Good Bye ....

You know what? Pak Dahlan passed on this morning ….

A friend I used to work with sent me this text because she knows I was very familiar with pak Dahlan. I exchanged jokes and mocked each other and whenever I had to go home late, we would have our own chit chat while he’s cleaning our mugs and the tables up. One of the topics we had was when he wanted to be on a TV show and he sent a photograph and a resume. He sure has a face like the King of Dangdut. And he can sing too!!! That’s why I encouraged him to participate.

I still could not forget his sad face when he told me how pessimistic he was about his proposal for the TV show after waiting to no avail after few months. His face really broke my heart and I was speechless at that time.

On a different occasion, we had our ‘unusual chit chat’ when I was in the pantry and he was busy preparing his signature dish: a bowl of instant noodle. To my surprise, he added a spoon of sugar on top of the noodle. When I showed my what-is-that? look, he smiled mischievously as if he was trying to say, “This is a special request and only I can create such dish.” Hehehe. I smiled back at him then.

I can’t remember all the details. All I know is that his presence was not unknown to the people there…. Not only because he was ‘big’, but also inside that big body, they can see a ‘big’ heart, as well…..

It’s been 5 years since I left the place. It is still as cool as it was. Its smell is still the same as it was 5 years ago. People still greet me with care and respect. There is only 1 difference … A big difference … I won’t find pak Dahlan and hear his ‘Pagi, Bu. Assalamu’alaykum. Sehat hari ini?” :-((