Your recollections, HaniA & TamLa, are pretty accurate. But I remember it was AhJang who cried the loudest. Eveybody was around at Jalan Tangsi house except MakNgah and Honey Bee. They went home to USJ first after HKL and blamed the maid for being late in going to Jalan Tangsi - hence, missed the last moments.
AhTok was laying in the middle of AhLong living room, surrounded by everybody. KLong was grinding the morphine to administer the painkiller to AhTok. MakTua had to drip it into his mouth as AhTok was already unconscious. I realized his breathing was very laborious, but MakTua commented that that was typical of AhTok's breathing while sleeping. I was not convinced as I thought the way AhTok breathed, it was a sign that the time was very near.
I knew and accepted the fact that AhTok was leaving us. If you remember, it was Thursday evening when we brought AhTok back from the hospital - around after 5pm. I remember that very well as I thought we might be stuck in the rush hour. The ambulance used the NKVE route and silently I prayed for Abah to go not earlier than Maghrib (as we believe it's good to kembali ke Rahmatullah on Friday). Along the way, it was time for Magrib azan, and silently I thanked God fo answering the prayer.
When I wrote the Lasting Impression last night, I didn't realize it was the night of the anniversary for AhTok's demise 17 years ago - 3 months after HoneyBee's birth. The time and date was malam Jumaat, 9.11pm on 25th November 1993.
Of all the people, TamLa - who was still single then, and had spent the most time with AhTok at HKL - was having a rest/nap at the back room at that precise moment.
Other than the earlier laborious breathing, AhTok went peacefully. Around him, we didn't even really realize that until somebody noticed that AhTok was so quiet - hence, AhLong attempt to detect his breathing/pulse. Dari Tuhan kita datang, kepada Tuhan kita kembali.
Yes, it was AhJang who broke into a loud cry. Perhaps, during AhTok's final years of his life, AhJang went through a lot of things togather with AhTok. And Poppiz being the bongsu, of course. I particularly remember AhTok and AhJang/Poppiz humming the Isabella song, and the accident AhTok and AhJang experienced at Pasir Gajah. AhTok was unhurt but distressed by the incident but AhJang's knee had to be treated at Hopital Kemaman Emergency. Surely he didn't have his seat belt secured and the impact of the collission must had thrown him to the dashboard! So, AhJang, check if the parut is still there?
I was, as Hanisah said, composed as I was expecting that final moment. And I believe it was better for AhTok, and for all of us, to go rather than to prolong the suffering.
And we believe that the much better life is waiting in the Hereafter for the righteous guided by the Book. We believe and pray AhTok will be blessed by God.
We gave them, who believe in what has been revealed to you (Prophet Mohamad) and what was revealed before you, and have absolute faith in the life to come. These are the rightly guided by their Lord; these shall surely triump (2:1-3)
To quote (3: 145) again: Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave, their term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him also. And swiftly shall we reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude.
Amen...for AhTok.
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