My Brother’s Puzzle

Berdiri di hadapan: Trunks, Bulma, Wuron (?), Son Goku, Son Goten, Son Gohan

Lapis ke 2: Bezita, Kurin, Muten Roshi, Cici, anak Encik Satan
Lapis 3: Uish, ramai le pulak - nanti-nanti le update ye

He is my brother my only brother. He was crazy about Dragon Ball items before, and so do I. We only have paperback comics of Dragon Balls, we bought it when we have extra money in our wallet. We made the comics as collection. We thought to have it as collector item, but as the time go by the comics simply missing from its place. Well, our nieces and nephew took it for reading but then, yeah you can guest what happen.

Having paperback quality comics was not that attractive. We need colors to really visual the entire Dragon Ball image. What Son Goku means without his orange suit? What is Piccolo without his green body and tentacles? Gohan good looking and intellectual capacity will not profound without color right?

So one day I bought 500 pieces of puzzle for me and my brother. It was our first puzzle. It was full with Dragon Ball characters. Starting with Son Goku, Gohan, Bezita, Piccolo, Kurin, Wuron, Bulma, Ranci, Master Roshi (Muten), Cici, Cici’s Father, Trunks and Goten, Ramu, Ten Shin Han and all. I bought that piece without noticed the difficulties that will arise to put the entire puzzle together. I bought it because that puzzle was so attractive with colors and the smiling faces of the characters (yeah of course excluding Bezita, we all know he will never smile). Then, I left if to my little brother to solve it on its own. He was at primary school then and it was 500 pieces puzzle without any numbering system. So, imagine the challenge.

What I expect from my spoil brother then?

Nothing.

The puzzle never gets done.

To our surprise, our father who has retired from his job and position ask my brother about the puzzle. And he, our father finished it in consistent and persistent manner. Imagine our father which having gaps about 40-50 years with us, complete Dragon Ball 500 pieces puzzle on his own, in his room. I’ve to mention it again my dear reader, it is Dragon Ball.

When I came back home for holiday, I ask my brother about the puzzle. He said with smiling face, he can make it done anytime. No problem at all. That’s weird. Really? But it was true. He can make it done.

When I checked that puzzle, then I knew the secret. Each of the pieces has been printed with some sort of numbering system. What my brother has to do is to arrange each piece according to the number.

To my surprise, the number wasn’t there before. It was our father that printed the number on each. It was 500 pieces puzzle. I was startled but still blaming my brother of being too lazy to think and not to give his best to make it done (well, I’ve try to finish by own actually before the numbers printed at the back of the pieces, but believe me, it is really hard, I couldn’t finished it either). But, with that numbers, we can play the puzzle with ease and adore the final product.

Well, it is Dragon Ball with color what else we ask for.

Then, when I read back his version of this puzzle, it really means a lot to him. This is the full version of that event from my brother point of view, here.

My brother does not know our father like I knew him.

My brother only knew him for only 17 years.

My brother never knew him when he still working.

My brother was born when my father have already retired.

I knew when my brother wrote this, “Adli! Ayah dah siapkan puzzle kau. Kemudian ayah sudah tanda pada papan ini berserta turutan nombor dan huruf. Ayah juga dah asingkan untuk setiap lima baris yang ayah buatkan ni kedalam satu plastik. Jadi ada lima plastik semuanya yang mengandungi kesemua kepingan puzzle itu. Jadi kau bolehlah susun dan bermain dengan puzzle ini.”, it is actually a memory to commemorate the most noble man that my brother knew for a while.

I wrote this with tears and grieve.

I actually felt very weird when my old man finished the puzzle for us. It was a Dragon Ball. I bet my father never knew what Dragon Ball is all about. Who is Son Goku, Gohan, Bezita, Kurin, Piccolo and all? He will not give a damn what are the characters names and what they do in Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball GT. But still he had done it with patient and consistent.

Now I know. It is not to fill his spare time. He did not do it to help my brother.

Now I know, my father done it because, just because, he want to leave a memory that can remain forever for my brother to remember. To remember what it is like to have a father.

What it is like to have a father which put aside all the gaps matter behind, and helps his youngest son to finish the most difficult game he has ever had at that time. To give my brother courage and spirit. To tell my brother, in what ever things you do, do it persistently and never give up.

If he, our father still here and watching us, I believe he will always there to help us to solve the most difficult puzzle that hinders our ways. He will solve it first and the print the numbers at the back so that we can always arranged it with ease and happy face. He will let us know how to solve. Then we can arrange it again and again and then adore the final products and colors of the characters. Praised ourselves on how clever we are able to settle the puzzle.

If he still here…

Now I know, my father done it years ago just because he knew that he will not have much time to teach my brother. And he had done that so my brother can always remember. My brother should knows, our father was a great teacher and still. He teach even he doesn’t have to speak. His silent was a lesson to remember. He is the man of his word. He teach even he is seven feet under.

Each time when my brother look upon Dragon Ball, he will always remember. My brother has a father, that will be there when he need him most. What the most important, my brother should remember that our father will solve my brother puzzle no matter how hard it will be. He will do it willingly because he is a father. And always be.

And this is the story of my brother’s puzzle.

Papadom – A Spice Cracker in its own Class

gambar dari aderi

Well, I will say this is third Malay movie I’ve watched on the big screen. The first is Cinta, second Jangan Tegur and then Papadom. I’m a liltle bit choosy in term to spend my money to watch a movie. I’m too easy to get frustrated on whatever the production offer, unless if there is special menu on the table. I'm more selective to give review on products, especially movies.

