How time passes...part 4

Thousands of pilgrims exiting themselves from Masjidil Haram after Isya' prayers back to their respective destination. I realised that millions of Muslims gathered here at Makkah to achieve ONE goal and that goal is to gain Allah's forgiveness and blessings. Looking around,I saw some people are walking and some of them are on their wheelchair. I could not help to feel so overwhelmed with this scenario. How many millions of Muslims around the world willing to devote themselves entirely to ALLAH S.W.T even though they are handicapped but they still stood by of what they believed and fight for. And here I am, so healthy but still complaint with tiredness sometimes. How ungrateful..hmm..

I saw my families waited for me at the shoe rack sitting on the floor while resting and drinking Zam Zam water. Reaching them,suddenly I realised that my slippers were disappeared. Panic stricken, I search every rack in that area. My nieces and nephew help to search for it somewhere else but they too could not find. Given up, I sat leaning against at one of the pillars and thinking on how to go back to the hotel barefooted. My imagination flashes on my brain on how dirty and muddy the road is. Taking a deep breath,trying to calm myself down by drinking the ZamZam water. Then, my eldest niece,Nasreen gave a briliant idea."Acu,why don't we share the sneakers that I'm wearing right now." she said. Puzzled with her suggestion I looked at her and asked "Huh?How are we going to do that?" "One foot we wear the sneakers and the other foot we covered it with a plastic bag,you are wearing a socks right?" she said. I nodded my head and instantly agreed with her suggestions. My family sort of amused with the situation but they are trying very hard not to laughed. After wearing the sneaker on my right foot,my 2nd niece helped to tied the plastic bag around my left foot. Nasreen and I were trying very hard not to laughed and amazingly we were not embarassed with this situation.

We tiptoeing and laughed all the way from Masjidil Haram till to the hotel. Once we reached at the hotel lobby, some of our friends saw us and they were laughing their heads off looking at me with amusement."Masha ALLAH Sue!!What happened to both of you?" Kak Ain asked me. "I lost my slippers so rather than walking back barefooted, my niece gave me this idea to wrapped our feet with a plastic bag" I answered grinning away. They laughed with me and says that I never failed to make them laughed. And then from the corner of my eye,suddenly I felt somebody is staring at me. I turned my head slowly and I frozed...Faiz were sitting there with his friends looking at our direction. Flushed with embarassment, I tore the plastic bag from my feet and gave the other shoe to my niece and walked up to the lift to escape myself.

My heart was thumping loudly as though I am about to failed my biggest examination ever. Refused to look anywhere, I went and sat beside Syikin at the sofa. My family already went up to their room to get some rest. Chatting away with my friends,unintentionaly I turned my head at where Faiz were sitting. There he was,staring and smilling at me when I looked at him. I smiled back at him and shaking my head to get rid the vision of his smiling face from my mind. No..it couldn't be...I may pray to Allah to let me meet someone like him BUT NOT HIM EXACTLY!!!! I was screaming silently in my heart...what is going on? Why is he responding every move that I make and every looked that I gave him? And why exactly is he still staring at me??? Masha ALLAH..this could not be happening. This must somehow a huge crush between both of us. This couldn't be the matchmade by heaven...it couldn't be.

Then suddenly I saw he came up to our place and asked Syikin if she still interested to look for 'sejadah' that she requested few days ago. Syikin smiled and answered "Wow ustaz, thank you for actually remembering that I request for the sejadah from you,and yes I am interested. Can you bring me to the place that you told me about?" "Yes,I can show you the place provided you bring Kak Sue along" he said smilling at me. Frowning and wondering on why the need that Syikin need to bring me along and before I could say anything, Syikin answered "Of course Ustaz,who else should I bring?". I could hear the amusement in her voice.
"I think Kak Sue need to go up and get her shoes before we go,is it not?" he asked winking his eyes at me. Syikin and the others laughed except for Liza. I could see from her face that she doesn't enjoy this situation at all even though she was smiling all the way through. I understood from her eyes that she hates it when Faiz makes me a laughing stock. I patted her arm and gave her a warm smile assuring that I am okay with everything. I got up and excused myself to go up to my room. I turned at Syikin and says "I won't be long, you'll wait here, yeah?" Both Syikin and Faiz nodded their head and from the time I was getting up from the sofa till I went into the lift, I could feel that Faiz staring at me. I turned my head and yes,there he was, staring and smilling at me unashamedly. I shaked my head and went in.

