A TALE OF WOE #PART3

(The continuation of A Tale of Woe #Part3)

Kak jue had finally arrived. She came straight from Perak. The doctor came in that morning informed us that she’ll be sending to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian (HUSM) for another surgery to remove the blood clots. This time, Kak Jue was there to join the team. I was very proud to see her in action. The way she flashed her medical officer identification to the guards who guarded the operation theatre who violently refused to let her getting inside to join the group of surgeons performing the operation of removing the blood clots on my grandma’s thigh. I could imagine, she’ll now proud to see her own flesh and blood was there performing surgery on her. She has succeeded in educating them. The second surgery was quite a success when we were being informed that most of the blood clots were successfully being removed. I thanked to Allah. And yet we have no idea what in the next has to offer. At least things are just fine, for the time being.

The very next morning, she woke up beside me. My aunt went downstairs to buy her breakfast. I was just smiled listening to her whining of how terrible the food served to the hospital’s patients. I sometimes jumped in to add to her story. She smiled and I’m pretty sure that she’ll be discharged soon. My aunt, Che Ngah hopped into our conversation with some breakfast for everybody. She bought her Nasi Impit. I voluntarily to feed her and it was really nice when you’re now feeding her as opposed to years before where she’ll be the one who fed me the food. There was a great feeling overwhelmed me when you’re able to do something to repay for what one has done to you all years before. That very evening, she became ill, so ill that she won’t talk. She just lied on her bed, closing her eyes closely. The doctor came in with Kak Jue telling us that another surgery has to be done in order to remove the remained of the blood clots. We were all like exchanging our glance and ‘another surgery’ is completely leaving us the family in mayhem.

Another surgery being done on her thigh and this time it was quite different as Kak Jue’s reaction was totally different. She seemed pessimistic about the whole thing. She won’t talk much which contrary to her true colour. I could feel that something wasn’t right about the surgery this time. I’ve no idea of what was happening the moment I drew the drape opened, I saw Kak Jue was crying beside her. My aunt was whispering the Syahadah ‘LaillahaillAllah, LaillahailAllah’. The family is now being poured with a great grief that I closed my eyes tightly, praying so loud in my heart begging for Allah not to take her soon from me. But one can never really change what has been written on the Luh Mahfuz. Death comes with no seconds late and minutes earlier. Everything has been perfectly crafted by Allah SWT that on that very day is the day for her to leave this world and to leave me. I would never forget her. Things she did to me were not a medieval and far to say that it was a mediocre work. To me, that’s an accomplishment. She maybe sounds like a boring old lady, but she’s somebody. Somebody who has taken me to the world I am now, she taught me of how to be reliable and depending on my own self. She was the greatest support I ever had. I miss you, Mok.

    AL-FATIHAH

SITI RAKIAH BINTI ZAKARIA

1932-2006