I am back at my kampung as a pretext to care for my ailing MIL. She, however, doesn’t seem to need my help. My wife is doing all the help I was there just making myself busy. Life in Kelantan has been pretty much the same for the last 30 odd years. The “kampung” vibes still exist in every aspect of the daily life. It was as if we were stuck in our own dimension of time and never bothered to jump out of it. Ironically, I, too, fit in very well without much effort. All the sophisticated and mind boggling principles and ideas dropped midway through the journey home. When arrived, I was back being someone from 30 years ago. I drove like the road is mine and went through the muddy potholes like nothing matters.
The azan woke me up instantly despite my watch have been vibrated since half an hour ago. It was so loud you would feel guilty not to comply. The outside was pitch dark but I braved the scary darkness and walked to the mosque. It was five minutes away but the stillness of the morning reminded the time when you prepared for school long time ago. Cold morning, cold water with no lights but you never complained because it was your life. By the time the sun rose and brightened the land, you were ready to step out and started your day.
By 6:30 am I finished the Fajr prayer and left. Today we planned to visit a friend whose father had just passed away. I sat with the husband and listened to the final moments he remembered of his FIL. It was sad but they seemed strong as the stories went on. The struggles they went through were unbelievable yet in the end the fate was accepted. and that just how it is; we believe in fate and predetermination. Becoming a caregiver is easier said than done. We, both my wife and I, are retired and pledged to be a caregiver to my MIL. Yet we struggled to be one in the true sense of the word. In the end we committed to be here once a month for a period of 1-2 weeks. Despite MIL needs 24/7 kind of care plus hospital visits. And that before we talk about the actual daily routine that a caregiver has to endure. Sometimes MIL forgets things like having breakfast or snacks. Even skips her medication if no one reminds her. So everything must be double checked to make sure everything is okay. Even after you have done all that do not expect something in return because she might forget you all together. So it was tough.
I kept my insanity by putting me in her place.not long from now I might be there and forgetting things. I hope someone will be there for me and show the way. Being an old man is okay but being a dysfunctional old man is the worst thing that could happen to you.
We visited another family in Machang, Kelantan. A family of a dear friend who passed away recently. somehow the news reached me very late.It was my fault to quit the WhatsApp group so I missed the news of his death . He died of a heart attack thus shocked everyone. Too soon, too quick to say goodbye.
I remember Nazori as a good friend that always being a good company. Easy to talk to and fun to be with. No words can completely describe his awesome character. You can rarely meet someone like him and feel the connection right away. He was undeniably humble and down to earth. He always greeted me with a smile; way before I said anything. He had his circle of friends but never made me out of place whenever I came along. I will miss him for a long time to come . I pray for him to be in the best place among the muqorrobeen.
And then the shocking news of Bung’s death. He was the bad boy of Malaysian politics but now everyone misses him. He painted the debates in parliament with his colourful arguments; always loud and vulgar as if he spoke to a bunch of foreign workers. But whatever perception we have about him, I am sure he was a good person with good heart and many of his friends and families must have missed him dearly. Is there a battle for his fortunes now that he is gone? We’ll wait and see.
In my kampung death came daily. Everyday people would bring their dead for a funeral at the mosque. Wonder what happened? Is it a trend for end of the year thingy?not really sure; the sure thing is that death is real and could be you or me next.
May Allah be merciful on us.
