I lost a friend-a very dear friend of mine.
We used to meet over teh tarik at Desa Pandan-most of the time.Actually,this is *not* my usual Cerita Kedai Kopi story that I used to write. In fact,it is a collection of our previous "teh tarik" talks that we shared since he contacted cancer six months ago.
This is a special note I dedicated to Allahyarham Azahar Senawi,who passed away on the morning of 12th Nov., 1999 at his mother's house in Bangsar,Kuala Lumpur. May Allah swt bless his soul...
Azahar hailed from Alor Setar,Kedah.He got a degree in telecommunication enginering from a British University.
We only met and got to know each other only about five years ago through a common friend. We used to visit each other's house and one day when he visited my house this year,he also gave advice to my son who wanted to take up telecommunication engineering course at UTM. May I record my thanks to you Azahar for your fatherly advice to my son,Amir.Six months ago,at our local mamak restaurant ,we met for our usual teh tarik session.Normally,he is always late.While waiting for him,I read my reading material,a novel that I promised myself to finish in a month. He arrived half an hour later and apologised for the delay.
I could not forget his ever smiling face every time I met him despite his predicament of having contacted cancer. I don't think anyone could ever get angry with his humility and gentle manners.On one a occasion,I asked him why he is always late.He was late because he could not inform someone with him that he had to go to his next appointment!That late afternoon,I noticed that he was wearing a white 'ketayap',a head cover normally worn by elder muslims who went to Haj.I did not asked anything,but could not help noticing a small white bandage behind the back of his neck.After I ordered teh tarik halia and he ordered a fruit juice,I opened my big mouth and asked what has happened to him. I got a BIG shock when he told me that he got the big C! The doctor has just confirmed two weeks ago and he had already started the treatment and he was losing his hairs.I gave him a blank look and speechless for a minute.I did not know what to say....
On the way back home,I was muttering my prayers to Allah for him and my gratitude for the health that my family and me are enjoying now.I prayed to Allah for Azahar's recovery.And I promised myself that I will try to visit him as often as I can.
His house is on the way to my office-just about 200 metres away.In KL lifestyle, that distance is almost equivalent 20km compared kampung lifestyle.Most people don't even know the names of their neighbours next door.I used to drop by and chit-chat with him in his house. On one occasion,I was told by his maid that he was admitted to Pantai Medical Centre. Immediately, I visited him there and kept him company for an hour. From what he told me,he was very dissappointed with the level of service there and the type of treatment he received. When I suggeted that he seek treatment in Singapore, he told me that he already made arrangement for it.His opinion was that his doctor was more interested to make as much money as possible rather than giving their patients the best service! What a shame...money is tramping all over the noble values and professions that we all cherish!
From the later visit,I was informed that the modern medicine only manage to cure 60% of his illness.And he told me that he would resort to herbal medicine from then on..Two months ago he told me that it is working slowly......Now, I know the disease was working faster than the herbal medicine.
The last I met him was three weeks ago.We discussed about his illness and I asked him how he was coping with it.He told me,as any good muslim would,that he accepted that it is his fate.However,the thought also came to him on why he had to get cancer.He tried hard to search through his memory what wrongs he has done.Did he do anything against Allah's teachings? He told me me that as far as he could remember,he did not commit any major sins.Before I left his house,I promised to fetch him from his house last week for another session of our teh tarik.
During the last week of his life,his wife told me that Azahar's hands and legs started becoming numb.Since his wife is working,he went to stay with his mother in Bangsar for a few days.On Thurday night last week,he suffered breathing problem and was brought to Pantai Medical Centre.Unfortunately, they could not revived him and he passed away peacefully around six o'clock on Friday morning,12/11/99.
What really made feel bad and very sad about his departure is that I could not be at his funeral.To me personally, I will drop anything just to accompany him to his last resting place. What really irritated me is that it took four days after his death for me to know about it! I feel like throwing away all those communication tools like telephone,cellular handphone,email and fax- machine. They were useless if no one really care to use it especially in time like this. A mutual friend called me,but I was not in.So he could not be bothered to call again or just walk 30 metres to my house so that I know about it.With this type of attitude, we all better forget about IT and MSC...
To my dear friend Azahar,I am very,very sorry that I could not be at your funeral and I still owe you one teh tarik that we are supposed to have it last week:-(((
It was a week too late...+From Allah we came,and to Allah we all shall return+
Posted on:17.11.1999
Post script:
To-day,I visited his grave at Bukit Kiara Cemetery.His lot number is 3901.
Posted on 19.11.99