I was texting my cousin when suddenly Syikin jerked me,"Sue!Which one is better?" she asked showing off 2 beautiful 'sejadah' to choose from. Shutting my phone, I went up to her and says "Hmm..for whom are you buying for?" I asked quizzically looking at the 2 'sejadah'. "My husband and 1 is for my mum" she said with her eyes still wondering around overwhelmed with a lot designs. "Okay..then get both, let them choose,if not asked Faiz to choose. He should know better what's best for a husband" I answered. Faiz looked up when his name was mentioned and smiled widely at me. "I think,its best if the wife should choose for the husband,don't you think? As it is,the husband and wife should know each other better." he said. Syikin rolled her eyes at me and I stiffled a giggled. Then suddenly I felt something vibrated in my left hand pocket. I went out from the shop leaving Syikin with her confused decision to answer a call from my cousin. After 20 minutes of telephone conversation with my cousin,I went back into the shop realising that Syikin has still not decided which one she should choose for her husband. Faiz still waiting patiently sitting on a chair waiting for her to choose. "My dear,you still have not decided haven't you?" I asked taking a deep breath to subside the impatient feeling that increases within me. "There is too many for me to choose from..I could not decide! Please help" she said panicking. "Oh dear Syikin, just buy all design and let them choose,hurry up, we going for our qiamullai tonight remember?" I said getting impatient. She nodded her head and told the saleman that she is buying all 20 design. Waiting for the saleman to wrapped all the 'sejadah', I could see that Faiz were staring at me yet again. I went up to him and asked "Why do you like to stare?" I asked with a wonder look in my eyes. He smiled and got up from the place he was sitting.Without answering my question, he went up to the saleman and spoke to him with an Arabic language as to give Syikin better discount from the original price.

Frustrated with Faiz character, I went out from the shop and waited for them. Faiz helped to carry all the 20 sejadah to the hotel lobby. Syikin asked whether we are intrested to have a drink at the cafeteria for awhile. I shook my head and says that "I would like to retire before we leave for our qiam later". Syikin nodded her head and thanking Faiz for bringing the 'sejadah' for her. He nodded his head and turned his head to looked at me.

"Your mother instinct are very strong. You care for people and you laughed a lot. The way you laughed as though there is no problem in this world.From what I see,you are very happy go lucky person...compassion about others and I feel at ease and contented whenever I looked at you..Salaams to both of you"

To speechless to say anything,I stared at him before he went up to the staircase to go to his room. I turned to looked at Syikin who are already grinning away.."Hahaha..what is that all about,dear?"she asked. "I don't know.." I answered with a tiny voice that could only be heard by myself and Syikin.

Puzzled with just what had happened, both myself and Syikin went into our room to get some rest. Lying awake, I told myself yet again...it couldn't be...YA ALLAH..it couldn't be...

How time passes...part 3

"Sue...sue..are you okay?"asked Syikin panicking. "I thought I am already dead..hhehe" answered me jokingly trying to get up. "Hey,slowly..don't force yourself to get up", I heard an unfamiliar voice beside me. I turned and saw a decent guy looking at me with concern look. Even in the darkness of the night, I could see that he was trying very hard not to hold me. Without any hesitation, I make myself stand straight immediately. "Careful sue, you just had a terrible fall. Is your head hurt? Let's get some rest first ok?", Syikin said worrying that I am going to fall again.

