My phone beeped several times last week. I was so busy, I procrastinated the idea of calling back. All the sms said, ” Macha, lets have dinner and watch Sivaji the Boss!” For those, who don’t know, macha is a word in Tamil that originally means brother-in-law but in modern times, it is a stylish way to replace the word, “bro” as for brother. So frequently enough, you will hear some Indian boys and some heavily influenced non Indians calling out aloud to their friends, “Hey! Macha!”
Sivaji the Boss, is a recent mega-blockbuster Indian movie hit, starring the ever famous Rajinikanth as himself! It is supposedly the best movie ever with songs composed by the ever famous A.R.Rahman. My friends have been telling me to watch this movie but seriously, I was busy. I digress!
So, on Monday, I was free and decided to clear up the pile of work stacking up. I called his number, it rang but then nobody answered. Then, he called almost immediately, and together, both goes, (ya you got it, learning quickly you guys) ” Hey yo! Hello Machaaaaaa!” followed by, “Whatsssss up, Macha!”
“Dei! It takes you that long to return call!”
“Sorry Macha! I busy last week!”
“Eh! You free for dinner tonight or tomorrow!”
“Yes, Macha! What’s up Macha!?”
“Eh! George, I’ll be leaving to Australia this Friday. Wifey going to do PhD. So, following her and daughter for a year!”
“……..(silence)……..(trying to be happy)… Wah! One year! Then I must meet you! I’ll meet you tonight! Where? ”
We got to know each other during our undergraduate days, and have since become close buddies, like a brother, I never had! How we clicked so well - I really don’t know cause we are really two of the opposite. He became my confidante. He knows all my stories.
Strange, we rarely meet nowadays. Our meets have reduced to maybe once or twice a year, if lucky three. But today was different. We met at the restaurant, exchanged updates so quickly that we updated a 6 months worth of stories in 30 minutes. We laughed our hearts out, and I think irritated some customers to the otherwise suppossedly quiet restaurant. We then went to his apartment which he wants to rent, and hang out there for a while. The place was lovely. We chat till past midnight and decided to end it as I had to drive to Seremban the next day. As we parted and said goodbye, I missed him. ” We meet almost yearly anyway!”, he says. I paused and smiled. I then said, ” Yes, macha, I know but it is different now, as before, I know you are nearby and around!”. He shook his head in agreement.
It is true. We only realise how important one is to us when they are away.
Goodbye Ismail and see you in a year. I will miss you. Goodluck and all the best, Noran(his wife). Enjoy yourselves and Sydney. Keep in touch, Macha!
and guess what?! — I got the first prize for Best Macro Shot. Surprised, I gladly accepted the award! This is what I got as the first prize.
