0210

0210, the traffic light intersection of Green Road and Jalan Keretapi. On my left is a blue Mercedes, on my right a white Saga. In the Saga there were two man, one smoking a cigarette sitting with one leg on the seat. The Mercedes’ windows were fogged up from the air conditioning.

I was waiting for my turn for the lights to turn green. Since it is a ‘dumb’ traffic light, the pattern and delay for midnight is the same as the one in daytime; that is, very long. Glancing at the side mirror, I saw a Waja approaching with both of its blinkers blinking. Thinking that it is having a problem of sorts, I started turning my head when two men walked forward to the Mercedes. Only then I realised that the Waja was a police car, and that the two men were policemen.

They tapped on the window of the Mercedes. At first I thought it was a routine check, but when they opened the driver’s side door and did what looks like an attempt to wake the driver up, I can see that he is motionless. A few seconds later there were still no sign of life from him.

The traffic light turning green, I steered to the right to avoid the opened driver door. Throughout the drive home, I was thinking about the husband that will never come home to his wife and children.

0210.