Ikan

They ran and ran, almost defying gravity in their every step, laughing so heartily, knowing no worries, no weight on their shoulders.

Across the shoreline, and up the wooden jetty. Panting at a pace without rhythm, they sat down at the edge of the pier; facing the sea, legs dangling precariously over it. But it was a sight to behold, a moment too important to worry about safety for now.

The sight, however, was the least of their concern.

"Diaorang tu balik ari ni ke?" Fikri asked.

"Entah lah," Mat shrugged and answered to the bemusement of Fikri.

"Abis, kenape kito kat sini?" he questioned Mat irritatingly. If they aren't coming back today, he had something else better to do. Those rambutan trees looked to have bore enough fruit for them to devour and savour but Mat insisted they had to make haste to the jetty.

"Ko tak yah tanya banyak sangat! Duk diam diam dan tunggu aje! Terajang karang baru tau" an annoyed Mat snapped back to which Fikri obliged in fear that his elder brother would indeed bashed him up like the last debacle they had. Thinking back, he should have just let his brother bathed first. It was too cold in the morning anyway. Why did he ever bothered for that toilet, he couldn't remember.


Fikri, unconsciously, slapped his palm on his forehead. Mat turned sharply, wondering what his little brother is thinking. Realizing that it got Mat's attention, Fikri quickly pretends to scratch his forehead, trying to mask his embarrassment.

"Awat?" asked a curious Mat.

"Tak de. Saja," came the answer.

"Bangang. Orang tak tampar, ko pula tampar diri," Mat teased to the admittance of Fikri. He is too prone to doing these actions unconsciously. Maybe there is a way to rid this. Or not.

Mat reached into his pocket and pulled out a delicately packed lunch. It was really this morning's leftovers but it didn't mattered much anyway. Fikri did the same, reaching deep into his pocket and scouring but no packed lunch was to be found. He stood up and continued his little digging of the pocket. Mat looked up.

"Aih, ko ni. Poket dah berlubang tapi seluar ni juga ko nak pakai, eh?" Mat said bluntly to which Fikri found out to be true. He pulled out the pocket's sac to find one huge hole on it.  No wonder his pants felt lighter than it should have been.

Fikri sat down again, resting his head on the palm, elbow on his thigh. No rambutan, no lunch, a long wait and an annoying brother by his side. What could be worse?

Mat took two quick bites of the glutinous rice and handed it to Fikri. He stared at Mat as this was rare.


"Tak nak? Kalo tak ambik, aku abiskan!" Mat threatened. Fikri quickly snatched the rice and gobbled it down.


"Tak yah la nak gopoh macam tu. Makan pelahan sikit," Mat said as he patted Fikri's head.


Their wait is accompanied by the wind who gently beats the sea and helping it to the shoreline. The sounds of waves and Fikri's chewing filled the air. It is going to be a long but routine wait. For the last week or so, Mat had consistently insisted to wait for their return from noon till dark. It didn't make much sense to Fikri as there are so many things to do inland. If they returned, they would have to go inland anyway. They could play while waiting instead of just sitting and staring at the sea.


"Dulu sini banyak ikan," Mat pointed to the sea and drew a spot to show Fikri.


"Itu dulu. Skrang?" Fikri asked. 


"Abah kata ikan semua lari. Skrang kena pergi jauh untuk memancing."


"Mana ikan tu semua lari eh?"


"Entah. Tapi Mat rasa, ikan bukan lari. Dah abis ditangkap." 


Fikri scratches his head.


"Boleh abis ditangkap ke? Tak bertelur ke? Cikgu habak ikan bertelur beratus-ratus biji."


"Tapi beratus-ratus biji tu, banyak ke yang membesar?"


"Manalah Fik tau..."


"Tu lah, orang suruh baca buku, ko pi main lah, nak rambutan lah, nak ni lah, nak tu lah." 


"Eleh, abis along tiap tiap ari kat sini tak baca pun!" Fikri protested to which Mat raised his fist.


"Pandai pula ko melawan eh! Nak kena penumbuk ni?" Mat threatened once again. Fikri sat quietly again. He had no idea what kind of a brother Mat is. No, that packed lunch isn't enough to redeem his constant threats and bossiness. 


They sat still for a while.


"Kito tunggu sini, takut masa abah balik ngan diaorang tu, kito kena tolong angkat ikan tu," Mat finally explaining their routine wait.


"Tapi kito pun tak tau diorang tu balik bila... Eh ikan bukan dah abis ditangkap ke?" Fikri asked unwittingly.


"Ish, gunalah otak tu sikit. Sebab tulah kena pi jauh jauh tangkap ikan. Sini dah abis. Jauh tu, ade lagi rasanya." Mat answered.


"Mana along tau?"

Mat thought hard.

"Ma.. Mat tau lah!" he snapped and raised his fist. Fikri raised his arms to protect himself and turned his head to the side.

Then he saw a small silhouette appearing from the edge of the sea.


"Along! Abah!" he pointed to it excitingly.


Mat lowered his fist and looked. A smile, then a jump. The two brothers waved tirelessly at the boat.


"Abah! Abah!"




(inspired by the fishing villages in Kelantan and Kedah, together with the recent revelation that we might have no more fishes to catch in 35 years because of over fishing.)