Stories of Ap Wang Drugay

Introduction
According to Chang Dorji, an old man from Sonam Galing, Ap Wang Drugay’s initial name was Wang Dung-gyud. However, later his identity became popularized as Wang Drugay. Ap Wang Drugay’s stories are so popular in the western part of Bhutan particularly in the Wang region, now in Thimphu. His fascinating stories are also popular in some other parts of the country. That is why he is called by Chang-Ngan (meaning naughty) by the easterners. Wang Drugay is assumed to be there in the advent of twentieth century. He is a famous Bhutanese folk hero well-known for his extraordinary intelligence and beguilement, even today.  

Wang Drugay was a wifeless man who would earn his living wandering the entire region by being shrewd with others. His stories consisted of several unimaginable incidents he created with the people around and even with a local deity. In his time, nobody would be successful in overcoming his cleverness or deviousness.  He would always leave the people speechless by his rhetoric skills and behavior. His stories were of mostly about turning himself into a nun or a beautiful girl, making his neighbors fool, embarrassing the elder people by displaying their real attitude, and revealing the truth of the a region.

Today, if we reflect upon his stories, they are very relevant to the contemporary times. He looks like a clairvoyant man who discovered before so many people could find out. Therefore, today people describe Ap Wang Drugay as madman by his outer manifestations but regard him as a legend of the country in discovering the identities of the motherland and unfolding the truth of human life in general.

However, today we see the younger generation people of the country hardly inheriting such unique stories. It is sad to see our old generation being disappeared with their stories being left unheard. Taking this message into consideration, the main objective of this publication is to make heard of such legendary stories by the younger people of the country since the dawn of their early ages.

1. The deceived monastic body
Ap Wang Drugay was revered as the cleverest man in Thimphu who was able to easily swindle the people around. His popularity was even heard by the monastic body of Thimphu. The entire monastic body planned to invite Ap Wang Drugay to showcase how he deceive others.

One fine day, Ap Wang Drugay was called by a chief of the monk body to exhibit his deceptive character. The monastic body’s intention was to embarrass him in front of all the monks. He was made to sit in front of all the monks.

“Ap Wang Drugay, I heard you are very famous in deceiving other people easily. Therefore, today we invited you here to demonstrate your deceptive quality to us,” asked the Umze (head of ceremony) trying to humiliate Wang Drugay. The Umze’s laugh was followed the loud laugh of the entire monk.

Ap Wang Drugay remained firm on his confidence. Then he silenced the room, “It is true what the Umze mentioned and what all of you assume. I can exhibit any kind of deception, but today I cannot do it because I need a devise to ignite which I had left back at home. Therefore, with my humble submission, kindly I would like to borrow your charming horse which is tied right in front of the dzong. I can get it within a flash of moment”

Every monk in the room became more silent. All the monks believed Ap Wang Drugay’s words. The monastic body gave him their amiable horse to Ap Wang Drugay. He galloped off disappearing the valley to Jamdho where stayed. The monks were left looking into each other’s face

Ap Wang Drugay was wandering the entire region with immense pride for getting an opportunity to ride on such precious horse of the monastic body. It had passed more than five days riding and visiting every nook and corner of the Wang and Genekha valley. People of that valleys became more proud of Ap Wang Drugay’s intelligence.

The monks were upset with little remorse for giving their only precious horse. Even after more than five days, the monks were still waiting for Wang Drugay’s return. However, Ap Wang Drugay did not return unless he was called back.

The monk body sent a message to Ap Wang Drugay to come back to the monastic institute with the horse. Accordingly, he returned.

The monks were frustrated for his late return. The monks did not tell him about his whereabouts, but they switched back to their intention. And the Umze told him again, “Wang Drugay, where is your devise that helps you to cheat others and can you showcase now.”

Ap Wang Drugay gave him a clumsy laugh and replied overseeing the whole monk body in the hall, “Have you ever heard that there is a devise which helps me in deceiving others. I don’t have as such devise, but I already deceived you all as you wanted, that you know very well.” Ap Wang Drugay disappeared from their sight in a while.

The monks were left dumfounded.

2.      Cleansing of all chickens
One day, Ap Wang Drugay was really craving for a chicken. He felt like he could swallow a whole body of chicken if happened to be found on his way. Yet, he owned not even a single chicken at his home. Therefore, he planned to steal and eat all the chickens of the valley.

