Ramadhan 2020

Assalamualaikum.

Hi folks, what's up?

Been itching to write this post for a few days.

See, I cannot keep up daily blogging update because I will think about what to write for days, sometimes months but in the end I didn't post it.

Or the idea just being forgotten.

Putting that aside, Ramadhan this year was a hell lot different than last year.

Last year's Ramadhan, our family was tested with the health of my father. Alhamdulillah that was in the past and Alhamdulillah we get to meet Ramadhan again with father's health getting steadier.

This year is different for me because I was still in my confinement day on the 1st of Ramadhan and just manage to start fasting on the final tenth. But still have to skip a day or three :(

I love Ramadhan because I always feel safe during this holy month. Mainly because of this famous hadith;

The report in as-Saheehayn from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with
him) who said: 

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: 

“When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened
and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3277) and Muslim (1079).

Directly taking that into context, in my head it would be like

No Devils = No ghosts 

So it will be perfectly safe for me to travel here and there by myself because a) there is no ghosts,and b) because no devils means there is no impure thoughts hence my safety is guaranteed.

Is it?

Truth to be told, the more I think about it, the more it became clear to me.

Mind

over

Matter

It occurred to me that what myself has been speculating is actually a mind boggling conundrum. I would not want to delve further into the hadith because it is not my expertise but what is actually behind it is that, in this holy month people are busying themselves worshipping Allah and competing with each other to do good deeds. So maybe less lagha, less drama, less doing evil things that it is interpreted as if the devils are in chains.
(I am doing a research as I am typing but I cannot find crime rate statistics in Malaysia to prove a point. What a shame!)

Ultimately, we define ourselves upon the hadith above. Each for their own.

It came to me that Ramadhan, being the holy month in Islamic calendar, is also the month of discovering oneself.

To figure out either you are the pious worshipper of Allah,

or are you the living devil itself?

Wallahualam.

On being at loss.

Assalamualaikum.

My friend have just gone through the most difficult time of his life. Losing a parent.

He lost his father when he was still a little kid, and after that, her mother took care of him, and the other remaining 11 siblings until her number is up.

 I am bothered much with this tragedy that fell upon him because, being the last and the youngest in the family takes too much tolls on you. You get the most attention, you get the most love. Sometimes more than you can afford.

And how he cried when that tragedy took place.

There are predictable deaths, and vice versa.
Predictable; because the doctors sometimes can give you numbers on how many time is left, providing that it is fatal.
Unpredictable; Accidents, accidents, accidents.

But both have common things; a) we will never know the exact time.
It will always be taken by surprise.
And being someone who love surprises, this is the one I would never want to look forward to.

b) it leaves a hole in you.
However well prepared body and soul you are, you will always feel a hole inside of you that you didn't even know where it is. The pain will go away but the scar is still there.
And not even a plastic surgery can ever repair this.

But my friend, my friend.
He is going to be 40 this year. (Yeah i'm hanging out with the elders nowadays)
And if a 40 years old would shamelessly cry during their parents' burial, you know how meaningful parents are those.
I cried too. For the fact that I am not ready.
Just yet.

Because when someone loses their mum, they have also lost the privilege of having dua's for them every. single. day.
A mom's prayer is the most powerful thing.

Wallahualam.

Collided.

Assalamualaikum.

To be honest,
It is hard for me to get along really well with someone.
We will be very great, but then when it comes to a point,
Boom.

Suddenly we are at a distant, and all seems like
"We don't talk anymore".

It happened a few times already.
I could see that we could be really good friends,
We can conquer the world, even,
But then something happened,
And i become unsure,
I questioned every future;
"What is going to happen now?"
"Will it still be okay?"

And then everything becomes memories.

Like at that moment once,
I found refuge in these two humans.
Both came from different backgrounds.
One with quite a rough one, and the other is similar to me.
Outings, celebrations, wandering around after lights off, sleepovers.
It was a great year.

