My mum enjoys visiting her relatives and friends in her old age. Being connected makes one feel alive, she often tells me.
The other day, she requested my dad to drop her off at Transfer Road, Penang. After a series of phone calls to multiple people whom she keeps close to, it was time to visit them for real, face to face, for a wholesome bonding time. As mum’s loyal chauffeur, dad obliged.
After visiting her relatives for the day, mum made an impromptu decision to drop by the house of one of her old classmates who happened to live nearby. She had spoken to this friend many times over the phone but had not met her in person for years.
When mum knocked on the door, expecting to surprise her classmate, someone else attended the door.
"Is Salmah here? I am Nisha, her old classmate," said mum.
Latifah, who answered the door, informed mum that her elder sister wasn’t back from work.
"Please come in. I can make you some Milo while you wait," Latifah invited.
Mum hesitated. It was getting late and furthermore, mum did not want to cause any inconvenience to anyone.
When mum bid her farewell and began to turn away, Latifah held mum’s hand and offered her a cup of Milo. Latifah's politeness touched mum's heart, so she walked into the old, shabby house with truly little furniture, hesitantly.
"You know Kak Nisha, I used to watch you and my sister go to school together back then. I was three years younger than the both of you," Latifah started talking about the old days.
As they both went down memory lane, the air inside the old house was filled with laughter and excitement. Their conversation became wonderful.
"Let me make you some Milo," Latifah said after a while.
Mum refused, claiming she wasn't thirsty. The truth was, mum did not want to trouble Latifah.
"You know how happy you make me feel by agreeing to come inside? I don't always have guests, you know. Please have a cup of Milo and make me even happier," she pleaded as she brushed mum's hand.
Mum smiled and agreed.
"Come, follow me to the kitchen!" Latifah led mum in and quickly rinsed a porcelain cup with hot water and passed it to mum. "Here's a spoon. I don't know how many spoons of Milo you'd like. Don't feel shy. I have one full tin of Milo!"
Warmth filled her heart
As mum stirred her cup of Milo, she decided to ask Latifah about her life.
"I didn't study well, so I have been working in small places, doing small jobs. I have been cleaning fish in factories, and now arranging books in bookstores. That's what happens when you don't study well," Latifah laughed. "I have never been married. So, I'm just growing old with my sister in our father's house. But I am happy. I have everything I need here."
Mum took sips of her hot Milo while the warmth filled her heart.
"Would you like to have roti Bengali? I made some fish curry the other day. I don't think there's any fish left but the curry would go well with the roti," Latifah got up her feet and started pouring the curry into a bowl before mum could respond.
A good half an hour later, mum got up and thanked Latifah for her kindness and good hospitality.
“When my sister comes home, I will tell her that you dropped by. If you ever come to the island, do drop by again,” Latifah said as she waved mum goodbye.
Mum left the house feeling fuzzy and so much loved. That same night, during our daily mother-daughter time, mum called me up and told me about her encounter with Latifah.
"You know, the best kind of people are those who want to share everything with you, even though they have nothing much to offer. They are not calculative, and they are not self-centred. They just know how to love, love and love. I don't know how to describe the way she made me feel, but I felt so much love inside that small house."
Mum’s words that night reminded me of my late grandmother who would often cook more than necessary just in case someone shows up at the door with an empty stomach. She never allows anyone to leave the house without a meal, claiming that it is a blessing to be able to feed others with whatever we have.
Like Latifah, my late grandmother wasn’t wealthy. Everything she owned came from a little appam shop which she operated from her little kitchen in an old, rented house in Jalan Sekerat, Penang.
Throughout my life, I have met many people who express kindness by sharing what they have with others. These people may come from diverse backgrounds and practice different faiths, but they treat others with respect and love.
They bless others in need with gifts of kindness as they believe it is a blessing itself to have the opportunity to help others.
Unfortunately, not everyone is capable of sharing what they have with those in need. Our leaders for instance - might afford Burberry shirts and Audemars Piquet watches, but they are inconsiderate when it comes to helping those who are of no use to their political ambition.
Recently they even questioned the basic food subsidies enjoyed by unskilled foreign workers and refugees - never mind that the foreign workers earning low wages are the ones helping us build our country and the refugees are those with nothing to call their own.
If only these so-called leaders possess an ounce of Latifah’s kindness, I bet our lives in Malaysia would be much more pleasant.
I suppose while we are blessed to have kind people like Latifah in our community, we are not so blessed when it comes to our leaders. - Mkini
FA ABDUL is a multi-award-winning playwright and director in the local performing arts scene, a published author, a television scriptwriter, a media trainer and a mother. Her ultimate mission in life is to live out of a small suitcase.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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