Chapter 7 - Beautiful Pahang Lasses.

Arriving at Bentong from Kuala lumpur - that horrible two hours trip of winding roads plus those up and down running of the bus caused him to vomit.Vomited until he was pale and shivering.He had travel sickness all the way.What a trip?.This was his first trip to Pahang and what horrible ride to hell?

On arrival at the station he had to clean his face and mouth,had a cup of warm coffee to freshen up then on recovering his composure he called the plantation he was to work in.However the Manager was not available because he was in the fields and he left a message.So he waited for him to be back.

It was a long wait about two hours or more that the Manager came in his land rover to fetch him.This Manager was the same man he first worked under.They had lunch in town before going back to the plantation.No sooner had they ordered their lunch they were joined by two other of his friends,and they began to drink.Bottles of beer were ordered,the session went for another three hours before they call it a day.What a hectic day?.

Alex being young could not drink but nevertheless they encouraged him to drink as well.So he obliged and drunk a glass or so.One man was apparently a Police officer while the other a businessman.Thereafter they left for home.The Manager drove for more than half an hour before they reached the plantation's office.

On arrival Alex was shown his place of stay,it was just above the office.As there were only two rooms Alex selected the front room which faces the main entrance road and the main road.Secondly because the room was very airy which suited him just fine.
That night he had a nice sleep,despite the opened windows there were no mosquitoes.

On the next early morning the Manager took him around the fields and also took him to the Division he was to be in charged.On returning to the office he was given a motor cycle,a 250cc BSA motor cycle.He was to use that for his transport around the fields and he could make used of it to go out to town as well.He was fortunate as the Manager was willing to supply him with food for lunch and dinner.

Thereafter he was on his own as he went round the fields initially the senior conductor had to show him the way but that was for the first two days only.The Division was slightly more than 2000 acres,almost fully matured accept for some replanting areas.As usual he attended muster every early morning,riding through the cold and freezing misty morning air.At times as he reached the Division both his fore arms were already wet by moisture of the morning dews.

All his tappers were residences workers,about 70% Indians and 30% Chinese.Chinese mostly female tappers.There were large acreages of PBIG seedlings trees all matured and in full tapping,the other fields were RRIM 600 small acreages of RRIM 605 and PB 5/51.With so big acreages in tapping his work was thus very interesting and the very hilly terrain made it better.But hilly terrains had its shortcomings,come rainy days his motor cycle at times was not serviceable because the roads will then be very slippery for motor cycles.Tappers had to be sent into the fields by tractors.

Latex collected for the day were sent to the factory in the main division in churns.All these transportation by tractors only.Lorry with tankers were not used due to the hilly terrain of the plantation.The plantation produced its own rubber smoked sheets and therefore have their own smoke houses.In fact the factory and the snoke houses were next to the office where Alex lived.

There was a river behind Alex residence,across which was a Chinese village named Sungei Penjuring New Village.There were two coffee shops over there and Alex had his breakfast there because one shop had "Wan Ton Mee".Breakfast was seemingly cheap and further can eat first and pay later,that served Alex purpose,can settle at the end of the month.How wonderful?.

Morning breakfast was wonderful as there were many girls from the village passing by to catch the bus to town to work or some other chores.Some of these Pahang lasses were quite beautiful,catching the eyes of Alex.Alex being the new kid in village was under their scrutinized watchful eyes.Those were the happy days.

As Alex destined to have some one else in mind never attempted to make friends with any of them.Every evening after his duty in the plantation he will sit in front of his windows to watch the proceedings around as its was the main entrance road.Directly in front also another small building where a family dwelt.A charming young girl will always sit at the porch in all evenings,much to the delight of Alex,but he was cautious not to proceed any further than that as usual his mind was only filled with the first girl at first sight.

Well beautiful girls every where not one for him how ridiculous?How one love can change his life ,or did it changed his life,no,never he was so madly in love the first love that he tried not to think of other girls.This one side love was not doing him any good definitely,but he was dead serious about it,so it did not altered his life.

Life will soon changed for a few months stay in that plantation his younger brother paid him a visit during which he diverged that Linda his first love had married.He was devastated for lost of words at the bad news and he cried like a baby in secret that night.He was heart broken and felt lost in this wretched world,how can it be so cruel to him.He had full fate that could not have happened to him.Destination thus failed him tremendously .

Saddened by his fate,had he the bravery he would have ended his dear life but he was a coward and realized that was not the way out,so he continued to strife on to make a success in life.Yes soon he will get over it,so instead of trying to destroy himself he gather his courage and strength to strive on. He knows his capability and that were not fully utilized nor exploited as yet,he was made for better things in life. Or the time has not come for him to brightened his potentials and with confidence he can succeed.

Losing a girl friend should not be the end of the world,realizing that should he exposed himself fully to the world many girls will be attracted to ho him especially that he was young,handsome and available.From there he can easily pick and select the one that has the qualities that can overshadowed Linda,his first love.Could be more lovely too.So there so no need to cry over split milk.

He began growing out to town in the evening on his motor cycle,meeting many friends both young men and girls but non seem to suit his tastes.One late evening as he was returning to the plantation in heavy rain he was connecting a corner in high speed a leopard leaped out from the jungles edges and ran across the road just in front of him.

In fright he accelerated faster only to be blocked by a fallen huge rubber tree across the road.He tried to apply his emergency brakes but they failed him miserably.The sudden braking caused the motor cycle to skid.In skidding he crushed into the fallen rubber tree which was quite huge and had many branches.Rain was still raining heavily.

