BATU PAHAT: A chilling premonition unfolded when a picture of `a grave pit, 55cm' displayed on a young man's phone seemed to foretell his untimely death.
Mohammad Ariff Azeem Ahmad, 22, had placed the image on his phone screen days before tragically losing his life in a collision between two vehicles on the Batu Pahat-Pontian road near Kampung Parit Kalong Gantong, Senggarang last night (March 15).
The realisation of this eerie sign only struck his family when they checked his phone after the accident.
His father, Ahmad Saad, 62, shared that one of Azeem's siblings was puzzled by the screen display, which turned out to be Azeem's way of preparing for his "departure".
"It turns out that it was Azeem's 'early preparation' as if he already knew he would leave us forever," Ahmad said when met at his home in Taman Sri Senggarang, here.
Reflecting on his son's changed behaviour in the month leading up to the accident, Ahmad said Azeem had become quiet, hinting at a deeper intuition within him.
Azeem was driving a Perodua Myvi when it collided with another Perodua Myvi driven by Chin Sio Mei, 43, who also tragically died at the scene.
"I only knew about the accident after the public contacted one of my children, who then told me.
"We were told that my son's car had overturned, and I thought it was just a normal accident. When I arrived at the scene, I saw how bad it was.
"I hugged my son and whispered in his ear that 'Ayah dah maafkan adik (as your father, I have forgiven you for everything my son)', Ahmad added.
Operating a barber shop in Senggarang town together, Ahmad and Azeem shared a close bond.
Azeem's brother, Mohammad Ariff Ashraf, 28, said all the nine siblings including Azeem were supposed to break their fast together at their parents' house in Senggarang today.
"Allah loves my young brother more. I got the news from one of my siblings as I was on my way to our parents' house from Johor Baru.
"I thought it was just a minor accident. Then my sibling called me and told that Azeem had died.
"My mind went blank. I couldn't believe what had happened," he said.
Azeem is scheduled to be buried at the Parit Jaabar Muslim Cemetery in Senggarang, this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Batu Pahat district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Ismail Dollah said the accident is believed to have occurred when the car driven by Chin from Rengit to Batu Pahat collided with a car driven by Azeem.
"The collision caused both drivers to die on the spot due to severe injuries.
"The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and any witnesses to the incident can come forward to the nearby police station to assist in the investigation," he said.