written by a (straight) guy

My late father passed away when I was eleven. Kakda, the eldest amongst us 8 siblings, was to sit for SPM. Ajib, the second, had just finished SRP. He refused to go to school after my father passed away. Not because of sadness or anything. He was the most rebellious amongst us siblings then. I remembered him requesting a motorcycle from Ummi or else he wouldn't go to school. Myself, the third, was unsure of what was to happen next. And there are five others, the three youngest ones unaware of what really happened. We thought we were doomed for sure.

Kakda sat for SPM anyway, got good results and furthered her studies in the UK. She have her own family now; Abang Faish and three children who won't stop asking me questions. Ajib was forced to go to school anyway, even without the motorcycle because we did not have the money. He graduated from Universiti Utara Malaysia with the sweetest smile one could see on a man's face. Ummi said she never saw Ajib happier. Despite his mildly violent nature when growing up -we fought a lot. And he occasionally slapped the four youngest ones- he turned out to be a wonderful husband and father to Kak Ijah and three wonderful children.

I got the chance to enter a boarding school after UPSR. Although it wasn't really smooth sailing for me from there, but the path of sail was a sure one. Dikwal is doing civil engineering, Emi is doing electronics engineering.

And the three youngest ones, they bring the most joy. I remembered them to be so small, when I was in high school, during the holidays when I would be home, sometimes when they slept in front of the TV I'd carry them to their bed (one bed for the three of them). And I remembered when I taught them to perform the solat, Mail would fold the kain pelikat and sejadah exactly the way I do it. And Hamdi was so quick a learner he often surprised me. And of course there's Ajis, the smallest then but with the biggest heart. It was such a joy to watch them grow up, and watch them grow. Now all three of them are taller than me. Hamdi is taking up medic, Mail had just finished SPM and Ajis will sit for his this year.

In the celebration of International Women's Day today, I dedicate this post to Ummi, the strongest woman I've known thus far. We were doomed for sure, but Ummi stayed strong. Alhamdulillah, we managed to go this far. InsyaAllah, I don't think anything can stop us now, from being and achieving things. To all the women in my life, and all women in general, I wish you well in the celebration of the International Women's Day. It seems to me that women in general have an unshakeable will to beat the odds and succeed, and when someone like that have a pure heart, as it is with Ummi, she'll drag everyone along with her. Thank you, Ummi. And to all the women in my life, thank you too.

Let us celebrate International Women's Day with the deserved respect and love towards each other, men and women alike.