Turn Back The Pendulum 9

Suasana malam dalam kelas seperti biasa, sunyi. Mujur tak banyak kerja sekolah hari ini.

"Ko nak balik bila ni? Tengok tak?"

"Of course ar. Kejap lagi kot. Dalam pukul 9.15 ke."

"Siapa lagi follow?"

"Aku rasa ramai je, tadi dekat surau semua dah pakat dah."

"Ok-ok. Nak pergi nanti panggil aku."

Kelihatan dua tiga empat lima pelajar lelaki 5.1 (Al-Razi) lalu di tepi kelas ready nak pulang ke asrama.

"Oi, jom lah. Tinggal-tinggal lah kerja tu."

"Haha. Pergi dulu, kejap lagi aku follow."

Aku cepat-cepat siapkan soalan latihan kelas tambahan Add Math. Nasib baik Faidhi and Amin dah siap, tiru jela sikit-sikit. Khairul Khusaini dan Hasyim di sebelah dah mula mengemas beg.

Suasana sedikit kecoh di luar kelas. Beberapa lagi pelajar lelaki dari kelas 5.1 dan 5.3 dah ready nak balik. Siap kerja, aku letak semua buku bawah meja. Beg kain hitam oren dicapai, berserta pensel case dan latihan kelas tambahan Pendidikan Agama Islam. Kerja Ustazah Zauyah ni kena buat, mahu naya kena soal dalam kelas and jawab dekat depan.

"Jom!"

"Pergi panggil Nizam kejap."

Dari 5.2 menyulusuri kelas 5.4 dan 5.5, turun tangga dihadapan 3.2 sehingga tingkat bawah dan berhenti di hadapan bilik SPBT. Kena cover line, takut-takut ada warden pulak malam ni. Line clear. Sampai di asrama, terus menuju ke bilik TV, blok Zuhal. Penuh dengan pelajar form 5 dan ada segelintir pelajar form 4.

Scene Fahri bertemu dengan Aisha lengkap berpurdah di dalam monorel terpacar di TV.

Sebenarnya, semua teruja nak tengok Ayat-Ayat Cinta tayangan di TV3 hari Jumaat pukul 9 hari tu. Ayat-Ayat Cinta ni memang benda hot suatu ketika dulu pada tahun 2008. Sampaikan aku pun tersedu-sedu baca novel ni terutama sekali dalam kelas agama Ustazah Zauyah.

Yang perempuan gilakan Fahri. Yang lelaki jatuh cinta dengan Aisha. Maria Girgis lakonan Carissa Puteri berambut merah dah cukup mencairkan hati mana-mana lelaki. Dan juga kegedikan nya yang membuat lelaki menjerit "Awwwwwhhh". Otai kaki pukul belakang kolah pun layan cerita ni.

Orang mula layan cerita Islamik. Bagus lah tu. Cerita start pukul 9, prep habis 10 suku. Nak tak nak, escape prep / balik awal adalah perkara wajib malam itu. Ayat-Ayat Cinta kot, rugi lah kalau dapat tengok separuh jer. Di bilik TV, boleh kata semua masih berbaju melayu. Masa iklan pun tak nak pergi balik dorm tukar. Takut seat kerusi dirampas. Ada jugak yang sanggup duduk atas lantai. Punyalah penangan Ayat-Ayat Cinta masa tu.

Mata tak bergerak dari screen TV. Bunyi-bunyi bising, mahupun suara memanggil kawan ditegur agar tak mengganggu konsentrasi. Nak feeling lebih, ewah.

"Eh, dah light off dah ni, kenapa TV bukak lagi?"

Sir Fakha terjah bilik TV.

"Dah-dah, tutup TV tu. Pergi masuk tidur. Siapa nak study je tinggal."

Hingus disedut. Kepala tak gatal digaru. Ada yang buat-buat batuk. Ada juga buat muka tak puas hati.

"Alah, Sir, kejap je, pukul 12 habis lah."

"Esok sabtu Sir, prep pun start lambat."

