Navigation Cadet. The course was only one year and job openings were bright. I always wanted to see the world and this was the only way I know how. With my positive matriculation marks, I managed to get in while registering at Workers College to complete my BSc degree (just in case I needed a Plan B). During my pre-sea cadetship, we were given liberty passes on Saturday mornings and to be back at IMT by 1630hours on Sundays. On one such Saturday late afternoon, we, a group of pre-sea cadets were enjoying noodles at a famous stall on 22^nd Street. There I caught glance of a young maiden with her friends enjoying noodles like us by another table. My fellow colleagues commented that they were from Medical College no.1, MC1 for short. Since we were locked in for five and a half days a week, it was our duty to know all things female. Through my extensive intelligence network of my school buddies, I was informed that her name was Saw Saw Saing, a second year medical student and single with no known boyfriend. All was music to my ears. My female associates attending MC1 also enlightened me that she comes from a doctor family, and does her household wet marketing on early Sunday mornings at Hledan Market as she resides on Inya Road.

By the following early Sunday morning, I waited by the bus stand. There she was, in full glory with a large bamboo basket. Myself in full attire of my liberty dress of light blue tie, white long sleeves shirt, well pressed grey trousers and a brass belt buckle that would put gold to shame. My black shoes were so shinny, one does not need a mirror.

I worked up courage and said, “Hello Saw, I’m Sithu Aung, your personal helper for the morning. Please do not think that I’m being rude or impertinent. I met you last Saturday at the noodle stall on 22^nd Street.”

“You seem to know my name and I do not recall meeting you last Saturday at 22nd Street. Furthermore, I did not put in a requisition for a personal helper either.”

Sithu Aung smilingly discharged her large bamboo basket from the grip of her soft hand and said, “Yes, we were not introduced officially last Saturday. But in my heart of hearts, it’s telling me to get to know you better.”

Sithu continued his rounds as her helper in the market till Saw’s large basket became full as the morning wore on. Then he boarded a bus together, to her stop at the top of Inya Road. Thence he walked her to the top of their lane.

He sighed, “ The basket is pretty heavy. In my opinion, that’s a lot of stuff to be consumed.”

Saw laughed and replied, “ This shopping is for a week and I do this every Sunday, presume you already knows this?”

“Yes I do, just don’t injure yourself lifting such heavy loads.”

That said, he slid a folded note into her purse in the large bamboo basket and let her continue the last leg of the walk home by herself. He bid his salutations to Saw and journeyed back to IMT to be the earliest cadet back on record. He would call home later and make his excuses.

Saw Saw Saing entered this world in 1956 and was a sickly child. She was born prematurely and suffered jaundice, thus was warded for about a month on delivery at Dufferin Hospital. As a child she was prone to a variety of illnesses and was a sad looking duckling. From the age of thirteen, she blossomed into a beautiful swan and was good in her studies too. Believe she was a bit of a bookworm.

Saw after completing her chores in the kitchen with her mother, placed everything in its rightful place. Meat inside the freezer, fish to be cooked in the fridge and vegetables duly washed and cleaned in the cool chamber, headed back to her room upstairs. In complete privacy, beside her study table by the window, she unfolded the note and read it slowly.

Dear Saw,

First, please forgive me for barging into your life like this. I harbour no ill intensions to spoil your life. Since I first saw you last Saturday, your beauty has not left my mind and I would like the opportunity to know you better. For what is worth, I have never done such as this in my life.  I had thought long and hard for the past five days and since you have not left my thoughts, thus writing this letter. I am sure you’ll be wishing to conduct some sort of enquiry about what type of looser I am. For the benefit of your inquisition, here below are my credentials. Father is U Hla Aung, Senior Engineer with the Rangoon Municipality. Mother is Dr. Daw Su Su with the Myanmar Customs. Both are in their late forties and I have an elder brother Aung San Hla Aung, now in his final year at YIT, reading Civil Engineering. We all reside at no.39 Kanbawza Road in Bahan Township of Yangon.

