Thursday, November 16, 2006

Bang Bang Boom

All done, and now I'm home.


I had a blast answering the paper. MAF310 (Management Accounting) was like riding a bike with triple tripod wheels. My leisure revision technique paid off handsomely I reckon. The last time I had the same feeling was way back in high school. Prinsip Akaun for SPM. Stuff of legends.

After lunch with Shaf, I pulled at Petronas to fill up the tank before heading to USJ. My head was full of exciting, relaxing thoughts back home. Like how I miss my bed for instance. Or how I enjoy watching cars passing from the window of my workspace to the wee hours of the morning. Gas filled, cap locked, latch slammed, and I was off. Well, driving was never a problem. It's second nature. Like breathing if it should be compared so. I find it nothing extraordinary having to drive back to USJ alone on a breezy afternoon. So I did my usual stretch, 100 - 140, sometimes exerting myself to 160, but it's all under great caution. Then it poured quite heavily. Slippery roads are managable when you're doing an average 120 on a tarmac. But on concrete?

I believe you guys are really familiar with Malaysian roads right? Ok, the famous potholes are a given fact but what I'm getting to is how easily 'bendy' it can be. Heavy vehicles running on it over a period leaves a great impact on the surface causing the road to be puddle-y overnight. Admiteddly I find it a joy at times since the 'pudd bends' give a rather exciting bumpy twist to your ride. As if you're on a rocky boat but without all the seasickness. But today, I got to know it's ugly side better than I thought I knew.


I collided with a big, old Mercedes 6-wheeler.


I wasn't speeding. I barely did a 100 when it happened. No, I wasn't sleepy either. No pressure from the traffic since Plus Highway's not that jamm packed. I just lost control of the Wira, all thanks to the pudd bends. I felt the warning signs a good 5 KM from the crash site so I was already prepared by then, slowed down (albeit being in the fast lane) and kept my focus. Then suddenly, the car swerved slowly to the left without notice before I realized it was too late when I tried turning right but to no avail.



YA ALLAH, YA ALLAHHHHH!!!!!!!!



Those were my exact words when I was 2 inches away from the lorry's right rear. The last time I screamed that loud was when I was circumcised. Well not those exact words, but the intensity was uncanny.


You know in movies where there's a dead silence just before something crashes with something else or how suspenseful a quiet environment is before the shit hits the fan? I had that silence. Nah, my life wasn't flashing right in front of me. I just had that milisecond of dead, muted silence. And no, nothing was a blur. I still remember precisely the chain of events after making contact with the lorry's rear. I heard windows smashing, metals tearing and the Wira was somehow momentarily airborned before touching ground and skidded leftwards before halting. The car was in between both lanes, obstructing traffic, facing a hill on the opposite direction heading North. It took me just 3 seconds to gather myself and get out of the wreck. Oh yeah, it was somewhere in Lembah Beringin.

A posse of call mens came to my rescue. Their quick thinking saved a lot of time and the next thing I knew I was in Ulu Bernam's Police Station lodging my report. There I met the lorry driver and his son. The bear-like Indian man was all smiles with me. I mean, I know the only damaged his lorry sustained was a bent mudguard but he acted like we just came out from watching the latest Bollywood comedy flick. Ok. No pressing charges. Good. But I got a compound ticket for 'wreckless driving'. Nice.

I called the parents after my report. They we're already on their way to LCCT en route to Dungun. They're glad I'm ok and that they trust me to handle things accordingly but it was tiring convincing them that I'd manage myself a transport home. The call guys were kind enough to give me a lift all the way to Rawang so I could catch the Komuter. Then Adam called and said that I should drop off in Sg. Buloh since he's there and heading home as well.

So what's the connection with the pudd bends you ask? See, when the pudds are filled with rain, passing through it will create somesort of an aquabed that separates your wheels and the road for a certain stretch. When things go wrong, you loose control of your vehicle since there's no grip whatsoever hence, my crashing of the Wira.

What's waiting for me in the coming days are trivial matters. Insurance, insurance and more insurance. What a way to start your semester break huh? I'd like to thank all the incoming SMSes and phone calls. Thanks a zillion for your concerns. Even my realtives in KL and Johor was all panicky on the phone. I felt bad being slightly amused. They're bloody relieved that I escaped the whole ordeal unscathed.



So am I.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Headrushbangkerplam!

One down, three to go.


Something's a little but off about this semester's finals. I can't pinpoint what. Ok, so the Investment paper's not as nightmare-ish as it was the previous semester. I wouldn't say I aced it but at least I'm safe enough to claim not having to register for MAF380 again for next semester.

Perhaps it's the diminishing Raya mood. Pn Nooriha was in a way right that Raya is there to celebrate every single year unlike the chance to graduate that comes only twice or thrice in a lifetime. It made sense, I agree. But no matter how hard you try, you can't lie to your heart. It's only been a week goddamnit. I wanna crash more open houses!

That, was somehow answered with a calming calling. Cik Marina invited us Repeaters for a lil' get together at her crib in Bandar Universiti yesterday. The only turn ups were me, Shaf, Hapis, BM, Didie, Ain and Afzan. We had fun, the food's great albeit being minimal in variety. I never knew Cucur Ketam (one of Cik Marina's many food inventions. a crab-shaped, vegan version of cucur udang) could be so addictive. I think I ate like, a dozen. It was kinda hot and humid that night (perhaps it was Ain. her tank top drove our tempretures right up) that I had to catch a breather outside. We left around 5 minutes to 9, but not before borrowing Catch Me If You Can and Confronting The Evidence: A Call To Re-Open The 9/11 Investigations for my enjoyment for the rest of the night.


I'm supposed to start making a CD mix for some friends. They seem compelled to educate themselves given the fact that I practically have 'an entire collection of alien music' in my exty and lappie. But I woke up late, missing my Friday prayers and battling a surging migraine that felt like tonnes of brick exploding one by one in my head. So how do I manage to type this unperturbed?

Took the keys, drove far, and got myself a haircut. After all the Pandols and Polaramines, shedding a heavy amount of my bobbed hair should do the trick. I look like a blast from a twisted past. Centre-parted up front, jet black mullet-like at the back. I should be back at the house cracking books and taking formulas to heart but then this dose of momentary escape is a much needed drug. So now off I go, leaving the patrons of this cyber cafe another empty computer screen for them to oogle at.

Goodbye.