The next night, Ap Wang Drugay was invited for a dinner by Aum Pem, a neighbor of him. As he planned, he got a platform to manifest his deceptive nature. Aum Pem had prepared a chicken and ema-datshi. Ap Wang Drugay deliberately refused to take chicken curry, instead he took ema-datshi. Aum Pem probed him time and again to take the chicken curry. Ap Wang Drugay denied profusely saying, “forget eating chicken, I don’t even touch it. I really hate it, Ama.”

The next day Ap Wang Drugay could not resist himself from feeling like to eat chicken. He started his busyness as preplanned. Every night, he sneaked into the poultry stay and started eating all the chickens. He ate all the chickens across the valley.

Not even a single chickens were found to be seen around in the village. People became bothered thereof. The people of the region suspected on Ap Wang Drugay. Everyone planned to meet Ap Wang Drugay and inquire him once. Everyone was gathered in front of his high-walled house.

All of a sudden Aum Pem appeared from her window and asked the mob, “What is wrong with Wang Drugay. He left yesterday to Genekha.”  The people shouted back at her, “All our chickens were cleansed and we suspected on Ap Wang Drugay. So we are here to look for him.” 

Instantly, Aum Pem gave them a corroborative evidence, “Ap Wang Drugay was purely a vegetarian and he didn’t even touch chickens, forget having it. If you don’t believe, last five days before, I invited him for a dinner. He preferred to take ema-datshi rather than chicken.”

Ap Wang Drugay was peeping and listening to their conversation from the ceiling. The people believed Aum Pem and went back.

Ap Wang Drugay felt relieved with a long sigh.

3.      Wang Drugay’s booze day
As winter approached, the people of the region were getting prepared for winter residence to Punakha. Every household was getting ready to take all their luggage and edibles on the backs of horses, oxen, and yaks. Their only problem would to be carry their kids while travelling.

Ap Wang Drugay went around watching the busy people. He was thirsty and looking an opportunity to have local brewed alcohol. The moment he visited each house, he would be asked, “Ap Wang Drugay, when are going wangzhi (shift)?” He would reply them, “I am ready to move anytime because I have nothing to carry”

Every household would ask him to help them in carrying their kids. Wang Drugay would accept their request and have booze from every house. He completed the whole community accepting such requests and taking booze as much as he could.

The next morning, as he got out of the door, he saw every mother with their babies in their hand near the doorstep. Every mother were shouting to send their babies on the back of Ap Wang Drugay. He could hardy remember accepting all those mothers to carry their kids.

Ap Wang Drugay disappeared back into his house. He returned a rope in his hand. He unfolded the rope long. Then he shouted to the mothers, “If you want me to carry your kids, please lie them in this rope. I will tied them together and carry.”

“Yalama, I cannot send my child with him. He looks mad. He might have accepted yesterday only for booze,” the mothers returned cursing Ap Wang Drugay.

Ap Wang Drugay smiled from the back as the mothers and kids disappeared back to their own homes. He headed himself only carrying a rope at this back.

4.      The land business
Ap Wang Drugay became so popular of his intelligence in the Wang valley. The people of the region had firm believe in his words. Ap Wang Drugay had a small patch of hilly land which it was dissected by a big rock from the middle. 

One day, Wang Drugay planned to sell his land. He had conversation with a far neighbor called Ap Chogyal about selling of his land. Ap Wang Drugay explained Ap Chogyal that he had a big patch of land that cannot be seen its end if we happened to look from one end.

Ap Chogyal believed his words and agreed to buy the land. Ap Chogyal bought his paying a huge sum of penny. However, later when Ap Chogyal saw his land, he regretted a lot. Yet, he had got say once he paid.

Ap Chogyal started cultivating crops after few days. As crops grew greener, Ap Wang Drugay had to undergo in the whirlpool of regret for selling his land. Ap Wang Drugay got an idea. He began tying his goat everyday by the rock of the land.  The goat grazed upon the green crops of Ap Chogyal.

Ap Chogyal was disappointed to see Ap Wang Drugay’s goat destroying his crops always in his field. Ap Chogyal immediately went to talk to Wang Drugay to make himself clear of the land.