Satu demi satu pujuk rayu suara sumbang sadis kedengaran ketika itu. Yang tidak bersuara cuma berharap. Form 1 dan form 2 yang tiada kuasa authority dah berjalan pulang kecewa. Yang form 5 masih lagi tak berganjak. Hati keras, Ayat-Ayat Cinta punya pasal.

Maybe berkat semua layan cerita Islamik, Sir Fakha jadi lembut hati. Bila dah masuk scene akhir, ramai yang mula syahdu.

"Oi, jangan lah nangis."

"Eleh, padahal ko yang nangis kan?"

Yang lembut jiwa, dah mula menggosok mata, konon mengantuk. Siapa kata lelaki tak romantik? Cerita tamat pukul 12. Namun cerita mulut ke mulut dua minggu lepas tu barulah senyap. Setiap hari ada je dengar orang sebut Ayat-Ayat Cinta.

Ada jugak sanggup beli novel. Novel sedia ada di pass-pass ikut urutan "scander". Lagi-lagi dalam kelas Kimia Miss Subathny dan kelas agama Ustazah Zauyah. Hehe, kelas BM En. Wan Sazali aku lagi seronok baca paper.

Mungkin boleh layan cerita Ketika Cinta Bertasbih lakonan Asmirandah pulak lepas ni.

Ya Allah, letakkanlah dunia ditanganku, jangan di hatiku - Aisha (Ayat-Ayat Cinta)

p/s: TBTP 8 tak tulis lagi. Terlupa cerita Mustak tu tak habis lagi. Cerita ni actually dah lama tulis tapi post dekat blog batch (Matrix).

Turn Back The Pendulum 7

Part 1: TBTP 6

Mustak atau nama sebenarnya Mustakim Bin Ismail ni kacak orangnya. Tapi jikalau dicompare dengan aku, tentulah aku lagi kacak. Haha. Sorry, menyimpang pulak.

Mustak ni orangnya berhati-hati. Susah nak kenakan tapi sepandai-pandai Mustak, pasti akan terkena jua. Maka mulalah semua kepala yang berada di dorm KP memerah otak untuk mengenakan Mustak.

"Conteng muka"

"Tarik katil letak tengah court"

"Bogelkan jela. Haha"

Itu diantara idea yang berjaya diperah dari otak masing-masing.

"Eh, gate DeMa bukak pukul berapa?" Jibam tiba-tiba bertanya. "Pukul 4.30" jawab Dauh spontan.

Jibam pun melontarkan idea beliau. Kitorang berkumpul di tengah dorm. Takut-takut Mustak terjaga. Menurut cerita Jibam, Mustak ni seorang yang prihatin. Setiap kali waktu sahur, dia akan mengejutkan semua ahli dorm KP untuk bersahur. Bila dah kejutkan semua orang, Mustak akan terus ke dewan makan "DeMa" seorang diri tanpa menunggu orang lain.

"Boleh pakai kot idea ni. Gate mana bukak lagi kan sekarang"

"Sape nak kejut Mustak?"

"Aku tak boleh doe, pecah perut nanti"

"Ko cadang, ko lah buat Arul"

Seperti yang aku cakap tadi, Mustak ni berhati-hati orangnya. So, demi menjayakan akitiviti ini, ceh, aktiviti lah sangat, kitorang set semua jam dalam dorm KP pada pukul 5 walhal ketika itu baru pukul 3. Arul memulakan kerjanya.

"Mustak, Mustak, dah pukul 5 dah. Jom ah gi sahur"

"Ehmmm, ehmmm, kejut lah orang lain dulu"

"Budak-budak ni tak nak gi sahur"

"Ehmmm, kejap lagi ah"

Semua orang pura-pura tidur, tahan ketawa melihat gelajat muka toya Arul.

"Pssst, Arul, Arul, Mustak tidur pakai jam doe"

"Pergh, nasib baik tak kantoi"

"Ah, sudah, cepat set jam Mustak tu"

Angin sepoi-sepoi bahasa bertiup lembut. Mustak masih nyenyak dibuai mimpi.

bersambung...

Turn Back The Pendulum 6

"Jibam, pukul berapa dah?"

"Pukul 2 dah."

