Apam manis, masala tea and a very good lesson
Two aunties teach me about either hiding away from the negativity of the world or facing up to it with some degree of responsibility.
On my way back from a meeting last week, I decided to pull over at a makan stall along Jalan Ipoh for my favourite apam manis and masala tea, in the hopes that it would help clear my cluttered mind. With work and personal matters ripping my sanity to shreds, I desperately needed a quick pick-me-up.
Some ten minute later, I was seated at my usual spot, enjoying my sweet treats when two aunties walked in and sat at a table behind mine.
From their conversation, I learnt one was named Salmah, the other, Lily.
“Two roti canai with eggs separately. And a Kopi C for me.”
“Idli with coconut chutney. Also a Kopi C for me. Less sugar.”
The young Indian boy waiting on them, must have looked somewhat lost because this was what I heard next.
“You understand or not?” Aunty Salmah asked, raising her voice.
“Roti canai dua. Telur taruh asing. Saya mau idli dengan chutney kelapa. Lepas tu minum mau…” Aunty Lily, explained.
“Kopi C dua, satu biasa, satu kurang manis. Ada betul?” I heard the boy finally say.
They must have nodded in agreement, because he walked away. Soon their “potpet” session began. Finding their conversation more interesting than the article I was reading on my phone, I decided to pasang telinga, like I usually do when eating out alone.
“So stupid! Simple English also cannot understand one. Dunno if got go school or not.”
“Salmah, I don’t think he is a local. Maybe from India kot.”
“I normally don’t go to places with foreign workers. I thought he was a local Indian, that’s why I came here.”
“These days they are everywhere, la. So susah want to find a place without foreigners la.”
As the potpet session got heated up, so did my ears – in just ten minutes, they had become red (yes, I am exaggerating but bear with me). Soon their food arrived and one of the aunties took out a daily newspaper from her bag.
“Eh Lily, you still got buy paper one, ah?”
“Yes, why you ask?
“I also used to buy. I like to read it with my coffee and my toast first thing in the morning. But not anymore. I gave up already.”
“Why-lah?” her friend asked.
“They tell me everything bad. As if there is nothing good anymore in this country. Why spend money just to make you feel lousy? Better stay away from them lah.”
“But Salmah, good what to keep up with current issues. Good to know about things.”
“Nothing good to know about those things they write in the newspaper. Always bad news. Always talk about price going up. About corruption. About people fighting. Robbery, murder, kidnap, missing people. I dah tak larat want to keep up with all that.”
Aunty Lily remained quiet, as I heard the pages of the newspapers being turned.
“We are in the final stage of our lives, have to be very careful of what we put inside our body, inside our head,” said Aunty Salmah.
As I chuckled remembering the TWO roti canai I had heard her order earlier, Aunty Lily said, “Yes, we are in our final stage of life. But as long as we are alive, we have responsibilities. Take me for example – that day you ajak me to go Penang, as much as I wanted to go, I cannot because I have to take care of my grandson. If I go away, Benny or his wife have to take leave from work to take care of the baby.”
“You should just tell him to find a nanny or send to centres. Many centres jaga baby la today.”
“Why should others jaga my grandson when I can jaga him? I am his grandmamma after all. Even if I die tomorrow, I will die happy.”
Aunty Salmah took a long pause before adding, “Your choice la. If it makes you happy, ok lah.”
“Same thing with keeping up with current issues. Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, we have responsibility also. Why should we let other people worry about our country when this is our country too?” Clearly, this was Aunty Lily’s “ba dum tsh” moment.
Once again, there was a long awkward pause. I wondered if something was cooking up in Aunty Salmah’s head. I was intrigued to hear what her rebuttal would be. After a while, she cleared her throat, a signal she was finally ready to say what was on her mind.
“How’s your idli ah? Good ah?”
I almost spurted out my masala tea.
I guess it is easier to run away from responsibilities. It is easier to be selfish and live in a “me” world. It is easier to complain about anything and everything. But it takes a strong genuine person to live up to their responsibilities.
All the negative news, reports and articles carried by our media is only painting the true nature of our country today – we can either use it to find the strength we need to get through this tough time, or we can hide ourselves away from it and imagine we are living in a Wonderland.
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With my last sip of masala tea, I was ready to deal with my cluttered mind. Aunty Lily was wise indeed – only the strong ones take up the responsibilities to face the world. I don’t know if I have the strength but I am surely going to give it my best shot.