On top of the yellow mountain

It’s now December 1969. “Have you packed all your things, Dan?”, Janet asked nervously, realizing the time is near for her love to leave. “Yes”, Daniel could only managed a word, conscious of her feelings. “ Have you packed the thermal sweater and long johns I bought at Dalchand?”, Janet continued, did not know what else to say. Again Daniel answered with only a “Yes”. “Don’t forget your diary. You can pen down your private inner thoughts when you are lonely”, Janet tried to sound casual, but her heart is aching. “Don’t worry dear. You worry too much. I will be fine”, Daniel replied with an empty feeling deep inside him, sensing Janet was about to burst into tears. “Hey, let’s go to the yellow mountain. I want to go up there again, like the time when we were in high school. It’s so peaceful and beautiful up there”, Daniel reminisces.
The next day, they packed some sandwiches, fruits and drinks and drove to the foot of the yellow mountain. Daniel parks his car in the open compound of the foothill, carrying the picnic basket and his guitar slinging from his shoulders. They begin to ascend the yellow mountain, walking the same brown gravel road, with tropical trees lining the pathway that they had walked during their younger days. Their hearts beat with excitement and anxious anticipation. Daniel could feel Janet’s palm squeezing tightly into his. He squeezed back, as if trying to reassure her that their love for each other is as tightly woven as ever. Finally, they reach the yellow mountain top. Daniel survey the environment und and then select a dry grassy spot underneath a big tree. He carefully rolls out the carpet and places the picnic basket and his guitar on the straw mat. They run to the edge of the mountain top, still holding hands, holding their breaths in awe of what they see. Their senses are filled with the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings on top of the yellow mountain. Below is the narrow valley carpeted with wild flowers blossoming into a variety of colors and intoxicating scents. Farther away lies the city of Kuala Lumpur , covered in thick humid air and vehicles travelling to and fro the dotted brick roads lining its landscape. Above is the clear blue sky which seems to smile approvingly at the two lovebirds below. The gentle breeze caresses their faces, providing soothing touch from the afternoon sun. Birds are singing and serenading them with their infatuating melodies on top of trees. Bees awake from their slumber, flying out from their hive to greet them, pollinating them with their sensual buzzing and humming. They could feel the yellow mountain is alive with all its natural beauty.
“I hope it would never change in a thousand years”, Janet is feeling the moment of her life. It fills her heart with a sensation she has never known. Daniel opens his heart, he wants to shout at the top of his voice, he wants the mountain gods to bear witness to his love for Janet, he wants to sing all the songs hidden in his brain that are meant for his love. His heart is beating like the shining sun above. “Yes darling. it would not change. Some day we shall return to this place”, Daniel answers. Daniel leads Janet to the mat on the grass. He took out the knife and walked towards a young tree. He kneels down and scrapes ‘Janet and Daniel forever’ across the balk. He then walks to where Janet is sitting and picks up his guitar. He starts to scrum some familiar cords of a catchy tune which gradually comes to live with his singing of “All Kinds of Everything’.
“Snowdrops and daffodils, butterflies and bees
Sailboats and fishermen, things of the sea
Wishing-wells, wedding bells
Early morning dew
All kinds of everything remind me of you.
Seagulls and aeroplanes, things of the sky
Winds that go howlin', breezes that sigh
City sights, neon lights
Grey skies or blue
All kinds of everything remind me of you.

Summertime, wintertime
spring and autumn too
Monday, Tuesday every day
I think of you.
Dances, romances
Things of the night
Sunshine and holidays
Postcards to write
Budding trees, autumn leaves
A snowflake or two
All kinds of everything remind me of you.
Summertime, wintertime
Spring and autumn too
Seasons will never change
The way that I love you.

Dances, romances
Things of the night
Sunshine and holidays
Postcards to write
Budding trees, autumn leaves
A snowflake or two
All kinds of everything remind me of you.
All kinds of everything remind me of you”.
“Do you always show your love with songs, darling? Are you real?” Janet asks teasingly. Daniel is somewhat taken aback, sensing that Janet’s question is more telling than her appearance. He did not answer. He continues scrumming his guitar, eyes closed in a trance and starts to sing yet another song. A song called ‘Twelfth of Never’ by Cliff Richard.
“You ask how much I need you, must I explain?
I need you, oh my darling, like roses need rain.
You ask how long I'll love you; I'll tell you true:
Until the twelfth of never, I'll still be loving you.

Hold me close, never let me go.
Hold me close, melt my heart like April snow.

