It has been a long time since I flew back home for Chinese New Year. Wait! This is the first time I came back for CNY celebrations!!!! Previous years were spent in Padang, as boring as ever. After my final paper (Neurology), I managed to shop for last minute, fragrances and authentic Indonesian kitchen utensils for my sister and mother. Literally running back to my room, I shaved and ironed my black shirt. The taxi was about to arrive in 1/2 hours time. The taxi arrived and fetched my juniors and my coursemate and I to Minang International Airport.
We just came to know that the evening flight to KL had been postponed for an hour. I could only swear in my heart. However, I couldnt think of anything else but going back home. The plane did arrive eventually, and it took almost an hour to reach LCCT. I had a weird feeling upon embarking the plane. My hands started shivering and my visions began to deteriorate. I knew that I forgotten to eat. I quickly requested a cup of glucose concoction from the flight attendant. She happily gave it to me, and she said its complimentary. I told her that my exams just finished and I had no time to have a quick snack. After getting down from the plane, I saw the newly refurbished LCCT. It has the ‘new building’ smell. I ran to the ATM machine and withdrew RM 150. I went to the duty-free shop and purchased a Canadian Whiskey and Rum for my cousin.
My neighbour was waiting at the arrival. We reached home almost 7pm and I’m finally home. I’ve managed to smuggle in the liquor bottles without my mothers knowledge. That took me a flash of time. I have already pre-planned a get together with my college mates and since my flight was delayed, I had to change the plans, last minute. The following day was Chinese New Year eve, today’s the day that are most important.The Chinese will have their Chinese New Year Eve Reunion Dinner, an event not missed by any Chinese worldwide.
I woke up very early, around 5a.m. and did my early morning prayers. Mom was astonished with my early morning prayers, to the fact that I normally wake up earliest by 9a.m. Later after a glass of water, I drove to Rasah Amman temple. The divine atmosphere of the temple calmed me down, after 2 weeks of restless exams. I drove back home and was about to park in front my house, when I saw my next-door lady sweeping her lawn and pushing the leaves into our lawn.
Mom saw it from inside and started to ask her regarding it. She said something rude and made mom blasted. The neem tree in front of our house was the cause of this turmoil. It is understood that Indians love planting this particular tree in front of their house, as it is believed that this tree is sacred and it wards away evil spirits and it’s considered an auspicious plant in Hinduism. No Hindu would dare to even spit under this tree.
What beats me was, my neighbors are Hindus as well. I wonder why they are so irritated with the tree. We realized that our next door had a secret alliance with a Thai witchcraft practitioner and demanded that our family to shatter into pieces. It is the tree that has been protecting us all these while. Mom was furious and confused. We hardly ever did anything that might hurt their feelings.
After a rush of many ‘dramas’, I left to my friends’ house and went to Jusco to purchase some things. There, I came across my maternal uncle and his kids. It was so much of events in just 2 days, my head was about to explode. I greeted him, his wife and his kids. However, I maintained my distance with them. I cant afford anyone to take me for granted anymore. With quite an arrogant attitude, I left them clueless.
With that encounter, my friend and I decided to watch a movie, Inkheart. It was nice. Later, I dropped him home and came back, only to realize that he wanted to hang out with me at a local pub. I wondered how am I going to explain it to mom, but somehow mom doesn’t seem to care anymore. We ended up at Trilogy, a pub located at Era Walk. We only paid for the beers, RM 92, all 8 bottles in total. I somehow find the smoke-filled room too demanding, so I decided to come out to breath fresh air. I found someone quite a familiar face, whom I’ve lost contact for almost 9 years. It happened to be Kay Wei Sheuoung, a close friend of mine, of whom I shared many similarities during primary and secondary school.
It was more a surprised encounter, I should say, rather than a melodramatic ones I would see among Indians. I asked him whether he’s the person. He looked shocked and shook hands with me. Next to him was a girl, his steady partner, whom he met at his workplace. We rekindled our memories ina very fast pace, as I have to return inside and not to keep my other friend waiting. We exchanged contacts. I returned inside, only to discover that we were the only Indians among a crowd of Chinese guys and girls.
After a few bottles of beer, I began to feel light and started to move in sync with the tunes of the pub. The next thing I know was we were dancing our heart out. I felt liberated after 4 months of agony in Padang, unable to release my tension. The dance floor was coming to an end when I saw a bunch of Chinese girls dancing next to us. I quickly told the DJ to spin any song of Britney Spears. To my amazement, the DJ spinned Womanizer. I took no further a due to start my Britney dance moves and challenged one of the girls to compete with me.
The dance floor was unimaginable. It was almost 2a.m. when we came out of Trilogy. My friend drooped me, and I was a bit tipsy, though the effect was slowly wearing off. Luckily, Papa opened the door, and I quietly tiptoed into my room and ended the day.
What a day!!!! The rush started from Saturday and ended on Sunday nite, or should I say early morning of Monday. All the encounters, dramas, thrills, dancing, freak outs, are all done within 48 hours. Phewww!!!!