I am now nineteen years of age and undergoing one-year pre-sea cadetship at IMT and hope to be joining Burma Five Star Line (BFSL), our one and only national shipping line by coming April or May. You may find it a comedy, since I have not even held a girl’s hand, don’t talk about anything else. True virgin in every essence. Be sure it’s hard to come by, at this day and age. We cannot leave our IMT compound except for permitted liberty from Saturday morning 0900hours till Sunday 1630hours. Much regret this being a pre-sea cadet training college and nothing that we can do and beyond us. Our Principal is Captain R. Verdon, a mariner and a Port Master Attendant previously. He runs a tight training establishment.

Please conduct your inquisition and kindly let me be your special friend. I am yours to be done as per your pleasure during the above timings. Any chance for a dinner at Chinatown, come next Saturday. Say, 1800hours? You may write or phone me at 39464, extension 029 for your kind concurrence. I am reachable between the hours of 2200hours to 2230hours most evenings, except when I am off or on duty watch. You can ask for Cadet Sithu Aung.

Looking forward to your favourable acknowledgement.

Yours,

Cadet Sithu Aung (CD09/74)

IMT, Rangoon.

Saw Saw Saing read it twice. She sensed from the writing that he was sincere and no looser. Being a woman, with an intuition at that, she felt it was her duty to check him out with her various sources. No harm done. Actually, she did see a group of students in their uniforms by the next table, on that late afternoon in question at 22nd Street that Saturday, but she did not recall seeing him.

Sithu anxiously waited daily for some sort of acknowledgement, but there was no phone call at the cadet’s duty office or any letters for him either. How could she have accepted his advances last Sunday and remained silent? Questions abound. All his hopes and dreams were disappearing fast and felt like soon to be neaped. However, that Friday evening, just before lights out, he heard a loud shout.

“Cadet Sithu Aung, telephone call for you. Make it on the double.” Duty Cadet hissed at him from the alleyway with a stern stare.

“Hello, this is Cadet Sithu Aung?”

“Hello, this is Saw Saw Saing. See you next Saturday around six p.m. at the corner of Maha Bandola and 21^st Street, bye.”

She did not even waited for his return answer and put the telephone down. Unladylike and not a nice thing to do he thought. For Sithu Aung, the call was neither here nor there. He was ecstatic all the same though.

He did smile and said, “Thank you Duty Cadet.”

“Don’t thank me you buffoon, thank your lucky stars that I’m in an accommodating mood.”

In his mind, he was actually cursing and saying watch out you louse, that was not the way to treat a fellow cadet, I’ll get you one of these days and disappeared in the direction of his cabin. Once on his bunk, he noticed only then that he was totally bushed, but sleep did not come by his way. Was the thought of holding Saw’s hand just a dream? He did not know at what time he drifted off to sleep. He was rudely wakened at 0500hours for the morning physical training (PT), and only then did he realize that he slept without putting down his mosquito net. If the Duty Officer knew, that was punishable with an hour of overtime work. After an hour of running round the football pitch and the usual exercises, breakfasted on fried rice with beans. He then cleaned his room spick and spam and got dressed according regulations for his weekly liberty pass at 0900hours.

The liberty pass inspection went well and he was off the gates by 0910hours. He rushed off for home without his usual cup of morning tea at the corner teashop. At home, he spent the day with his father and mother trying to win over their sympathy. By 1630hours, he took a long leisurely shower and combed his hair, picked a freshly pressed longyi and a nice sport shirt, and left his house at 1710hours for the rendezvous with Saw. Sithu was at the designated place by 1746hours and waited for Saw. He just wanted to be early so that he does not miss her. By 6.08 p.m. Saw showed up.

“Have you been waiting long?” Saw enquired.

She was a beautiful sight. Slim, long black hair curled to a bun at the back, fair, about five foot seven, smallish boobs, comfortable and carried herself well in her cotton htamein and short sleeve blouse.

“No, not long. You sure are a beautiful sight for sore eyes and worth every minute of waiting. Would you like to walk down the Maha Bandoola Street and browse at the stalls what might suit your fancy?” Sithu said.

“Sure, that’s a nice idea.” They walked slowly smiling and thinking what to eat.

At the top of 28^th Street Saw exclaimed, “ Oh! Fresh spring rolls haven’t had those for a longtime. Shall we?”

They sat down in front of the stall by stools and he ordered two each and a generous helping of chili sauce. The evening was just drawing in and the crowds were just beginning to build up in its coolness.

