I was at Times Square's Borders, on the carpet, browsing through this one novel - 28 Hari - when he called.
It was this one guy on one of the provided bench - earlier the vacant spot was occupied by this bored looking woman, and it was then that I gave a mental slap to my forehead, seeing as I didn't take the provided comfort provided by the shop.
He asked where I was from. 'UM,' I replied. And him? 'Oxford... nah, just kidding'. I would later learn he's from Damansara, and how he was on a trip around KL area.
He was this one tall guy, with spectacles, and a blue scard hung lazily around his neck. He was reading one of the novel, Cerpen. Seeing as we were both reading, our conversation geared towards books - apparently he had read the book I was holding, and he remarked that he liked reading book on music... as well as a bit of novel cinta, if I'm not mistaken.
I never gotten around to know what he really does, but he was saying how he's writing for songs... and also this one biography on M. Nasir. He likes listening to Nasheed, folk music... anything but black metal (though heavy metal is OK with him). He's the eldest in a sibling of five, with all boys save for his youngest sister.
His name is Sham. He was carrying a pink slingbag, and he passed me a copy of a book on Yusuf Islam in the short while we were on the bench.
Since he talked of writing, I mentioned how the local publication is good now - Fixi, Lejen Press - look at these eye catching cover designs, he pointed out.
It was Ramadhan. I told him I'm breaking fast in UM's mosque. He said I should try Masjid Al-Bukhari - I might just try it one of these days, while I'm in KL.
He know of the art performance in Perdanasiswa every Wednesday evening. He commented how UM has no Mass Communication course. He was asking if people could come in the university's library.
All the while I'm trying to imagine how involved he is in his art - whether I would meet him again, where he would proudly produce his writings (be it in the form of book, or a song).
Eventually I bid him farewell. His hands were smooth, and cold. I wondered how long he was in the bookstore.
On the way back to UM, I bought a pasembor (or rojak tauhu as it's called outside of Kedah or Penang yo) - I've been craving for it ever since we christened ourself (a bunch of enthusiastic people working on a Touhou Project artbook) Touhou Projak... and that is a different story.
There was an abundance of food that day at the mosque - nasi ayam and bubur lambuk. Nasi ayam was alright, bubur lambuk is how I'd describe as 'nutty and meaty'. I had my pasembor last, and it was good.
My craving was satisfied, but I sure could go for another round of it another day.
An enthusiastic art person, and a pasembor. Both connected in the sense that both I've encountered by chance.
