THE SAWIT RUN-AND QUITE A WET ONE AT THAT!

It had already started to rain when papa drove out of the parking lot at Seremban R and R. Having taken a hearty nasi lemak breakfast, papa was a bit too satiated to- really give an extra thought to the rain that was pouring when he reached the southbound side of the Plus highway. Until, he remembered the massive floods that struck Johor last fourth quarter, for it was about the same time a year ago that the unexpected deluge devastated a good part of the southern most state.
A foreboding thought hit him, could it be the same thing happening again. Somehow, his fears did not allay, whence his eyes caught the awesome vista into the horizon ahead. The black hued albeit rolling overcast sky, casting a sullen shadow over the drenched early morning landscape.
As the truck did not seem to experience any problem gaining speed in the rain, coupled with its peculiar, ‘higher than a car’ seating arrangement, papa had an unusually clear view of the road ahead. Speeding on, papa’s uneasy feeling that he harbored, earlier on, somewhat abated, as if a divine like voice inside, kept him reassured, that everything is going to turn out o.k. A gut feeling that he consistently relied on- each, and every time, there is an uncertain outcome, looming around the corner. An unmentionable portend, most would not prefer discussing but will have to face, regardless, should the ‘adversity’ arrived. All, in all, to The Almighty, we supplicate.
The rain did not seem to run its course, it poured with the same intensity all the way to the Tangkak Toll Complex. The grayish sky stretched across the horizon, with, nay a hint of sunlight behind it. The forecast could not be optimistic, however so, one attempted to placate, one’s forebodings. The rivers, distending underneath the paved Federal Tarmacs, appeared to- ever burst their banks, each time papa took cursory glances whilst navigating amidst the outpourings.
Strangely, the ubiquitous ditches alongside the roads did not altogether, seemed to be overflowing together with the swampy, peat-like soil they were, supposed to, gradually dehydrate; ne’er inundated. Suddenly a ray of sunlight along with light blue clouds were vividly, visible- leftmost into the yonder, it was smack above where Bukit Tengkorak should be. Alhamdullillah (Praise Be: To God), whispered papa!