One heck of a ride...

This entry is coming after a very very long time. Due to my academic commitments blogging had to take a break. Since the mid semester break started I was anxious to go to JB. I hadn't seen my nephew in a long while. I missed the cute and naughty little boy like crazy.

On Sunday, I packed my bags and left uni about 1pm and reached the bus terminal an hour later. When I inquired with my usual coach service I would have to wait until 7pm to get a seat. This was of course out of the question. I am never the one to buy tickets without knowing the quality of service provided by a company, but I had little choice. I bought a ticket from a lady who said the bus is leaving at that instant, that being 2pm. When I reached the bus it was already full, which I did not see as a good sign. A guy with a walkie-talkie was quick to assure me that another coach is coming shortly. Little did I know his version of 'shortly' measures to about 2 hours. Until my coach arrived a lot was happening in the surroundings. I was inhaling carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide from the fumes of the many other coaches around me. I was guilty of second hand smoking thanks to many men, and also not to mention women. Let me be blunt for a second; a smoking woman just drives me potty. I am not the one to ruin the argument on gender equality, but smoking just takes the feminine touch out of a woman. I passed my time thinking of ways to clobber and mutilate the servicemen who promised me an early coach, and not living up to it. Business ethics is in a very sorry state. My patience was wearing very thin and if it was back home the scenario would have got a bit ugly.

I finally got a the coach at about 4pm and sat down exhausted. Standing for 2 hours with a bag is certainly not very comforting to ones back and spine. I was on the road and started to read 'Men's Health' in order to get an update on what's new in a man's world. An hour into the ride things started to get very cold, and the culprit was the air-con. I think people are seriously given the wrong impression about the air-con. Its to keep people cool from the heat and humidity, and not to make them feel as if they are in Antarctica. If the freezing was not enough, I was starting to feel hungry around that time. Coming colour was definitely not any good. Halfway through the journey, I made up my mind about the freezing air-con and hunger. It was really starting to work, and what happened next made me lose my cool. The dimwit sitting next to me decided to take off his shoes and put it up on his seat. The stench from his socks was just unforgivable. I am certain he missed a lot of lessons on etiquette throughout his life, and despising this ass was hardly an issue. I felt like vomiting on his face, and then stuffing one sock in his mouth while choking him with the other. It certainly would have been a very satisfying means of revenge, not to mention fitting from my perspective. Did I mention that the driver talk on the phone as if he is addressing the political rally?? Well, that chap talking is an ear full, no doubt. One thought flashed clearly in mind, and that was "this is really not your day, dear boy!!"

Reaching Skudai gave me much relief due to obvious reasons that I had to undergo during the journey. Next time I will not travel in another coach service than my usual one due to incidents of this sort. Thus, I wish to forget this foul episode from my short term memory, but I fear it will stay for sometime. Do note that harmful notions only develop when I am subjected to extreme mental pressure. Apart from that I am a very cool person, I assure you!!

A taste of home

Many a time one goes back home in ways thought, in person, by the illustrations of another coming from home, or in a dream. Every time I go back home nothing is like as before. Change has descended upon every aspect of life and entombed ways of the past. Many a things have I missed during my stay away from the isle in the Indian Ocean. Bonds that were earlier strong and concrete have been withered away by time. The ones who were very close to me now appear to be a distant. They are like the stars at night, beautiful and bright, but in fact are so far away and unreachable. A long absence seldom makes people fond of each other; rather they tend to grow apart. But one thing I have learnt is that of a constant yearning and appreciation for the loves you love so much, and in my case it’s the immediate family. Understanding their expectations, hopes, dreams, and not to mention the trust placed in you makes one perceive situations a whole differently.

I travel home in my dreams. My subconscious mind takes me to a multitude of varied places every time. At all those times I end up interacting with so many of my friends and family. It’s like a collage of scenes merged into the likes of a single movie trailer. The best part is there is no start or stop button, and it goes on and on. I wonder if there is anything called an ‘impromptu dream?’ The movie trailer is fuelled by thoughts, emotions, and memory of a dreamer. I love it and would have it no other way.

I wanted to savour some real home cooked food. Enough with the ‘shitty’ canteen food that lacked variety and taste; also not forgetting the hygiene factor; and not to mention the diarrhoea that follows after consumption. All the ingredients bought were taken to be cooked. The menu was onion roti, dhal and chicken curry along with fried entrails. It was nothing fancy, but it was all that I expected. The aroma, taste and the burps that followed afterwards, all reminded me of home.

