Chapter 1 (1/2)
At that moment,
Surya (a solar deity-G.o.d of the sun) was sitting on his crystal chariot, a
carriage drawn by a pair of horses, circling Mount Semeru in a direction from
east to west through the constellation of the solar system, and thus at its
turn, concealed by the great mount, lost its light and there appeared Savitr
(G.o.d of the sun before sunrise and sunset). At that time, it was the 15th
day of the waxing moon of the month of Karttika in the year of dog, the 4th
year in the 10 year cycle, in 2470 B.E.* Chandra (a lunar deity) climbed up his
silver chariot and started his journey from the west spreading the silver light
all over the earth. Chandra seemed to be smilingly eyeing the roof of a
residence residing the west of Svay Pao market, a dome-shaped market in Battambang
province**. ***
[*based on
lunisolar calendar- November 19th 1926.
**A province in Cambodia
***this whole paragraph literally means after the sun sets on a particular day
on November 19th, 1927, there appeared the moon showering its light…
and under that light, there’s a house.]
The
residence is a type of Khmer traditional house, an old two tiled roof home with
board wall, parquet flooring, and round pillars. At the gable craved with a
wooden sculpture of Reaho Chab Chan* (eclipse of the moon). Under the
sculpture, craved the word “Sereypong”.
During that
night, the moonlight was leaking into the house through the window along with
the cool and refres.h.i.+ng air. There is an oil lamp hanging by the wall, giving
off dim light to the house. Under the light, there is a very skinny old man,
looking bloodless like there’s only skeleton under that skin, resting in the
room. Near the weak old man, there’s a young man who is taking care of him. The
young man’s expression is dull and somber. He has stayed up for 3 days to take
care of the weak old man who is his father.
The sick old
man who is lying unconsciously on the bed is called Cheoum, his surname is
Sereypong. Once in a while, he would breathe a long breathe.
He then opened his eyes and looked around the room. His eyes then locked on the
man sitting near him. That young man is his dearest son, Chao Chet, the future
of Sereypong family. He tried to smile with sadness and to speak with a tremble
voice, “Chet, my dear son! It’s already so late. Why aren’t you sleeping? Go,
go to bed!” Ta Cheoum* urged his son to go to bed, worrying that he will get
sick. Chao Chet** shook his head refusing his father and expressed his sorrow.
He then replied “I’m not sleepy yet, father! Father, have you not taken your
medicine yet? Doctor advised that you have to take your medicine.”
[*Ta Cheoum
– “Ta” = “old man”, Cheoum is the name of the old man.
**Chao Chet – “Chao” = “young man”, Chet is the name of the young man.]
“Medicine?” Ta
Cheoum said in a weak voice in a manner of ridiculing the medicine because he
knew that the medicine can’t help him. He continued, “My son! Father* already
took this medicine many times, did not see how it helps in curing this illness.
This kind of illness, father know it well that. In this kind of situation,
medicine is no better than lake water!
[*older people
usually refer to themselves using their own t.i.tle.]
Before Chao
Chet could reply to his father, a middle aged man walked into the room, found
himself a seat near the patient and asked, “How do you feel today? Are you
feeling any better yet?”
“Oh, Buddha!*”
Ta Cheoum exclaimed the moment he heard what the doctor asked him, he then
replied, “Oh, doctor, my vision already got blurry, I’m sorry I did not notice
you were there.”
Chao Chet,
once he heard what his father said, burst into tears overflowing with sadness.
He turned to the doctor and begged him to help his father. However, the doctor shook his head in despair
and whispered to Chao Chet, “He can’t make it through the night.”
After that,
Ta Cheoum continued to say with difficulties, “I may not live to see the sun
rises tomorrow. I don’t think this is strange. Death is a natural thing that
ought to happen, no living beings can escape death. As for my body and soul,
they are at ease. I do not have any regret. As for my afterlife, it will be up
to the heaven to decide.” He then turned to his son and leave his message,
“Chet, my dear son! As father will no longer be here, you will have to wander
without stake to depend on like a flotsam floating aimlessly on the river.
Chao Chet’s
words stuck in his throat, he could only let the tears stream down his face and
groveled at his father’s feet. The doctor turned to look at the window, his
eyes filled with tears.
Ta Cheoum
continued his message with struggle, “Chet, my dear son! You have to remember
my words. People believe that prosperity is to be rich with wealth because if
you are poor, people will look down on you. Being poor won’t bring you
happiness, but, my son, father can’t bring you that happiness. But, you have to
remember a proverb Atahi Atanoh Nea-thoh meaning to depend on oneself.
The doctor suddenly
interrupted at that moment, “Ta, don’t lose hope too fast, even though your
illness is serious, but there’s still hope. You still can get well.”
Heard the
doctor, Ta Cheoum provokingly says, “Get well, huh? Doctor, there is no way to
be cured. There’s only death awaiting, this morning, tonight or even now.
Whenever it is, it is not important.”
Ta Cheoum stopped and a moment later he
continued, “Chet, my dear son. Father is poor, do not have anything valuable
for you. After my death, all there is left are this body and advices. My soul
can only rest peacefully if you follow my advices. Also, with the knowledge
that you have gained, pa.s.s the examinations and get the certificate! From today
onward, father can no longer be by your side to support you.”
Chao Chet,
once he heard all the advices, tears continue to fall down his face. He
groveled at his father’s feet and said, “Father! I will remember every words
you said. I will followed everything you have advised. Father, don’t worry