Song Of The Week: Bawa Dia Kembali - Mahalini

Lately, I’ve been weirdly obsessed with an old song — “Bawa Dia Kembali” by Mahalini. A song that’s been around for almost a decade, yet somehow found its way to me exactly when I needed it.

I first heard it in Feyy’s car, because if there’s one thing about him, it’s that he mostly listens to Indonesian songs. The moment this track came on, something about it made me stop and really listen. You know that feeling when a song doesn’t just play in the background, but grabs your attention and refuses to let go? Yeah, that.

The song is essentially about praying to God — asking for just one more second to see someone you’ve lost. A lover. A person who’s no longer here. Asking for the impossible. And somehow, that’s what broke me.

Recently, I’ve found myself asking a lot from God. About life. About clarity. About things I don’t even know how to put into words. Listening to a song that dares to ask for something so impossible made me realize something — there’s really no one else you can ask this from except God. People will say God will never bring back the dead, and that’s true. But God answers prayers in ways we don’t always expect.

I’ve read articles and seen TikTok videos of people randomly bumping into strangers who resemble their loved ones — the same smile, the same eyes, the same energy. Maybe that’s how prayers get answered sometimes. Not by undoing loss, but by giving you a moment. A reminder. A reflection.

This song stuck with me deeply because ever since my father passed away, people have been telling me that I look more and more like him as I grow older. I don’t really see it yet. My memory of my father is of him in his late 40s. I’m close to 40 now… maybe when I reach that age, I’ll finally see him again — in the mirror, in gestures, in little things.

And maybe that’s enough.

Anyway, I’m going to listen to this song again now.

Bye.