The Call of Destiny.

After the end of the annual camp training, holidays just a few days left. I took the opportunity to go back to my hometown and then I have to go back to Arau to register for a new semester. But a few days after that, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri holidays began. Mar and me just wishing Selamat Hari Raya through SMS. However, I was surprised when I received a greeting card from her on the third day of Hari Raya. I immediately called her, but she just laughed and said that it was a surprise for me. I am the one who feel guilty now for not giving anything to her. In the card she once again invites me to visit her at Shah Alam. Maybe that is the only way to redeem my fault.
  

The new semester starts again, my stomach is still full of “ketupat” and “lemang”. Education must be continued. In my mind just thinking when the appropriate time for me to go and visit Mar. After thinking about several matters, I propose to Mar that I will go to Shah Alam during next weekends. She agreed because she also has no any other programs on that weekend. I rushed to buy a ticket to KL because afraid of having no time to buy it later. Why I chose the next week not this week? Because this week I will be participating a Hari Raya gathering that will be held at our ROTU headquarters. Variety of food will be served. I just focus on satay. On that day I have been eating too much of satay until the next day, I had a fever. I became worried, I hope to recover before the next week.

I take the bus on Friday night and arriving at KL at 6 am on the next morning. So early, bus to Shah Alam only be there at 8 am. I am looking for mamak stalls for breakfast, fortunately it is open 24 hours. It was almost 8 am, I go to the bus stand. I am a bit confused which bus should I ride because this is the first time. I was relieved when I saw the sign on the bus heading to Shah Alam. Without wasting time, I boarded the bus. About an hour, I arrived at Section 2 and we promise to meet there. I waited quite some time because I arrived too early. Finally, she arrived with two friends. I know them because they were also my squad which transferred from Arau. As always, when I visit her, she will spend me food, but this time she asked me including her friends to eat pizza. Finished lunch, we heading to the place which first time we take a picture together. Can guess where? See the picture below for the answer.

After the prayer, we all split up, it's time for me to be alone with Mar. We heading to the Shah Alam Lake and looking for a seat there. We just chat there. While chatting, I tried to ask her about her feelings towards me but remain unfulfilled because afraid that I would be disappointed once again. So I was more on interviewing her. At least I can get more info about her. We keep chatted until the evening. I sent her to section 2 because there have the bus which will take her to her residential college. She seems happy and comfortable to go out with me. But the time has come for us to part ways. Before she boarding the bus, she smiled and told me to come again next time. I watched her boarding the bus until the bus disappears from my sight. Could I manage to capture her heart?

After a few weeks, I came back to meet her. This time I came up with a determination to ask her to be my sweetheart because I have got a hint that she is ready to accept me. Along the way to Shah Alam, I was preparing the paragraphs. When meeting her, I asked her to the lake where we first met before. I express my feelings there without trembling. She was silent and then smiled. I thought she accepts my proposal but I was wrong. She told me that this question is difficult for her to answer. She requires time and only will give the answer promptly at 9 pm. Then, she told me that she was hungry, so we went to find some food. I do not know whether she really hungry, or intentionally avoiding to give the answer. During the day my heart skipped a beat.  

Nearly 9 pm, she told that she needs to return to her hostel. I accompanying her to the bus, but I reminded her that she still owes me the answers. She stopped near the bus and turned towards me. She held my hand and says "Yes" and then shook and kissed my hand as a sign that she accepts me. I stiff and just look at her behavior. Then she quickly boards the bus. I did not get to say anything. It happened so fast. The bus was moving slowly leaving me. I called her mobile, she answered and said that she embarrassed with her actions. That is why she runs away like that. Anyway, her answer was sincere from her heart. Although the way we say goodbye on that day was a bit surprising, but that day is the most meaningful day for both of us. Finally, we have been declared as lovers.

The End

This story I wrote in conjunction to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, my dear Mardiana. I hope our marriage will remain to the end of our life and hopefully we are blessed by Allah.

Intermediate Annual Camp

Since our meeting in Shah Alam, we stay in touch even more closely. Now it is time for our next meeting which is at the ROTU annual camp training. It will be held at UiTM Jengka. That morning, all the cadets from Arau branch gathered at the headquarters before heading off to Jengka. Few of my squad and me was instructed to board the truck while the other cadets will take the bus. On the way, several times we stopped on the highway as the truck roof torn. After nearly 12 hours, we finally arrived to the destination.

Throughout the training, I always looked at the girl. At one point, I saw her was chatting with my rivals when we are in the GPMG and LMG shooting training. I feel angry at that time but I can not do anything. I have no right to scold her but I have to let go of this anger. I told to my squad which closest with me that I am tension so I wanted to do something crazy to treat it but I need him to help me. I have been preparing a long chain of bullets for the GPMG shooting, so I need a crew. I told him what is my plan and he agreed. I told him that we will be punished, but he said that he willing to accept the consequences together with me as long as he can help me. Thanks god I have a squad that was so precious.