“Oie, Ap Wang Drugay, I hope you are not mad. And I hope you have not forgotten that your land is sold to me,” Ap Chogyal shouted at Ap Wang Drugay.

“Yes, I know that my land is sold to you, but what wrong did I do,” Ap Wang Drugay shouted back.

Ap Chogyal became more frustrated with Wang Drugay’s reply. “Then why your goat is always in my field.”

Ap Wang Drugay made himself clear, “Ap Chogyal, it is true that I sold my land to you. But I don’t know why I have to stop tying my goat by the rock. I have just sold you my land, not that rock, not at all. And if you want me not to tie my goat there, you should also buy that rock. That rock still belongs to me, understood?”

Ap Wang Drugay planned to receive a separate penny for the rock too. Ap Chogyal became speechless. Ap Chogyal did not think that Ap Wang Drugay would cheat him that intense.

Ap Chogyal had to finally accept his words.  

5.      At a millstone
Wang-sisi-chum ladies were considered very beautiful by their appearances with abundant wealth such as cattle, gold, turquoise, and jewelries. Ap Wang Drugay would be all the time attempting those girls to fall in his hand one time.

It had been a week for Ap Wang Drugay attempting a Wang-sisi-chum girl called Zelha who was so beautiful than other girls in the region. He knew that every evening Zelha coming to the millstone at Jamdho for grinding wheat flour. He planned to start hunting for Zelha.

Ap Wang Drugay turned himself into an old woman every evening. He started spending nights at the millstone as a grinder. He would keep Melha as the last person to grind wheat. He would keep Melha late night at the millstone.

Ap Wang Drugay would say, “Angay is feeling cold. Shall I get into your kira for some time?” Melha being kind, she would let him get under her clothes. As Ap Wang Drugay got into her clothes, he would touch the private parts of Melha. Then they would lie on each other turn-wise. When Ap Wang Drugay climbed on Melha, he would keep his dick tied back. And when Melha climbed on Ap Wang Drugay, he would erect his penis in the front and insert into Melha’s part. Then, Ap Wang Drugay would say, “Isn’t it funky? This is how I do.” Melha would be speechless as he roared forcefully upward against her.

It had been several days Ap Wang Drugay and Melha meeting in the evening at the millstone. Many of the villagers had seen as they passed by the millstone. The people started creating rumors, “These days sexual intercourses between the two women is going on every night in the millstone.”

Everyone in the village became watchful who could be that two women. One day, Melha couldn’t hold her words of everyone’s suspicion. She decide to share only with her mother. She blurted out, “Mom, when I go to the millstone every time, I meet with an old woman. She keeps me late every night. She would then get under my clothes with an excuse of coldness. Then we had to climb on each other as she wanted. Indeed, I also like it, mom.”

Melha’s mother quickly clicked in her mind that it must be none other than Ap Wang Drugay. He often turned himself into another sex to succeed his crazy plans. But nobody could say it was Ap Wang Drugay.

Ap Wang Drugay stopped turning himself into an old woman knowing that the people would soon find out if he continue. Nevertheless, his quest for Melha was successful.

6.      Dromcheo
As the chilly breeze did start kissing the faces of the Wang people, it indicated that there was countable days left for the Thimphu Dromcheo. The Wang people would get prepared with huge heap of grass for their cattle to feed them on the entire day of Dromcheo.

Ap Wang Drugay had only a cow. Being himself carefree, he even forgot to collect grass for it. On the night before the Dromcheo, he was worried how and who should look after his cow if he left for the Dromcheo.

He was left thinking about it near the window. Suddenly, his neighbor Ap Tashi shouted at him, “Oie Ap Wang Drugay, what makes you to be in that tense?” Ap Wag Drugay smiled back.

“Hey, come down. Let’s discuss what need to be sorted out,” Ap Tashi continued.

As Ap Wang Drugay descended down the wooden ladder, he shared “As everyone knows tomorrow is the special day in Thimphu, I am worried whom should be feeding my cow in my absence.” Ap Tashi quickly planned to cheat him. “Ap Wang Drugay, it is very simple. You just have to tie the cow in your four-walled house and throw a huge hump of hay into it. It will graze for a daylong.” 

