Memories and Resolutions

It was less than an hour before maghrib and I was reciting the verses in the AlQuran when the three ladies spread their praying mats beside me. I didnt look up to look at their faces but continuingly engrossed in my recitation.

I told myself and spoke my mind out to my husband that I was not going to be too friendly with those I met in the Haram fearing that I would say something foolish or had to bear listening to their tales. It would beat my purpose of coming there.

We were on the rooftop and every now and then I could feel the cool breeze soothingly blew around me. From the corners of my eyes I could see the ladies performed several solats before they finally settled on their mats. Then the name on the sling bag of one of them caught my eyes and my mind raced back to those days when I was still wearing pennafore. Was it really her?

I lifted my eyes from the page that I concentrated on, bent my body forward and looked up at the face of the second lady next to me. Then I saw the traces of a face that I once knew and to be sure I touched her lap gently and said,
" I tengok nama u kat bag. Nak tanya, you dulu budak stf ke "
Her answer confirmed my guess.

It has been 34 years since we last met. She was two years my junior. I had to mention a few names before it finally hit her mind that I was the kakak who used to stay in the same dorm with her. I saw fine lines around her eyes and I was sure she saw the same on mine.

After exchanging some stories and tales I felt that years really took charge of our lives. I finally found that there was nothing much to say anymore.

That night I slept with memories of those schooling days in JB, of my long lost friends, of our dreams and of what we have become.

The emergence of the new year triggers my memories again. My friends and me would make a list of some resolutions that we wished to carry out when the new year began and then we laughed our heart out at each of our list. We really didnt take it seriously at that time.

Now looking at it I wonder why do we have to wait until a year passes by before we make changes on ourselves. Resolutions should be a day to day basis. We should check ourselves everyday. Today should be better than yesterday and tomorrow must be better than today. Well.. that's only my opinion.