Sejak masuk tingkatan lima ni, aku boleh kata ada dua bilik. Satu dorm tercinta, dorm B102, dan yang kedua bilik ketua pelajar atau dikenali dengan nama Dorm KP, terletak di aras bawah blok B (Zuhal) di antara bilik study and bilik basuh.

"Renung-renungkan dan selamat beramal"

Tagline Prof Izzi menandakan tamat sudah segmen Refleksi radio Hot FM. Suasana pada pukul 2 pagi sunyi sepi, hanya bunyi kipas dan corong radio yang memecah kebisuan malam.

Afif, Amin dan Adnan bergelimpangan di atas karpet merah, alas tidur kebanyakan pelajar yang suka melepak di dorm KP. Yang lainnya semuanya berada di atas katil. Aku pula ditemani buku fizik terbitan Sasbadi, pensel Pilot Rexgrip bermain di tangan, selesa di atas kerusi bersebelahan radio capuk itu.

Maklumlah, ketika itu bulan puasa. Tambah-tambah lagi SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) makin dekat. Nak tak nak, kitorang semua tiada masa untuk main-main. Boleh kata, SPM itu yang menentukan masa depan kitorang nanti. Naif. Tingkatan lima lah katakan.

Sejam berlalu dengan pantas. Sedikit suara-suara sumbang kedengaran menyanyi bersama lagu kegemaran dimainkan di radio dan juga suara-suara yang membincangkan jawapan matematik tambahan, kimia dan juga biologi. Subjek 'killer' untuk SPM.

"Pukul berapa dah?"

"Pukul 3 dah doe"

"Aih, bosan pulak"

"Kejut aku sahur nanti"

"Pukul 3 dah pun, baik tunggu sahur jer"

"Jom kita kenakan Mustak nak?"

Arul melontarkan idea menarik. Semua kepala toleh ke arah sesama sendiri dan terukir senyum kambing di muka masing-masing. Tanda setuju. Aura nakal bulan puasa jelas terpapar.

bersambung...

Turn Back The Pendulum 5

2005: Umur 13 tahun
Tempat: Kelas 2 Al-Razi, Semesta

Krriingg, krriingg !!! Loceng 10 malam berbunyi.

Loceng sepuluh malam menandakan waktu prep bagi pelajar perempuan tamat manakala prep malam pelajar lelaki pula habis pada pukul 10.15.

Aku sengseng lengan baju melayu. Siap menyalin jawapan soalan matematik Cikgu Izam daripada Faiznur. Aku menguap, mulut terbuka luas dibiarkan begitu sahaja. Tak ada perempuan pun nak tengok, semuanya tergesa-gesa mengemas barang dan mencapai beg pulang ke asrama.

Ada segelintir dua tiga muka budak perempuan kelas lain menunggu di tepi pintu. Menunggu teman baik pulang bersama, iya lah kan bestfriend forever tambah pula tangga sekolah berdekatan dengan kelas aku di tingkat 3, blok Amal.

Nafsu muda mula membuak. Pelajar kelas 2.1 (Al-Razi) kebanyakkannya senyap-senyap belaka, tapi hakikatnya 15 minit sebelum bunyi nya loceng sepuluh suku malam, mereka semua bertukar buas. Dari bermain bola kertas digumpal-gumpal daripada surat khabar kepada berlari sekeliling kelas tanpa memakai baju sehinggalah bersolat diatas meja supaya dapat pulang awal ke asrama, semua nya berlaku dalam 15 minit itu. Aku panggil waktu kemuncak.

Aku pergi ke meja Faiznur untuk memulangkan buku matematik. Rutin harian setiap prep malam, meminjam mana-mana buku kawan yang siap kerja sekolah. Entah kenapa, aku terasa ingin memekik malam itu. Lagu '"Melompat Lebih Tinggi" nyanyian Sheila On 7 sesuai dengan jiwa budak hingusan 13 tahun meluah perasaan kepada dunia.

"Ku petik bintang ! Untuk kau telan ! Cahaya nya tenang, berikan kau perlindungan !"

