Hear me now

Part 3

Indra walks to him and signs to get his attention. Lutfee snaps back to reality.

"It's going to take a while for the tow truck to come." Indra signs to Luthfee. "Thanks again for your help earlier. I'll just wait until it gets here. I'm sure you have places to be. Sorry for taking up your time."

Luthfe smirks and nods. He slowly walks around to the driver seats. He opens his door. He thought to himself. He doesn't have anywhere to go today. He didn't think that he needed to plan for today because he was going to put a bullet through his head. The only place he plans to go is the hereafter.

Luthfe bangs on the car door. Indra looks at him.

In sign language

"I'll take you to work." Luthfe says

"Are you sure?" Indra replies

"Where's your work?

"It's at University Malaya."

"Let's go"

Luthfe starts his car, and they make their way to the University. Luthfe turns on the radio. Indra noted that the music was very jazzy and upbeat. He assumes that Luthfe only turns it on to entertain him during the drive. It was a quiet drive. Luthfe is deaf and it's not expected for a deaf person to talk while driving then who's doing the driving?

They arrived at the University. It a quaint environment. It's located at the suburbs of an encroaching city but hidden under the canopy of trees around it. The university itself is quite old, one of the oldest in the country. You could see its progress throughout the decade with its shifting architecture as you venture further inside the campus. With its more modern and futuristic at the edge towards more baroques and brutalist architecture at the centre. Inside the campus Indra directs Lutfe on where to go. They arrived and Indra steps out of the vehicle and walk around to the driver windows.

In sign language

"Thanks for the lift and let's exchange numbers. Let me treat you to dinner for your help and trouble." says Indra.

"Sure." Luthfe says

Indra handed Lutfe his card and Luthfe signs to him, his mobile number.

Indra signs smiles and signs "See you". Luthfe nods and drives away.

Luthfe drives to his home. On the way he smirks, he found it funny how his little act was cut interrupted by a bang, and he is going out with a bang himself. He arrives to his little apartment in the outskirts of the city. It's small but enough for a single person like him. Inside his home are many various instruments from guitars, bass, a drum kit, a saxophone and little gadgets of instruments he like to tinker with. The items in his home will leave any unacquainted person confused to why he owns all these instruments. Luthfe was not born deaf. He used to be able to hear until an unfortunate accident causes him to go deaf gradually.

He turns on his record player, put the volume on maximum, and he mosey across the carpet and reclines onto his seat. Besides his seat are two speakers placed closely. Luthfe positions his ear near the speakers, even though he could not hear, he could still feel the vibration from the speakers. He could discern the changes of vibration; he imagines them as notes changing and he would make the sound from his head. It soothes him, it reminds him of what he was once was.

Afterwards, he scans the cards that Indra gave him earlier. On the card, there's the university logo.

It writes.

Putra Indra

Lead Researcher

Medical Research and Development Unit

Faculty of medicine

He is a smart kid, and he does look the part, Luthfe thinks to himself. He puts the card on the coffee table and continues to enjoy the vibration from the speakers.

RING! RING! RING!

Luthfe phones rings. He senses the vibration coming from his pocket and answers the call.

NOTHING....

The caller hangs up the phone and he receive a text message. It's from an unknown number.

It writes.

"Hello Luthfe, it's Indra. Sorry for calling you. I forgot. I was wondering you're up for have dinner tonight. It's the least I could do to repay for your help."

Luthfe does not have anything to do, nor does he have anyone to meet tonight so he agrees to it. Indra sends another message

"That's great but could you pick me up at the same location? My car won't be fixed for another three days."

Luthfe texts back "Sure".