I went out briefly and was home by 13:40 on Saturday. Woke dad up for lunch and attended to him. I had a quick lunch too and performed prayers before tidying up the dining table. Only after all that was over, I checked my phone and found two missed calls. I checked my contacts but the number was not in my phone so I didn’t call back. Then I checked my WhatsApp messages and was shocked and horrified when I read that a very dear mate had just passed. ‘What! This couldn’t be true! Maybe my boss mistook the name.’ But alas, as I read further, my fears were realised. My mate had left us all. Needless to say, I was in a state of disbelief throughout that day. I slept poorly that night and was awake after 2 a.m.
His passing really hit me bad as I was close to him. Besides discussing work, we used to chat about football, tennis and Federer. I always consulted him on supplements because despite being a smoker, he ate healthily – salads, fruits - proper meals in short and hardly any junk food unlike moi - and took supplements and vitamins. I really enjoyed our chats because he was an intelligent and funny and had his own perspective and ideas. He was a sporty person, he would go to the gym to work out, he played volleyball locally and even abroad, and he would go for jogs.
He was one who kept to himself and didn’t join in gossips. He was a true gentleman, he never slammed the door and instead would ensure the door close gently behind him, he would hold the door open for everyone. He was respectful to everyone from the cleaners to the secretaries to the big bosses. His parents certainly raised him well. He was always cheerful, jovial and smiling, never a bad word against anyone. If he was ever unhappy, he hid it well. He was one of the very few who would participate actively in discussions and meetings – the others would be mute and play dumb but not he. He was a great team member. He was never shy from speaking out, from expressing his opinions, from seeking clarification. He was, in short, a very rare breed and I’m not just saying this because he has passed and I’m supposed to say only good things about those who have left us.
Oh sure, he had his shortcomings too like doing things at the last minute. But I can tell you honestly that the work he produced would always be satisfactory and I didn’t need to amend his work much. And as I told my peers, I much prefer that than working with people who submit their work quickly but the work lack quality or the content is wanting.
Alhamdulillah, my sister and brother-in-law came over on Saturday and overnighted which enabled me to go and pay my last respects to him. I met the wife and she said she was trying to call me (it only struck me much later that the missed calls were from her to inform of my mate’s passing) and she asked me to forgive arwah and deem whatever food he partook to be halal. Crying, I told her that arwah had no sins with me – it is I who had sinned against him – and he had nothing owing to me.
Oh my dear mate, how are we going to go about the rest of our working lives without you to grace us with your presence and company? He asked me at least twice when I would be retiring and indicated he wanted to retire together with me. Later, other colleagues told me he kept mentioning taking early retirement. Oh my dear mate, I went to work on Monday and cried a few times talking and thinking about you. I didn’t know it’s possible to miss a work colleague this much but he was not just another colleague, he was my mate.
Dear mate, I miss you very much. I miss your friendship, your laughter, your humour. I can only offer Al Fatihah to you now. I hope I didn’t cause you undue stress, I hope I didn’t stress you out or put you under pressure. I hope you’re peaceful there. I’m thankful that our paths crossed and I shall value and treasure our friendship and your kindness. My life is richer for having known you. You were one of a kind, a rare gem indeed. Thank you for teaching me the value of friendship, patience, and being respectful to others. I only wish I had told you all of this before. May Allah reward and grant you Jannatul Firdaus.
Like they say: the good die young.
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