11:00 am. I was late(not late you must be at the gate before 10 am). So I walked as the time for Friday’s prayers still aplenty. Followed this flow but didn’t go into the new expansion as I thought. That was a bad flow. It lingered around the open space ahead. Oh no! Here in the sun. You lead us to sit in this scorching heat!
“Ma’alish no space inside!”, a trace of disappointment did came through him, a young policeman. So be it. Filled my bottle with some water and wet my towel to keep cool. Offered some to others and they gladly gave out their heads and towels. So we sat there waiting for the khutbah, baked in like rows of cupcakes. Soon my wet towel and kupiah dried up so the heat was really baking. The prayers ended soon after and I went for the refill to hydrate myself again. It’s gonna be a long way home.
2:55 pm. Heading out for Asr. Otw, a group of people scramble down for food. I never imagine myself went down fighting for food. Always a bystander and irked for what happened. Poor people ,maybe they are hungry. Not me — I am rather well off and from Malaysia; we don’t do such a thing. But today I felt the nudge to get my adrenalin going and all of the sudden,
“Go go go for it dude!” A voice came from within. With a joy, I jumped up the stairs and got down to it.
“ eh eh tak ada dah……” a makcik yelled on top of her voice. I looked up,
“Oopss, is this a wrong scram ?” And right there and then I realised I was in the wrong food scram. I turned around and immediately on my way. Hope they didn’t recognise me….. eh mcm org Malaysia!
The food was iftar packs for Tiram group leaving Mekah. Not a hand out for everybody. They were waiting for the bus and their luggage was all piled up on the street. Hahaha makanan org Malaysia la mesti sedap……i
never put myself up to go for it but once in awhile the urge just came on so I jumped to it. In another occasion, joined the ladies scramble for food packs but didn’t get anything. You must have skills as well hahaha if not the hunt went dry. During iftar food will be distributed to each and everyone of us. But some individuals would flash out their “sabil” food and people would go for it. The strategy is to reach him fast, extend your hand like a beggar and look sad/poor. You will definitely hook him up. No need to say anything just act like a pathetic old man and you will get it. No I am Malaysian, you know! I’d sit like a good boy and waited. Tak glamour la jawab nya.
Iftar was okay but no yogurt today, though. Sat with Setko from Bekawalis, Jawa. He’s a pensioner selling nasi air to fill the time. About my age but called me pakcik and rub my back like an old man.
“Sihat- sihat ya pakcik….” And went off to have his dinner back at the hotel. He’s staying about 1 km from masjid and walked up and down a few times a day. Maybe he’s really younger than me. Men usually don’t ask about age, we just don’t care….
8:39 pm. We are still waiting for Isya to start. There you go, azan just came on the air. Solat Isya and Taraweeh were finished by 10:00 pm
11:55 pm I was out and the gates still open . Alhamdulillah, no crybaby tonight. I went in, the place was packed but got settled in anyway. That mataf area on the second floor used to be my fav spot but now it has become more and more of homeless camp area. All sort of bed covers, pillows and blankets have filled the solat area. The sampah and empty bottles were every where. Maybe the cleaners have given up this area or the garbage was too much. The noise was unbelievable I just let myself not to hear everything. So I was praying in a dump ,basically.
3:40 am . I paced myself to catch an entrance. It seemed today was my lucky day. I could choose which one to enter and nobody cared. Instead of that first floor mataf, I went up to the rooftop on Sa’e area. It’s still early, plenty of space on the carpet, clean and comfortable. I chose a spot and settled down. People started coughing all over this place.it is the thing I fear the most, pray I will be protected. It was busy for awhile here but after Fajr prayers everyone hurried down and was quiet again. The new day has just started but I need to get some sleep for another long day ahead. As many continued to sleep, This Indon was doing tahlil…. Kuat pulak tu. Ikut hang la jgn bangun berjoget sudah…..