He was jammed within the branches of the fallen tree,but was able to summon all his bull strength, he struggled to pull himself together with the motor cycle out of the fallen tree.Once out of that mess he felt pain in his lips and as he reach out to feel it, he was astonished to find blood flowing from his injured lips.In that crushed he hurt himself especially his lips.

Fearing that the leopard was still lurking around,he immediately reversed his motor cycle and rode towards town,he was fortunate as the crushed did not kill off the engine because he had the present of mind to hold on to its clutch and free its gear as the accident happened.

He rode straight into the General Hospital,where the nurses quickly attended to him and they also treated his wounds on the lips.Next early morning the plantation Manager was there and then the Doctor came in.As s soon as he inspected Alex's injuries he surprised everyone by saying its was nothing serious.He can have those lips stitch up in no time.But he continued that after this he jokingly told Alex that he would not be able to kiss again in future.Well that caught the shy Alex off guard as he marveled at him.

That Doctor ,Dr Dorai as he was called stitched up his lower lip with few stitches.
The other minor injuries were cleansed and treated by the nurses.Alex was hospitalized for almost two days within which he met several beautiful girls especially some of the nurses.A beautiful nurse by the name Rosie,also attended to him, and they became instantly friends.

Alex was discharged two day later and rested for another three at the plantation.He returned to the Hospital for the removal of the stitches.The wound on the lower lips had closed up well but leaving a scar permanently there.For a young man it was okay as it did not effect his appearance.A tiny scar made him more macho isn't it so?.

Now that he was in the Hospital he went to locate Rosie but unfortunately she was not around being her off day.So he went to the quarters in search of her.He was lucky as she did not hesitate to meet him at the door.They chatted for a while and he made an appointment with her.And she agreed.So no disappointment.

That appointed day soon came and he was right at her door steps at the appointed day as she was not fully ready he had to wait for for for almost half an hour.They went out for a dinner and there after attended the the second film show for the night.He sent her home after a supper and as they were at her door steps Alex held her tight and gave her a good night kiss .Well,she too responded with much eagerness.With romance over he bide her goodnight.What a lovely evening.

It was lovely evening had he not made a bizarre mistake,for as they were kissing romantically his obsession for the girl he first love came out of his mouth unconsciously.This girl thought she heard wrongly and continue making love with him,but with a suspecting mind and so that night passed as if without any problems.

They made appointments for the following evening,Alex met his appointment with a clear conscience but that night as they were romancing in the garden nearby he made the blunder once again.In excitement he once again unconsciously repeated his usual mistake and called out the same."Linda I love you".That was it she heard it,yes Rosie heard it loud and clear.How unfortunate?.

Without hesitation she gave him a push,shoving him away from her,pointing furiously at him,"Why you liar, making love to me and calling out another woman's name,who is she anyway?"."no,no,dear I was saying Darling,I love you",Alex tried to bluff his way out.
"Oh no,I heard you clearly,yesterday I was not clear,but today I heard it alright.You said,Linda,I love you"."Well.what do you think I am? Your spare tyre?How dare you?"she continued.

Alex now knew he was cornered and shamefully admitted his fault and reviewing who Linda was.He begged for forgiveness but Rosie was too annoyed and cannot control her anger.She refused to listen to Alex and shouted at him "This is the last time I see you,don't call me again for I don't want to hear from you ever again".Then they parted company.Although Alex made several attempts to see her but she was never available all the time.That ended their courtship.

What a shame another beautiful girl broke off with him.This surely was a very charming girl who can matched Linda in all respects accept that she was slightly older than Alex by two years,and he had to spoil it for himself.That obsession for the first girl was definitely taking its toll on poor Alex,Whatever it was life must go on,it was a lesson to be learned.Thus Rosie will also be a memory leaving her mark behind,her loving kisses with medicated lips.

In sorrow he wept along the way home.It surely was a cold,cold night as he rode home to the plantation.It was also drizzling as he traveled home making it colder and he shivered in that condition,but he reached home safely,alright.He had a sleepless night that evening, well, as he was still very young this failure thus can be an another unfortunate encounter.

All were never lost as there were other options around,some maybe even better than her while others have other qualities.So he forgo this affair and went out hunting again and the girl in front of his quarter seem to be an easy prey,as he stood at his window to watch her.Well no sooner had he stood there that girl was already sitting in front of her house.

When their eyes met he smiled at her and acknowledge her presence with a little greetings.She was gamed and waved back at him.The following evening she was near the entrance of the office that he make an acquaintance with her and there they had a long chat for hours.What a start and before long he invited her to his sitting room where they again conversed for hours.This time he was more polite for he did not want to hurt another girl again.Nothing happened between them ,nor did he made advances towards her.He kept his distance.

Not that she was not attractive in fact she was charming, beautiful,well built,but he did not want to harm her,that simple.Had he made an advance towards her definitely she would have responded no doubt about that.Yes,so near yet so far.Her house was just in front of his any wrong move will land him into hot soup,so don't ask for trouble.

He went about his job as normal and only talked to this girl in the evening when he was free.His food was supplied by the Manager's house hold.Always sent to him by a small girl who also helped to sweep his house and washed up all the cups and plates for him.Both lunch and dinner were delivered to him.It was very kind of his Boss.That small girl was about thirteen years old and always tagged along were her younger sister or a friend.All very cute and beautiful girls.






To be continued when inspired only.