In a distance, Tok's house has certainly lost its sparkle. As we turned into Lorong Ayer Puteh, or 'White Water Lane', I craned my neck to see, what to me, was the most beautiful house on this particular lane, but alas, was greeted by its forlorn and lackluster appearance. Gone were the towering trees, colourful exotic orchids and irresistible allure of scented 'bunga melor' that beckons us. The now listless and moribund house, which has been home to at least five generations, appeared as though it is displeased, dismayed and perturbed that we've all left it unoccupied for such a long time...
But, I think subsequently, the house forgave us as it didn't take long for it to come alive again. Even though I see my aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces more often than I ought to in their respective houses in Bangi, seeing each other in Tok's house brought about a different kind of excitement. The craze and hullabaloo in the house must have pervaded through the sleepy town of Seberang Perak. Even the sweltering heat tried with all its might but couldn't deter us from reveling in the exuberance of stuffing our faces with sumptuous local delicacies and the joy of meeting relatives who came to pay Tok a visit. Although Tok wasn't able to sit up to enjoy the company of those who visited her, she looked extremely contented and was serenaded by the incessant shrieks and laughter of young and old alike.
If the house felt as though it was slighted, Tok's dining table on the other hand enjoyed unbridled attention as there was never a moment when it wasn't adorned with food of various kinds and surrounded by family members and relatives. The kitchen floor too wasn't spared in the revelry for it became a resting place for 'beached whales' of many different species nursing and rubbing their laden-bellies...
As dusk sets in, it was time to summon one and all to the customary photo-op on the steps of Tok's house. Although Tok wasn't in the picture, the magic of 13D, White Water Lane will never cease. As we pack our bags and leave the house to its own devices, we hope to return again to this magical place. Thank you everyone, Mak Su, especially, who worked tirelessly and everyone who pitched in to make this particular trip a memorable one...
