Rest In Peace My Dear Grandmother

Today, I want to write about my late grandmother - Kambina. May you rest in peace!

I went back to my hometown last Friday night alone. My mum had called me in the morning, she informed me that my long sick grandmother was dying. But she seemed went through a difficult time, she wasn't able to breathe her last breath out easily. I was saddened to hear this news. My mum asked me to come home. Maybe your grandma was waiting all of you then she would go.

I asked my husband to buy an air ticket for me. From my workplace, it is almost 400 kilometers to my hometown. I had to go all by myself. I told my husband to stay here because he had to visit my daughter who lives at hostel. A routine during weekend. Thank God, my family will understand about this forever and ever.

What is unique about my whole family - uncles, aunts, cousins-we are following different religion.A long time ago, our big family - my great grandfather and great grandmother were pagans themselves. Then after that our grandfather had embraced Islam and my grandmother had embraced Christian. Sadly, they lived separately but never truly came to term 'divorced'. My mum had followed my grandfather. She embraced Islam due to her respect to her beloved father.

I was a little child during that time. Soon after I grew up, I learned the sad stories entwined their lives (my grandfather and my grandmother). I just don't want to rephrase it here. :(

My late grandmother was a very beautiful woman, graceful in many ways-she was a soft spoken, the most remarkable trait of her was the way she smiled. The most beautiful smile I ever seen, just like Lady Diana's way of smiling. Charming but bashful smile. We called her as 'Shy Iyai' means 'Shy Grandma'. I feel that her smile was the most beautiful because she was my GRANDMOTHER....:(

I and my elder sister reached my aunt's house at 8.30 in the morning. Many of my relatives and their friends were already there. The prayer session was performed while we went into the house. My Christian relatives and their friends were praying and they chanted the hymns and sang spiritual songs in unison. As a Muslim , I and the Muslim relatives sat at the side of the living room, to give way for the prayer session to take place. I felt gloomy and deep inside my heart, I was so sad because we cannot bury my grandmother as a Muslim. This is not to offend my Christian relatives but this is a feeling that sincerely came from my heart.

After the prayer ended, we were called to pay respect to my grandmother. I was stunned to see her face. So beautiful, she was glowing like a little angel!!! Only now, I really noticed how sweet her face was. She looked like she was only sleeping, like a baby who waited a kiss from her mother.

Dear God, Please be gentle on her. Please save her and please love her My Lord.
Ameen.