"No...don't stop. Let's move on. I am okay...seriously..where's others?" I asked looking around. "Others? Some of them already half way down and some of them are still up there. There was no other people when you fell just now. Luckly this 'brother' is around to run towards you. But we both were alone when we were coming down, right? Where did you come from? I don't remember that you were behind us" said Syikin whom is still holding my arm tightly. The 'brother' just shrugged his shoulder and say without answering Syikin's questions "Shall i guide you both going down? It is so dark and I think both of you already lost your track" he said. "Be my guest, lead us "I replied without doubting anything.

Without waiting anymore instructions,the 'brother' make his move and he switch ON his MP3 on his handphone. The sound of an Imam reciting Yasin was heard in the silence of the night at Jabal Nur. I could feel Syikin was gripping my hand tightly. It's either she was scared or worried for me. Honestly, after that unexpected fall...I did not feel any pain at my knee from that night until today. Surprisingly, there was no bruises at all. Hmm...weird huh?
I remembered that it was so difficult for us to go down. We were really lost our track. The 'brother' were careful enough to follow the route where it was easier for us to step on it. The stone and the sand makes our movement more slippery. I even have to sit on the rocks to balance myself as to avoid falling down again. The 'brother' keep on checking on us.The sound of someone reciting Al-Quran never stops and I knew deep down in all our 3 hearts that we are praying very hard to ALLAH S.W.T to guide us. It took us at least 40 minutes from the place that I fell to reach at the bottom. When we have finally safely arrived, Syikin let go of my arm and I could see that Liza was approaching us with a frown on her face. "Where have you guys been?" Syikin told her what happened while I grab some mineral water from my bag to drink.

That 'brother' who saved us by leading us down the cliff, yes,I was thankful to him that he actually helped us a lot that night. I could only manage to say thank you to him when we safely reach at the bottom and then he was gone. I was so exhausted and my body was aching to get to know him at that moment. But somehow or rather, it was kind of weird that I did not see him anywhere after that. Not even at the hotel,lobby or even at the cafeteria. I was hoping to meet him again before coming back to Malaysia and I felt guilty that I did not asked his name. Nooooo...HE IS NOT SOME ANGEL OR GHOST...so not..I think. But Syikin did mentioned to me that she has seen him somewhere before we went up to Jabal Nur,so most probably he is one of the 'jemaah' but kind of creepy knowing that we did not see him anywhere after that..hehe...sort of..but I know for a fact that ALLAH sent him to us to help 2 ladies in distressed.

So,we went back to the hotel approximately at 2am. I was feeling so tired and numb from the fall. Once reached the hotel room,I cleanse myself and fell asleep immediately till the first azan Subuh was heard. My 3 golden girls already left for mosque leaving me behind to pray at the room alone. After praying,I continued my sleep till I heard a knock at my door. Feeling in dazed, I got up and opened the door with my eyes half closed.
"Salaam...still sleeping? Are you okay?" I smiled and nodded my head. It was Syikin at the door asking me whether I would like to join her for breakfast. I told her that I will get ready in 20 minutes time and will meet her upstairs.

Once the lift at the cafeteria was opened,I felt like I was a Rock Indon star. All the 'jemaah' stared me with a concern looked and smiled. The famous question on that entire day..."Are you okay??" Concerned looks inclusive with amusing faces..yea..yea..EVERYBODY KNEW THAT I FELL!!! It was the most embarassing moment for me. I remembered my so called UMRAH GANG said this.."Sue,we would like to ask for your permission, can we laugh?" and then they really laughed. Gosh...very direct and honest people they are.They said it must really like 'nangka busuk jatuh'right? While laughing, the ladies came up to me and give me hugs and kisses by a way of apologising.I just shook my head,smiled and make myself a cup of coffee as usual.

While stirring my coffee and watching Syikin taking her breakfast, I saw Faiz approaching with a big smile on his face. Oh dear, I totally forgot about him. Please don't tell me he knew about it also. By the way he was smilling, he definitely knew something. Ignoring his stares at me, I pretended to talk to Kak Maznah who is chattering happily about her sons.

