I heard Irani’s voice on the telephone.
“Mak, Ira ni...Mak, Bik pengsan. Dalam bilik air. Kak Ngah cuba kejut.”
Images ran through my mind. I heard Inas trying to revive Bik in the background. For a split second, I panicked.”Mak?” Irani’s voice was calm with a hint of urgency. I said, “Good girl. Now, call Cikgu. Now. Tell her what happened. Then come back to the phone.”
“Okay.” I heard her calling our neighbour, Cikgu Rohani. I heard her telling Cikgu what happened followed by Cikgu Rohani telling her husband to come over quickly. Nine year old Irani came back to the phone. “Irani, call Cikgu to the phone.” I told Cikgu I was coming home. She felt we needed the ambulance so I told her I would take care of that.
Rudi called the ambulance then he picked me up. We drove home. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew Cikgu would do her best. She was that kind of neighbour to the whole neighbourhood. We were so lucky to be staying next to her.
A year ago in 2008, Bik had fainted in Mid Valley Mall after a movie. The shopping complex security quickly took her to the clinic and she was quickly revived. What a scare. But for days after, she was plagued by fever and pain in her abdomen. She lost weight. Finally, the doctors ruled that she suffered from a very bad case of infection and gave her an equally strong regiment of antibiotics.
Bik recovered then.
When we reached Hospital Sg Buloh, the hospital was in full H1N1 alert. Cikgu had followed the ambulance to the hospital and we met them there. I called the girls and Kak Ngah said all the sisters were fine. In the Emergency ward, Bik regained consciousness. But she spoke Javanese and had no idea who we were. She was clearly afraid. We quickly read Ayat Kursi and spoke to her calmly. Then I mentioned Ikesha’s name. Immediately, Bik looked at me and cried, “Ya, Ikesha mana, Bu?”
Bik was warded that night. But the battle was not over.
Over the next three days, she was pumped with antibiotics. There was an infection in her stomach and uterus and it was poisoning her system. But Bik was in good spirits. She was quite a novelty apparently at the ward. There were no other maids. Certainly no other maid who read the newspaper and the stackful of gardening magazines we brought her. The nurses would be combing her hair and chit chatting with her when we arrive to visit. When the girls – all five - came over, Bik cried with happiness. The neighbours came to visit too!
Finally, the specialist asked to see me. There was no choice. Surgery was required. Otherwise, Bik would get weaker and weaker and eventually succumb to the infection. Rudi and I were shocked. And secretly terrified. We were responsible for her. The doctor explained, it was quite a major surgery. However, after discussing it with Bik we quickly agreed.
On the day of the surgery, Rudi and I went to see Bik. It would take many hours, I can’t remember now how long. All I know was that after that we did not see Bik for 1 ½ days for she was held back in ICU – no visitors allowed.
She finally made it.
Bik came home after 12 days in hospital. After she came back, we did not allow her to do anything for a month. Ikesha did not leave her side. Then Bik went back to Jawa for Hari Raya.
When she came back , Bik’s family sent us so many gifts. It was wonderful to have her back. She was as strong as ever after her two months of rest.
Bik is really part of our family. We tell the girls everyone in the family has their part to play. Mak and Daddy work hard to earn a living for all of us. They need to do homework and wash their own shoes. Bik takes care of them and the house. In fact, I remind the girls Bik is also the richest in the family. She has three houses, lots of sawah padi and orchards. In her kampung, there are dancing horses and gamelan. But there are also earthquakes sometimes. Once when Bik went home, she had to sleep in the open for two nights because of an earthquake. Another time, Bik called the gardeners all the way from Indonesia to remind them to come and cut our grass.
Sometimes, when I come home, the younger girls would be playing Old Maid and Happy Family with Bik. Remember Mr Bones, Mrs Weeder and Master Plod?
Now, don’t you think we have the best Bik in the whole world?
