My Lembu

Rahman Husin and Mahidon Kassim dislike each other. In fact, they hate the sight of each other. This is because they have a dispute. They are fighting over a cow.

Rahman Husin and Mahidon Kassim are neighbours. They both own a herd of cows each. Yesterday, one cow was found wandering across the sawah padi. Mahidon Kassim went to bring the meandering cow back to his herd. Suddenly, Rahman Husin’s loud voice thundered across the road. “What are you doing with my lembu?” shouts Rahman Husin. “Who says this is your lembu”, came Mahidon Kassim’s reply.

The angry Rahman Husin darts across the road. “This is my lembu.” he screams. “No, this is my lembu,” retorts Mahidon Kassim. The two men started their argument on the ownership of the cow. Soon, a large crowd has gathered around the two squabbling men. Their row went on for two hours without an end in sight.

Rahman Husin then decided to bring the feud to a physical level. He rolled up his sarong and displayed his silat gayong stance. So did Mahidon Kassim. Tok Bek, one of the elderly peace-loving villagers attempted to halt the fist-fight. “Look, you need not fight. We have a court. Bring your fight there.” says Tok Bek. The other villagers nodded in agreement.

Tok Bek then led the two angry men, together with the cow, to the Magistrate Court. The court interpreter, Rav Rav Shankar was there. Tok Bek narrated the incident to Rav Rav Shankar. Rav Rav Shankar then said, “It’s already late evening. The magistrate has gone fishing. You have to come tomorrow morning.” Rahman Husin then interjected, “What about my lembu? If Mahidon takes my lembu tonight, he will definitely slaughter the lembu and have a feast for his family.” Mahidon Kassim immediately got up, swaying his fist. “Stop, stop! This is a court house!” cries Rav Rav Shankar, “The cow will be kept by the court. It will be safe. The court bailiffs will see to that.”

Sompol and Del Amran, the court bailiffs, were summoned. They were instructed by Rav Rav Shankar to take the cow to the garage situated at the back of the court house. “Tie up the lembu. Give it some water and grass. Make sure nobody steals the lembu,” notifies Rav Rav Shankar.

The next morning, a crowd has already gathered in front of the court building. The quarrel the day before has caught everyone’s attention. They were eager to see how this vendetta is to be decided by the magistrate. They cheered when they saw Tuan Bokhary’s car being driven into the court premise.

In the court building, Rav Rav Shankar briefed his magistrate on the affairs of the day. Tuan Bokhary was a cool and experienced judge. He just nodded and called for the court in session.

The court doors were opened and the crowd jostles in, together with Rahman Husin and Mahidon Kassim. Tuan Bokhary tells Rav Rav Shankar to arrange for the cow to be tied up in front of the court house, visible through the window. Rav Rav Shankar went to the garage with Sompol and Del Amran. “Untie the cow, and bring it to the front of the building,” instructs Rav Rav Shankar. Sompol then undid the knots. Almost immediately the cow lets out a moo-ish snort and darted out off the garage.

“Get the lembu!” shouts Rav Rav. Sompol and Del Amran pursued after the cow. Rav Rav Shankar, being overweight, waddled the best he could. The cow ran fast and hard. So did the court bailiffs. The cow turned back, to see the menacing men cursing after it. The cow was scared and ran even faster. But the village ground wasn’t even. The cow lost its balance and fell clumsily into a ditch.

“Ya ha … ,” cries Sompol, happy to see the cow tumble. The three of them then went up to the cow. But the cow wasn’t moving. “What’s wrong?” questions a nervous Rav Rav Shankar. The three of them stared hard at the cow. The cow’s eyes stared back blankly, unblinking. Its’ tongue stuck out from the corner of its mouth, indicating its’ undignified death.

Sompol went down the drain to inspect the presumed-dead cow. He gave the cow a kick in the belly. There was no responsive reaction. He then lifted up the cow’s head. The head wobbled from left to right. Sompol then shook the head violently. The cow’s eyes were steadfast in its gaze but the tongue swayed in unison with its head. Sompol looked up, and muttered, “The cow is dead.”

The panic-stricken Rav Rav Shankar darts back to the court house. He coyly tells Tuan Bokhary of the devastating news. The magistrate almost jumped out of his chair. The crowd in the court was startled, wondering what has happened. “Court shall be in recess for 10 minutes,” Tuan Bokhary declares, before disappearing into the magistrate’s chambers.

In his chambers, Rav Rav Shankar apologizes profusely to his magistrate, his head bowing. Tuan Bokhary just sat down silently. “Tuan, you can tell the villagers. I will take responsibility,” says Rav Rav Shankar. “No need for that. I know what to do. Call for the court to be in session,” replies Tuan Bokhary.

The court session begins. Tuan Bokhary quickly announced that the cow shall not be tied up in front of the court house as it was too hot. The crowd thought of the magistrate as rather kind and sensitive. Rav Rav Shankar then calls Rahman Husin to present his case.

Rahman Husin begins by telling the story of how one of his cows went missing two days before. He then saw the cow in the sawah padi. He had wanted to collect his cow back when he saw Mahidon Kassim stealing his cow.

Mahidon Kassim tells of a similar story and insisted the cow was his. Tuan Bokhary then asks Rahman Husin to describe his cow. “It is dark brown with black spots, tuan” says Rahman Husin. Mahidon Kassim quickly interjected, “No, the cow is light brown with dark brown spots. That is the same cow that is in the sawah padi.”

Tuan Bokhary looks perplexed. “Aren’t most cows either dark brown or light brown with those little black spots here and there?” asked the Magistrate. The two litigants looked at each other, baffled.

“Are there any marks or sign that says that the cow belongs to either one of you?” inquires Tuan Bokhary again. Rahman Husin and Mahidon Kassim kept quiet. Tuan Bokhary then asks his interpreter, “Rav Rav Shankar. Are there stray cows roaming in this village that don’t belong to anybody?” Rav Rav Shankar answered, “Tuan, sometimes there are one or two cows that comes into the village. We presumed the cows are from the neighbouring village. The cows will come and graze for a few hours before moving off. That is quite common.” The crowd nodded in agreement.

“Well, if that is the case, then there is a problem of me making a declaration that the cow belongs to either one of you as the both of you cannot really prove ownership.” says the sly Magistrate. Rahman Husin then said, “Tuan Magistrate, I don’t mind foregoing the claim. As long as Mahidon Kassim doesn’t get his hands on the cow.”

Tuan Bokhary looks at Mahidon Kassim. “I agree as well. As long as Rahman Husin doesn’t get the cow, I’m willing to lose this case. Let the cow go free into the forest,” says Mahidon Kassim.

“All right then. I’ll make an order for this case to be dismissed and the cow is set free to the neighbouring village forest,” declares the Magistrate. The two feuding men nodded in agreement and shook hands. The crowd cheered.

“Rav Rav Shankar, I think you know what to do,” tells Tuan Bokhary. “Yes Tuan, I know exactly what to do,” answers the court interpreter, returning a wily grin to the magistrate.