Holidays are boring without having an aim in mind, so here's the second story of my new found hobby.
Encik Muthu
Being a real estate tycoon is all about exploiting opportunities. I have no qualms about tearing down my childhood home and I certainly have no problems dismantling this old education institute. I strolled along the empty corridor that was once filled with the sounds of students attending lectures and tutorials. Now, the building is deserted and you could hear a pin drop in such a desolate environment. I was engrossed in contemplating the redevelopment of this plot of land and did not notice someone approaching me from behind.
“So, what are you going to build once you tear the school down?” The man asked as if he read my mind. The man was significantly older than me but looked relatively healthy despite his age. He dyed his hair blonde as I could see the black roots of his hair but there were also streaks of silver and white hidden in the glimmering shade of blonde. He was clearly one of my construction workers as he was wearing a safety vest and had a helmet tucked by his side along his belt. “Are you going to answer me or are you going to continue admiring Encik’s beautiful hair?”
“I have not really thought about it. And is that the way you talk to your boss?” I was not amused by his questioning, not one bit amused. The Encik simply smirked and pat me on the shoulder.
“Encik teach you a lesson, you know this place has a very long history,” the Encik rambled on as he gazed at the block of buildings, “Encik Muthu was one of the people who actually built this place a long time ago.”
The Encik caressed the pillar as if it was his long-lost child and began smiling at me. It was getting disturbing for me as I forced a smile back, not wanting to seem like a bad boss in front of my own employee.
“Come since you are also idling about, let Encik Muthu tell you the history about this place okay?”
Before I could protest, the old Indian man began his tale of the abandoned school.
I could remember as if it was yesterday, we were heading back from our lunch break holding packets of mutton murtabak and mee goreng in our hands that we managed to acquire from the famous and now defunct Al-Hussain restaurant. Being a young man, we were anxious about getting more work and earning more money and would regularly volunteer to help our colleagues takeaway food as we could pocket the change. Life back then was all about rushing from job to job as a hardworking man would never feel hungry due to the abundance of work as a construction worker.
However, that day Encik was unlucky as I drew the short straw and had to participate in cement mixing. Being the construction head there I could easily passed on the responsibility to another but I also had to maintain the image of superiority in front of my colleagues. I started taking shovels out of the store and ordered Chen and Ahmad to follow me. They objected as they did not draw the shorter straw but I jokingly smacked them on their heads and told them to obey the Encik. I did not even give them the chance to wash their curry-stained hands as I handed them their shovels.
“Helmets you punks, safety is our priority!”
I smacked them on their heads again as I ordered my colleagues to put on their safety helmets before mixing the cement. One-part cement, two-parts sand, four parts stones, ten parts mixing. This was the golden ratio for cement mixing that has been passed on for generations. Back then cement mixing machines were few and far between as employing hard laborers for multiple projects was way cheaper than purchasing a single machine.
“Hurry up and mix. More mixing, less talking you young punks!”
Scolding my colleagues were part and parcel of construction work. The more I berated them, the higher their level of motivation as they wanted me off their backs. As we continued mixing Chen pointed out that if we were quick enough with the cement mixing we could possibly set up the wiring for the block today.
“Then what are you idling about for? Put more effort into mixing!”
The rapid mixing of cement, gravels, aggregates and water soon brought about a sticky mixture of cement ready to be used for plastering. Ahmad requested for a break but being the efficient boss, I pushed them along for the electrical wiring.
“Give me a break Encik! We have been working so hard that we have not eaten our lunch yet!” Ahmad grumbled as we trudged towards another block of buildings. I smacked him on the head again and lectured him, “Time waits for no one. You can take a break when you are dead!”
“Not if you’re dead.”
An eerie voice echoed through my head but as I looked up thinking that Ahmad said it, he was still groaning and complaining about how much I was overworking the entire crew. I paid no heed to what I had heard as I believed that I was just hallucinating due to being tired after the cement mixing. Only one of us was required to do the wiring while the other two would simultaneously fill the pillar with cement. As usual, we decided to draw straws for it and today was really an unlucky day for me. Ahmad and Chen were snickering at me as I had to fix the wires up for the whole block while they merely put cement in during the whole spectacle.
Despite their giggles Ahmad and Chen were doing a great job covering up the floors and pillars with cement. They have potential to go far in construction work should they be so hardworking even without my supervision. In my moment of silently praising the duo, I had a lapse of concentration and accidentally triggered an electrical shock. The current went through my entire body and I collapsed instantly.
“Where did Encik Muthu go? He must be slacking off while we are slaving our asses off.”
“Don’t say that Ahmad, Encik does it for our own good. And look! He has finished the wiring for the last pillar in this block.”
“Okay, let’s put the cement in and go back to eating our murtabak!”
I could hear my colleagues’ conversation but my body was still in a state of electrical shock and I could not speak or even open my eyes. The cement was beginning to fill up in the pillar that I was in but my body was not obeying me.
“You know Ahmad, the cement is filling up too fast maybe there’s something down there causing it to fill up so fast!”
Yes, I knew it Chen has always been the sensible one. Come on notice that your Encik is trapped down here!
“Are you mad? Even if there’s a rat down there it would be a nightmare to try and take it out. Hurry let’s just finish up here.”
“If you say so.”
No. My last glimmer of hope was wavering. I could feel the cement reaching slightly above my chest as I started gaining mobility on my limbs. I desperately tried clawing my way but the cement mixture prevented any movement as it hardened up rapidly.
I could feel my body functions back under my control but the cement has already piled up above my nose. I tried shouting but all I could make out were small mumbles.
“Ahmad are you sure we shouldn’t try digging it out? It’s making horrible dying noises.”
“No way man, if we do this slowly Encik Muthu will just start his preaching again.”
That was my last chance of survival as the cement has engulfed my entire body.
I was staring blankly at the construction worker as he finished his story. He then began to leave the foyer and I began calling out for him. His skinny silhouette began to vanish into thin air as my voice echoed through the barren building.
“Yo boss! We are ready to begin the operation,” the familiar voice of my henchman boomed, “And what were you shouting at again?”
I was still thinking about the story the construction worker has just told me and I instructed my henchman to break open the pillar the Encik was wandering about earlier.
“Boss, we got a wrecking ball that can take out the whole building in one go! What’s so special about the pillar anyway.”
“Well, my dear henchman,” I gently declared as I put my arms around his shoulders, “That would be for me to know and you to find out.”
As the drilling began on the said pillar, I could make out streaks of white intertwined with the original electrical wires. In a distance, I could hear two faint but distinct words.
“Thank you.”
Notes
encik (Jawi spelling انچيق) - mister (title of adult male)
murtabak (plural murtabaks) - A kind of stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread found in parts of the Middle East and Asia.
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