53 is just a number.

Today is my dad's birthday. 

As is the case every year, he will beat me at texting first. 

"Salam all, 
happy birthday to me. Have a good and beneficial day today InsyaAllah. Thanks for your sincere doa. May Allah bless you all. 
Abah"

You see, my dad has a special relationship with his mobile phone. He takes her everywhere, all the time. Even makes my mom a bit jealous, i suspect. I don't particularly mind this special bond my dad has with his phone, for i too have a special relationship with mine (as any normal, healthy young person would). 

Fact is, i love it that my dad's so attune to his phone's needs. Because in being so, i learn a lot of things even though I'm a million miles away. For example, i know he landed on Malaysian soil approximately 4 hours ago after being in Cambodia for 5 days. And I also know that he's probably bored when he's texting me at an odd hour. I know the current exchange rate because i get another text about it. I know that he's worried about my sister in Jakarta because of the recent earthquake. I know that my brother still hasn't found his passport for September's trip. I know that the whole family is having a big dinner at my favorite restaurant (without me!).

I know a lot of things, and i love that.

But i especially love the fact that whenever i text back, I'll get an immediate reply. Always! Sometimes, if I'm lucky, even a phone call.

........

But not today.

"Happy birthday Abah!! Kngah doakan Abah always in the best of health and diberkati Allah dunia akhirat. My GP critically appraised my report today and said he was surprised at how good it was. Even asked me if i wrote it myself. Hahaha... of cos i did! So it's a really happy day for me on ur birthday. 

Luv u."

(This was 2 text long).... and he still hasn't replied.

I'm a little worried. =__='