Mukhriz's heart-wrenching Father's Day note for Tun M

"HA, WHEN did you get back, Is?" asked father, even though it had been almost a week since I returned home from Maktab Sains Rendah Sains Mara Kota Bharu in Kelantan (now MRSM Pengkalan Chepa) for semester break.

Since my return to No.3 Jalan Tunku in Kuala Lumpur, the official residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, father didn’t say much.

His replies were monosyllabic, and our banter lacked its usual warmth.

Five days passed and the impasse remained, before mother handed me a RM5 note and urged me to visit the barber. Upon my return with a fresh schoolboy hair cut, only then did father greet me, "Ha, when did u get back, Is?"

It seems that coming home with long, messy hair did not go down well with the old man. Using the 'silent treatment' as his way of showing displeasure left me even more dumbfounded.

But it all became clear after mother accurately guessed the one thing that could improve the situation, which was getting my hair cut.

I reckon the shock of that particular episode on me is now self evident in the stunted hair growth you see today!