Book Review: Cinta Pertama

Cinta Pertama
karya Norhayati Berahim
ulasan Md Hazriq Idrus


Membaca novel Cinta Pertama ini adalah salah satu percubaan saya untuk membaca novel kerana membaca novel tu memerlukan kesabaran dan stamina yang agak tinggi. Saya lebih cenderung ke arah membaca cerpen-cerpen kerana cerpen adalah pendek, cepat dibaca dan ia dapat memberikan idea dan rangsangan untuk saya terus menulis cerpen. Namun, setelah membaca Cinta Pertama, ternyata novel karya Norhayati Berahim ini memberikan saya semangat terus membaca lebih banayk novel lagi.

Novel ini mengisahkan, Carl Zafran, seorang pengurus sebuah syarikat pemasang alat sekuriti. Beliau pernah putus tunang sebanyak dua kali dan memberikan alasan tiada jodoh. Ternyata Carl Zafran tidak mempunyai minat terhadap wanita-wanita untuk diambilnya dijadikan isteri.

Namun, keadaan berbeza apabila Nurul Iman mula bekerja sebagai pembantu pengurus* di syarikatnya. Minatnya terhadap Nurul Iman begitu mendalam tetapi dia tidak berani menyatakan hasratnya itu. Perasaan Carl Zafran dikongsi bersama dengan “bapa angkatnya”, Ayah Mat, meskipun Ayah Mat kerap ke luar negara atas urusan perniagaan. Carl Zafran terus mengelamun apabila mendapat tahu bahawa ibu kandung dan bapa tiri Nurul Iman ingin Nurul Iman bertunang dengan jejaka pilihan mereka.

Bagi Nurul Iman, dia bersetuju atas pertunangannya itu adalah kerana dia ingin menjadi anak yang solehah dengan mendengar kata kedua ibu bapanya. Namun, dia sebenarnya menaruh hati kepada Carl Zafran tetapi oleh kerana Carl Zafran tidak meluahkan hasrat hatinya, dia takut jika dia hanya seperti bertepuk sebelah tangan. Di tatkala itu juga, dia sibuk menjejaki bapa kandungnya yang menghilangkan diri setelah bercerai dengan ibu Nurul Iman atas sebab-sebab kekeluargaan.

Keadaan terus menarik perhatian saya apabila Nurul Iman putus tunang. Beberapa soalan terus berligar semasa membaca novel ini. Adakah Carl Zafran akhirnya akan meluahkan hasrat hatinya dan melamar Nurul Iman? Siapa pula Ayah Mat yang sebenarnya? Dapatkah dia membantu Carl Zafran menangani masalah?

Penulis bijak menghentikan babak di saat-saat genting, jadi pembaca ingin terus membaca untuk tahu cerita selanjutnya. Penggunaan bahasa juga agak mudah difahami.

Oleh kerana saya juga seorang penggemar dan penggiat teater, apabila saya membaca sesebuah karya, saya terbayang sekiranya karya-karya seperti ini dapat diadaptasikan ke skrip dan kemudian dipentaskan; seperti pementasan Hikayat Hang Tuah dan Salina. Kedua-dua pementasan itu diadaptasikan dari buku.

Pada pendapat saya, novel Cinta Pertama mempunyai potensi untuk dipentaskan kerana punyai babak-babak seperti di dalam ofis, di kelab malam, di dalam rumah di mana, adegan-adegan dapat mencabar seseorang penulis skrip dan pengarah. Babak-babak yang dimatikan oleh penulis juga sesuai dijadikan “end of scene” jika dipentaskan. Babak-baka suspens seperti ini selalu menarik perhatian penonton untuk terus menyaksikan sesebuah persembahan.

- On air at Warna 94.2 FM.

Retrospective 2005 - My Year of the Arts

It was a memorable 2005 for me. I called it my Year of the Arts.

As early as January, I participated in a skit for a “Tribute to Volunteers - A Project by Persatuan Persuratan Pemuda-Pemudi Melayu, 4PM” Entitled, “Volunteer, Jangan Tak Volunteer”. Played multiple roles, assisting also in the development of the script. It was held at Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim as the Guest of Honour.

Then, I participated and acted as the Bentara Dalam (Minister of Home Affairs) in a 10-minute play presentation of the crowning of a Malay Sultan. It is a theatre segment of Rangsang Rias II – A project by Masjlis Pusat held at Taman Warisan Melayu.

In February, I was asked to host 3 NLB functions; NLB Children Community Libraries’ Staff Year-End Party at Toa Payoh Community Library, NLB Staff Party and NLB Friends of Library Appreciation Party, both at Bukit Merah Community Library.

In March, I went for a filming for Geylang Si Paku Geylang (under Communications 2000) series, a drama about the Geylang Serai. I played as the cinema ticket seller. It was informed that the drama would be televised after Geylang Serai has been torn down for re-development.

On April 2, I partnered my buddy Raydza to act in an adapted short story, Osmani Anvar, written by my uncle Rohman Munasip. The act was part of his book launch at Bedok Community Library. Two weeks later, I partnered Anwar Hadi in a hilarious skit under Teater Ekamatra’s Via V programme. It was memorable as it was my first time acting at my workplace, library@esplanade.