My island home sparkles as a pearl in the Indian Ocean
Covered in a smooth blanket of soft and glimmering sand.
Oh! How anxious am I to see thy lovely bounties again
Since my spirit is waning and energy running dry

Living within 24

I have begun to ponder how time is a very valuable component in my life. Certainly, many a thing can be accomplished by being ‘on time’ so to speak. But in reality no one is that way. Maybe you can come close to a whisker, but being spot on takes on a whole different level. Procrastination is the undisputed rival of being on time, no doubt about that. I have been meaning to make a post, and look how long it took me since the previous one.

I am sure many people wish that a day comprised of more than 24 hours. It’s just a ploy, tactic or merely a ruse to reassure oneself that everything they want to do in a day can be done so. Given that a day would consist of more than 24 hours, of course. In reality, all the things that one imagines and conjures up deep in his faculties tend to not happen at the specific time. Time is never the right factor when expecting certain things to unfold. Most of it does happen eventually do to an act of God.

A day seems to fly by and you hardly feel it. Life has become so complex and people are desperately finding ways to retain every essence of simplicity from being faded away. Everyone wants to get a hold of this thing called ‘life’ and live it to the fullest. Thus, countless folk have rules in life of no regrets and many more that I am not bothered to mention. You might ask, why?? I have listened to a lot of it, and I’m sure so has everyone else. Most of the ones I have heard are hogwash not deserving a second thought. A few on the other hand makes one contemplate while your about to doze off at night.

I should be more conscious of time, as they say “time waits for no one.” But frankly the only thing one can do is try and that’s about it. The irony is that all the people don’t say or do what they plan on doing when the time is thought to be right. Later, they are choked and suffocated with regret because of not saying or doing that is previously intended. When looking back in time I’m sure everyone has regrets. If anyone hears a “no” inside their head then that would be self denial. Lets face it, we are all human after all.

Waking up to a few songs

Today was like a Godsend, totally perfect. My morning class was cancelled and also the evening class. I was just left with the afternoon class from 2-3.30 pm. Waking up didn’t feel this good in a long time, let me tell you that. After waking up, I played a few tunes, just for fun. Needless to say, it did brighten up my mood. It started with ‘How can I tell you’ (Cat Stevens), ‘Runaway’ (The Corrs), ‘Twist & Shout’ (Beatles) and coming to an end with ‘The Colour of Love’ (Boyz II Men).

There was much pleasure in singing along to a song that I never experienced before. It must be because I had just woken up and lay awake with no idea of what to do. I sang all the song as best as I could, maybe even croaked some of the words. I blame it on the morning blues, or in my case near afternoon blues. Waking up just before noon on a jobless day is almost an achievement. Well, that true in the case of an undergraduate student trying to hone out the rest of his future.

Thinking about the future is enough to give you the shivers. Honestly, it creeping under my skin and spreading like a virus. Signals being emitted by the virus are very frequent and sometimes in the most bizarre and scary ways. An anecdote is still to be found and this thing is very contagious. Every time someone asks me “how long to do you have to finish?” I get all hot and bothered. It’s not like one can see me sweating profusely or my eyes twitching at an abnormal pace. The thought keeps lingering on and on and on.

Let me tell you that I have finished my first law case review. A shout out goes to the people who helped me in this endeavour. So, I would like holler out a big ‘thank you’ to najia, aisya and not forgetting lubbie. I would also like to state the immense potential of Lubna in being a teacher/lecturer in the future. The tone of voice, demeanor and many other cues fit the profile. After having said this, I know there is going to be a reply from the potential future lecturer.

Season of change

As of last Monday, I started my final year in university. A lot of things were raving through my mind just thinking about it. Feelings like excitement, uncertainty, fear and many others rocket my boat of thoughts leaving me pondering. I quipped to one of my lecturers that after another 9 months I would be a “free man.” She promptly replied in the following “not really, better find a job.” The dilemmas coming ahead are simply beyond me, that’s for sure.

On Sunday, I got my hands dirty along with others parts of my body to clean up my messy room. I even cleaned the fan of its many years of dirt and soot. Surprising how much of dirt can get accumulated over a period of 4 years. It’s been a blessing that I haven’t shifted room like the others due to my ‘international’ status as a student. Praise the Lord! That’s all I’m saying.

A subject that I am supposed to check is business law. Although, being the son of a lawyer, I still have not found it as an edge in understanding the subject. I can’t comprehend for the life of me how my father did it. Then again his standard of English is far better than mine. I hope a major part of that will rub off against me in due time. I managed to retrieve the law case that I am supposed to review, and it’s like Greek to me. I swear, this is the first time that the English I have read made little sense to me. Hats off to all those budding law students who are laughing at this poor soul holding your sides as you read this. I am making it a point to get all the help from my law buddies whom I have befriended. I think it must be a sort of blessing in disguise.

Oh you law experts, here I come to be a small thorn by your side with my wisecracks and rib tickling humour. I have to be subtle because pleading and begging in a blog would sound desperate.