"Akak!!" he exclaims and make himself comfortable sitting at a chair 2 seats before me with mischevious smile on his face. All of us turned to looked at him. I raised my eyebrows and pretended not to know anything. "I heard that you were the last one to arrived at Gua Hira and was the last one to come back also.." he said while eating some flower seeds. "Eh...where got!! We were not the last ones. Sue actually waited for others while climbing you know, that is why it took her so long to arrived and then while coming down she fell " explained Syikin enthusiatically. Faiz frozed from eating the flower seeds and within few seconds he burst into laughter. I closed my face with my right hand and shaked my head. "Syikin....please,be my guest..tell the whole world" I said. Syikin gave a apologetic smiled at me and continue eating her breakfast.
"Kak..if I was there, I definitely run towards you and have it recorded!" said Faiz still laughing. I rolled my eyes and ignored him. "You know, that was not the info that I get from them. I called them up every 15 minutes to know how you were but they keep on saying, you sooooooo left behind. You can asked him. He was the one who told me" he said and pointing at his friend. I gave an angry gazed at his friend and he gave a sign of surrender saying that he just telling what he sees. I told him that he gave the wrong info then. He just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at me.

"Where were you last night? I thought you were supposed to join us?" I asked curious. "Send this akak for her 'miqat' and then guide her and her son to do umrah" he answered nonchalantly. I looked at the direction he was pointing..it was Kak Maznah. "A'ah sue, he was the one who brought us coz Doctor needs to take care of adik," kak maznah answered innocently. I nodded and I thought to myself, why do I actually bothered where does he goes to? Why is it suddenly the jealousy overcomes me? Brushing the thought, I continued "You actually called them up every 15 minutes just to know where am I?" "YUP..." he answered mischieveously while munching peanuts now. I shaked my head and looked away.

At that moment, I felt weird. I remembered I just felt different. But I do not know where is that weirdness came from. Am I feeling something for him? Why is the chemistry is so strong? But it can't be. He is only 21 years old, for goodness sake! Syikin and Kak Maznah were chatting happily. I was not concetrating with their conversation.My mind was wandering somewhere else. I turned and saw that Faiz was staring at me. He smiled and looked away at once. Both of us went silent and pretended to listen to these 2 ladies deep conversation.

"How long more will you be studying?" I asked Faiz."Three more years insya ALLAH" he answered. "Are you going to be Imam then?", I asked again. It was like as though only both of us were there without surrounded by anyone else. We both actually having a serious conversation without being sarcastic with each other. "Nope,I don't want to be an Imam,why should I?" he replied without looking at me. "I don't know,maybe because you studied Islamic" I said. "I studied Islamic religion because I want to know more but not to be an Imam. I am not qualified to be one" he answered sternly."Then what do you want to be then?" I asked while stirring my coffee. "I don't know, maybe a doctor or to be the Best," he answered. "Best in what?" I asked frowning. "To be the very best among Allah servants " he answered with a smiled and winked at me. I gave him a half smiled and shake my head.
"Did you really fall at Jabal Nur last night?" he asked again. "Yes...why??funny huh?" I asked with my eyebrow raising up. "What happened?" he asked and I could see from his face that he is genuinely wants to know what has happened. "I have a problem with my left knee,it moves and I lost my balanced so I fell," I answered without a pause. "Oh.." that is all he answered. "Are you going to laughed again?" I asked. He shaked his head vigorously trying very hard not to laughed. "Hmmm...." I replied. Suddenly Syikin nudged me. "Come,let's go!I need to go and buy something, see you all around alright..salaam.."she said while getting up. "I need to go up and have a look at the kids too, see you" said Kak Maznah.

