The closure

Alhamdullillah, the much awaited ending. All praise be to Allah.

Just two weeks after abah left us, I received the examiner reports. My first reaction was like "?", I wasn't sure what it was. After reading the email and those reports several time, no words can describe how I felt exactly. But the first thing that crossed my mind was, how I wished abah is still here to witness this victory. After all it was abah who pushed me, motivated me to pursue this dream. Somehow abah knew that one day I will get this, since I was a little girl. I still remember that time, I was sitting on his lap, he was stroking my wide forehead and said, "Anak abah nie besok jadi doktor." But I was positively sure he meant a medical doctor at that time. But, it's not my fate to be a medical doctor, but instead, a philosopher. Abah had been the main supporter behind my success. He was in fact my inspiration.

To that, I dedicated my thesis to abah and mak. I wrote this on the second page of my thesis.

In loving memory of my father, Elias Mohd. Hanafiah, my idol, an inspiration and the best friend I’ve ever had.

 And 
To my mom, whose loves, care and understanding has made me who I am today.

Abah, you were an amazing father and a great man. You should have seen the crowd that came to pay you a last visit. I hardly knew half of them; your ex-students, ex-colleagues, ex-sub-ordinates etc., those people adored you. I felt so proud.

Now some people address me as Dr Elias, yes abah...this is for you indeed!

Al-Fatihah.

Until next time, think positive and stay positive, inshaAllah everything will be OK

yours truly,