5 minutes on a train
Streams of water race on the LRT’s window. Kuala Lumpur was in a wet mood after the rain. Clenching a book in one hand, holding a bag in the other, and looking 100% nerdy, I settled down on an empty seat which was specially reserved for me by divine intervention on this very busy 5pm hour. Like a thunderclap, I glanced and analysed the passengers around me. Hmm, 2 fat mak ciks next to me, a girl with a guitar in the front and legions of working class people scattered around the train like animated toy action figures. At least I found a place to sit. Gracefully I initiated my on-train-reading sequence, opening the book in my hand entitled 12 study habits, to the envy and curiousity of the non-book-reading-culture of Malaysians around me. With a smirk I shielded my face with the book that grabbed so much attention. Oh he’s a nerd alright… Soon the train continued its mundane trek on the rails, choking and screaming silently thanks to the sophistication of modern technology, as streams of water race on the LRT’s window once more…
I’m not really reading.
If one had X-ray vision and was sitting in front of me in the train, that person would certainly noticed that unless I had X-ray vision too, I couldn’t possibly be reading with my eyes closed. Yes, the book was just a deception, a masquerade if you will, for me to practice my reflection of past events.. or in this case, my reflections of the day… (28 December 2005)
Touching down on the Masjid Jamek station at 12pm sharp, I trotted to the front of Burger King to the front of its glass doors. After spending an emotion-wrenching-internal-conflict filled micro second considering the sumptious gratifications of plant laden with pieces of dead meat heated to high temperatures whilst looking at the friendly ladies waving at the cashier counter from inside the fast food franchise. I pushed open the doors to a welcome gush of conditioned cold air.
Weng Sheng messaged that he was late due to inreconcilable differences in time and space. In other words he was having lunch in Shamelin. How timely, this is exactly the time I needed in order to finish reading a book before I return it to the library altogether with the other books in my bag. After finishing a hearty burger meal, I adamantly occupied my table with a book in hand. An hour or so passed, as lunch time approached and more customers entered the restaurant, seats were scarce and some were forced to have their meals elsewhere. I could sense that by this time, the workers of Burger King were really itching for me to leave, and I get that spider sense-like tingly feeling everytime a worker walk pass me with a mop in hand.. lol
I couldn’t care less for timid mop-wielding workers. I was reading a book about leadership entitled Trust. Very interesting read. I highly recommend it. Written by Les Csorba, the book illustrated the very professional leadership styles, dilemmas and insight into the situation of America’s leadership. Bringing my mind back to Malaysia, it amuses me how much people just try to lead without sufficient leadership knowledge or training, how many people try to become rich without financial literacy… it just amuses me.
The pace of time and space quickens.
Later at the library with Weng Sheng I sort of regret returning the leadership book, I didn’t know back then that you can renew a book. As usual, the Kuala Lumpur Library, although a public place, was in fact my little haven of knowledge and peace. Here, I am in contact with the works of many of the greatest people in the history of mankind, I can spend the day meditating in the comfortable recliners available there on the second floor music section… time just seems to stop.
Liken to picky housewives choosing fish at a market, pressing the fishes on display to check their freshness and smelling them, I carefully scanned the books in the library section by section. Good books may not be an uncommon find but nonetheless a certain degree of quality control is needed. Sitting on the recliners and reading about indoor and outdoor microorganisms, ah so relaxing. The rain starts. The knocks of raindrops on the onion shaped dome of the library transforms into a magical rhytm of tap tap taps… can’t help but savour the moment.
My mind continues to wander to yonder and afar. No story would be complete without conflicts, and the same perhaps could be said of life. Still wondering whether I should get a job, or concentrate on my research, or is there something I missed? The temptation growls like a thousand leapords in my heart… to get a job… to get a job it says. Yet, I will be working for the rest of my life, where am I in a hurry to go to anyway? As the saying goes, Where we’re going is more important than how fast we get there. Perhaps its just a nudging instinct scratching at my heart, but I feel that many of my teenage aspirations are not yet fulfilled…
Abrubtly my thoughts draw to a close, the brutality of a fleeting moment on a train. Salak Selatan station is now inches from my feet. My composure regained, at the flip of a page the book closes and is returned to the bag. Back to the world… now where did I put my touch N’ go card…
5 minutes on a train pass like a dream.
