5-car-crash on the NKVE

Now I know what it means when one says it was like it was happening to someone else.

It was surreal.

I was thinking about the payments I was going to make to my writers and translators and cheques I had to prepare when I suddenly realised the car in front me had stopped suddenly. Screeching tyres alarmed me.

I pressed on the brakes suddenly and thought to myself, "Would I stop in time?" Right then, everything moved so slowly. Then, BANG. The car stopped.

Just when I was about to feel relieved, another bang. And another.

Followed by silence.

Again my thoughts concentrated on the most important things, I guess. I felt myself all over. Felt okay. "Wow, alhamdulillah. The seat-belts really work." I opened the door, got off and counted the cars.

Five altogether.

A Merc, a BMW, my car, a WAJA and a MYVi right at the back. Stuck together like Ikesha's toy choo choo train.

Oops, I did not switch off the car. The engine was running. I switched it off.

Everyone looked pretty intense. What do I do? I called Rudy. After his warning about not taking any offers for tow trucks, he told me to stay put. He's coming. Where would I go? We were in the third lane on the NKVE at 10.00am in the morning on a working day. I assured him I will be right here waiting, just before the jejantas Sg Buloh. "Now, try not to be extra friendly. And only give your details to the car owner in front of you," he concluded his Car Accident tutorial 101.

I put down the phone. Well, you know what I mean. Then I walked over to the WAJA owner.

"Hello, saya Zalina." "Nasri."

"Hi, I am Zalina," I said to the BMW owner. "Hi, Michelle."

"Hello, saya Zalina. Auntie, Uncle ok?" "Ok..." "Nama Uncle?" "Saya Chang." "Oh, Mr Chang."

"Hi... Zalina." "Saya, Wong." said the MyVi owner.

To be continued.

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Not much to say except Rudy came to take care of things, took me to the police station and settled the workshop stuff. After that he sent me to my Mum's to rest.

However, there is one thing I would like to state. I was so lucky. For three things.

That Allah took care of my state of mind and did not let me panic, swerve to the left or right, or let go of the steering - it was my first major accident.

That Allah kept my body safe, intact and my spirits levelled. Calm at the time.

That Allah enlightened me to extend my hand to those involved in the accident. We ended up being very nice to each other, there were no arguments, just relieved that we were all okay. At the police station, there were no conflicts in our statements - this was amazing to the police.

This Maal Hijrah I start my year full of gratitude for the life I have.