The unplanned ride in 2011

by Arnab Banerjee (India)

A leap into the unknown Malaysia

I started regretting my decision to go out alone so late at night. Our Malaysia trip had come to an end and the jet out was the next day. To make use of the little time I had, I decided to indulge myself on a nocturnal stroll along the roads of Kuala Lumpur all alone. After an hour, the labyrinths of the roads started to confuse me when I heard the sound of a decelerating motorcycle approaching me from behind. “Who you? What you do here?” – the rider shouted. He was in his mid-thirties, wearing a shabby jacket, was dark skinned and appeared to be of Indian origin. - “I am a tourist, visiting Malaysia for the first time” I said “Do you speak Hindi?” - “I Speak Tamil and Malay” he replied - “You speak English too” - “You know where I learn English? In jail”, he boasted! - “Why did you end up in prison?” I asked in shock! - “I put knife to that bastard nine times so sure he die”, he smirked! He showed me his right palm, which was nothing but only a finger. The four others were either chopped off or amputated as there were scar marks clearly visible. “They beat me so much in jail”, he looked at his finger, “but I no die. I carry protection all time”, he lifted his jacket and showed a rusty metal in the shape of a small pistol tucked into his jeans! I could not figure out its authenticity but it was enough to alert me of possible danger. “Get up”, he indicated at the pillion seat of his motorcycle, “you not regret”, he insisted! Having no other choice, I complied. Within few minutes, we were riding along the unknown corners of Kuala Lumpur. The night was aglow with blazing moon with occasional appearance of distant silhouetted human figures and few sudden swoosh of passing vehicles. The roads were almost empty and the shops were all closed. Few 7-Eleven stores appeared here and there. The sleeping Kuala Lumpur was looking lovely from that vantage. We had come quite far. All I thought was an experience was happening in an unplanned and distinct way and the only way was to live it. We came across a narrow alley where some people were living on the street. He parked the motorcycle and we joined the group. - “All from other countries try job in Malaysia” he said. - “Where are they from?” I asked - “Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Chiang Mai…” It was a group of about 30 people co existing as a cosmopolitan family living in harmony under the sky. Some were eating, some talking and some sleeping. Some drinking. A thick girl in her twenties, mucus running down her nose curiously came closer. They seemed to know each other and talked in Malay. -“She work the night” he winked. The girl looked at me and said something in Malay which he translated as “You come see good Malaysia and we bad Malaysia”. She seemed to be totally indifferent to the mucus running down her nose. We three shared a beer sitting on road. Very far away on a small part of the sky appeared the miniature of the glittering Petronas Towers. The contrast of life was stunning! After, we motorcycled around many deserted roads, fairly busy roads, bars, discos, temples, mosques and lakes. This venture seemed to take its own transformation, from risky to a joyful discovery. The Petronas Towers appeared once again this time bigger and silhouetted against the early morning sky and the mysterious night was turning into the casual weekday morning. The man with a gun and a criminal background was bringing me back to my ‘safe’ periphery. We had our early morning tea served in transparent plastic packets to be sipped by a plastic straw. “Next time you come to Kuala Lumpur”, he said “bring the superstar Rajnikant with you”. We had a laugh and then he shook my hand with his one finger and disappeared into the early morning traffic. We didn’t exchange contact details. Perhaps memories of leaping into the unknown are best guarded with a lingering mystery.