Thursday, August 14, 2008

Sucaba-NabyaM: A Fiction Come True?

Been wanting to write this since last week itself. Somehow, I keep forgetting about it and was reminded only just now on reading a particular blogger.


One of the best thriller novels I ever read has to be 'If Tomorrow Comes' by Sidney Sheldon. Published some in 1986, it later on was produced as a TV mini-series. However, it has to be said that watching a movie or mini-series, is only half exciting as reading the book itself - any book which TV/Movie producers think is worthy of investment. To me its simply because when one read the book, one is transported into a different era, different world altogether, and that sometimes leave one grasping for air as though it is one himself either chasing or on the run.

Now, since the last time I read the book is almost 20years ago, I have forgotten quite a bit about the story. However, recent events brought the story, or a portion of it, to mind. I tried to google the portion, but found it rather cumbersome and hence, my own narration is as below. Perhaps, after reading it, one might find some uncanny semblance to the event mentioned.

Jeff, is a conman on the run from the Feds as well as the mob.

A professional thief, the Feds want him for pulling high stake heist on prominent people across the globe. He turned to the mob for protection, who in turn, wants something lucrative to come their way. Thus, Jeff promised them a gadget of sorts which would make them millions, if they provide him with the protection as well as a huge sum. The mob agreed, and Jeff played with time until he can figure out what the gadget would be. It did not take him long to make a story and named the gadget as Sucaba.

Running out of patience, the mob put pressure on Jeff and he decided to ask for a portion of the money upfront. The mob agrees but gave the dateline for the next day. That very night Jeff made a daring escape while leaving a box in his room marked as 'Sucaba'. The mob, while enraged by his absence, gleefully open the box only to find that the content is an ancient Chinese calculator!

Sucaba, when spelt backwards gives Abacus. To find out what NabyaM means, do read Tehsin here.

Fiction come true? You decide yourself.

12 comments:

Saya... said...

Salam..

Fuh..does that mean I'm a female version of sidney? kah kah..perasannn....

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam,

Hehe...sure, why not? ;)

Ydiana said...

Salam Shah

Ok, I'm a bit lost here. Abacus and Maybank is figured out. But who is Jeff, the mob and the Fed, in your analogy?

Well actually you don't have to answer. But I need you to explain if I did anything wrong with the Quranic verse from your comment? Please...

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam ydiana,

Hehe, Jeff, the mob and the Feds are all characters in the novel. Do read it when you can for I think you will enjoy it.

As for the Quranic verses, done ;)

NS said...

Salam,

Its hilarious. : )should go and find it one day.

Lily

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Lily,

Well, the novel does have its hilarious moments. But so does the bank's debacle, sadly.

Nice of you to drop by :)

Unknown said...

When Maybank loses so much money they will have to cut cost and then no more ATMs and computerizations, not even calculators. All tellers would be equipped with the sempua. Then they start to make money and this time venture into Fiji to buy a stake in a Fijian pawnshop for maybe 3 billion. Malaysia Boleh.

Anonymous said...

salam shah. im a fan of sydney too! and of course grisham.
as for nabyam saga, saya rasa orang di bii juga seorang peminat sydney.. huhu.

cakapaje said...

Salam Cikgu,

Sad eh? What say we go open that pawnshop in Fiji, then sell it to Mayban? That way, we both can be smoking RM500 ceruts everyday! ;)

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Alina,

Hehe, matilah camni if other Sidney Sheldon fans come running to Malaysia to sell a sempua disguised as state-of-the-art, quadraple-core, 5,000 gigs of memory and so on so on.

Wait! MAS might need them! ;)

Lily Abdullah said...

Salaam,
Fiction come true? Sangat menarik bunyinya.

Selalunya, kisah benar yang difiksyenkan jadi menarik juga :)

Akhi Shah pa khabar? Selalu datang sini. Baca diam-diam aja.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam WL,

Alhamdulillah, sihat seadanya. Begitu juga saya do'akan untuk WL dan suami.

Sebenarnya, hampir setiap hari saya turut menyinggah di blog WL. Dan semakin hari, nampaknya semakin menarik penulisan WL ;)