On the death of a friend

FL was part of our 'gang' in university. We met in our first year as undergraduates residing in Third College, Univ. of Malaya. As our rooms were on the same floor, it was inevitable that we would bump into one another often along the corridors. Plus, we had common friends. Naturally, the seeds of friendship were sown and nurtured through the three years in Third R.C. as we played, ploughed and persevered through our studies. These were exciting times as we were of the age when we were coming into our own and discovering our place in the merry-go-round of life. By the end of the first year, FL, NO, ZB, HD and I had become a 'gang'. Not that we were inseparable. We had other friends of course, but there was an affinity among us. FL would take us to her house in Sect. 16, PJ where we met her parents and siblings. Her mother was a gracious lady - immaculately groomed each time I saw her, never a strand of hair out of place. She reflected a woman of stature - in manner and speech. FL's father (now deceased) - whom she pictured as a strict and no-nonsense man - would make the effort to talk to us whenever he was around. The oldest son - ML - now a famous personality in his own right, was ever so charming, and even then, as a schoolboy, he was the epitome of PR (public relations). We visited several times with FL, and I remember being warmly received every time. FL reflected her family well - courteous, kind and well-meaning.

Sad to say, after graduation, our paths seldom met, although I kept track of her through common friends. We all attended her sister's wedding in the Sect. 16 house, but our meetings since had been few and far between. In 2006, FL, NO and I met for lunch at Secret Recipe in Taman TUN. By then, the three of us were retired from employment; but FL was facing a dilemma of sorts. She even contemplated returning to JB, and starting some kind of home business like 'baking'. Of course, she never did, as I discovered later. We exchanged mobile nos. and had been in touch through sms ever since.

A couple of months back, NO, ZB and I visited FL in HUKM a few days after she had had an operation in her back. As expected, she was bed-ridden and complained of pain and discomfort. But I thought she looked well, and she kept up her usual cheery self for much of the time. Just like her. It was divine mercy that brought us together on that day. Except for ZB who lives in KL, I am from Ipoh and NO lives in Kuala Terengganu. But on that fateful day, we were all in KL and we arranged to visit her in hospital. Unknown to us, it was the last time we would see FL.

Yesterday evening, NO called from Kuala Terengganu to tell me that FL had passed away earlier in the day. Apparently, she never left the hospital. A friend, ZA, had called me two weeks back to say that her smses to FL had gone unanswered. ZA said it was not like her at all. Naturally, she was concerned. ZB and I had been meaning to visit her again, but we never managed it. With regret.

Takziah - to her husband and only daughter, to Mak Chik and ML. FL touched my life, and I remember her with fondness. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya. Al-Fatihah.