7/31/2019 TheGift_GyaltsuenJetsunPemaWangchuck_QueenOfBhutan

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TheGift.

Chuki,getready,Imcomingtopickyouup,Icalledmywifefromoffice.

20minuteslaterIreachedBabesa,shewasstilldecidingwhichsareetowear.Awww,womenof40arestillgirlswhenitcomestodressingup,Ithought.

Pleasewearthatgreenone.Sheagreedandstartedtogetready.YoutoowearyourcoatandAnotherhalfanhourandwewereready.

It'snoteverydayyougettomeetorseetheroyalty.

AndwhenwefoundourselvesjustfeetawayfromtheKingofBhutanandHisnewQueen,Ihavetoadmitthatdespitemyvariousinternalmentalconversationsandpreparations,Icouldnotfollowthem.

OverourshorttenureinBhutan,IhadlearnttopresenttheGiftinawhitesilkscarf,howtoholditoutasanoffering,amarkofrespecttothekingbutonlyifHeapproachedandNOTtolookdirectlyinHiseyes.

WehadstoppedatSemtokhaontherouteoftheRoyalCouple.About50peoplehadlinedupandwejoinedthemattheendoftheline.ImhungryChukisaidafteranhour,Ihavenothadmylunch.IangrilyrememberedthehandypackofbiscuitsIkeepinmybasanti(mycar)parked5minutesaway.

Mywifeshungerwasalsoimportantassheisadiabetespatient.Bythetimeshefinishedtheminthecar,thelineofpeoplehadbeenusheredway-upbythesecurity.Wedecidedtomovefurtherdownintotheexpressway.

BasantihadfoundaluckyparkingspaceoppositeHotelMigmar.TwotothreehundredpeoplehadlinedupandtherewasaspecialofferingpreparedfortheRoyalCouple.Wetooslippedinandstoodpatiently.Thelinewasincreasingeveryminuteandasmorepeoplewerebeingaccommodated,wefoundourselvesoppositeSheareeSquare.Myeyeswerefetchingthemagicfairytalecouple.

Therewasastirfarupalongtheexpressway.Theyvearrived!!!.Myheartthumped.Ihadstoppednoticingmywifeorthepeoplearoundme.Nothingmatteredtome

morethanseeingtheminPerson!.

IwatchedwithexcitementTheRoyalCouplewalkingdown,meetingpeople,talkingwiththem,acceptinggreetings.InasplitofsecondTheyweresurroundedeitherbyaccompanimentsorthecrowd.AndthensuddenlyHisMajestyturnedandwalkedrightinfrontofus.

TashiDelekYourMajesty,Imanagedtofumblesoftlywhileloweringmyhead,ThisisforYou,YourMajesties.Heopenedthescarftofindabookentitled,RoyalWeddings.

Mysmilesknewnobounds,myeyesshininginexcitementandhandstremblingasIheldthebookHewasgoingthroughpagebypage!

IhaveneverseenthisbeforeHesaid.

ThisisforYouIsaidagain,franticallyhopingHewouldacceptit.IwasprettynervousinHispresencebythen.

ThisisbeautifulHecomplimented.

Heflippedthroughthewholebookandnoticedanothercopybelowitwiththesametitlebutwithasoftcover.

7/31/2019 TheGift_GyaltsuenJetsunPemaWangchuck_QueenOfBhutan

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Whatisthis?Heasked.YourMajesty,thisbookcontainsfelicitationsfromthePeopleofBhutan,Ianswerednervously.

Iwillsignitandyoushallkeepitheadded.

Mymindwaseeks.TheofficialsprecedingHisMajestyhadseenmeinthequeueandhadspecificallytoldmenottoaskforHissignature.Thatanywaywasnotinmymindorintention.

HisMajestyflippedopenthebookagainandsignedit.

Jetsunyoumustcomehere.

FromthecornerofmyeyeIsawHerMajestyglideovernexttoHisMajesty.

TashiDelekIwished.

Thisisbeautiful,Shesaid,Hervoicewasangelic.Hersweetgentlevoicestillreverberatesinmyears.HerMajestywentthroughthepages.

Doyouhavemorecopies?,IcouldfeelHisMajestysmiling.

Yes,YourMajesty,BMShaspublishedthisandthis

Jetsun,signhereandHegaveHispentoHerMajestywhilehelpingHerfindthepage.

WhileHerMajestysigned,Icouldfeeltheworldswoon.

Iwasdazedwiththeincredibleairofwarmthandhumility.Thentheyweregone.InoticedacarcarryingHisMajestysCrownandswirledtheKhadarintoit,gratefully.

IdonotrememberclearlywhetherIsaidThankyouinmymindorhadvoiceditoutverbally.

AllalongIhadheardHisMajestytobeThePeoplesKing.NowIadoreThem.Theyaretrulymadeforeachother,MadeinHeaven.

ThemomentwastheGift.Itsinmyheart.Treasuredforever.

TashiDelektoHerMajestytheQueenofBhutanontheauspiciousoccasionofHerBirthday.MyprayersandwishesforHer.

Andthankyouadminforthispage,where-inIamabletore-livethewarmthofthepresenceofTheirMajesties.