Right time Right Act

Abir was new in the campus of International Islamic University Malaysia, one of the most prestigious Islamic universities of the modern Muslim world.

Abir a 23 years old, energetic, ambitious, visionary young man. Not known to many students yet. Most of the students were from 94 different countries of the world, absolutely diversified, dynamic and different nationalities, cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

The fundamental philosophy of this university was “Islamization of Knowledge”. Which fundamentally mean Rationalization and building relationship between revelation and reason, dealing with Fatih and Modernity, building bridges between Islam and the West.

Also to achieve the fundamental objective of the university and to build the Muslim world leadership, the highly distinguish students of Muslim world were given scholarship to be admitted to this prestigious university. Abir was one of those providential promising students.

It took a few days for him to know the campus and Malaysian environment. Malaysia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. A technologically developed with Spectacular natural views.  The campus is surrounded with green and Smokey Mountains. Campus was active and busy almost 24 hours. Every moment there were some activities was going on. Debate club, drama group, current affairs forum, Rayyan the Nashid group, Mock trial, Seminar, Symposium, public speaking practice, Nuqaba council leadership group activities etc.

Abir attended one of the public speaking practice class. It was full with most of the brilliant, well-known ambitious and leading students of the campus.  Each student have had chance to stand up and say a few words as a speech practice.

When Abir’s turn came, it was little surprises for everyone! Because no one knew him before, usually, all eloquent speakers with high leadership skills students are known in the campus. As he spoke many wondered who that persuasive speaker was. His vocabulary was not as rich as many other speakers but he spoke with confidence without any fear, or nervousness, like he knew everyone for years and he knew exactly what he was talking about. A few times the audience became noisy with loud clapping and big laughter. It was one of the most amazing moments for Abir and for the audience as well.

The next morning, he felt the differences, he was greeted by many students in the campus, and a few of them spoke with him with few questions.

There was more surprises for Abir, little strange, and little nervousness started happening. First few days he just thought it might something different method he did not know. Abir found a few specific girls started smiling each time they saw him. It was happening almost every time they met. His nervousness increased with some feelings. He feels very nervous to talk to girls. 

One morning Abir found one of those girls in the computer lab. The girl was beautiful like princes. He was nervous, took a long breath, gathered some confidence and approached the girl.

“Excuse me! …..…….”

“My name is Abir….”

“I know!” ……..The girl replied with a smile.

“You… know my name??. ... He made surprise looking face and said how?” 

“Yes, we were in the speech practice class on the other night!!!” The girl replied.

Ooooooooooo, I see … A simple sound just came from his mouth. He tried to understand, whole scenario of last few days and made a simple noise… ummm….OK….

“What is your name…?”  Abir took a chance to ask her.

She smiled with shyness, and simply pronounced, Muni..

Muni was in communication department and Abir was in Social Science. So, it was infrequent for them to see each other or talk except for a serious reason. Neither Abir was habitual to make stories to create an excuse to meet her.

As time passed, story grew little bigger. A few of Muni’s friend knew Abir. He realizes a few girls would point at him and talk about him.

It was a Thursday evening, the day before holiday, as Friday is the holiday in many Muslim countries. Campus is almost empty except there were some students activities. Abir was just walking by University cafeteria, he suddenly discovered a few girls were in the cafeteria, it was certainly Muni and her gang. It was good time for Abir to have a sweet conversation with his shyness and nervousness.

Abir was little aggressive to talk,

-          Hello ladies.. what is going on here..

-          We are cooking, having a party! Said Anisa, One of the talkative girls of the team and a good friend of Muni replied

-          Wow! Really!!?? I am impressed and surprised.. Said Abir with little smile..

-          Oh really?.. Why.. it has to be so impressive or surprising..

-          Oh no no..I just didn’t know Malay girls knew how to cook..

-          Excuse us.. Helloooooooo!!!!!!!.. What do you think of Malay girls.. we all are best cook.. Specially her.. Indicating at Munie…”You are lucky!”

-          What, I am lucky?!! Abir said with little surprise

-          Why not, she can cook for you..

Abir smiled with little surprised. and little good feelings.  Wow..what does that suppose to mean. Abir thought of sentence a few times..”She can cook for you”. J  Even though the sentence was spinning in his head but he tried to normalize it and said.

-          Oh that must be cool. So when is that great moment going to happen?

At that point almost every girl participated in the conversation. So, they said, how about tonight...why don’t you come to the cafeteria at 7pm, We are cooking MeeHun, one of the most  famus Malaysian food.

-          Sure, why not. Said Abir, I will be happy to join.

Some of Abir’s friend  was passing by and made little joke, “Hey, Abir! Are you attacked? Are you OK? Do you need any help?!!! As they never caught him before talking to girls.

Abir felt so nervous, shy and scared too. Felt confused, Should he go or not, if he goes, what may happen when his friend know about it what they may think of it.

Finally, he gained some guts and decided to go, not only that, he decided to buy a thank you card and wrote a few kind words with his beautiful handwriting.

As a born and raised in conservative Muslim family Abir never knew anything about dating. He hared of the word from his friends as there were many students from Western world.

Abir was about to complete his study and preparing to leave Malaysia. As time was coming closer, Muni and her friends came to Abir a few times, asking him about his life plan,  if he would have any willingness to stay in Malaysia. But he never answered seriously, he never thought of it at all, he never even realize how Muni may have been feeling.