Lirik diubah sedikit. Sengaja. Aku memekak di hadapan kelas sambil menconteng papan putih. Namun diakhir nyanyian aku, Khairul Khusaini, teman seBentong pula menyambung.

"Sebagai peringat teman, juga sebagai jawapan ! Semua tentangan !"

Mujahid "Moja" mungkin menyahut seruan jiwa muda kami tanpa sedar.

"Ehem-ehem !"

Suara seperti ku kenal, tapi di mana ya ? Aku toleh ke kiri.

"Damn, kantoi," aku mencarut dalam hati tanda hormat.

Cikgu Zaharol "Sesungut" berdiri dengan rotan di pintu depan kelas. Sejak bila pulak dia ni rajin bertugas. Mendapat gelaran "Sesungut" kerana dua helai rambut hadapan beliau terjuntai sehingga ke dagu, seakan-akan sesungut lebah.

Cikgu Zaharol: Awak buat apa ni? Awak bertiga mari sini.

Kami tiga kepala akur. Apakah sangat daya kudrat budak 13 tahun dihadapan seorang warden.

Cikgu Zaharol: Awak ikut saya.

Kami mengekor Cikgu Zaharol sehingga ke hadapan tangga terletak diantara 2.5 (Al-Biruni) dan 5.3 (Al-Khawarizmi). 50 meter lebih kurang dari kelas 2.1.

"Sekarang, awak bertiga menyanyi dekat sini. Awak berdua main gitar, awak pulak menyanyi". Arahan diberi kepada kami bertiga.

Dengan segan-silu, kami pun memekak di situ. Glamour semalaman lah katakan.

"Ku petik bintang ! Untuk kau simpan !"

Lirik dibetulkan.

Sejak daripada tu, aku tak pernah menyanyi lagi waktu prep malam.

Turn Back The Pendulum 4

2011 - Currently 19 years old

Current place : Sandford Fleming (SF) Building, University of Toronto

It was Saturday. Midst of March. Sean, Yuhin, Michael and Ikki were my teammates for APS 112 ( Engineering Strategies and Practices ). And we chose that particular day and place for our meeting since we have to submit our final report, FDS ( Final Design Specification ) on Wednesday, the next week.

It was a day long meeting. We started at 9 and finished at 6. And an interesting topic of conversation popped up, I would say it was a test of faith. A test of courage and confidence at one time.

After a long period of typing, brainstorming, discussing and finalizing our report, our stomachs growled like thunder striking through the clouds. Sean, the team leader suggested we had subway for lunch. Subway as in the food, not the transport. We walked down the college st. and rain started to pour.

Ran down to the Subway restaurant beside an Irish pub, and luckily they had an offer on that day. Free bacon, chicken or beef. And none of those are legal for me and Ikki to eat as muslim can't eat anything from pig-based product and meat from animal that has not been slaughtered.

We just had the usual, tuna.

Me: Foot long tuna.

Cashier: We have free meat today. Do you want some chicken, beef or bacon?

Me: No thanks ( with a smile )

Cashier: Why not? It's free. Plus it's bacon.

Me: Laugh. It's okay, I don't really like bacon ( As if I've ever taste it before, sometimes you just have to lie to avoid long and awkward conversation and I thought that would be the best answer. Silly me )

Cashier : Are you sure? It's bacon day today.

Me: Yeah, sure. Thanks for the offer.

We walked back to SF building and had our lunch there. And there it all happened

Yuhin: Do you believe in God? Because I don't.

The rest: .........

Sean: Come to think of it, you guys are muslim aren't you? That's why you didn't take the bacon at the subway right?

Me and Ikki: Yup.

Yuhin: Why don't you guys eat bacon? Bacon is like, the tastiest meat in the world ( I remember how he really emphasized on this that day ). Is it some kind of sacred animal like how the Indians can't eat cow's meat?  Meats are good too. Poor Indians.

Me and Ikki: .............. ( I was nervous and bewildered, and am thinking of an answer that people             like him can understand. Yuhin is an atheist )

Ikki: Well there are reasons for that, but it's kinda complicated. It's religious matter.