He said, “Thank you for coming. I mean no harm. Please also forgive me in advance for any inadequate etiquette, as this is my very first time that I’ve been out with a girl. I also know I write bad letters as my essays always receive poor grades and not afraid to admit very nervous.”

“Not to worry, you are doing fine. For your information, this is also my first time being out with a man. This is all new to me and I liked your letter too. I can see that it was from the heart and not superficial. Why do you think I came?”

Sithu was all smiles and the feeling and vibrations in his body felt so strange for him. In his heart, there were three merry-go-rounds, all spinning at the same time.  There were a million things he wanted to say and ask her. He was hungry for more of Saw. He wanted her more and more. Where does it end he wondered?

“Thank you for your kind words. I am just at the bottom of the ladder and hoping to climb the mountain of success. Furthermore, my parents are civil servants and I also aim to be one. I know for a fact that you and your family are all doctors, afraid we are no match for that.”

“Yes, we are all doctors, but the person is more important. My elder sister married a doctor also, but she married the man not the position. They are now in Mandalay and aim to settle down in Lashio, as all his family are there and they have a house too.”

They both turned back and made their way to 20^th Street where hot pot stall was very famous.  They managed to secure a small table on the platform and the waitress approached and asked, “Yes?”

Saw said, “Flat rice noodles with pork.”

Sihtu ordered, “ Fine rice noodles with pork also.”

The waitress took their orders and gave it to the cook in front of the hot stove for preparation. He was cooking four orders at the same time on four pressure burners with sweat pouring down from his face like rain. Maybe we will not need additional salt by the look of things he said to himself in the mind.

Saw Saw Saing insisted that they go Dutch.

They continued to see each other every weekend. Saturdays were spent sight seeing followed by a road side dinner and he would take her home by bus. Sundays were marketing in the mornings coupled with a visit to Shwe Dagon Pogoda and a late lunch at ‘Feel’, before taking her back and rushing in time for 1630hours deadline back at IMT. Sundays on the Shwe Dagon around noon were hot and not too many people there, quite understandably. They would find a quiet spot in the shade and wispier their never-ending tales. He also took a few snap sots of her with his brother’s instamatic camera, with her permission of course. When no one was looking, he would steal a kiss or two or three. It went no further though. Passing out was in the morning of late March. He did not secure any prizes, but was selected as one of the five cadets earmarked to join BFSL. Saw Saw Saing spent her Water Festival holidays at a retreat in Bago, meditating. Sithu Aung spent his on a back of a jeep visiting pandals and marquees, splashing water as this being his last free days before joining BFSL. His elder brother, Aung San Hla Aung passed his final year Civil Engineering examinations and was awarded a B.E. Civil degree and joined the Irrigation Department. He was posted promptly to Myitkyeenar in the north of Burma as an Assistant Engineer.  He was very pleased with himself.

By the first week of May, all five navigation cadets reported to the Marine Superintendent of BFSL. They were instructed to join m.v. Bassein, the training ship by 10^th May. They would spend a minimum period of a year there under the supervision of Commodore Master, Captain Myo Nyunt and his Chief Officer, U Aye Maung. They were given a sheet where all necessary uniforms, type of overalls and clothing’s were specified. All items such as peak cap badge, epaulettes, blues collar turnbacks, etc. etc. were kit out by the Marine and Engineering Office staff. The ship was scheduled for Europe to call at Avonmouth, London, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp. The round voyage was estimated to take more than two and a half months via Suez Canal, after which a trip to Japan, if lucky. Pay? Not worth wasting words on it.

Reporting at a stipulated morning on joining onboard m.v. Bassein, Captain Myo Nyunt gave his blessings, “The most senior cadet by passing out roster will be permitted to bunk in the Fourth Officer cabin, then the next two cadets to share the Pilot’s cabin on the bridge deck. The most junior two cadets to take up residence in the Cadets’ cabin, next to the Chief Officer’s day room. The cabins at all times are to be spotless so that you can even eat straight off from the deck. All daily works, registers and journals will be as per Chief Officer’s orders and instructions. Are they all well understood cadets?”

All stood at attention in front of the Captain’s day room and replied together in one voice, “Yes Sir.”

“Good, Chief Officer, they are all yours. Carry on.” And the Captain retired back to his day room.

