Year Twenty Sixteen

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016 EVERYONE!

Alhamdulillah for a New Year and May Allah bless this year as much as the past. This year is probably the humblest New Year celebration that we had. My grandmother, Nini Bini just got out from the hospital after two weeks being admitted. No worries, she is fine Alhamdulillah and we had tahlil earlier to thank Allah for another year as well as for everyone’s health, rezeki and whatnot (cough*jodoh*cough).

I pray to Allah may you all be blessed in Dunya and Akhirah, may Allah provide you with rezeki and health to be used properly in His path and may we all be granted Jannah when the time comes. Aamiin…

Ps. Finally I get to write in Mr. Toffee starting from today!

Now, what are my resolutions for this year...

- Miss P -

Down The Drain

Salam and hey Peepnets! I just got back from my family vacation trip to Kuala Lumpur (KL) last Wednesday and super tired from all the adventures. NOT! KL is like a third-home for me, so it was just like balik kampong. (Been contemplating with myself on this one because I still claim Sydney to be my second-home at heart #missingSydney).

I have a story to tell. A story that will make you feel stressed out on life like “why does this happen to meeeeeee?” kind of story. Sit back; relax, read on and this could happen to you too.

Well, you can also not read it.

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It’s 11 in the morning on a hot day. Babu called just now to make sure my sister and I are ready for our day. She did not tell us about her plan but as any other vacations, it has to be shopping. My family is not the type to go sightseeing and exploring the landscapes of the country kind of tourists but we usually just head-on to any Malls, Markets and Restaurants to indulge our needs.

“Since it’s almost lunch, why not we eat first and then we go jalan?”

Babu suggested, before “we go shopping for my sister’s wedding”. We all agreed, as we were super hungry as well.

Note: My breakfast this morning, a cup of Maggi, Butterscotch flavored bun, a durian crepe leftover from last night, my brother’s potato wedges and mineral water. Now, why am I hungry?

We ate lunch anyways. We had five types of Biryani, not a fan of this cuisine but WOW! They’re good!

image source: my Samsung Note II

I am half-full and I still can eat them like I had not eaten! (I have a humongous space in my tummy that I don’t know how all food can fit in there but it does. Not to mention, I have a protruding belly afterwards)

After lunch, we spent 9 hours of shopping including walking, wandering around the shops, traveling by monorails, going from stations to stations to get where we want to be. Since this trip consists of 7 people, we don’t fancy taxis because they can only fit 4 people, sheessh!

I didn’t realize it’s 8:37pm already when we waited for our bus ride back to the hotel and I am amazed that we did not have snacks in between! What an achievement for a forever-hungry family! We had drinks of course. If not, we might have died of dehydration especially in this weather! #drama

Arrived at the hotel approximately half-an-hour later and we went to our rooms for toilet break and whatnot. After that, zoomed off to a nearby restaurant for dinner, placed our orders and waited. And waited. And waited.

Sabar, sabar. Be patient. There are lots of customers. They must have been busy in the kitchen. I told myself.

An hour later, our food arrived. All checked except one more Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice). Okay, so we ordered three Nasi Ayam. Grandpop took his plate already and left with only one.

“Nah, you have it first,” I offered to my sister.

“I can wait,” she said.

“No, I’m alright. I need to reply some texts anyway,” I insisted and started swiping my smartphone.

She shrugged off and took the plate.

You know in Islam, when you do good deeds, you gain pahala. Pahala is like you gain blessings from Allah and if you do more good things, you gain more pahala points and insyaAllah may we all be in Paradise. To put it simply:

• Good deeds = Pahala = Paradise
• Bad deeds = Dosa = Hellfire

So I practically wanted pahala the moment I offered my sister the meal. However, another hour past and all of them finished their meals. My Nasi Ayam is nowhere to be seen. Dad called the waiter and told him that my meal has not arrived yet. The waiter went back in and more times past, I thought my meal would be ready soon but he did not come back.

Dad was furious and called the waiter again. He went back in and came back to our table and said, “The Nasi Ayam has finished, would you like to order something else?”

At that point I wanted to punch him in the face, grabbed his shoulder, threw him on the ground and stomped on his belly and yelled, “after all this while, you should’ve said something!” and finished off by pouring a cup of water on his face.

Obviously I didn’t do that to the waiter. It’s not his fault. The cruel thing about a situation is that you didn’t know where things went wrong. It could be the waiter, the chef, the people around them, and the paper where they jot the orders down and so on.

I did not order anything else as I began to pack my things and walked out. I am mad and I don’t feel like talking to anyone. All I want is food, which I did not get. But after that point, then I realized… my pahala went away.

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So much for doing good deeds eh? I can’t help but laugh afterwards. All my effort of being nice just went down the drain.

What are your “down the drain” moments?

- Miss P -

[Short Story] Till Death Do Us Part

“Would you be my wife Farah?”

“You certainly have not met my parents yet.”

“I did.”

“What did they say?”

“I should go away.”

