THE BLUE ROSE

Papa just could not put where exactly he had seen Mummy Anita, she was just too young if included into the group of Dangdut Mummies that he was familiar with. She must have been from somewhere outside of Kay El or was stationed previously in clubs that he did not usually go to. In her early thirties, Anita was actually kind of young to be a mummy but she very well knew how to go about being one and the quaint fact that she was truly at ease meeting up thus initiating subtle yet easy cum laid back conversations with patrons either new or regulars.
She was quite busy that particular evening during which papa decided to choose a seat as a result making himself comfortable sitting on a tall stool accompanying a little high table not unlike the type he mostly prefers in SM. Mummy was still unsure as to who papa, a patron who sauntered in the hall the likes of somebody very familiar with the place. There were also the few staff that he greeted and they acknowledged him amiably in return that in a way made mummy Anita emitted a kind of a quizzing look but she earnestly welcomed him nevertheless.
Papa inquired intentionally- that was, about Encik Nasir the band leader so as to lessen any inhibitions should there be any in mummy’s mind, after which, she instantaneously responded by putting her arms around him, buddy- buddy like. Somehow, Encik Nasir’s good name quite literally opened doors that were adamantly kept shut if only to allow the selected few among dangdut citizens to even knock on them let alone prying open. Nasir, an old hand no doubt but a truly longtime player in the city’s dangdut arena, nearing three score years of age he is the proverbial dangdut elder that the girls would not hesitate to seek counsel, as regards quite anything that are bothering them. Never for once taking advantage on the Hostesses’ little predicaments he is the well respected old man of dangdut should papa be given free rein to wax lyrical about everything concerning dangdut being so. But he was not in the vicinity then or sipping tea tarik rather, at one of many stalls situated nearby as the band was on its hourly break, no matter how or what, dutifully substituted the full sixty minutes they were not playing by the deejay. However papa was not really dropping names carelessly for he does know Encik Nasir and had not seen him for quite a while.
Just about then mummy suggested papa engage some steps to the music- services of a dancer, of which, he was quite at a loss really for he was not actually familiar with the GROs attached to the club, and somehow not one, from whomever he can figure out amongst the few lightly illuminated faces, he keenly fixes his glances upon, he has come across before. He had to ask for Anita’s- professional recommendation, there was just no options left. Despite the fact that he did continue mentioning further the quintessential few other dangdut personages namely AG the dangdut king and the Royal Couple or the very recent Dangdut dance champions quite anybody currently actively partaking in dangdut should know about. And he was jabbering about the industry’s notables just about an instant prior to Mummy Anita much awaited proposition- to call for a GRO. Instinctively so, that was, if taken largely, from her unquestioning position as the club’s mummy- all the more that very calling- being her salubrious subject area.
Somehow papa was trying to relate his self proclaimed Nom de plume as a Dangdut King to Anita or in a much roundabout way his adeptness in moving to the dangdut beats for he could not blatantly and or boastfully highlight to her that he is quite capable doing the boogie dangdut wise, along with, imploringly asking for a hostess that is equally skilled as well.
All in all a longtime dangdut player must never be too abrupt in that he could be seen to be too demanding or difficult in whatever dangdut situations he is pretty much immersed into. Being subtle, level headed and decorous have their good points but the dangdut mummy in front of him is a young one relatively and papalados is actually quite pressed for whatever terms he could conjure up to highlight his littlest preconditions to Anita. Haughtily ordering the poor girl to send a capable GRO would not really be polite and exhorting the hostess to be nice looking at the same time could be a little bit too much if papa’s length of stay in Blue Rose must only be for the good part of an hour. Sensing that Anita has a few more things to attend to instead of only waiting up for him that particular instance he sheepishly entreated for only an hour of booking. Surprisingly, she said OK without even batting an eyelid and he had only to utter the words even though quite uncalled for, bearing in mind the peculiar sticky situation right about then, what was with the intended 60 minutes only sojourn that he requested, papa blurted, “ a young one preferably: mummy and can dance”. Anita smiled and said, “quite: of course”.
Perplexed, papalados was actually stricken dumb, he had all this while played a somewhat dangdut diplomatic role in the sense of incorporating a rather civil-like posture innate to his unwholesome presence inside The Blue Rose specific to that time and place, inasmuch, the bottom line consideration for unmitigated dollars or ringgit and cents quite evades him. In other words the club could not refuse his patronage- pecuniary wise that is. An hour spent is an hour gain for the hall, blatant and simple but a little discomforting for papa nonetheless. Yet, to all intents and purposes he has not the money to expend beside the odd hour he had planned.
The girl was indeed young, circa early twenties, a bit hefty but shapely, quite tall and well built howbeit in whatever wise a strong woman, however so she has this disarming quality about her not at all haughty but bubbly all the more. She has a glass of stout with her when she arrived saying she had just bought the mug full just the instant mummy Anita called but quickly asked if it is all right whence seeing the little bottle of mineral water papa had in front of him. No problem said papa the fact that there would be less damages to pay come billing time. Considering that there is this ponderousness round about her she was quite adroit making her way in the dimly lit tiny spaces in between the dancing hall’s furniture items. Papa found it joyful chatting with her as she was none too deprived in emitting words. Inquisitive and highly excitable she put forward delightful questions that papa finds exceedingly gleeful to answer. Mind you the topics are mostly about steps to the dance with nothing at all going beyond that. Papa quite enjoys her company going along with fact that she was not unlike a gurgling young niece or an effervescent grown up daughter of a dear friend. Appropriately from the full person she turned out to be she was called Bella or that was her extremely eye filling pet name.
Contrary to her size she was dexterous on the floor along with pretty much eager to reciprocate papa’s dash like movements whence clasping all four hands whilst trying out his infernal four step procedures yet what can papa say except that she boogied the wiggle perfectly and was exceptionally light on her feet. Actually she was the one who literally albeit impatiently pulled papa to the concourse hardly the customary ten minutes or the atypical quarter hour preamble that, dangdut citizens partook in before commencing to the ubiquitous dance floor. It started with the zapin, slide cha-cha, conventional cha-cha-cha and the fiery dangdut vocalizations. There was also a samba number sung in its original Spanish but papa still has not fine tuned his four- step to suit the fast paced beats of the beautiful Latin tone. Amidst the hullabaloo, Bella was just fantastical. Alas what can one say, time just fly when you are having fun. The magical hour is already- up, papa had to call it a night. Bella kissed his hands denoting the respect she has for an old hand and a dangdut elder too, thence forth prompting papa to give her a warm hug at the shoulders. Truly elated he could not help holding back a tear or two that he did not notice Encik Nasir passing beside him. Joking about his early exit out of the club, papa bluffed that he has a very early day on the morrow. Whence driving home it strangely struck his mind that The Blue Rose is actually situated quite away from Kuala Lumpur’s cluster of dangdut establishments, an anachronism perhaps, just like the flower it was named after. But the fact notwithstanding, there veritably is one, all in all, a product of genetic engineering, yet, aphoristically speaking, still man made and not an original- if there ever was one.