I got up and looked at Faiz. He too got up, nod his head at me and smiled. It was like a signal for everytime we meet and for everytime we depart. A nodding of heads tells everything. "Salaams..." I said. "Wasalam.." he replied nodding his head twice and looked up.
I was hesitant to make my move. I wanted to stay behind and talk to him again but we can't. Women and men are not allowed to talk without a third party around. Syikin already waited for me at the lift. I went up to the place where Syikin was standing.
I turned and saw Faiz already left to his office.
"Women,what's that all about?" Syikin with a curious tone. "What do you mean?"I asked pretending not to understand. "You know what I mean" she said smilling. The lift door opened and we went in. "Honestly friend,I have no idea..." I replied. While the lift door was closing,I could see Faiz passing by and he managed to turned,looked at me and turned away again. "That my friend..very the strong chemistry there..did you somehow pray the wrong thing to ALLAH?" she asked with a big grin on her face. "Hahah..i think so..i think so.." I replied with a laughed.

The chemistry was so strong that it does not ends there...it continues to be more complicated..gets more confused along the way..till one fine day,coming back from Masjidil Haram after Subuh prayers...

to be continued...

How time passes...part 2

"Acu!!!""..the twins squealed my nickname in delight in front of everybody at the cafeteria. I was like..duh...why the heck you have to shout like that???I asked those two girls and they just answered me with a giggle. I shooked my head and proceed myself to make a cup of coffee.Everybody was still sleepy as the Subuh at Makkah is way before 5am.

Suddenly, I heard a announcement that whoever wants to climb Jabal Nur aka Gua Hira tomorrow night then they have to give their name to their respective mutawiff. Quickly, I went up to my nephew and asked whether will we be going and he said.."OF COURSE!! Ayah will give our name. You wanna follow us,Acu?" I nodded my head with a smile. Gua Hira..the place where Rasullullah receive his first testament from Jibrail. Yes,I do remember that story very well. While daydreaming thinking about how it felt climbing the Gua Hira, I felt someone tapping on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Liza grinning at me widely.
"What are you daydreaming about? Your boyfriend back in Malaysia?" she asked.
"Hmph..I wish I have one to daydreaming about..hahaha" I answered with a laughed. At that moment, Faiz came in with his group of friends and they saw us laughing happily. I raised my eyebrows at Faiz and he winked back at me. Hold on..what did he just do??
And then Syikin, my other friend called Faiz to come over. I looked at Syikin with a frown on my face..was like..err...why?? "I got something to asked him about the tahlil tonight and aqiqah," she answered. I just shrugged my shoulder and continue talking to Liza who is happily eating her bread with peanut butter. Again, I did not bother Faiz existence even though he is in front of me right now. Suddenly, Liza's husband asked how long does it take to climb the Gua Hira to Faiz. He answered "Normal is only 30 minutes but i think if its for this sister,(he point his finger towards me) it takes her 1 hour plus". I still remember the cynical smile on his face when i looked at him. I was dumbfounded when i heard his answers. My friends were trying not to laugh but obviously they can't help it. They burst into laughter and I can feel my face was scarlet red. Damn you Faiz for indirectly insulting me that I am fat!!I'll show you I can go up and will come down within 1 hour,insya ALLAH.." I said that to his face.
He laughed and shook his head. "I did not insult you, I am just giving you the motivation" he said and raising his eyebrow to me. I squeezed my eyes trying to composed myself from getting more angry. I felt Syikin's hand squeezing my arm. I turned to her and saw the question look on her face...as though asking in silent..Beb,what's going on here women??What's up with you and our mutawiff", I can see her eyes looking at me with wonder. I turned my gaze at Faiz again who are still smiling happily.
"Fine..its a motivation then..revenge huh? for bullying you back there at AL Ula?"
Faiz just shrugged his shoulder and left our place. I stared with amazement. He actually dared to say that to me? The so called Ustaz who supposedly not to have a eye to eye contact conversation with a women? Or was I the one initiate all this? At that moment, I felt something but I do not know what it is. Something weird feeling growing in me. I brushed off the thought instantly and continue talking with my friends whom also wondering what just happens.

