Thursday 1 October 2009

..sweet sorrow..


..the rain came early this year in Bachok..the days and nights are cooler..already in his fifth day of fasting for the non-obligatory six days fast in the month of Syawal, the oldster felt relaxed..he had partaken his sahur alone...in the wee hours before dawn..the missus being indisposed after a stint at the hospital a day earlier... a minor operation of the left eye..removal of a growth that threatened..pterygium..

..only the cats, a blind tabby with her surviving two-month old kitten, stirred..as he tried to enjoy the self-prepared hot bowl of canned soup, by dipping bread, he remembered the sahurs of Ramadhan..every member of the family crowding a round table..the unceasing chatter of siblings rivalry..and the clatter of utensils from neighboring kitchens..and houses all lit up..and even at that wee hours, sporadic reports of fireworks..

..traffic in Bachok has thinned out..from whence they came, they had returned..bringing back with them their parents hopes and dreams..as they had traveled back home on a prayer..they had started their returned also on a prayer...with their hearts full of joy, tinged with sweet sorrow, and boots filled with little things hastily packed by grandfathers and mothers, for their grandchildren and children..

..Ramadhan has receded into quiet memory..and with Syawal eleven days along the way, a brand new year awaits..

..as he finished his bowl of soup and recited the doa for tomorrow's fast, he silently prayed..grant me longevity, O Lord, that I may greet Ramadhan's return...


11 comments:

rizal hashim said...

Yes Pakmat, may Allah grant us health and longevity to enjoy the feelings/rewards only Ramadan can offer! It was customary for my late grandma to immediately fast on the 2nd day of raya and celebrate another raya six days later. The second raya became another form of celebration for her. May Allah grant the gardens of paradise to our fellow Muslims who practised this tradition and non-obligatory deed!

Unknown said...

..thank you, lc..(and for pointing out that I missed out the word non in obligatory!)May you be bestowed with long life and good health that there will be many more returns to your kampong!

hazari. said...

i do heard about things happened in bachok, and wishing you okay.. just fine.

School Of Tots said...

Pak Mat and the sweet sorrow
Sometime a bit hard to swallow
Joy of hope for today and tomorrow

Abam Kie said...

Salam,

i have to admit here that i have never practised this non-obligatory fasting in the month of syawal. however, I will consider it for the coming years....Insya Allah

zukidin.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

..Hazari..yes, things happened in Bachok..but,Alhamdulillah, Pakmat ok..

..school of tots..salam..tk kerana sudi singgah diteratak usang ini..'joy of hope for today and tomorrow'..if tomorrow comes, let it not be with sorrow..

..juk..Syawal masih ada 2 minggu+ lagi..it is a fast of goodbye to Ramadhan...

Fadhil said...

Pak Mat,

Mudah-mudahan dipanjangkan umur untuk bertemu Ramadan yang mulia, sekali lagi.

Unknown said...

Oldstock...InshaAllah..doa saya begitu jua untuk tuan sekeluarga..

Granny Hani said...

salam kenal.

Unknown said...

..salam kenal, cikgu..paruhku dah lama patah...:)

Unknown said...

errr..... kawe masih pakai seluar saiz 38, walaupun dah separuh syawal... hehehe (boleh masuk gak ni kan)