The next lecture was by the Chief Officer, “For the time being, the most senior cadet will assist my day work with me. The next two will assist the Second Officer on his cargo watch, and the most junior two cadets to assist the Third Officer on his. Fully uniformed at all times. You all are to start tomorrow at 0800hours sharp. For today till 1800hours, store your gears in your respective cabins and find your way around the ship. Write your daily journals in English and no copying or cheating either. Senior cadet to collect and place the duly entered journals on my work desk daily at 0800hours sharp. You all heard what the Captain just said, start cracking and now get out of my face.” 

The cadets did not know where to turn. All five ran in different directions as long as they were far away as possible from the Chief Officer and the Captain.   Confusion in the brewing he presumed.

The welcoming speeches by the Captain and Chief Officer were over and not at all heart warming. We were not overjoyed and nearly broke down in tears. We all did not look forward to our year onboard. Suppose this must be the beginning of the practical learning curve. Luck would have it that I being the second most junior cadet, had to share the cabin by the Chief Officer Day room. I shall have to bear it for a year, at least.

The only bright spot onboard was Saw’s photographs, which I kept in a small photo album beside my pillow in the bunk below. All cleared every morning into my side locker neatly without fail, otherwise if seen by the Chief Officer can mean overtime added to my account, which started running with a credit balance.

During my off days, I journeyed to MC1 to be beside Saw during lunch breaks and accompany her back home at the end of her daily time-table. This was most enjoyable and looked forward to. I gave Saw all my mailing addresses at each port and likely eta/ets (estimate time of arrival/estimate time of sailing) so that she can judge which port to airmail. With that, my onboard cadetship started in earnest. I wrote to her on aerogramme with a fine tip ball pen and with smallest alphabets I could muster. This way, I could squeeze all to be said within the space allocated. Besides, the standard aerogramme blue format was much speedier to reach its destination. I shared my knowledge with Saw also. Our ship never berthed more than two weeks in Rangoon, meaning only a week liberty. How time flies.

On my return from my first overseas trip, I bought 12 red Apples, a packet of sliced Kraft cheese and 2 large bars of Cadbury milk chocolates for her parents and the same for mine. I gave Saw two, small stuffed camels made of real camel leather which I exchanged with a carton of English filter kings cigarettes at the Suez Canal. All this I bought with my pay and some cash presents from the Captain and Chief Officer. The Second and Third Officer could not give any as they were in the same boat as them. Life was tough to say the least but never boring.

After my second trip returned from Japan, Saw told me, “My parents would like to invite you for a dinner.”

By the sounds of things it must be another inquisition, this time by Saw's parents. Come what may, will not turn down a good dinner. He just hoped that the meal would be sumptuous. The dinner must be a prelude to what?

I replied, ”Next Saturday will be fine.”

Come next Saturday, I was having a dinner at Saw’s place together with her father and mother. There were quite a few dishes on the table and all tasted superb. After the meal her father asked, “How do you find the food?”

“I like it a lot. Nice cooking and I am sure that I shall grow fat around the waste with eating it daily.”

Saw interrupted and said, “I cooked everything.”

Shitu gave a smile in return.

While enjoying a cup of black coffee, her father shot a question at him, “Sithu, do tell me your aspirations in life?”

“Well Sir, I want to pass my Master’s License examination, that is about in 7/8 years time and maybe secure a couple of years command and move back ashore to work as a superintendent for our national shipping line or be a pilot in Rangoon or anyplace that may suit my fancy.”

Her father continued, “ What happens in between?”

Sithu replied, “ Pass my Second Officer License examinations in about a year, and should I succeed, I aim to let my parents request to you for Saw’s hand in marriage to me.”

All seated at the dinner table smiled.

After some more small talks and a few jokes, Sithu bid his salutations and with a full belly made his exit around 2100hours. Saw accompanied him to the gate. Under a cloudless sky with the stars as witness, she gave him a strong full kiss on the lips.

Sithu questioned, “I like it, but what was that for?”

“For standing tall and spoken like a true responsible gentleman. There’s much more to be given. All good things come to who waits. In good time my love.” That said, Saw closed the gate and turned back for her house. He made haste to the bus stop on Dhammazedi Road.

Sithu and Saw are both Chinthes being of Tuesday born, and intends to guard both their households in safety against all ill winds. Intended, as still too young and junior to cause any waves.