Exactly at 9pm,our group of 'jemaah' already preparing themselves for the trip to Jabal Nur and waiting for the bus to pick us up at the lobby. Some of them even wearing hiking shoes, some of them wearing sweaters and boots and yes not forgetting my friend Syikin is wearing baju kurung, mind you. When she came out from the lift, I was stunned to see her so innocently wearing baju kurung. "Are you getting the date wrongly? the tahlil was yesterday night.." I said with a giggle."Oi..i did not bring a lot of clotheslah, women. Jahat you..i never expect to climb a mountain when i came here, you know!" she said with her hands on the hip. I just giggled and that moment I wasn't aware that I was indirectly looking for someone. I saw a group of mutawiff whispering with each other and giggled while they were staring at me. That's it..I was looking for Faiz because he was no where to be seen at that time.
And these group of mutawiff were laughing AT me...not with me..but AT me..geez,Faiz definitely says something to them about me could not climb Jabal Nur. I felt my face flushed and looked away instantly but where is Faiz anyway? I did not see him anywhere..deep inside me was hoping that he will be around. There was a voice in me says, you gonna climb because of him...you gonna climb because you want to show him that you can do it..that you are women who won't defeat easily. Yes, that's it..I want to show him but yet...He wasn't around..where the heck is he? and why is it I want to see him badly??Go figure...hmmm...

"SUEE!!!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!!" Syikin were shouting asking me to slow down. "Come Syikin, we can't stop now! We are getting there!!!Look! We nearly there...faster!!everybody is there already!!" I shout with my short of breath. With so much of difficulties,and so much of hassle while climbing the Jabal Nur, at last we arrived at Gua Hira together with others 'jemaah' who has arrived there 30 minutes earlier than us. I dump myself at one of the big rock outside the cave and stared with amazement of how beautiful the Makkah is from above. Syikin immediately drank a whole bottle of mineral water to quench her thirst and grinned at me. She really looked exhausted and satisfied. "We made it" she said and stared at the same direction that I was looking. Then I saw something amazing. I turned to Syikin and poked her to look to the direction that I was pointing. She looked and gasped..."Masha ALLAH...Masjidil Haram..." we both went silent and enjoy the scenery after 1 hour climbing the Jabal Nur. Yes,i did not manage to climb the Jabal Nur within 30 minutes. There so many people that left behind that I do not have the heart to leave them especially Syikin. So, together we motivate ourselves to climb further and finally we reached the final post. It does not matter how long does it take for me to climb, I don't really care if Faiz will laughed at me if he finds out. It's the matter of I actually made it. I actually have succeeded climbing a 2500feet mountain with so much of effort. I could not describe to you how it felt when I was started to climb. There aura felt as though saying...GIVE UP! GIVE UP! but somehow or rather, an elderly 'jemaah' came to me and says ..."Can you imagine that everyday Khadijah climb this mountain with an elephant just to deliver food to our beloved Rasulullah?? If she can, so can you. Just tell yourself that this mountain is part of your life...your future where you been trying to achieve but so many obstacles to go through...you may struggle in life but yet you believe one fine day you will succeed in life,Insya ALLAH, so dear girl..start believing that you can,so come on,let's climb" he said with a soft smile on his face.I do still remember his face till today when he sat beside me while taking a rest. Without any hesitation, I remember I got up and did not stop climbing except waiting for the others. Of course, I will never forget that confidance feeling in me.

After 15 minutes of resting, I got up and went into the cave. I 'sujud' and felt thankful to ALLAH S.W.T for actually giving me this chance to be here. I sat there for about 10 minutes after suddenly I heard the mutawiff were annoucing that we need to go down within 20 minutes. All the 'jemaah' take this opportunity to take photos and I felt somebody is taking candid photos of me. I turned and saw one of Faiz's friend's is taking my picture at his handphone. He pretended to be taking other people's photos too. My eldest niece came up to me at once and told me that she saw the mutawiff is taking photos of me and she wonder why. I told her to just ignore it.