“Because I’m sick?”

“No. Because they think I should be happy with someone else.

Someone that will take care of me for the rest of my life.”

“… Good. Now why would you ask me for a hand in marriage, Wafiy?”

“Because… I don’t need someone to take care of me.

All I want is to take care of you for the rest of my life.”

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That is what Wafiy did, for the past 40 years of marriage.

Farah had been hospitalized numerous times. Going in and out of the hospital getting her heart-cancer treatment. She felt helpless when the doctor said she has to stay in the hospital because she has reached her final stage.

I am going to die.

I am going to leave my husband and my six handsome sons.

She thought.

Other cancers could have been treated successfully.

But mine…

Every second just hurt as one by one of my organs have stopped working.

My heart is broken... Literally.

The sound of my heart crumpled into tiny pieces, when it should be beating,

Not only crushed my feelings, but Wafiy’s.

Be strong dear husband, I can’t talk anymore.

I can feel your existence

But I could not open my eyes as I live dependent on this machine.

It hurts.

My heart hurts.

As much as I want to stay but please…

Please…

…

Let me go.

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“10 percent left?! Of what?! My wife’s life?!”

“Mr. Wafiy – “

“What are you? Allah? God? You can’t predict my wife’s life!”

“Babah calm down – “

“Stop it Kamal!”

“Babah let’s just listen to the doctor – “

“I said – “

“Just listen to the – “

“SHUT IT KAMAL!”

“NO! YOU SHUT IT!”

Wafiy looked bewildered as his eldest son cried.

“For the past 37 years of my life Babah, I believe… Mama had suffered. Not from the point I had been born but at the point when you hadn’t even met her yet.”

Kamal looked at his father; Wafiy stared ahead.

“She is tired Bah… Tired. Getting treatment even though she knew – we knew it’s going to end up like this. Why don’t we just doa banyak-banyak for her instead of throwing rages and going mad. That is just going to hurt her more. And you too.”

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Three days past and Farah’s heart beats slowly. Wafiy sat beside Farah’s bed and gazed at his lovely wife’s face.

When do we get so old love?

I didn’t realize that your soft, firm skin on your face has turned to wrinkles.

I bet I don’t look as handsome as we first met huh?

But that’s not fair…

Because you are still the most beautiful woman that I have ever met.

Please… Wake her up Allah.

I want her to wake up and look at me.

I wouldn’t be able to let her go.

But if that is YOUR will, then…

 Just wake her up and let me see those beautiful eyes again.

And those beautiful eyes opened slowly and met his gaze. No words were coming out of his mouth. Wafiy could not take his eyes of her and when he sees a glimpse of hope, those beautiful eyes shut again.

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Beep... Beep... Beep...

The signal light on the machine that indicates Farah’s oxygen level was green.

Wafiy started reciting the Qur’an, Surah Yaasin, hoping that Farah would wake up and call his name while he is reciting. However, that beeping sound became quicker. Wafiy looked up and the signal light fluctuated from green to yellow consecutively.

Doctor came in and out checking on Farah’s condition and did their best to help her. Wafiy recited more and after awhile he checked again the signal light.

Beep – beep. Beep – beep. Beep – beep.

The more rapid the beeping sound, the harder he recited. Until…

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

The signal light turned red.

Wafiy stopped.

He tried to carry on but he felt his lungs had reached his throat. He stood up, shaking. He gripped his wife’s shoulder and shook her up.

“Don’t leave me Farah! Please… Please don’t leave me!” Wafiy wailed.

He could not hide his tears anymore. He bawled out and that was the first time his sons ever see him cry. The youngest son Harris, 18 years old, cried the most after Wafiy.

He took his wife’s face in his hands and embraced that beautiful face one last time. His tears running down his cheeks as he sobbed.

I will see you soon my love…

I hate to see you go before me,

But I make a promise to Allah and He granted it.

I have to let you go…

Wait for me Farah…

Wait for your dear husband in Jannah.

[This short piece of writing is adapted from a true story. The names used are not the real names of the people involved in the real situation, therefore the name and plots written in this story is purely coincidental and has nothing to do with the living or the dead.]

To Nini Uda, May Allah put you among those who believe, Aamiin.

Sister's Engagement Night

“So kaka bila lagi?”

“Eeeehhh, kelangkahan dulang ni”

“Balum ada boyfriend? Baik tah mencari”

All questions proposed to me during my sister’s engagement ceremony. My YOUNGEST sister engagement! Yeah, like why am I, the elder sister, am not married yet or engaged yet when my younger sister did?

The obvious answer - I have not encountered my jodoh yet.

The delusional answer – my jodoh is currently preparing a proposal.

The terrible answer – my jodoh is in Korea and he is not aware of my existence.

Well, I think I answered those questions adequately.

Anyways, congratulations lil sis and my future brother-in-law (insyaAllah) on your engagement last night! May Allah ease the process for the both of you to your wedding day! Can’t wait!

My future BIL and My Forever Lil Sis <3

- Miss P -