Going Home for the Weekend
Balik Kampung Hujung Minggu
Hafiz sudah lama berjanji kepada ibunya bahawa dia akan pulang ke kampung pada hujung minggu itu. Pada hari Jumaat petang, ibunya menelefon. Dia mahu tahu Hafiz masih ikut rancangan itu.
“Kau nak bertolak pukul berapa?” tanya ibunya.
“Lepas kerja. Dalam pukul enam lebih macam tu.”
Ibunya terus membantah. “Masa tu semua orang baru balik kerja. Nanti jalan sesak. Kalau penat, balik esok pagi sajalah. Tak apa lambat sikit, asalkan tak penat sangat.”
Hafiz sebenarnya mahu sampai malam itu juga. Dia mahu makan malam bersama keluarga. Dia tidak mahu menghabiskan pagi Sabtu dalam perjalanan. Dia fikir dia boleh tunggu di pejabat sehingga lewat sedikit. Mungkin jalan sudah kurang sesak. Namun tidak lama kemudian, kakaknya Lina menghantar mesej.
“Mak kata kau nak gerak malam ni. Kalau penat, jangan paksa. Esok pagi pun boleh.”
Hafiz fikir semula. Minggu itu dia bekerja lebih masa hampir setiap hari. Perjalanan ke kampung biasanya tidak terlalu lama. Tapi dia sudah penat. Memandu selepas seharian bekerja bukan pilihan yang baik.
Akhirnya dia membuat keputusan. Dia akan tidur awal dan bertolak awal pagi Sabtu. Malam itu, Hafiz meletakkan beg di dalam kereta sebelum tidur. Esok pagi dia tidak perlu tergesa-gesa.
Pukul enam pagi, Hafiz sudah berada di lebuh raya. Kenderaan belum banyak dan perjalanan berjalan lancar. Dia berhenti di kawasan rehat dan membeli kopi. Kemudian dia meneruskan perjalanan.
Apabila hampir sampai, Lina menelefonnya. Hafiz menjawab panggilan.
“Dah sampai mana?” tanya Lina.
“Lagi dua puluh minit.”
“Baguslah kalau macam tu. Mak dari tadi tanya. Dia tengah masak.”
Hafiz ketawa. “Sebab tu aku gerak awal.”
Dia tiba sebelum pukul sembilan. Ibunya sedang menyiram pokok. Hafiz memandu masuk ke halaman rumah. Ibunya melihat kereta itu dan terus tersenyum.
“Dah sampai pun! Ingatkan lambat lagi.”
Hafiz ketawa. “Gerak awal. Jalan pun tak sesak sangat.”
“Baguslah. Masuk cepat. Mak dah masak.”
Hafiz mengangkat beg dari kereta sambil ketawa. Bau masakan dari dapur sampai ke halaman. Dia melihat jam — belum pukul sembilan. Hari Sabtu masih panjang. Masih banyak masa untuk dia bersama keluarganya.
Key Vocabulary
English Translation
Hafiz had long promised his mother that he would return to his hometown that weekend. On Friday afternoon, his mother called. She wanted to know whether Hafiz was still keeping to the plan.
“What time are you leaving?” she asked.
“After work. Around six or a bit later.”
His mother immediately objected. “That’s when everyone is just getting off work. The roads will be jammed. If you’re tired, just come back tomorrow morning. It’s fine if you’re a little late, as long as you’re not too tired.”
Hafiz actually wanted to arrive that night. He wanted to have dinner with his family. He did not want to spend Saturday morning travelling. He thought he could wait at the office until a little later. Maybe the traffic would already be lighter. Not long afterwards, however, his older sister Lina sent him a message.
“Mum says you’re planning to leave tonight. If you’re tired, don’t force it. Tomorrow morning is fine too.”
Hafiz thought again. That week he had worked overtime almost every day. The drive to his hometown was usually not very long. But he was already tired. Driving after a full day of work was not a good choice.
In the end, he made a decision. He would sleep early and leave early on Saturday morning. That night, Hafiz put his bag in the car before bed. The next morning he would not need to rush.
By six in the morning, Hafiz was already on the highway. There were not many vehicles yet and the journey went smoothly. He stopped at a rest area and bought coffee. Then he continued the journey.
When he was almost there, Lina called him. Hafiz answered the call.
“How far are you?” Lina asked.
“Another twenty minutes.”
“Alright then. Mum’s been asking. She’s cooking.”
Hafiz laughed. “That’s why I left early.”
He arrived before nine. His mother was watering the plants. Hafiz drove into the yard. She saw the car and smiled at once.
“You’re here already! I thought you’d be later.”
Hafiz laughed. “I left early. The roads weren’t too jammed either.”
“Good. Come inside. I’ve already cooked.”
Hafiz laughed as he lifted his bag from the car. The smell of food from the kitchen reached the yard. He looked at the time — it was not even nine yet. Saturday was still long. He still had plenty of time to spend with his family.
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