Zam (right) and Noran Murid (left) at Secret Recipe in Kluang in March 2010
Zam-Zam was in Kluang to attend his niece’s wedding. I received a sms from him on 21st November 2009 at around 11.30 p.m. The following day was a Sunday. Sundays are usually boring for me, as I have no classes. In addition Kluang is a small town, so I have nowhere to go. But this Sunday was going to be different. I was pretty excited to meet my old friend after 27 years. So, the time was to set to meet at 9 p.m. at an open air restaurant – Restoran Jamilah.
Zam was ny classmate from Std 3 to 6 in the primary school - Sekolah Tunku Mahmud (1). We became close when we were in Std 4 and it went on till Std 6. In our secondary school days we became apart partly due to different classes. Then in 1983 I lost contact with him, as he was sent to US by the government to pursue a degree in engineering. After 27 years he found me through the internet while searching for a tutor for his children.
As usual, I was at the restaurant 30 minutes earlier. Zam walked in at exactly 9 p.m., but I did not realize him walking in. He sat at one of the tables and gave me a ring. Only then I realized that he is already at the restaurant.
We chatted for over two and the half hours. We spoke on a variety of issues, but the main one was about our old friends. It is amazing to see how time has changed our lives. Some are successful, some are struggling, some have married twice, and some have disappeared.
He has just completed his MBA. So, he is a bit relieved now. From hereon, I believe we can meet often.
We spent two and the half hours in the restaurant and what did we eat? We had a roti canai and a teh tarik each. Before leaving we promised to go out for dinner with Ravindran when I’m back in Kuala Lumpur. I’ll try to be in KL before the year end for our dinner date.