Everybody was being very careful when going down. It was kind of slippery due to the sands and it was really dark. I had a knee problem and climbing awhile ago was really painful moment for me. Trying to composed myself and ignoring the pain, I continued my journey. With Syikin holding my shoulder,I was being very careful. Step by step I went down and suddenly we heard a 'crack' sound and without any signal..'THUMP!" I fell down in the middle of Jabal Nur. I was falling like a car crushing down at the alley without a break. All i could hear was Syikin screaming my name from the top of her lungs. At that moment, I felt like a roller coaster trying to find ways to stop. All I could think of is 'PLEASE ALLAH!! stop me from falling or take me NOW!!!!! I closed my eyes and then suddenly I stopped...it took me awhile to realised what just happened.In dazed I tried to get up but I couldn't. From afar I heard Syikin voice and a guy coming down to get me..am i dead already?

to be continued....

How time passes...

How time passes...yeah..how time flies ever since i came back from umrah...went to brunei...came back..get myself a job and POOF!! it has already been 6 months since I last saw Kaabah aka Makkah, the only country that I am longing to go again.

I still remember when I wrote my first post in this blog.."To write well, you have to write what you really know"..so well,here goes. The story that I will never forget and will always embedded in my heart forever.

Standing outside the Makam Nabi at Masjid Nabawi,saying goodbye to our beloved Rasulullah was the most heartwarming moment for me at that time. The whole family cried and prayed that Insya ALLAH we will soon come back to visit Rasulullah again.

We went back to our hotel for breakfast and need to pack our luggages as we were about to leave to our next destination..Kota Tsamud and Makkah. At the lobby, I saw a group of Mutawiff were having deep conversation and stopped the moment my family stepped in. My brother in law greet with "Salaams" to them and they replied. As usual, I was always the last one to enter as I need to overlook my 3 golden ladies..ahaks. While I was waiting for the lift, I caught all the Mutawiff staring at me as though I am from another planet. I looked back at them with a curiousty look on my face and nod my head towards Faiz, the so called our Ustaz or our Mutawiff more like it. He smiled and nodded back at me. We were as though sending signal through our nodding of heads of asking what exactly are you guys staring at?? The lift door opened,still with a curiosity look and frowning on my face, I went in without getting any answers.

Approximately around 6pm, we arrived at Al-Ula Hotel after visiting the Kota Tsamud, the city which takes at least 3 days to finish. We were very tired from the 8 hours journey and unfortunately when we arrived at the hotel, there was no room for our family. It was the most shocking moment for all of us. So where are we supposed to sleep?my sister asked with her angry tone staring at our mutawiff. Speechless, Faiz and another mutawiff tried to solve the problem. My 3 golden girls already extremely tired from the long journey. Pity them. We ate our dinner at the hotel while waiting for an answer about our rooms. Exactly at 10pm,the problem solved. All of us need to share rooms with the others 'jemaah'. The 3 old ladies and myself shared 1 apartment with one family from Negri Sembilan.
I still remember Faiz was standing and looking at me with a lot of bags to be carried. I looked up and says "Hello...help please??" He smiled and took 3 begs from me and gestures to walk first. I shooked my head with irritation.
After we settled in the apartment, I heard a commotion outside the apartment. I went out,saw my sister and Kak Liya were squabbling with my brother in law about sharing rooms.It was unlikely that Kak Liya will be sharing a room with someone with a HUSBAND!!!! I voiced out with my of course loud voice "Kak Liya!!!I got a space for you in my room, you can sleep on the bed with mama and i will sleep on the floor. Anyway,its just for a couple of hours, no big deal.The other 2 ladies want to sleep in front of the tv at the living room, so come!No need to argue at the hallway" I said with one breath. Everybody was stunned and I did not realised that Faiz was standing beside me staring with amazement. I frowned at him and says with my authorative voice"As for you Faiz, please make sure the pillows and mattresses is here for the old ladies before you can go to your room,thank you...Kak Liya!!Come!!" I turned towards my apartment without realising that Faiz still staring at me. (This info of course been provided by my 2 beloved older niece..hhehhe)

Next morning,again I bullied Faiz with another remark about orange and mango juices. He still can't differentiate between those two drinks after being living in Arab for more than 3 years.DUH...I was like...serious ke that dungu?? So thats it..I don't remember I had a crush towards this boy or anything. I don't even realised his existense even from Jeddah airport to Madinah till the day at the lobby. That was the day I acknowledged his existence until somehow or rather an unusual feeling came at one unforgetable morning at the hotel in Makkah,the Holy Land.

