A BIG BANG as if there was an explosion from a sonic boom, heaving sky start pouring down rain. My beloved granddaughter, Tim Tim, resting alone far apart; it is a monsoon session, and I hope she would remember to put on more clothes when we are not around, she has to start learning to take care of her own now.

It was around 10am; one clear morning, I saw her talking to her grandma at the place she used to, just before I went out. She greeted me morning with her cordial voice right after she noticed me, and told me that she is about to have breakfast with her friends. I wanted her to repeat the two things I want her to always keep in her mind, she responded instantly, “yes, grandpa, careful with strangers out there, a lots of bad guys; 2nd is to take precaution when crossing roads.”

I responded with my gently touch on her head, “See you soon”. She took my hand, and said “you too, grandpa, take care.” Closed the door, I walked a distance and yet can hear her voice “take care, bye bye, take care!!” I wasn’t aware that was the last conversation we ever had, and that was the last time you shake my hand.

It was until dinner that still Tim Tim didn’t come back home, I thought she was with her friends, enjoying good time and forgotten the time.  We tried her cellphone, but it was turned off. We tried and tried; her mum decided to file a missing person report to the nearest police station, and then headed with her aunty to surrounding hospitals to check if there was any case. I kept on praying and praying, staying at home with her grandma to all forefathers, Gods of all mighty; to keep my granddaughter come home safe.

Dawn finally came, her mum came back with her tiring aunty with no result, we were pretty much believe she was not involve in any accident, but we were hit by the greater fear arose, was she kidnapped? Without further delay, her mum and aunty decided to go out and search again. I have to stay back with her grandma, Tim Tim did not bring keys along, we have to be there to open the door for her when she reach home.

A long 20 hours of agonizing torment and torturing, I was praying to the forefathers again, and the phone rang, her grandma quickly picked up the phone, and yelled at me “They found her!” what a news! What a news! I walked instantly into the house, there I saw my wife laying on the floor, cried with all tears. I figured out something wrong until she told me “Tim Tim is gone...” she can’t stop hitting the ground with bare hands, and cried with all hearts, shouted painfully, “why? Why? Why?”

Our life can never goes back, the reality was like a nuclear boom, blew us apart. It wasn’t real for god sake, it was not real!! She was such a lovely and generous girl that this world could possibly have. We couldn’t imagine what it has to take for one to kill her? How lack of humanity that was? If that was a way to tell our will, we want nothing but our Tim Tim back, we need nothing but our Tim Tim back… — A heartbroken grandpa, SIM BEK BOON

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.