It was May, just few days before summer vacation, four months before Abir’s departure from Malaysia a few students were hanging on in front of University central library. Abir and some of his friends where hanging out, Muni, Anisa and a few other friends came to see Abir to talk. The conversation in nature was little more then a normal talk. They sounded like little serious and aggressive. Anisa was in the lead. Maybe they wanted to know a few things before they leave for summer vacation. They asked a few questions about Abir’s personal life and family, parents brothers and sisters and wanted to know about Abir’s plan if he have plan to get married sooner, or if he would marry a Malaysian.

Abir’s answers was random, not focused, he was talking with smile and laugh, not serious, like he doesn’t care. At certain point Anisa asked if he likes Muni. Abir was laughing at answering all questions. He didn’t realize the depth of the issue. His answer was, he would never get married. At that point Muni opened her mouth kind of short talk: neither very emotional nor very serious but with a deep message.

 “Look, Abir, life is not just like a joke as you may think; you don’t want to get married? Well, good for you, but remember, if you marry someone, she will be yours, you will have someone to be with, to share & care, in your happiness and pain. Someone will be beside you, with love and care. If you never get married, you are all by your own; no one will care about you.”

As she finished her little speech within a second she addressed her team, “let us go folks we have to go.”

As girls left, Abir felt like he was in a different world. He just sat down, didn’t know what to do at that moment. Within a few minutes, he decided to go to his dorm and laid down rest of the day.

Next morning Abir sent a note to girls dorm. He wanted to meet Muni. The school will be close for summer within 3-4 days.

He waited 2 days and sent message again but no answer he has received. On the third day just the day before school closing he met one of the girls of the team, but she did not show much interest to talk to him. He tried to tell her how serious he was and he was not feeling good. But the girls didn’t care.

University was closed all Malaysian students left for hometown. Only International student would stay at the campus during summer.

Muni’s hometown was 300 miles apart from Kuala Lumpur the capital city. The only information Abir had about Muni was her mailing address. No home phone in a rural Malaysian village, no cell phone systems was available at that period of time in Malaysia. No internet nor anything like yahoo map or map quest.

Abir sent a letter to Muni by mail, and received reply in less then two weeks. It was certainly exciting from a Malaysian rural village. Muni’s letter was different. Even though it was full with good wishes for Abir.

“ Dear Abir,

Thank you for your kind letter. I am really thankful to you for remembering me. It was really a great pleasure for me to know a very intelligent person like you. I pray to Allah for your great success and continuous achievements in your life. My best wishes for you and your family, may Allah bless you all.

Sincerely,

Muni”

It was certainly a very kindly letter, full of good wishes. But Abir felt something was wrong. He didn’t even know how he felt. He didn’t know what to do either. Abir will have to leave Malaysia before summer vacation is over. He felt he was missing Muni so much, he wanted to see or talk to her.

He did not have any other contact information about her other then a mailing address..63 Manik Urai Lama.. no phone at her rural village, no email address no internet. no computer.

Suddenly, some idea came to his mind, he went to the library, to the Atlas map section of the library, tried to find out the location of 63 Manik Urai, from Atlas map. Malysia, Kelantan State, Kuala Krai Sub division, the major city. Then he tried to find if there is any  Railway goes that direction, which train and what station is nearby the village Manik Urai the village Muni’s family lived.

During day time, he went to Kuala Lumpur Railway station to find out which train may go to Kuala Krai city or Manik Urai village.  

At around 9pm he left his room without telling anyone, not even his roommate, where he was going…He was going somewhere he did not know anything about,  if anything had happen, no one would ever knew what happen to him. He prayed Isha prayer and 2 extra rakat prayer before he left his room. He remembered his mother for a second. If anything wrong happen to him how would his mom know. No one would ever know why he went 300 miles far to a rural village of Malaysia.

The train was full with people none of whom spoke any English.. It was dark, no one even may have realized there was a stranger in the train as …

Next morning at about 10am he got down at the train station, Kuala Krai.. He started walking on a narrow street, under a bright sunlight. By beautiful hills, beautiful clouds, slowly moving under a dark blue sky.. It was the most amazing feelings he have ever had in his entire life.. Wow…

Abir smiled at himself, “am I crazy!” what am I doing here? Walking in a village, 300 miles away from my school, campus, over 4,000 miles from my birth place, my mom.” Is this adventure for love?  He thought of his mom for a moment, wished if he could talk to his mom.

Abir had to take bus for another short trip to arrive his target city. As he got off the bus in the corner of a three way street he found a small store at the corner of 3 way street, 3-4 people were sitting, chatting. Abir knew only a few words of their language, asked them if they speak English. The answer was negative. He started walking, didn’t know if he was going to the right direction. He realized it was totally nothing but craziness…as he was walking; one of the men from the store came to Abir with his motorbike and ask in his language which direction he would go. Abir tried his best to explain in man’s language as he knew a few words.

The man offered him a motorcycle ride to the town nearby his direction. The man was very kind to take him to a nearby restaurant and offer him some cold drinks as it was about 95 degree hot.

The man knock several houses where they may have a young girl who possibly studies in that prestigious university. Finally, they found the correct house, 63 Manik Ura Lama. But there was no one at home except a 7-8 years old young boy.

Muni traveled to other city for a week to visit some relatives.