30 September 2010

From Russia With Love


There was a call on my h/p. I picked it up, looked sat its face, and wondered at the number, 0127966xxx1127, an unusually long one.

Before I could open my mouth the voice from the other end came through loud and clear, “Pkcik, kenal sapa ni ?”. And as I was just about to pick out his name from my memory bank the very familiar voice continued excitedly, “ Hairi ni . Dari Moscow,Russia Pakcik. Saya dah sampai …..” (“ This is Hairi from Moscow, Russia. I have just arrived ….”
Yes indeed it was a very pleasant ‘From RussiaWith Love’. It made my
day At the end of the brief conversation he promised to send an e-mail the moment he got his computer and things sorted out.

Hairi, who will feature in my ‘End of the tunnel’ series, was a star performer in last year’s SPM exam, obtaining straight 10A’s. He is today in Moscow, having lost his mother not very long ago, leaving behind a sick father who had just gone through an emergency operation of a burst appendix; and he is determined to be a doctor.

-------------------
That was two days ago. When I opened my laptop this morning I noticed a short message from Hairi, just as he promised.

Salam,,,pak cik,,,
I miss u a lot,,,mak cik also,,,
How are u now???
Now,I am in Moscow, Russia,,,,studying medicine at the First Moscow State Medical University,,,
It is really cold here and I can say that I trembeled like a leaf,,,
the class will start on 15th oct,,,and now,all of us spend our time shopping and visiting somewhere,,,,
Moscow is a beautiful city i....now it is auturm season...so beautiful,,,
Hairie, Moscow..
-----------------
Pakcik’s note to Hairi:

How I appreciate your communicating with me so soon.

I know, because you have told me, that in your heart you have a place for Makcik and Pakcik.

Whatever we have done for you is never as important as the value we hope you have learnt of being compassionate and caring for others. You will need this when you have a career of your own one day, insya Allah.

We will always pray for your success, Hairi.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.

26 comments:

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Pak Cik,
Thank you for sharing the joy of hearing one of your Al-Manar student is now doing medicine in First Moscow University, Russia. It is another feather in Al-Manar's cap and I can feel the satisfaction of having contributed to his beginning of a long arduous journey in a strange land. Russian winter has been known to defeat Napolean's and Hitler's armies, and I had a less than 24 hours taste of it more than 15 years back while on transit to Tashkent.
May ALLAH Bless Al-Manar.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Dear Pakcik,
What a wonderful thing to have happened to you. We wish Hairie well in his studies too....purrr....meow!

Anonymous said...

Salam Pakcik

Syabas, now your entries are more frequent. Remember once I told you I used to look forward for your not so often postings while being a silent visitor.

Congratulations to Hairi and to you too.

Yeay I am first to comment ....

amimy01@littlereddot

Wan Sharif said...

Wow,
Such a nice present after all the work.. years of works..
My salutation to you and yours..
May Allah give you health, strength and courage to continue..
May HE also gave us, you readers, the will, perseverance, the resources and opportunity to emulate..

Al-Manar said...

AHS,

Qkhi,is there a place on earth you have never been? You certainly had a wonderful career, a job that took you to so many places. I envy you. Now you have a lot to reminisce.

Al-Manar said...

C-i-S

Unlike a cat I can tell you I have only one life, and I try to make the best of it. Thank you ( how should I do it - a couple of strokes on the neck?)

Al-Manar said...

AMIMY,

You write on and on for a short period and that is normally followed by a long draught. Living by the South China Sea one gets carried away with gusts of monsoon and then the sleepy afternoons! So the current pattern is not permanent. The SE monsoon will arrive any moments now, rain and cold, time to pull a blanket over and hibernate.

Al-Manar said...

Ayah Wan,

The nice present is just a dot at the end of a long complex sentence, with clauses and phrases, twists and turns, sarcasm and irony, the lot. At this point in time I have hardly a worthwhile alternative but to carry on.

kaykuala said...

Dear Pakcik,
The path that you tread is made buoyant with all the appreciation expended from those whose gratitude had registered on your shoulders illuminating it further for you to do more good for those that come later. Keep the good flag flying!

Al-Manar said...

Dear Hank,

I hear encouraging words from people like you, and I wonder whether I truly deserve all these. I betray myself if I write to invite these fine words. It is my hope to make as many people realise the need to extend a helping hand to the young ones. How I hate those who have been given the power and responsibility but fail to live up to what is expected of them. I detect this in your writing as well and I share your views.

ARZ said...

Lost for words. My eye's wet!!

Al-Manar said...

ARZ

You have disappeared for quite a while. Hope all is well and happy cycling.I look forwards to your book. Lt me know it is out and I will be among the first customers to own one.
Salaam

Rahmah said...

salam pakcik,
must be great to hear from your ex-student eh? the same way i would feel when an ex-student knocks the door! and it's good to know when they are doing well. this is what's rewarding in becoming a teacher really. may Allah show the way to your ex-student to become a successful doctor and may He shower you with good health and blessings! Have a nice day pakcik!

Al-Manar said...

Rahmah,

You have been at the game long enough professionally. I am sure you know well enough the satisfaction one feels.
I look forward to hearing the completion of your work on the new literature component.
Salaam from Pakcik

Anonymous said...

I know Hairie well.I do not think I could be as strong as him, having lost his mother at a very young age. How happy she would be if she were alive to see what Hairi has achieved up to this point.Well done Hairie! You will become a great doctor one day.InsyaAllah.

~AZMIERA~

Al-Manar said...

Azmiera,

And you will be equally successful yourself one day, insya Allah

Pakcik

Anonymous said...

I started my diploma at the age of 19, and am now studying and struggling for the coming final exam. How Din did his diploma inspires me to work harder..

Salina

Al-Manar said...

Salina,

If Din has done it so can you. Good luck Salina.

Pakcik

ninotaziz said...

How lovely - he got in touch with you while'he trembled like a leaf' in a new beautiful land.

This is a young man who does not forget his roots and people who helped him get on with life.

Above all, I salute that wonderful character of Hairi - an upstanding young man on his way to a beautiful life...

Al-Manar said...

Ninotaziz

Your many postings are sprinkled with memories of 'roots'; that make you what you are. And only 'jauhari mengenal maknikam'.
Salaam dari Pakcik

ninotaziz said...

Dear Pakcik,
I haven't heard the phrase Jauhari mengenal maknikam for a long long time...it inspired a little pantun here...

http://pantundanselokaninotaziz.blogspot.com/2010/10/jauhari-mengenal-manikam.html

Anonymous said...

Thanks pok cik...You have made me cry -- I love you pok cik -- I will always miss you and mok cik -- My class started on 1st Oct --
It is quite tough -- We have to memorise many things and the lecture is very fast...We have to take pictures of slide shows to make notes . The lecturer would say,"Don't ever snap any picture. You make too much noise, tikha (silent)! “ ...ha ha ha
Hairie,moscow

Al-Manar said...

Ninotaziz,

Thank you for your contribution and your permission to post your work.

Pakcik

Al-Manar said...

Hairie,

Please e-mail pakcik(almanar@pd.jaring.my )about life in Moscow, accommodation, food, friends and so on.

With love from
Pakcik & Makcik

Wan Salwa Wan Hassan said...

My Dear Pak Cik,

Hairi's comment dated 7th is touching as it a note of love ....

My salam to Cik Ngah, God bless u both.

Salwa

Al-Manar said...

Salwa

Cik Ngah kata macam mana agaknya persiapan untuk 25/12. Beritahulah kalau ada apa apa boleh kita tolong dari KT
Love from us