I met Fathil: STAR old boy batch 72.

(The white patch in the back ground is the famous Fountain at the Jeddah Corniche)

"Salam dari Fathil 72. Pin if we can meet. Now am in Mekah......................................" The sms came in just after I folded the Sejadah post Fajr prayer on May 5th. Instantly, images of Fathil, the soft spoken and ever so kind and caring senior came flashing bringing lots of fond memories from the 'alma mater's craddle of brotherhood'. I remembered Fathil, just as I remembered Bashir. Both from black house. While the later often sent chills of terror down my spine, the former was the total opposite. Fathil had a calming effect, engaging and gave the impression that he actually was there for you!

How could I not want to be here for him? Here, in Saudi, in Jeddah, in my territory! No, my heart didn't leap with joy. It was not that kind of excitement. Instead my heart warmed with each unfolding thought I replayed from the past; of Fathil I used to know and whom I was so certain didn't and most likely still doesn't realize just how much influence he had in reassuring juniors like me. Juniors who hailed from kampungs, and easily intimidated by the stare and glare of those bullies less friendly seniors, and there were a few of them there, then!

A few sms, and a couple of follow up phone calls later...we met tonight! The car he was in, driven by an ustaz from Mekah, pulled by the curb where I was waiting, and he stepped down the Prado. The 'moment!' was magic. That first 'moment' of re-union after nearly forty years made me choke with emotion. To see him as he has always been in my mind, smiling and reaching out, gave me the meaning of brotherhood. STAR old boys, no matter how much time lapsed, will always remain brothers.

He was with his wife and two children, and also accompanied by his sister-in-law and her family. Not wanting to appear rude to his clan, after brief formalities and greetings, I almost had Fathil to myself, puling him to be by my side and talking down memory lanes into yesteryears. If anything, his wife seemed well used to seeing her husband hi-jacked by strangers who seemed like long lost brothers. She smiled bravely and sportingly, and joined in with knowing smile and nods at appropriate time.

I didn't say it tonight, and I held back. But if I was honest to myself, I should have said what I swallowed at the last moment when we hugged to say goodbye. With permission from readers for sounding 'wet' as Simon Cowell would say, I will say it anyway.

"Take care Fathil. We are brothers!"

(Below: Bergambar bersama Fathil dan isteri)

Cahaya!

Cahaya di belakang kita itu

mengembalikan berbagai kenangan

tawa tangis kitalah perintis

di bawa angin bersimpuh kasih

di Lembah Kinta sana kita berkelana

siang di terangi guru mencurah ilmu

malam di temani rindu terkenang ibu

kita lupakan seketika berbagai yang berbedza

kerana jauh di sudut hati kita masih sama

budak STAR talian harapan

begitulah, bercahayanya tuah badan!

Di senja waktu ini

mari lah kita bersama

renungi ke hadapan mengintai titian

"Sirratul Mustaqim"

yang sudah pasti kita tempuhi

yang belum pasti kita selamat lintasi

semoga cahaya yang bersinar di belakang kita

di penghujung terowong ada menanti

kerana walau pun kita budak STAR

di sana nanti

hanya amalan pedoman diri

semoga doa kita di terima illahi!

(Pakpin: Jeddah: 8th May 2010)