*******************

The conversation didn't stop there. Sean is christian and Michael is a follower of buddhism. We had a really long talk about religion. But just enough to make it clear on how I couldn't answer that simple question. It was a really simple test, and I was like speechless, strucked by lightning that I couldn't even think straight and move my lips.

And it was one of the best experience I've ever had. A test of faith can be so simple, can happen at times you couldn't imagine, caught you off guard, and what I am shame about, it is about my religion, my belief.

It came to my mind, the reason for people of the west to look down upon Islam is because of the worshiper themselves. If the believers didn't have the full knowledge of their religion, how could they convey the word of Allah, the message from Prophet Muhammad to other people? How can they convince them that Islam is not a religion of hatred and violence? And how can they approach Islam like this?

It was a meaningful lesson. And I thought that day, I can do better. No, I must do better because it's my religion. It's okay to take it slow, learn bit by bit. InsyaAllah, we can become a better muslim and muslimah. For the sake of Allah, and towards the akhirah.

O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet

[Muhammad, 47: 7]

I want to be a better man....

Turn Back The Pendulum 3

2010 - Currently 19 years old

Current place : Toronto, Canada

It's October already. This time of the year reminds me of something. My first maple leaf. There is a saying, when you first set your foot in Canada, the first thing you have to do is to get yourself a maple leaf. A red one, just like in the flag.

There were maple trees in front of Mining Building, University of Toronto. A usual route that I took whenever I went to class or heading back home. As I walked past them day by day, those leaves were turning yellow and finally red at the end of autumn, falling down as a sign of winter was approaching.

There I got my first maple leaf. It was mid October. Getting yourself a maple leaf doesn't mean anything actually. But for me, it kinda signifies something. Of which I don't really know. But I really treasured that leaf that I picked up on my way home until it withered. And I'm gonna miss those moments.

Cold strong winds, the smell of autumn is just awesome. Light sweater, a pair of sneakers, and of course, hotdog jumbo size. Too bad I won't experience it anymore. Well, for the time being. I got another plan for next year. Oh yeah, I'll always have a plan. In conclusion, I'm gonna miss this phrase

Terima Kasih Daun Maple

Oh, and French Vanilla too...

Turn Back The Pendulum 2

1997 - Currently 6 years old

Entah macam mana, aku pun tak tahu kenapa aku tak masuk tadika walaupun dah umur 6 tahun. Maybe aku masih fobia dan trauma dengan kejadian yang jadi pada tahun sebelumnya.

Things were getting better. I knew a few people. At least kenal lah jiran kiri kanan depan belakang. Silap, depan tak ada sebab rumah aku line first sekali. Depan tu dah jalan raya. Ada sungai jugak seberang jalan. Tempat aku selalu mandi dan balik mesti kena kejar anjing. Ceh, anjing jaga kebun je pun. Ni semua salah Abang Chik sebab makan rambutan kebun tu.

Abah aku seorang bekas guru. Kira dah bersara lah. Tapi waktu tu abah aku mengajar di Sekolah Sungai Marong sebagai cikgu pendidikan khas. Apa benda cikgu pendidikan khas ni? Cikgu pendidikan khas ialah orang yang bertanggungjawab mendidik golongan kelainan upaya (OKU).

Tak silap aku masa tu mana ada lagi term-term OKU ni. Semua guna istilah "cacat". And so, this is my story about valuable lesson despite I didn't attend pre-school.

1997 - Current place : Sekolah Sungai Marong, Bentong

I used to follow my father to school. My father asked me to follow him rather than doing nothing at home. Beside, there was no one to take care of me. So, willingly I followed him to school. Naik kereta Nissan Sunny warna merah sambil menyanyi lagu "Kereta Kecil Warna Merah".

There I met a bunch of kids. Most of them were older than me. Not by 1 or 2 years but some of them were in standard 6. But since I was 6 at that time, I wasn't that curious. Neither did I know what was happening. And honestly, I thought my father was teaching normal kids.