June was the first time I did hosting for a wedding dinner. It was Affan’s and Yani’s wedding dinner and I partnered Raydza. It was also in amidst of my rehearsals with Theatre 2000’s Villa Singa.

July. My dance debut. Danced for the first time under the song, Joget Anak Kampung. Performed at The Neptune, to celebrate Majlis Pusat’s Annual Dinner.
Along the way, some past TV programmes that I acted in were re-televised;.
Jejak Pendekar - A Documentary by Right-Angle productions, where I played in a silat sparring scene; and
Wajah Pendatang: Minang – a Docu-Drama by Communications 2000 where I played Minangkabau Boy.

In August, I was back at Victoria Theatre. A nostalgic moment for me as I last acted there in 1997. This time, I acted as Cikgu Hamid under Cik Nadiputra’s Villa Singa.

October 2005 saw me shooting for the Hari Raya Drama, 2X5 DOL by Eaglevision. Played Shamsul, I re-united with my old theatre pals, Apit (Firdaus Rahman), Hamzah Adon and Zaki Ismawee. Also, I made a new friend with Haizad, the show’s main actor. The show was telecasted on the first day of Hari Raya in November.

November was a tiring month for me as well. I had a back-to-back functions. On 26 Nov evening, I co-hosted with Hussein Saaban in NLB’s inaugaural Perjumpaan Hari Raya at Restoran Sri Kampung. The very next morning, I was at Furama Riverfront Hotel for the Kirana Seni di Aidilfitri function. For this event, I tripled up as Stage Manager, Programme Team member and also the Games Master in the games segment.

Earlier somewhere in the middle of the month, I was filming for a scene in the Hanyut Telemovie (under Screenbox Pte Ltd). It was telecasted on 25 Christmas Day.

As I thought that that I would not have any engagements in December, rezeki datang sekali lagi. I was approached by Tampines East Zone 5 RC to host their X-Mas Party at Tampines St 21. It was “scary” initially because the Guest of Honour was Mr Mah Bow Tan but as the programme moved on, it seemed fine.

Then, a last minute request by Faridah and Shaufi to host their wedding dinner function at the Zoo. It was a memorable day as it was my first time hosting a dinner function at a zoo and given the greenlight, I made sure the function turned out to be like a DnD kind!

Me The Best Man

My army buddy, Sahrudin, was getting married on the 31st December 2005 and the reception was to take place on 1st January 2006. And he already “booked” me for a few months in advance to be his best man. Wow! First time. I was going to be his best man. Was so excited. But to think of it again, it was satu amanah yang harus dilaksanakan.

We reached Norhafizah’s (Sahrudin’s fiancee) residence (Woodlands) at about 4.30pm on 31st December. Sat beside him while waiting for the Tok Kadi to arrive, scheduled at 5pm. Sahrudin looked good in his yellow outfit and black kain songket. Everyone’s eyes were on him (and I guessed, must be on me as well since dah duduk sebelah dia).

He didnt show he is nervous, but I was!! So funny, he’s the pengantin, kita pulak yang seram. I think that’s the nature, I guess.

Dengan sekali lafaz aje, Sahrudin pun dah jadi suami Fizah. Betul punya laju si Din ni lafazkan time ijabkabul. Macam MRT dah....sampai some of the audience dah ketawa. But he did good.

The next day was the even bigger day. I expected me to be very busy. Yes, it was very busy. Didnt know that the Best Man got a lot of things to do. Contacted Abg Man the car driver, kompangs people, co-ordinated with Lisha (Fizah’s bridesmaid) on the timings, liased with Abg Nor for the convoy with the super-bikes and so forth. Dah macam co-ordinator wedding. But it was fun lah.

We left Sahrudin’s residence about 12.45pm and reached Woodlands shortly. Dengan iringan paluan kompang, kami bergerak menuju ke gerbang masuk. Ditahan dua orang, kira nak mintak duit tol lah tu.

Dah settle, followed by persembahan pencak silat. Then, I thought boleh terus gi pelamin, rupanya, ada lagi tol!! Wah, banyak betul tol atau “ERP” kat Woodlands ni. I called this “En Route to Pelamin” (ERP). Hehehe.

Last tol, dengan Mak Andam (we called her Kak Nana). Kak Nana tu pun sporting gak, so boleh ah kita buat kelakar kat depan pelamin tu. Then, baru pengantin dapat duduk.

The way back to Sahrudin’s place was okay too, cuma no one planned from where nak berarak. So, i instructed the driver to stop at the carpark entrance. Biar longer distance to berarak, baru nampak style!

Dah didudukkan kat atas pelamin, aku pulak bukak langkah. Kira hadiah persembahan silat untuk pengantinlah. After me was Sahrudin’s relative to bukak langkah, then after that, no one pulak nak continue. So, aku masuk lah gelanggang lagi untuk “tutupkan” acara silat tu.

In conclusion, it was not easy being a bestman. But is was definitely a memorable day for me as well. First activitiy in the new year. First time being the bestman.

At one point, one of his uncles suddenly came and asked, “So, you Udin punya best man? Dah berapa anak sekarang?”

I was stunned with his question. Anak? In my heart I said, jangankan kata anak, anak kucing pun saya takda. I chuckled and asked to myself: Do I look like a father? Or is my size now looks like someone who is already married with kids? Hahaha.

Hmm....the more reason for me to work out, or is it satu tanda for other reason?