But i am slipping away.
We all have our own things to keep.
And i don't want to feel too attached.
So i latch myself onto something temporary.
And it all started to falter.
Bit,
by bit.

I was too proud of them,
and I was too disappointed of myself.
And i know that these happy trip will soon come to an end.
We split our paths.
Them, to the light, while me, to the dark.

I read somewhere that,
Being in any relationship, requires commitments from everyone.
They knew that, but i was too late.

It was entirely my fault i know.
From trying to fix it, i abandoned the ship.
I just don't know what to do anymore.
I am less of a fighter,
I backed down when i sense risks,
And i am just a coward trying to save myself from any unpleasant feelings.
Anger. Remorse. Sadness. Lost. Lonely.

And in the end i became the latter.
I walk my own path.
I try to enjoy everything by myself.
I live up to the motto,
"I am not lonely. I chose to be"
And that is how i survive.
I think.

And people often said that i am heartless.


Am i still?



Truth is,
Our paths collided,
But instead of holding on,
I let go.

Truth is,
Sometimes i think of the possibilities,
If i keep holding on,
"What is going to happen?"

Shit. I'm still unsure. Still.

Truth is,
I sometimes went back to those memories,
And enjoy those sweet sweet time,
Sailing on the Friendship.

Heroes

Assalamualaikum.

Let me share with you a phrase.
[Not all heroes wear capes.]

Yeah. In fact, i shared this phrase in my twitter saying that a hero doesn't need any capes, masks, or a unitard-ish uniform. Just enough with having a warm smile, a kind heart, and a charming attitude.

And now let me share you a story.
Of how i met such a hero.

I went for a business trip to attend an exhibition in Shanghai, China recently. And as I do not know, China has its very own unique culture and social attitude, which shocked me to the bones. (huh?) At first, we are asked to tip the limousine driver that took us from the airport to our hotel with our country money. So being such a cheapskate, i gave him rm5. But being an extra ungrateful person, he asked for more, 10 to be exact, and so my dumbfounded partner gave him the remaining notes. And he didn't even return my rm5 when he asked for the rm10. puih. And we don't even speak because of language barrier, and he asked us for tip through google translate. hmm (of course i gave tip to him because he looked like a professional bouncer and we might be left stranded in the middle of Chinese speaking population with tiny chances of one being able to speak english ngaaa)

So we arrived at the hotel, and as the usual procedure, we head to the front desk to check in. (all i think about was lying in bed after hours of flight, and stretching my feet would be an absolute bliss) So we gave the receptionist the deets and guess what?

THERE IS NO RESERVATION.

What? How can it be? My boss have already paid for the rooms. And he even get the receipt. What kind of sorcery is this?

She checked for quite a few times while babbling in Chinese. When numbers of customers add up, she gave up on entertaining us and brush us off by sending us to the lobby area to figure out our bookings. Yeah thanks, that would be great. We do have experience in facing this kind of situation so don't assist us at all. Also, we can fluently speak in Chinese so we can absolutely settle this on our own.

NOT.

So my partner called our boss and asked for some kind of confirmation and our boss sounded worried (as how a father should be feeling) and promised to quickly contact the agency that arranged us. So during this long and boring waiting, a friendly person (a supplier for our company) approached us and asked,

"Malaysia?"

"Yes" we both replied almost in synchronization.

And then he introduced himself as Ma. Ma something something i could not remember.
And then we sit at the lobby waiting for the next arrangement. With Mr. MA.
After a while he asked,

"Tak lapar ke. Jom makan? Mesti kamu lapar."

Being the lost bunnies we are, yes, we agreed to his invitation. But halal food, where got?

"Oh no, but where can we eat ey? Can you eat chinese? But you might not allowed to eat it hmmm. How about sushi? You can eat sushi?" he asked us again. My partner gave me the eye. I looked at Mr. Ma and nodded.

"Good. Let's go. Kesian you both. All the travelling, you must be hungry." While my partner asked him how much will it costs for the dinner, he insist on paying.
Yeay. Free food.