Kaabah...how I remember how strong the aura of the Kaabah itself. I sat silently in front of Kaabah,staring while awaiting for Fajar prayers. I remembered the birds flew around the kaabah,thousands of men,women and children were reciting quran while doing their tawaf. I saw an old lady cried while she was praying. I looked back at Kaabah. This is it...this is the feeling when you going to die. You do your prayers, the sound of birds, the smell, the atmosphere, the sound of babies crying and people crying asking for HIS forgiveness...all this sounds reminds you, that death is coming nearer. The sound of baby crying...reminds how you first came to this world..the sound of crying asking for ALLAH forgivness reminds you the sins you have done..and all this...the prayers and all I'm doing right now..is it enough to be forgiven by HIM? Am I prepared to be taken by HIM at this moment? Am I? Tears falling down at my cheek and I looked around. My friend stopped reciting Yassin and stared at me with wonder. She took hold of my hand and we both stared at Kaabah in silent. No words to describe how we felt at that moment. Just our silences answers to everything. Suddenly,Azan was heard and we prepared ourselves to do our Solat Sunat Subuh. And then, I still remember how I cried all the way through Subuh prayers while the Imam reciting. It was the most beautiful voice I ever heard. The way he recite, and the rhythm..YA ALLAH, how I never forget that feeling. At that moment,I knew...I knew ALLAH is right there beside me...HE is really very near me...watching HIS servant crying and repent for the sins that she has done blindly. I will never forget that moment. Even after the prayers, my friend asked of why did i cried all the way through? For the first time in my life, I do not have the answer to that kind of question. Do I feel happy or sad? Or regret overcomes me?Only ALLAH knows how I feel. When I was about to leave..I saw Faiz finishing his prayers. He looked up and nod his head at me. I nodded back at him and walked away without realising that I was praying silently to have someone like him in my life. Never I realised that my silent prayers in front of Kaabah was somehow or rather, came true...

To be continued....

Batasku Asaku

Bila kutercipta dari tulang rusukmu
Mengapa kumampu sempurnakan hidupmu
Bila ku ada karena kau ada
Mengapa kau tak bisa sendiri saja

Dalam teguh tak larut belaian
Ranum sahaja bukan hiasan
Untaian cinta gapai genggaman
Yakinkan mimpi dalam iman

Batasku sadari raut kodratku
Asaku menari terbalut sorbanmu
Lembutnya jiwa sambut nestapa
Terngiang syahdu iman di dada

Bila cerita tak lagi ceria
Mahligai cinta merona terlena
Senada iman kusimpan derita
Kuatkan hati bersimpuh pada-Nya

This lyrics remind me of somebody and a situation which I will never forget..

Ketika Cinta Memanggil

Ada tiada rasa dalam jiwa
Rindu akan memanggil Mu
Karna setiap jiwa tlah bersumpah setia
Hanyalah pada Mu

Bila cinta ada di dalam jiwa
Wangi bunga dunia tanpa nestapa
Sgala yang dirasa hanyalah Dia
Hatikan memuja hanya padaNya

Ketika cinta memanggil
Gemetar tubuhku
Ketika cinta memanggil
Hangatnya nafasku
[ Ketika Cinta lyric found on www.lirik.tv ]
Ketika cinta memanggil
Sang rindu
Ketika cinta memanggil

Rindu... rindu... rindu kalbu
Memanggil-manggil nama Mu
Seperti terbang di langit Mu
Tenggelam di lautan cinta Mu

Bertabur kalbu yang rindu
Melebur menjadi satu
Bagai menari diiringi pelangi
Ketika cinta memanggil

I am in love with this song and the lyrics....