In the other hand Papadom is different, Papadom have that special menu.

Papadom in its literal meaning, is a special cracker (keropok) which is made to complete the recipe of Nasi Beriani or Nasi Kandar. Experience to taste papadom is quite different from other crackers. We have Keropok Ikan, Udang, Lekor and the list goes on, but all these keropoks are food of its own. You can eat them like junk food (if this suit to deliberate its meaning), you can always eat them as separate item. Unlike papadom, the thrill eating them only exists when you eat them with Nasi Beriani or Nasi Kandar.

But Papadom as a movie has something else to offer. It is a story of tragedies that have been written in hilarious way, which will ensure you laugh with tears (of course if you can understand Bahasa well and you are part of Malaysian culture). The movie reminds me of The Beautiful Life (winner as the foreign film at Oscar). Rewrititing tragedy from different angle and views. What Afdlin can do, which neither Apek nor Nabil can’t do is to invite the audience for sincere cheerfulness. Afdlin in his consistent character, which her daughter called her Papa Dom (his character name is Saadom) is an anxious father that worries for her daughter too much. In fact excessively agonize.

The story only begins when his wife died in an accident. Dom feels responsible to take care for their only daughter. Dom actually felt guilty because before the accident, he was too busy taking care of business (Nasi Kandar and papadom of course). His wife accused him as irresponsible father and take things for granted. Then, when there are just the two of them remain in the family, Dom changed. He changed 180 degree. He was there next to his daughter everywhere and anywhere. The real problem aroused when his daughter wanted to further study at Selangor not at Penang. Separation means the whole lot for Dom, or its mean doom for Dom. Her daughter gives him one condition, not to visit her at university at all. Dom agreed but instead he applies a job as gardener at the University (of course he keep this secret from his daughter) to watch her close and personal. That the main frame of the story. Easy? Yeah quite easy.

In many way I would say this film is still a typical Malay film (even they promoting 1Malaysia idea in it), but seriously hilarious. Next Yasmin Ahmad ey Afdlin? I would stay away from discussing moral and the ideal Malay film that I would like to watch on the big screen. From the moment, Papadom is OK caused I don’t feel frustrated when I’m out from the theater. Well, there are few, but just keep silent for the moment.

I’m hoping Papadom is an original idea from Afdlin and the team. So this will make the film special. But when I stepped out from the room, a comic strip kept flashing on my mind. I knew that I’ve gone through something like Papadom before but I just can’t remember. It might be from Kreko or Gempak, some sort comic magazines. Then the visual getting clear, the idea is nearly similar like Chocolate (a comic from Kreko I guest). But, hey, what the heck. I’ve watched Papadom and I really enjoy it! So, what keep you still?

Go to the nearest cinema, let find out how Afdlin Shauki can make you laugh. Well in fact, this is the month of Oktober, to me, I need a lot of laughing pills (a lot of) to make me smile again.

Now, lets move babeh.

p/s: owh, I'm the only one giving Papadom applause at the end of the show. (well what to do, we Malaysian are not custom to show our appreciation. If I watch Papadom with my bro, will he give the remarks too? Well, what say you bro?)

Reflection

Practice what you have learned, for theory without practice is like a spirit without a body. One who is content with learning alone is not learned, for the truly learned seeks more than mere words. Divine guidance entails self-mortification, without which contemplation is unattainable.

- Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

I'm embrassing Poulo Coelho, but I might not like the Al Chemist.
Yes, prejudice die hard.
Why you like the Al Chemist so much?

Gift of Life

There are a lot of people I met, taught me things.

But there are few that touched and inspired me along the way.

There is a sister, which is so close to me that in a way want to share everything, her ups and downs in life. Instead, she taught me everything. Maybe, she is the sister that Allah gave to keep me company for the lost of my own. Because He always knows that I’m not that strong as they see me.

I admire her in many ways. Her patient, persistent, strength, passionate and unconditional loves for all that evolve around her. In my eyes, she have done it par excellent as what a contemporary women can do. She is a mother, a worker, a wife, a friend, a sister and you name it. She has fulfilled with grace and tenderness. I don't know if I get the oppurtunity, I can do the same.

But one thing that inspired me most, her sincerity. Her sincerity towards Allah is the drive, so she moves on every single day without showing any sign of tiredness. Although she suffers when her prayers has not yet granted, but she never stop praying. Instead, she always has the smile that will make me smile too. Like sunshine for every single day, even it rain the sun still there to shine.

But I’m the one that have been exhausted all this while. Am I not sincere enough?

She is the servant of God, a miraculous being that has been destined to me as an acquaintance to learn on how a servant should be and behave.

I watched her everyday with envy and at the same time love.

Yes, I love her no doubt. I know, she loves me like a sister loves her own sibling. What is most rewarding, she trust me undeniably. That is a wonderful feeling especially to be trust from a person like her.

I hope her prayers will be granted soon. Everyday she will remind me to pray for her. Surprisingly, she never escapes from my thought especially when I take my time to pray. Even, I’m an absentminded person.

She is a gift, at the beginning Allah sends me here. As He always knows what my future will be and what are the absences that will meet me.

I hope I can understand. I hope He will make me understand. These are His promises.

Then I will find my path.

InsyaAllah.

I hope you too will meet a friend which can teach so many things, especially to survive a game that we call life :)

Hope

Hope is a waking dream ~aristotle~

what ever happen
just hope
you'll know
you're still alive!

Lost

when you can't find
anything, anyone
even
your own self...