DJ calling Tokcik, DJ calling Tokcik.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

DJ calling Tokcik, DJ calling Tokcik.

Assalamu ‘Alaikum,

DJ Calling Tokcik; DJ Calling Tokcik

It was with some sheepish bravado that I approached the PKNS Bazaar Ramadhan DJ Shah Alam to inform him that I have lost not a little kid, but a 75 year old grand aunt.

We asked Tokcik to sit on the stool outside one of the shops quietly as she will be too tired to follow us around to buy Zahir’s black baju Melayu and the girls’ baju kurung. As we were busy buying Raya clothes for the kids I pondered on whether to send Kakak to sit with Tokcik but I dismissed the thought as we would then not be able to buy Kakak the raya Baju Kurung if she were to babysit Tokcik.  It’s not often we get to PKNS Shah Alam and  I would like to settle the kids raya shopping quickly, in one go if possible.  Mama and Papa are not buying anything this year; Mama because she still has clothes in her wardrobe she had hardly wore whilst Papa, the reason is a bit technical. Papa is just about the waistline where a new baju Melayu always fits, but the trousers is always much too tight to say the least. So Papa have cotton on to a new tactic, and that is to buy a single piece black baju Melayu to fit all the black office trousers Papa has. Last year’s black baju Melayu is still fine so there’s no reason to buy another one this year. Sometimes I wish I have a striking yellow office trousers to match the striking yellow single piece baju Melayu that caught my eye. Tailoring somehow doesn’t happen with me; by the time I decide to tailor a new baju Melayu for raya they have always stopped taking orders.

Anyway that was how we lost Tokcik at the busy PKNS Bazaar Ramadhan tonight. Shah Alam town is particularly gay tonight with bright stalls lining the street and coloured lights defining the festive atmosphere. I always marvel at the way the Malays define Raya. It’s so festive and happy you can almost touch the happiness in the air. This contrasts with some countries I’ve been or lived in during the month of Ramadhan. A+ for the Malays for the uniqueness and creativity of their Ramadhan; every year they will  win the prize hands down if ever there is an international prize for the most colourful Ramadhan in Muslim countries. The Tarawih Imam’s mathematical calculation last night of 1000 months equalling 83.3 years of tahajjud and qiamullail  also played on my mind; and I’m sure is also not lost on the busy shoppers tonight.

Anyway we found Tokcik at the guard’s control room having a lively conversation with the young security guards who has taken on to her lively chatter. The friendly guard explain she found Tokcik wondering in the basement car park looking for our car and decided to take her to safety, the kind soul. Praise be to Allah this beautiful Ramadhan night was not spoiled by any tragedy. We learnt our lesson and will not leave Tokcik alone ever again, as I dismissed all the practised explanations in my mind to the wider family as to how I could lose a 75 year old auntie, the family’s current reigning matriarch.  Praise be to Allah who looks after us in more ways than we can imagine.

Wassalam,

Zahid