From monday to friday, I met them and played with them. Sometimes, I learnt with them and watched cartoons. Out of ambiguity, I asked my father why they spent most of their time playing rather than learning. He replied to me that they were special kids. As far as I can remember, I never heard of him calling them "cacat". Though my father was a bit lousy and easy going, it was quite a surprise to see him acted like that.

Then I met my first friend in elementary school. His name is Hazieq. Well, his sister suffers from a disease. Senang cerita akak dia OKU. And my father taught her sister too. I began to learn that those kids were "cacat". Autism, terencat akal, lost a particular part of the body and other.

I used to remember asking Hazieq how he felt about his sister. I sensed no remorse or shamefulness in him to have a sister like that. A family is still a family I guess. Just she couldn't talk and walk properly. I spent about a year with them. And I think this was better than going to a pre-school. Joining them in my everyday lives about 14 years ago changes everything on how I see them personally.

I grew up remembering this every time I see a "cacat" or "terencat" person. I don't see them as disgusting, disabled, or retarded. I see each and everyone of them as a person. Because I used to laugh, cried, ran along, and also shared food with them.

Though by any mean, I thought all that happened were coincidence, but I'm thankful to have such amazing experience. And I met a friend.

So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?

 [Ar-Rahman, 55: 16]

Turn Back The Pendulum

1996 - Currently 5 years old

I grew up in a place called Felda Mempaga. I was born in Hospital Bentong, and as far as I can recall, I didn't really remember much about my childhood. But I still can imagine the look of my old house. We had guava tree in our yard. And cats and snakes and also biawak.

Waktu aku kecil dulu, angsa merupakan binatang yang sangat menakutkan. Aku kena kejar angsa lagi banyak dari kena kejar anjing. Dan tempat paling selamat waktu tu adalah belakang mak aku. Heh, angsa tak berani kot dengan mak aku. Sambung english balik.

I lived there until I was five. Honestly speaking, I didn't remember any of my friends there and the only family I could recognize today is Mak Jah's family. The family that raised me when I was a kid. Kira pengasuh lah. Ada lagi satu kot, family Pak Cik Saadon. Well, it was peaceful. Ceh, kunun. I couldn't really say that because I remember almost nothing.

I've got lots of scars when I was kid. Due to running and falling down. And what is more surprise, I was quite fair when I was a kid. But due to some dna mutation biology related stuff - screw you melanin !! - my skin colour "evolved" to dark. Hitam manis. Pffft.

1996 - Current place : Taman Kolej Bentong

At this age, parents already sent their kids to tadika or pre-school. And I was going through the same process. Well, the story went like this.

Because of my parent had to teach at schools in Bentong, so we had to move as well. Moving to new place scared me. During that time, I've got no friends, I didn't know anybody except my family. And my mother forced me to go to pre-school. It was Tadika Perkim actually. I cried. Huwaa huwaa. Guling sana guling sini. My last resort didn't work.

We registered. And the scariest moment of my life began. It was totally awkward. No, it was horrifying. Tidak !!! Fortunately, I ran away. Well, not so fortunate when I didn't know where to go. So I hid myself in a storeroom. The class ended. Tadika ended at 11, so it wasn't that long I had to hide myself. Another lucky day when nature didn't call me. Kalau time tu rasa nak terkencing, memang kantoi lah aku menyorok. And I cried when my mom picked me up.

I locked myself in my room and cried. Huwaa huwaa. Guling sana guling sini lagi. My parent agreed not to send me to tadika. Serius aku rasa sangat bahagia masa tu.  Even when I was turning 6, I didn't attend it as well. You can say that I never actually went to pre-school.

Unlike everybody, I had an extra year of playing time while others had to start learning at the age of 5 or 6. Awesome ! But sometimes, on several occasions, I was wondering how exactly it felt like to attend pre-school. But I also gained some more valuable experience. Bakal diceritakan dalam Turn Back The Pendulum 2. Dah ter bagitahu spoiler dah ni. Tapi serius, tak ramai kan orang macam aku yang tak pernah pergi tadika. Ada tapi tak ramai. And that is one of the interesting facts about me. I didn't go to pre-school.

Pretty much I hate school when I was young, up till today actually. But it was fun. Don't you think?