Grave News.. In the Most Literal Sense

There's been a death in the opposite house...

Emily Dickinson's famous poem which I have learnt in form five has rung true. At times of terrible tragedy, I have always found myself unconsciously shedding tears.

Yesterday morning, a neighbour of mine faced the death of someone close to them. The wife's aunt died in the morning while the maid was giving her some relief from her aches. She had been aching all over the body, particularly her back and her neck. So, that morning, she asked the maid to help massage her. After barely one minute, she started to list and no sooner, she was unconscious.

I was getting ready for a driving test (which, to my relief, I have passed) when I received a phone call from my aunt, who is also my neighbour telling me the news. While waiting for the instructor to fetch me, I made a brief visit to the mourning family.

I could see that the wife was crying but holding it in, from the way her red eyes looked at me, thanking me for coming by and pay my last respects (al-Fatihah, verses from Yaasin). I saw the corpse, covered by the batik cloth and I cried. The coroner had left while I was entering the compound.

After I got back from the test, I went over to her house and looked after her youngest, her daughter, who cried, begging her mother to take her to see her grandmother's sister laid to rest. The rest of the family had followed the car. Luckily, she was easily cajoled so she watched Playhouse Disney as we waited for her family to come home. She kept asking why her mother was yet to come home so I made a few excuses until her mother finally did arrive.

She was so perceptive for a child her age. For so young a child (she is five), she said her grandmother had died and that she was going to be buried below the earth where grasses grow on top. She said her grandmother was no longer alive, and that all of them are going to pray and perform the solat jenazah. She also said that God loves her grandmother and that he has plans for her -something I had told her earlier and she still understood.

It is in this moment that I honestly say: Death changes us. It may not change everything but one person's thoughts and actions leave ripples in time. God has laid the hands of fate onto us for only God knows what's in store for us. Whatever it is, God has the greater plan and as god's creation on earth, we are created by God and to God we will return.

My fellow sisters and brothers in Islam, let's dedicate an al-Fatihah for this lady who had been called back by God. Amiin.

Eid

There's always a first time...

This year, we celebrated the first day of Eid at home. Believe me, it's very boring. We ended up sleeping by the time it was three in the afternoon.

My family and I made for my mom's hometown in Muar, Johor the next day. My grandmother didn't show it but secretly, I think she was quite glad we visited her. Anyway, we were ensured a full and tiring schedule. Visiting relatives after a year of estrangement would surely spark lengthy conversations.

In the meantime, my aunt went to a wedding which turned into a funeral when the young lady who was supposed to get married died instead. Turns out, she had a hole in her heart which went undetected.

The day after, I visited my grandma's cousin. She's part Chinese and I saw a few newspapers in the language within the compound. Did I mention that the husband sells used cars. Some of them are cool and awesome.

We also visited my aunt' mother. She suffered from stroke so she had been unable to take care of herself. She cried when she saw so many people visiting her.

Then at around 8pm, after a meal of 'bee hoon sup', we left for home. My grandmother looked at me and asked, 'Are you really going home so soon?'. I was rendered speechless. Really.. I didn't know how to respond to that. Of course, it was entirely up to my parents. I looked at her apologetically and whispered a yes.

We arrived home at around 11pm. Then we received news that one of my uncle's mother-in-law had passed away. God bless her soul.

Sunday, we had an open house. Yes... eat all you can. I made shepherd's pie. My sister made brownies. My mom made asam laksa/mee rebus fusion and Nasi Lemak. I also made the highly popular sirap selaseh with kasturi lime.

None of my friends were there... I wasn't able to contact them. My sister's friends, on the other hand managed to make it. The brownies were a huge hit. So did the pie and sirap selaseh.

That night, we topped it off with a visit to our neighbour living across the street. We ate and talked all night until it was 10pm. I was so tired but my parents were still in the mood for talking. I think they thought that the children must be tired for they decided to take leave.

So that's it! Nothing special but meaningful nonetheless. Sure surprises pop in every now and then .. (i.e. death) but I still think Eid is a day to be cherished.