My happiness
Ngultrum 1850. I dug deep into my pockets again and again, checking every possible hiding place in my wallet. I counted and recounted—Nu. 1850 was all I had left. It was the remaining balance from my very first salary at my new job. Just a month earlier, I had been so excited to finally be employed. Now, a month later, I was already worrying about what I would tell my parents. The moment an American tourist tested positive for COVID-19, the government announced immediate border closure. Panic buying began everywhere. My parents had reminded me several times to stock up on essentials that could last for months. But how could I tell them that I had only Nu. 1850? More than half my salary had already gone into rent and bills. With the little I had left, I bought utensils, a mattress, and a quilt for my parents, because I had brought them to live with me. They were so proud—glowing even—when they told every villager we met on the way, “We are going to live with our son in Thimphu....