And so we arrived at the restaurant, Japanese, to be exact only that their waitresses speaks Chinese ONLY. But the ambiance do remind me of my uni days. It feels familiar.

So we sat at a four seat table, and Mr. Ma hurriedly showed us the menu and make us order first. He said to order anything, but even if we could order anything, we cannot eat all in the menu. They still use some unknown ingredients we can't be sure of the status. So I ordered fish, and salmon makizushi, while my partner takes the Tendon. Mr. Ma ordered eggs and sushi, and tempura some more, just to make  the table look...festive?

Anyhoots, we devour our dinner but not as savage as hungry lions in Africa. With some conversations between each bites, made us forget about the reservation problem. In fact, I kinda starting to enjoy this trip even though I can't wait for it to end the moment my feet is on the plane.

We get to know each other and Mr. Ma is actually from Malaysia coming to the same exhibition we would be going. Only that he's been there for 4 days. That day would be his last night and he was totally free so hearing from a friend that we need help, he was delighted (being someone who have nothing to do). Eating dinner alone is quiet lonely so at least having us will accompany him, he said. We also found out that he actually studied and stayed in Japan for 12 years! Whilst I was only for 4 years, but we have something in common so I can converse comfortably with him. (while leaving my partner finishes his food and deals with our boss and reservations and other stuffs.) Mr. Ma even fill up our tea if ever it was to  be empty. (Such hospitality I can't even >.<)(But the egg rolls was the best!)

After quite some time, we get the reservation info and we would love to head to the hotel and just freshens ourselves up, pronto, because tomorrow would be another loooooong day.

But this Mr. Ma even insist on showing and escorting us the way to our newly reserved place because he worried that us bunnies will get lost again or be the victim of wild foxes out there. (huh?) We thanked him soooo much for his help and said that we are lucky of getting to meet him in the middle of this tiny weeny crisis. (Cry) He EVEN helped us to check in. And waited for a few minutes some more. After we finished, I, the shy person as I am, asked for a photo as a keepsake so that I will never forget the face that save my day on 28th September 2016, and for me to show others that that is how a hero looks like.
No capes, no masks,

just a warm smile,

with a kind heart,

 and a charming attitude.

Mr. Ma in the middle,

Home Sweet Home?

Assalamualaikum.

Alhamdulillah i managed to finished my studies and am now back for good, residing at the southern part of the country. Was planning to report for duty on 11th April, so until then, may you guys can pray for my safety and may this will be a breeze path, with a dash of rain and thunder every now and then.

I don't think much about my life after graduated, but i can feel the heat day by day. (notice that?) haha

For obvious example, the temperature here and there. I was just getting used to cold and dry weather, and now i have to readjust all my stimulus to be able to start living harmoniously, without feeling any remorse and to not sighing everyday. At least, senior citizen can say that they have tasted salt earlier than me (been through difficult times way earlier than me), but i can tell them that warm or cold weather, i survive them both haha

The thing that angst me the most is probably the way cashiers or professional workers, those that deals a lot with people, interact with their customers or buyers. (which is me)
You can say that imma bit taken aback with their attitude. Talking with friends while accepting the cash and ended up making mistakes in counting the notes, sour faces while assisting customers, recommend a completely different product than what the customer wanted (maybe they'll get the commission if they managed to sell the most expensive product, or they just don't understand what kind of thing that i want, or maybe i just mumble too much and didn't say loud and clearly. Maybe) But Alhamdulillah, there is always a cheerful and friendly worker that will come across your way one day, after you have gone through, like, 5 worst people in social working environment. At least this one person can cheer you up a bit after a whole day of dark and gloomy cloud hovering above you. Kepada akak kaunter 2 di JPJ cawangan Tebrau, you are the real MVP.

There is more to come, i guess. It was only 2 days since i came back so. 

Above all, the most winning thing about finally coming back home is that i am living with my parents now so, free food and home and utilities! haha reunited with bruno (of course) and eat all food that you can lifetime coupon. ha ha ha

I am having culture shock, enough said.