Ap Wang Drugay was glad to hear such a good idea from Ap Tashi. “Your idea makes sense, but how water should be given to it. If no water for the whole day, it might die out of thirst,” Ap Wang Drugay asked Ap Tashi hoping for another plausible idea.

“It is another simple thing. You just have to prick a hole from one side of the wall and let a pipe of water go into the house. Then when the cow feels thirsty, it will obviously have it,” Ap Tashi gave him a wicked idea with the intension only to kill Ap Wang Drugay’s cow.

Ap Wang Drugay was so happy to hear that idea. He agreed to do as Ap Tashi wanted.

The next day morning, Ap Wang Drugay tie his cow in the house. He threw a big heap of hay to his cow. Then he pricked a hole into the wall and passed a continuous flow if water into it.

Everyone went to the Dromcheo. Ap Wang Drugay joined the throng of people in the festival. He was completely happy with Ap Tashi for fetching him with such a good idea. He spent his full day in the Dromcheo.

As the sun descended behind the mountain, he returned home thinking his cow might have done grazing all hay. The moment he neared his house, he saw water overflowing his house. When he climbed the wall and looked into it, he found his cow dead sunk into the pool of water. He couldn’t believe his eyes for the first sight. He rubbed his eyes and looked into it once more.

Ap Wang Drugay didn’t say anything to Ap Tashi. He only realized that Ap Tashi had cheated him just to kill his cow. Ap Wang Drugay remained wordless for few days with only intension to take revenge against Ap Tashi one day.

One day Ap Wang Drugay planned to go to collect wheat from Genekha. He went to discuss with Ap Tashi to accompany him. Ap Tashi agreed happily to collect wheat because he was also an alcohol lover.

As the red ball of the morning sun perched on the mountain, two of them left to Genekha. They collected a huge amount of wheat grains. By the time they had collected enough grains, the sun set behind the gigantic mountain.

Ap Tashi couldn’t carry his own load. Ap Tashi tried seeking help from Ap Wang Drugay. Ap Wang Drugay was very happy to give him some ideas to make his load lighter.

Ap Wang Drugay gave Ap Tashi the first idea, “In order to make your load lighter, you should grind the grains and make it into flour. It will become much lighter than its actual weight.” Ap Tashi did as Ap Wang Drugay insisted him. However, Ap Tashi could feel his load even heavier than before. He complained.  

Ap Wang Drugay gave him another idea, “If that previous idea doesn’t work, make your flour into dough. It will become relatively lighter.” Ap Tashi followed the instruction. Instead of becoming the load lighter, Ap tashi could feel even more heavier.

“If this is the case, I am helpless. Give me your gho. I can only help you carry that. I will go ahead. You come after me counting your own footsteps,” Ap Wang Drugay went ahead of Ap Tashi.

Ap Wang Drugay reached back to Wang. He headed immediately to Ap Tashi’s house to drop his gho. “This your father’s gho. I could only bring this for you. He died on the way. And if he comes in the night, never let him get into your house. If he comes, he should come in the form of rolong (someone who raise from the dead). So it would be safe for you all if he is chased away by pouring hot water and ashes over his head,” Ap Wang Drugay frightened the family of Ap Tashi.

It was completely dark when Ap Tashi touched the land of Wang valley. He was very tired of his heavy load on his back. “Ala...la....la...please open the door,” Ap Tashi knocked the door. His wife and children were very scared of their father’s spirit.

“You are dead now. Better don’t come to us,” the children and the wife shouted at Ap Tashi along with hot water and ashes. “Atsa...tsa...I am not dead. I am your dad only,” Ap Tashi begged his family but his words were never listened.

Ap Tashi understood that it was all Ap Wang Drugay’s tricks played upon him. He went to talk with Ap Wang Drugay. As Ap Tashi approached near Ap Wang Drugay’s house, he could hear the chopping sound of bones.

“Ap Wang Drugay, it is me Ap Tashi. I came here to talk about an important topic, please open the door,” Ap Tashi knocked the door.

“Ahhh...I have no time to open the door. I am busy chopping the bones of cow bought when I return from last Dromcheo,” Ap Wang Drugay shouted back.

Ap Tashi’s cow was already killed by him. He was busy chopping those bones, Ap Tashi got no say upon Ap Wang Drugay understanding it was a revenge for killing his cow drowned in the water on  the last Dromcheo day.