Three (not Tea) for Two

We were in the middle of our maghrib prayers when a few gentle knocks were heard at our front door. Whoever was there probably realised that it was not quite the right time to be persistent.

It took quite a while before I was downstairs to switch on the light outside and to open the main door. Instinctively I knew that the visitor would not be standing there. Indeed, no one was within sight. But something was on the floor

Three medium size water melons were staring me in the face.

I understood what this was meant to be. In the past I had had durian, fish, rambutan and so on – an offering, my humble gift . Unwritten was the message, “Thank you Pakcik and Makcik.”

Three water melons just for the two of us!

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A few minutes later an sms message arrived, “ Pakcik, I left 3 melons outside your door, Mustapha.”

The boy’s father grows water melons. The likes of that family may not necessarily be people of means, but they do not forget easily what good you do for them.

That is what we can never buy from the market

Thank you, Mustapha, was my reply.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

Injection ini hadiah saya

We passed that clinic almost every other day on our way to town and never thought much of it; It was just like any other clinics, at least six of them, along the 25 kilometer route.

But one morning last week we just felt like having a change from visiting our usual doctor friend in town. For one thing this clinic is just half way to town. Secondly we both had very minor complaints, Makcik and her minor stomach upset and me with some skin rashes, all were the likely results of attending so many weddings in the recent weeks. But above all, for some unknown reasons, we were both attracted to it, a clinic which bore a woman’s name.

The doctor was a lady in her mid forty. After a twenty minutes’ wait we were both ushered into her room. She greeted us with a broad smile and passed a friendly comment, “ Jauh datang, ya?” Obviously she had studied the information copied by her nurse from out Identity Cards. Indeed, twelve kilometers could be considered far when there were other clinics on the way.

I enquired in a nice way as to why the name of the clinic did not bear her name. She explained briefly by saying that it was in memory of her grandmother she loved.

I volunteered to surrender myself first. After a close look at my complained areas she gave her considered opinion that there was nothing serious at all. Some medication should do the job. It would take some time to cure unless I preferred an injection. Injection it must be because I could not stand the constant irritation. While she was getting her syringe ready she gave another smile. “ Di lengan kah atau dibawah?” she asked me as a matter of fact. No, I was not about to bare my beautiful bottom to a lady right in front of my good wife!

Just as she was about to hold my arm (my eyes were beginning to shut then) she murmured,” Injection ini hadiah saya.”

And before we left her room she thanked us for coming so far to her clinic.

I thought nothing of her remark until I was paying for the pills, soap, lotions, powder and what not for the two of us. As the total was far below my estimated figure I asked for the injection charge. “ Oh, itu doktor hadiah,” was her simple reply.

I left the place wondering and speechless - why for free ?

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Two days later Makcik related the free injection episode to the mother of one of Almanar’s ex-pupils. It turned out that she had been going to this doctor. She is unlike many other doctors. Sometimes she treats a senior citizen for free. Perhaps it was her way of returning her old grandmother’s love. May Allah bless her soul.

That is what I call:
Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan.

What an honour

It was a rather unusual occasion at Nuri. The two of us played host to a group of bankers - the chairman and his wife, a director, the CEO, the branch manager and a number of officials of a bank.

It began with a phone call from the chairman himself, an old friend of Pakcik.

“Hassan, I am coming to KT with a few colleagues. We are having a meeting at our branch office there. Will you be free …….. ?” Of course, not engaged in any gainful employment, Pakcik could easily make time to receive visitors, an old friend and wife of all people.

So makcik had some tea ready and I personally had a few young coconut fruit brought down from our home grown trees, my pride, for some fresh juice.

Soon after lunch they descended in five cars! With them were two large boxes containing books and dictionaries.

“A gift for Almanar from our bank,” said the branch manager.



Simply, that was that, a pleasant break from otherwise our quiet life. And I cannot but feel honoured by the visit and the gift gesture.

Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan