Shuttlecocks

My brother and I were playing badminton without a net. Being the expert jaguh badminton that I am, 12 shuttlecocks laid motionless on the roof. I fetched for the ladder and climbed the roof to collect the shuttlecocks. Shuttle. Cocks. The moment I laid hands on the gutter, my whole body convulsed like mad. I realised that I was being electrocuted and pushed myself away from the gutter with all the strength I managed to muster.

Down went Afiq Deen, ladder and all.

I opened my eyes and realised that my body was numb. The state I was in reminded me of the numb object that looks and feels like my right arm after a whole night of neglecting its bloodflow. Thankfully, my mouth was fully operational. Saiful panicked and poked my lifeless limbs with his racket. Why isn't he running for help? I intended to be courteous but "Oi babi bongok! Pergilah mintak tolong!" came out.

After a minute of recollecting the many times I fell from great heights and survived with minor cuts and bruises, a rush of hot healthy blood filled my limbs. I was relieved. Relieved but still colvusing and shivering. I went to get a glass of water to drink, ignoring the trace of blood that sketched the kitchen tiles. I collapsed there and then and cried. It wasn't an emotional-oh-god-I'm-still-alive-cry. The water I drank felt like a sea of microscopic needles going through my throat and into my stomach. Even as my innards agonised with pain, I made sure that no one caught any glimpse of me crying.

I walked around. I went outside. I told Saiful "Lain kali kalau abang kena electrocuted and jatuh dari bumbung, Aful kena lari panggil orang and.... lepas tu, check kalau abang okay."

"Faham?"

I wished he'd just nod and reply with a curt "Faham" but he went all Oprah on me. I sat down listening to his justifications, his tears pouring like rain on a car's windshield. After half an hour, his long-winded justifications evolved into a fit of anger. Owh man...

He ended up merajuk-ing the whole night.

I'm just thankful that I'm alive.