KEMMI THE SINGER

It started with, an, sms from Bro K, informing about a prestigious group currently performing at K lounge, it was a message that, requested papa- forward to friends.
As papa was not that keen to go visit the dance hall after the nearly quarter of a year being absent from the place, together with the honorific appellative invoked by the club subjects whenever they stumbled upon his presence within the premises, resulted, in which, papa finding it, quite unnerving whenever the nomenclature connoting the singing hall was exclaimed. He would, not want, to visit, the place again, but when he called, Bro K, to further, verify, the sms, along with, the subsequent little chat, they had, ensuing the call, papa was electrified. The consequence of which, eventuated in the littlest epiphany, that he was indubitably- joggled into- that- hence forth, literally- ‘swung’ one hundred and eighty degrees the corporeal disheartenment much transparent within papa’s, inconsequential, being. For Bro K, just had to mention that he was going to meet an agent and his bevy of beautiful singers at the club; thenceforth, in its own peculiar wise, the thought of being acquainted with the pretty crooners, somewhat revolutionized papa’s apprehensiveness for the place.
The club was quite the way it was ever since papa last visited it, except for the significant number of new faces amongst the staff. All the more better thought papa to himself, due to the fact that near everybody working there could not have been privy to the Bogus Dato’ charade that was played in the dance hall- sometime back. Papa was a bit late to arrive, as he had to wait up for Lanchapap, of whom, did not know- of the place.
In the near distance reaching to the stage, he could distinctly make out the slightly larger than life silhouette of Pak Mi and an excitedly hands waving, Bro K, adorning a fashionable Straw Hat. He was beckoning papa and Lanchapap to join him at the counter.
After the customary handshakes, Bro K, immediately pulled papa to the other end of the counter, where he introduced him to Zan and his three attractive singers. The girls were, surprisingly quite courteous and veritably- near ‘polished’, without the irksome ‘air’ sometimes associated with young ‘wannabe’ artistes. They were definitely not the annoying bimbo ‘airheads’, undoubtedly very pretty, yet there was the characteristic vivacity in them that somehow could liven up any dreadful situation. Unmistakably, of whom, the bubbliest; being Kemmi- the lead singer and the prettiest among the three. Zan instructed Kemmi to include papa’s number in her handset, in which, to call him later on, so that she could, reserved, papa and friends, a table near the stage, at the club they were debuting on the coming New Years Eve. Coincidentally, Zan has appointed Bro K, to be the official emcee for the much auspicious and very joyful evening. However so, it must be said that Bro K did introduce papa to Zan’s group as Dato’ Papalados, of whom is actually as bogus as anyone could be, a titled personage that papa used to parade around at the K club- the while back. Instigated by Bro K as a fun filled and harmless prank amongst friends, neither sinister nor malicious, just plain old horseplay and verily ‘innocuous’ all the way. Could it be that, it, was this, honorific appellative that invoked Zan and the girls to accord such decorous gestures to papa, but he doubted it, because, deep inside, papa was pretty- sure that, they were genuinely ‘warm hearted’.
Upon returning to his side of the counter, papa joined in the exchanging of light banter Pak Mi, Bro K and Lanchapap were having with Maia, the one of two- Lady Crooners currently performing at K Lounge. It was during this whoop-de-do, that papa, good naturedly requested Maia sang the song ‘Sway’ at her next session, of which she replied, “of course”, but she would not sing it except for Shuib the band- leader, as the song suited a male voice.
The ‘Sway’ intro was, vividly perceived, its ditty permeating throughout the dance hall, not ‘ear splitting’ but rather alleviative and all, the more soothing, assuaging the aphoristic ‘frayed nerves’- should proper representations, need be implored. Bro K immediately pulled Kak Yah onto the dance floor leaving Abang Man quite lost for words, followed by the more than few couples, uninhibitedly- needing to prance to the much catchy Cha- Cha beat. Zan’s girls too, strutted to the dance floor, an incongruous three persons team, there by, prompting papa to teasingly gestured at Kemmi, jestingly inquiring, if he could join her, dance the irrepressible number. She gesticulated back, as if saying, “By All Means”. The, instant after- papa was already facing her, shuffling, his, heart out. Kemmi, zestfully reciprocated papa’s, multifarious albeit frisky maneuvers, cajoling him all the way through; to the extent of papa, gleefully, exclaimed the word “Orang Lama” or Am an ‘Old Hand’ in English, making known his longtime ‘status’ in Kuala Lumpur’s, Popular Dance- Sphere.
Alas! It was the band’s last session and the club is closing down for the evening, papa, Pak Mi, Lanchapap and Bro K gulped their remaining Diet Cokes and Ginger Ales, resignedly paced to the exit but not without stopping at where Zan and the girls were still sitting. Having conducted the wonted backslapping and handshakes with the delightful troupe, with one of the, girls, even kissing papa’s hands, the, foursome bade goodbye to Zan and his singers. Even so, papa did manage to interject an invitation to Kemmi to join them Dangduting- afterwards, as it was only half past one in the evening. She answered, entreating him and his buddies, to come see her and friends, sing at the club ‘Bisik’ or ‘Whispers’, situated right next to Ampang Park, she, continued by saying “you can cha- cha and dangdut all you want then”. They all laughed about it yet papa and gang did not go to any dangdut clubs, after that, for they were all tired and went straight home without stopping at Deen’s Nasi Kandar.
Oh! Bright Eyed and Youthful- Kemmi- The Singer, for, that fleeting moment that lasted a song- you did make a Middle Aged Has been- Happy. If only papa were, twenty- five years younger. Anyway, friends and citizens of the Ramblings Blog, lets all go see Kemmi and friends sing at ‘Bisik’.