I'll love you till the bluebells forget to bloom;
I'll love you till the clover has lost its perfume.
I'll love you till the poets run out of rhyme,
Until the twelfth of never and that's a long, long time.

Hold me close, never let me go.
Hold me close, melt my heart like April snow.

I'll love you till the bluebells forget to bloom;
I'll love you till the clover has lost its perfume.
I'll love you till the poets run out of rhyme,
Until the twelfth of never and that's a long, long time.

Until the twelfth of never and that's a long, long time”.Suddenly the clouds are getting grey and soon the sky starts to rain. Daniel and Janet are still in warm embrace, deeply kissing each other, oblivious to the on pouring rain, listening only to their own heartbeats and breaths. Not wanting to let go, not wanting for this moment to end, wallowing in their heightened love, knowing that in a few days time, they have to say goodbye.
The rain finally stops and they come to their senses. Daniel starts to pack and decides to head down the mountain, as it is getting dark. “Wait”, Janet suddenly turns round to meet Daniel’s eyes. “I have something for you”, she says. Janet then proceeds to undo the necklace from her neck. “Here, I want you to have it”, she opens her palms with her jade necklace on it and presents it to Daniel. “It belongs to my grandmother. She inherited it from her own grandmother”, Janet revealed. “No, hun, this is not right. It’s a precious gift from your grandmother to you. You should keep it dear in her memory”, Daniel reasons. Janet then begins to unfold the story behind her jade necklace.
“You see, this necklace was given to my grandmother by her grandmother”, Janet repeats. “She told my grandmother that she should only give it away to the man she truly loved. My grandmother was a young pretty lass and coming from a well-to-do family at the time. Many young men tried to woo her and many matchmakers tried to tie her knots. But, no one succeeded. A young man from a neighbouring village has stolen my mother’s heart. He was a bright scholarly youth with new ideas. Everyone in the villages was driven crazy by him but my grandmother was crazy about him. The young man was subject to a lot of ridicule. My grandmother’s friends would make playful jokes about him, but underneath, the message was that this man was not good enough for my grandmother. This conflict did not bode well in my grandmother’s household. It was making her life miserable. Although unconventional, this young man was respectful towards the elders and has a great sense of humour. Perhaps he understood their rigid attachment to traditions which have entrapped them in a fast changing world. My grandmother has made up her mind that this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. But not only he was full of strange ideas, he also came from a poor village. So, her parents discouraged the relationship. But, my grandmother persevered, she would not give up. One day she picked up her courage and confronted her parents. She told them that the country was changing, the world around them was changing. It was changing because people with education have new ideas, were making things happened for the better. And these were the people who have bright future. She told them that she did not want to marry into a family with outdated traditions and condemned herself to a life of domestic obedience. She even revealed to her parents that she has given the jade necklace to this boy from the poor village! You see, even at such a young age and at a time of gender inequality, my grandmother was way ahead of her time. Her parents eventually gave in and she finally married the love of her life, my grandfather. They have a successful and happy life together”, Janet related the story of her jade necklace. “How come the necklace is now with you?”, Daniel enquired. “Well, when my grandfather fell ill and was hospitalized, he asked my grandmother to find the necklace which was kept inside the drawer of their dressing room. My grandmother found the necklace and also a handwritten note placed beneath the necklace. She read the handwritten note in between sobs. “You have chosen me with this necklace. I have not lived a single day of our lives without it. In times of trials and tribulations or laughters and jubilations, I have found peace, solace and refuge in this necklace. I have found the true meaning of love in this necklace. Now the time has come for my departure. Please keep it in our memory. I hope the next owner would find true love as we have found in each other”, my grandfather wrote. Shortly after, my grandfather passed away”, Janet relates the story of her necklace. “I shall keep and cherish it for the rest of my life darling”, Daniel accepted it without a doubt.
They make their descend, carefully avoiding steep undulating terrain , holding hands tightly the same way they came up the yellow mountain. They did not talk much this time, silently engulfed in the thought of life ahead. Finally they reach the foothill and Daniel unlocks the car booth to put the picnic basket and his guitar neatly into it. He then walks to the left front door to open it for Janet. He walks back to his car and starts the engine. They are heading back to the city. Janet is quiet and thoughtful. “Are you ok dear?, Daniel asked. “I am not going to the airport. I can’t. I know I would cry. I don’t want to embarrass you in front of all your relatives and friends. I am sorry. Is it ok?”, Janet lets out her thought. “I understand darling. I will be feeling awkward too. It’s ok. Love is never having to say goodbye right?”, Daniel agrees, calming her.