A tribute to Mohamad...

Today, I'm reminded again of how fragile a life is. This morning, my friend, Mohamad passed away at PPUM around 10.20 am.

He had a stroke on Thursday last week and I went to visit him on Friday. On Saturday evening, I received news that he suffered another stroke and was critical. Friends and family members kept on visiting. And today, I got the dreaded call from Shima around 10.30 am...sigh

I went to MPM and followed En. Isa to Pulapol's surau for the rituals of 'mandi, kapan and sembahyang' before the journey to his final resting place in Batu Pahat, his wife's kampung. We arrived around 12 and soon the surau started to fill up with his friends and relatives. We waited patiently and he finally arrived just before the zohor prayer.

After zohor prayers, we had tahlil while he 'dimandikan dan dikapankan'. Before he 'disembahyangkan', I had the chance to see him for the final time. I couldn't help but cry when I saw his kids kissed him for the final time. He looked so serene, so devoid of life.

He left behind a wife and 3 kids aged 12, 9 and 4. The middle one is a boy who looked just like him. The first-born looked so calm, while the boy and the youngest looked clueless. Amir is the same age as the youngest and I couldn't help being so sad.

Mohamad was such a family man. He would send and fetch his kids every day. He was always jovial and loved to tease everyone. Being in the same dept. we were quite close but I think the guys would miss him more. I saw clouded faces of Eddie, Fauzi and Nawa just now and I bet En Z would really feel the loss also.

Farewell dear friend, Allah loves you more. Semoga rohmu di berkati Allah and digolongkan diantara orang2 yang beriman, insyaallah.

A Tribute to Auntie Arah...

Early this morning, we received news that Auntie Arah has passed away. My heart goes to her family in this time of sadness. We can only doa that her roh belongs in Jannah, insyaallah.

First, let me explain who is Auntie Arah in my husband's family. She was my one of MIL's best friends. The other one is Mummy Daisy. In the 70s, these three ladies shared their happiness and sadness in London. While their husbands studied (in my FIL's case worked and studied), they bonded together. When they had to leave the children for their part time jobs (to supplement their family income), they could always depend on each other to help out.

Such were the friendship that it continues throughout the years. The children grew up together and my husband ended up with three mothers. One of them was Auntie Arah. 

When I first met them in 1997 I was a bit intimidated (during my engagement if I'm not mistaken) . Later, when I was trying out my wedding dress in my usual jeans and t-shirt (as always), I felt really 'selekeh' compared to these 3 trendy Mak Datins...hehehe. But I did warmed up to them and their ways, even though it didn't change the way I dressed...hehehe

I discovered that Auntie Arah's very jovial. She's full of laughter and crazy anecdotes. She could move you to tears by just listening to her stories and boy does she have loads of those. I could still hear her infectious laughter in my head...sigh...

She was such a contrast to Uncle Megat's quiet dignity but they had one of the best marriage in town. She doted on her four children, Azam, Izzat, Ayang and Intan and in later years her grand children. She embraced life to the fullest as well and you can guarantee bursts of laughter surrounding her wherever she goes.

A few years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer but after treatment she was in remission. But it 'broke' her character in a way because the cancer took so much away from her. Her asthma became worse and last year, when we first came to Sudan she fell in a coma and there she remained until early today. 

We managed to squeeze a little time to visit her when she was in hospital late last year. Even though I thought I was mentally prepared to see her but I was wrong... She was so different from her old self with wires all around her... It just broke my heart... I hope Allah has mercy on her soul.

Auntie Arah, I'll always remember your bubbly personality and your infectious laughter. Semoga beliau digolongkan di kalangan orang2 mukmin, Amin... Al-Fatihah...

A tribute to Ayah Wa and Che' Wa...

Che' Wa on the 9th of December 2009...

Ever since I got married in 1997, I always have this fascination with the Trengganu side of the family. 2 people that I loved seeing were of course Ayah Wa and Che' Wa...now both are not with us anymore... Ayah Wa passed away several years ago while Che' Wa left us on the 5th of January 2009. Al-fatihah to both of them, may Allah bless their soul. 

Anyway, let me share some stories about them. I don't know why but I always have this fascination and respect for the both of them. Ayah Wa was my father-in-law's cousin and they were very close. Daddy called him abang while che' wa was called abg' Yah. Daddy used to go to school with Ayah Wa.

Let me tell you about Ayah Wa first. Since the first time I met him, I was enthralled by all his stories... he was such a character... a real story-teller... from him we heard about Daddy's exploits when he was little...hehehe... We of course had fun laughing at Daddy...hehehe. Ayah Wa used to work for the government and he was quite successful. He was happily retired by the time we got married. I remembered him being able to 'massage' people with natural skills and he knew many natural remedies.

I remembered once he asked all of us to try sniffing some sort of medication for resdung. I was of course in the clear, while my husband failed miserably...hehehe, he was sneezing for a few minutes... And he was very active in politics too, I remembered him going to political rallies as this was during Anwar's time in jail. He was very passionate about life too. Even though he was quite small for a man but his stories made him taller in my eyes. I loved hearing his tales, normally we would listen to his tales open-mouthed...hehehe

When he was hospitalised in Selayang Hospital, we visited him. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was instead regaling his grandchildren with a lot of jokes. He even joked about all the wires that the nurses put on him...hehehe... I even remembered a time when he drove all the way from Trengganu to Johor Bharu with only his grandson as company. If I'm not mistaken he was driving that green satria... just like a young man... 

When he died, he left Che Wa fending for herself in that big house. Whenever we're in Kuala Trengganu, we would not fail to drop by. She's another character that I loved, she was very 'Trengganu' with that 'Dah nak wat guane' attitude. She used to be very beautiful, was actually a 'ratu' in her heydays. She's very pretty when she smiled (evident in the picture above, right?). 

She talked very fast but I would normally understand...hehehe, not like my husband...hehehe, though he would smile as if he gets the joke! Anyway, she loved the present King, Tuanku Mizan. I remembered when he was made the King, she was glued to the television, referring to Tuanku Mizan as 'raja kita'...hehehe... Her fascination with Tuanku Mizan was heightened by the fact that the royal entourage would have to pass her house everytime Tuanku was in town.

The last time we were there, I suggested to her that she should replace the carpet as it was wet and it'll leave a musky smell after the flood, but she said to the effect that whatever she had would remain like it was until she's gone. What do you know, she left soon after. But she was very happy when we were there, kept on teasing Mummy and Daddy and the rest of our family. She also referred to herself as being 'comel' coz she lost a bit of weight...hehehe

I also remembered that since we're the lazy type and don't really care about the appearance of our car (it was dirty, okay?!!), but she said , " Takpe, kita buat dia, bukan dia buat kita"... or something to that effect... I would really miss my trips to see her, but I really do feel that she was prepared to see her maker when we met her last. 

They left behind three sons and scores of grandchildren. We're closest to the youngest, abg Na (who's currently working in Jeddah). To Abang Na and family, don't be too sad for her, I think she already prepared herself for the hereafter when we met her last. She was already redha with what Allah have in store for her. 

I think I feel the lost so much because there'll be one house less to visit whenever we're in Kuala Trengganu. I would miss all the laughter that we would share when we were there. I would truly miss the company and I think I know why I loved them so much. When I first got married, they accepted me into the family right away, always making me feel right at home... I'll miss you both but I know that Allah love both of you more than all of us put together... may you rest in peace, Ayah Wa and Che' Wa... may Allah bless your souls...al-fatihah...