I first met Dr Mimi in June 2007, and the first thing she said to me “I like your shoes”. I used to put on covered shoes on-campus in UPM, and if not mistaken it was Clark’s with a slight heel. I dropped by her office because I wanted to introduce myself as I heard from a senior colleague she would be furthering studies in Forensic Psychology. A very interesting area. Like who would ever know, then, Forensic would have anything to do with Psychology? Later, she left for Doctor in Clinical Psychology programme in Fresno California, and within that time I completed my master and returned to the Department. While she was away, I remembered asking her former student, my good friend (Nadiah Rosli) about ideas to give students assignments for Abnormal Psychology. And she suggested me to explore “Go Crazy” that Ms. Mimi invented for her students. Dropped her an email and she promptly replied with an attachment of “Learning Package”. I was familiar with the term because it was similar to my learning experience where our lecturers would provide us “Self-learning Package” and there included the description of the assignments and all related information such deadlines, percentage, what are we expected to fulfill, consultation hours, whatnots. I dig those hard copies of assignments in UniMelb, re-read on Sister Mimi’s attachment and came up with my own set of assignment. I wanted feedback. I recalled of emailing her the attachments, and she replied “Well done, am sure the class will enjoy this”. We were in email communication for years.
When she returned I asked her what was the craziest thing you did in the U.S? She laughed. “Paling gila..okayyy you know what I remember walking from (somewhere- could not recall the place) and it was a dark night, and I could not get hold of any public transport. And there was a long lorry passed by, and I signalled for a ride. You know the lorry stopped, and I asked the driver if I can get a lift. The driver said am going to the same direction.. hop on!” You know anything could have happened that night, I could have got robbed or anything (she laughed shaking her head, eyes looking at the ceiling)..but Alhamdulillah everything was fine. I was home safe.
Sister Mimi was one of the persons who I can confide in about my PhD journey. There were times when I was clueless and did not know what to do; I chose to talk to her. She was a good listener. She knew what was the root of the problem and her response was simple. “You tried I know, but just keep trying. We all must not stop trying, and you will see things soon will be better.” She was right.
This writing is a tribute to our kind sister Mimi. She is home with The Almighty and His fellow servants. May Allah s.w.t. graces her with maghfirah, blessings, and rezq. Our sister belongs to many people who love her. Whenever people think of her, people speak of her kind actions. She has eloquently shown us; we need not live long to serve as a khalifah.
And so, she is, one person we all shall miss.
We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.