Tribute to Wau on My Birthday...

 

 

"Why were you absent for a week, Nurliza?" that question continues to haunt me until today. "My grandfather was sick, teacher", came the meek reply,as I stood up, horrified that she'd asked me this question in front of the whole class. "How is he now, is he better?" the teacher seemed relentless on embarrassing me, knowing full well that I'm not prepared to answer this question. "Yes, teacher," I nodded. With that, her attention turned to another kid, thank goodness. I don't know why I answered 'Yes' when in fact, my grandfather had actually passed away that week when I was absent from school. I was flabbergasted with myself. Is that considered a lie?

The truth was I didn't want to get into the long and short of it in front of the class. The clarification would undoubtedly leave me in tears as this is the first time in all my 10 years of living, someone I loved and adored had passed away, in front of me, and more so, on my birthday.

Yes, it was 34 years ago that we all sat around my maternal grandfather in his house in Lorong Ayer Puteh, Alor Star. My mother had whispered in my ears earlier that he was leaving us. I nodded, although I didn't really understand what that meant. I was overcome with sadness that was made worse by the overwhelming grief in the entire household. I remember holding his hand and telling him that it was my birthday. He closed his eyes and looked at me. For a moment there I prayed hard that revelation would somehow miraculously relieve him of his pain and things would be as it was before and there would be no reason for anyone to cry...

Alas, things took turn for the worse and he expired soon after. I couldn't believe that he was gone, right before my very eyes. My aunts were inconsolable and were crying hysterically. It all seemed so surreal and I wished that it wasn't true.

School holidays were never complete without a trip to my grandparent's home. We'd be excited because it would mean being with our little uncle, Ajie and most of all, be with Tok and Wau. I don't know how we got to calling him 'Wau' instead of 'Wan' but I remember that he hardly came out of his room although we would frequently be in his room, pestering him to administer 'zambark' on parts of our body bitten by mosquitoes. We'd also badger him for change to run to Mamak Karia's store or Ah Nui's store across the street to buy this and that. That is until Tok tells us to stay out of his room so he could rest.

On that day, 3rd April 1975, the grief that struck the entire household was insurmountable. Everyone was so sad and couldn't stop crying. As for my brother and me, we lost a grandfather we can call our own. The house was never the same again thereafter. Looking back, after Wau passed away, we hardly played on the second floor. One reason was because the house seemed rather gloomy without his presence and another was because of all the ghost stories we've heard from friends in the village that wandering or playing upstairs by ourselves was definitely not an option.

Join me in reciting Surah Yasin and Al Fatiha for my beloved grandfather who is kept alive by fond memories in the deep recesses of my heart.