Thursday, February 01, 2007

My grandmother (my mom's aunt) passed away today. I weren't really close to her but my parents forces us to visit my late grandmother and grandfather every year without a miss since our schooldays on Hari Raya.

She has been ill since I can't remember when. But my grandfather would take care of her no matter what. She sometimes has lapses of memories and mood swings which results in her change of 'friendliness' towards people.

One year, during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, I visited her and since I have started working, I kind of gave her 'duit raya'. At the feel of the angpau in her hands, her face that was once very sour and has no smile, changed. Her lips moved upward to form a thin smile on her face. That year, when the family came to visit us, she was talking non-stop to me - pouring all her stories about my late grandmother and how she misses her and sometimes dream of her. She told me stories about my grandfather, her grandchildren and I just listened and laughed at her stories. And she says that she always pray for my success and my health and never be ill.

The next year and the following year, I couldn't visit her during Raya since I had to go to Singapore for an outstation and caught a fever the following year. My mom said that Nenek Alang asked about my whereabouts and says that she has been praying for my success in life and my health.

I made a promise to myself last year that I will visit her during Hari Raya. She was so excited and delighted to see me and as usual, I'd be the one talking to her and listening all her stories. Even my aunts were kind of surprised to see Nenek Alang talking non-stop with me.

I never knew that that was the last day that I would be listening to her stories. She passed away this morning at 10.10am with her children and husband beside her at the age of 65. I know that I would miss her and her saying... ' Nenek selalu doakan agar kau berjaya dalam hidup, sihat selalu dan tak sakit...'. Alfatihah.