And Thus, it rained.

The smoke hazed pass me as usual of the days that went. You couldn't see far throughout that greyish air that surrounds you. For me, i could see the first house...2nd house...I swore there was a 3rd house right after that. I moved a few steps onward, and there it appeared. Imagining stuffs like this in your lungs just gives you that sickened tingling feeling, that sort of feeling where in the end you'll just practice the usual phrase "what could a speck like me do anyway? Better just shroud in with the crowd!" That oh so bothersome face! Life goes on anyway.

Mornings was of such normality. You go to class, meet certain people, do some research. It has become a routine as the days passes by. You couldn't really differentiate whether today was tomorrow, or it was just a frank yesterday. ( i messed up so many times with that watch of mine that displays merely numbers...) One thing's for sure, i knew immediately that the next day, was a Friday. Couldn't have gone any wronger.

I went for the usual piano class as it has been for two weeks now. Independence is such a clingy feeling in the emotions of us youth. I could just remember so vividly that day where I longed to do everything on my own. It wasn't long ago i suppose. Now finally having doing it myself, i get a mixed reaction of many. It feels rather fun and exciting to be able to roam the whole historical city alone. Alone...why does that word rings that much of an existence to me?

It was that night of all 5 hours wasted in the city i came back. The bus stopped quite far from the place i actually stayed. Long walks in the night begins again! Couldn't help it, its not like the LRT even exists here. It was rather a fancy night as i strolled pass by mamak stalls from the bazaar. It was the fasting month, therefore covered hairs from colourful satin like cloths was seen swarming that dark stretch of hive. The food wasn't appealing...never was. All food with red mixtures of orange was too far of a common thing to look at. I had enough alright. I passed by a chinese convenience stall in which they sold lotus paste mooncakes! The moon festival is nearing, various paste of such will appear soon for my likes of consumption!

Salam came. He was my group representative. I never knew his full name, everybody just called him Salam. He was one of those crazy types and yet matured in his work. He is indeed responsible for everything to do with our class afterall. One thing about him that never softened my liking towards him is his smoking attitude. Day and night and more to go on, he just sits there alone and smokes. Looks like Dunhill from afar... He came by with his motorcycle. "Jom Low saya hantar you pulang!" I was on the phone with my mom at that time walking back home. Having an offer for a ride i took it straight away, could save me some muscle cells in my legs. I was really thankful he came by and helped me home. He even said "lain kali saya boleh hantar balik lagi!" and with that group rep style faced, gave me some sort of a grin, and left.

He died the next day. It was a Friday alright. He crashed into a lorry. They say he was bringing lecture notes for us like he always did... just that this time around the notes never made it to us. Classes got canceled that day. I went to his funeral. Religion doesn't matter much in circumstances like this. There were 3 other chinese accompanying me anyway. The whole course people went too. When all of us were there, Salam's body was still on the way. They sat and prayed and prayed. I just sat still. Outside, it rained. Drizzles... slow small droplets. Looked like snow.

At the cemetery site, the grievous mood was still there. Everybody looked dull... as if every drop of energy that contained within them got sucked in to the depths of their bones. A hand patted my right shoulder. " Low, kali ini, mahu saya hantar u balik tak? Motor saya depan saja kali ini. Tuuuu, tengah tengah lori itu harh!" He looked like Salam. Heck, it was him.

*in memoir of Salam, our beloved group leader who passed away on 28/9/2009