MEI LING

Aku memandang muka Mei Ling. Dia tunduk seketika. Dia mengambil sapu tangankecil dan mengesat matanya yang sedikit berair.

‘Kau sungguh nak balik ke Muar?’, aku ulang pertanyaan aku tadi bila melihat dia masih ragu untuk menjawab.

‘ Ya, pakcik aku nak pindah ke Singapura. Sudah tiada siapa nak menjaga Ibu-bapa aku selepas Abang aku lari masuk ke hutan’, jawab Mei Ling akhirnya. Aku masih ternampak sedikit keraguan pada raut mukanya.

Aku faham keputusan Mei Ling. Semenjak Abangnya lari ke hutan mengikut rakan-rakan pejuangnya, tiada siapa yang menjaga kedua ibu bapa dia di Ulu Muar. Sebagai anak yang bertanggung jawab, Mei Ling rasa perlu untuk pulang. Walaupun aku yakin keadaan tidak akan selamat bagi dia dan keluarga dalam masa seminggu dua. Jepun sudah mendekati Kuala Lumpur dan penyuluh-penyuluh British menjangka mereka akan menunjukan diri di Mersing line dalam kurang dari seminggu. Semua bala tentera British sudah berundur dan mula membuat benteng pertahanan si Sungai Muar.

‘Mei Ling, kau janji pada aku. Kau balik dan bawa ibu bapa kau ke sini. Ke Johor Baru. Kemudian kita usahakan untuk kau sertai Pakcik kau di Singapura. Kau tak selamat di sini. Lihat apa yang mereka dah buat di Nanking.’, aku tegas kepada Mei Ling. Aku nak dia setuju terus. Aku tenung wajahnya lagi. Masih ada keraguan.

‘Jangan risau. Aku akan minta sahabat-sahabat aku untuk mencari Abang kau dan beritahu tentang keluarga kau. Malah aku rasa mungkin dia lebih selamat dengan rakan-rakan itu’, aku cuba tambah keyakinan kepada Mei Ling.

Lama dia berdiam menunduk muka memikirkan semua yang aku sampaikan. Tak lama kemudian dia perlahan menganguk sambil mengangkat muka menantang mata aku.

‘ Bagaimana tentang Alexi? Kau tau dia di mana? Baik kah dia?’, Mei Ling tiba-tiba bertanya. 

‘Terakhir maklumat aku dapat dari rakan wartawan aku di Kuala Lumpur, Alexandra dan pasukan Palang Merahnya sudah mula berundur dengan tentera-tentera India ke selatan. Insha Allah, dalam sehari dua, aku yakin dia akan sampai ke sempadan Johor’, aku beritahu Mei Ling dan pada masa yang sama juga meyakinkan diri aku sendiri.

Mei Ling akhirnya bangun dan melepas tangan dari gengaman aku. 

DANCING IN THE DARK

Despite my really tired, totally exhausted condition, I forced Ibu to drive me to the Stadium to watch JDT game last Saturday. Ibu who has just arrived from picking up Faim from a friend's birthday party only had enough time to pray and a gulp of water.

'Don't worry I'll get you the usual burger from the Stadium', I said with full confidence.
Ibu just nodded and focussed on her driving while I directed her to our destination using Waze.

After not more than 30 minutes, the Waze informed us that 'you have reached your destination'.

I was confused. Something must be wrong.

Ibu quickly asked, 'why is the stadium dark, Ayah?'. Are you sure they are playing here?'.

I had to think fast. Quickly I checked FAM website. Several cars were slowing down and zipped by without stopping. Obviously as confused as we were.

Éh.. Ibu, they moved the venue to Selayang la. 'They are not playing here', I said quickly without raising my head.

Ibu laughed out very loud.

'Why are you laughing, Ibu', I asked slightly hurt.

'Well, I heard of Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark. But Playing Soccer in the Dark is totally brand new', Ibu answered.

I look out the window sheepishly and said, 'Let's just go'.

11 YEARS AND RUNNING

"That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town ...."  

It has been 11 long years.

Alfaim the baby in Ibu's tummy when this blog was first conceived is now getting to be 11. He is still a baby to us though. Adik soon will be 16. Slogging through his study.In a year and a half he will complete his high school and then another phase of his life will open up. He will remain a delightful challenge to us. Abang is doing as well as he could in his study at Carlton. He is coming back for the Summer holidays this May. I need to ensure that this time I'll have more time for him.

Ibu is still the same. A little older and much wiser. I can always avail myself of her wise counsel. I thank her for her able running of the household. While I could focus on my things to do.

Last year remain a tough one for me. I am still in recovery phase. Physically, I don't feel much different than a year before although every kind soul keeps reminding me to take things easy, lower paced. Occasionally, things that are unseen would disturb me. That's when I start to worry others. I think I can manage that now, difficultly.

After I left the hospital, and after two months of taking things slow, I began on a quest to do Broga. I climbed whenever I had the opportunity, weekends, public holidays or even when I was on sick leave.  My target; 52 Sundays since two September ago. Last September I achieved just that. And then ventured on  a another  forward looking self motivating journey. I started entering running events. My target is to collect 12 silverware to probably signify 12 months or another one year of survival. I have collected 9 so far and have 3 more running to complete before I probably go on another similarly natured quest.

Early this year, I lost a friend and a mentor. Same illness.

Here's looking at another year of a fulfilling life...

" For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. "

~ Forrest Gump

Faim the Defense Lawyer.

Aku menuruni cerun mengekori Faim yang mendahului di hadapan. Sambil merentas halangan kami juga menyelit sedikit sebanyak bercerita. Satu ketika kami berhenti rehat kerana Faim mahu meneguk Gatorade.

'You got another speeding ticket, Ayah?', tanya Faim.
'Yea', jawab aku pendek. Mesti Ibu yang kepohkan kepada dia ni.
'You better pay Ayah, or I will have to defend you in court later ', sahut Faim pula.
'You need a lot of training and experience before you can be a lawyer. But yes, I would want you to defend me. Err.. How you are you going to defend me? You plead guilty, and I ll go to jail?', tanya aku sambil sedikit tersengeh kepada Faim.

'Well, I think I have a good defense for all your speeding', jawab Faim sambil menyerah kembali Gatorade ungu kepada aku.
'What is it?', tanya aku sambil menyambut dan menyimpan botol pada bag yang aku galas.

'Muscle spasm', jawab Faim selamba sambil berpaling meneruskan perjalanan.

Aku bangkit dan mengekori Faim sambil ketawa dalam hati.