We start lining up for the shooting. When our turn came, the instructor reminded us that the way for shooting GPMG should be two shots followed by another two shots until the bullet runs out. You know what I plan to do? Yeah, break the rules. Once both of us ready, I started to disperse the shot non stop. I did not know of what I shot. I heard the screams of our instructor, but I ignore it. I continued to shoot until the last bullet. Let's imagine a chain of bullet along 4 meters were shot non stop. Enough to make the barrel hot and smoky.  But the heat of our instructor is more terrible. He beat me and my squad head with something that I myself can not remember but it is very painful. Then we are punished with a countless push-ups. To make matters worse, we are ordered to clean the weapons that we use. While we clean the weapons, we just laugh at ourselves and feel satisfied with action that we do. Surely it will be a memory that we will not forget.

In this year's training, “Fasa Medan” was the most difficult part. On the night before that, we were divided into 4 platoons. Then each member of the platoon will be given a rank. I was assigned to be a corporal for this mission. This means that I will be lead a section and need to carry M203. On that night also, we need to make some preparations before our squad who is assigned to be the platoon commander deliver the order. Most troublesome, we need to make model of areas where our mission will be carried out. Almost 3 am, finally my platoon did complete the model. So I want to go back to my room to take a break because we need to gather back at 7 am. On the way to my room, I bumped into the girl. It always the girl, the girl and the girl. I already bored written that words. Let me introduce you the girl that I always said name is Mardiana or you can call her Mar. So let me continue the story, I bumped into her together with a few of her platoon member. They have yet to complete their model. I felt pity for them and decided to help them (Actually, because Mar is there). While assisting, I took the chance to chat with her until their model completed. But the clock already shows 5 am. There is no more time for me to have a rest. Mar offered to prepare a Maggi mee for me. I even have no time to think so I just agree. Then we eat together and continue to chat while waiting to regroup.

In the morning I was really dull, even though no sleep I need to run this mission. We have been instructed to board the bus, and the first thing I should do is....... Sleep. All the way to the destination I sleep until I was awakened by a slap. We already arrived, now we began with the advance phase. We will walk no idea for how many kilometers. Quite tedious, it is really heavy carrying M203. Luckily I was not ordered to carry GPMG or LMG. Finally we arrived at the harbor where we have to set up camp for the night. That night we received news that Ramadan will begin tomorrow. Another alleged to be faced, we have to fast in the battlefield. Suddenly, rain fell heavily, but me and partners feel happy because we build a strong tent so we did not get wet like some other people. More exciting when in the tent, we had a lot of food supplies and beverages. In the excitement, we forgot that we still in training and we must always standby. Suddenly, we heard an explosion and we should be in a “stand to” mode. Why is it our fate so unfortunate? We have been caught for not wearing pouchers and braces at that time. We are punished to side roll and forward roll on the muddy soil surface in the heavy rain. Now our conditions are even worse than other people.

After that incident, I fell asleep in a condition not only clothes but the entire body and face were soaking wet and muddy. Approximately 4 am, everyone was called to take food for sahur. I wake up and went to the place as per directed. I saw only handful of people were there. “Most of them do not wake up for sahur probably”, says an instructor.

I just grab the food and head back to the tent. When I turned, Mar is behind me. “Is that you Joe?”(That's my name), she asked. “Yes it was me”, I replied. Do my conditions really bad until she almost did not recognize me? She holds my wet and full of mud sleeves and then asked how this could happen. After that, she took out her small towel to wipe my face. I feel so relieved and I just told to her everything while we have sahur together. After finished sahur, we returned to our platoon. Without realizing it, she left me her small towel. In the morning before we continue our mission, I tried to find Mar to return her small towel but I could not find her. So I keep the towel until the “Fasa Medan” ended.

We are returned to the camp at the UiTM Jengka after several days on the battlefield. Our mission has been successful. And finally I am able to meet Mar back, I return the towel to her but she wanted me to keep it. Of course I am very glad to keep it. That day, we were given a day to make own administration. Most of the cadets took that chance to sleep throughout the day, including me. Break fast time only we get up. After breaking fast also most of them want to continue sleep but this time I did not participate. I take this opportunity to start washing my clothes and other equipment. Once finished washing clothes, my took pouches and braces to be washed but when I was preoccupied washing inside of the pouches, I feel pain at my fingertips and quickly pull my hand out. I shake my pouches and something comes out. It was a dangerous centipede named "Lipan Bara". I stepped on that centipede and continue washing my other equipment. Suddenly I started feeling like the centipede poisons began to spread, I rushed to the room and wake my squad up to accompanying me to the sick bay. I was retained there and was given an injection. It makes me semi-conscious.

After fully recovered, I was allowed to discharge from the sick bay. I continue training as usual. We spent the remaining days of training with full commitment. Before we end the annual camp training this year, we have been examined by the validation team about weapons and marching. There are no problems for all of us about that because the instructor has been provided the best guidance to us. More encouraging, I did not leave even a day of fasting. Regarding the main story, between me and Mar is still having no final word. But in our hearts there is something which is starting to expand.

To be continued…

We are close to the end. Wait for the finale episode soon.