I was touched.........

On Wednesday, 28th November 2006, I went to visit my auntie (my father's younger sister and only remaining sibling) in Banting. She currently living with her bed ridden husband diagnosed with all the sickness available to man. They have 5 children (I think) and numerous grandchildren. Amongst the 5, there is the slightly retarded son we call Ayob. He has a slightly dis-figured face and he is illiterate. But he is very soft spoken (maybe because of his less than normal face) and never do no harm to anybody.

I used to play with Ayob when I was a kid. We used to climb rambutan trees together, chase the chickens, play hide and seek and do all the other kampong kids stuff. we were quite close actually; but then, like everybody else, I grew up. I went school and further my studies overseas, while Ayob...... I think he never go to school. I dont know why. Maybe his parents think that the school wont accept him because of his mental condition. Of which I think is a very big mistake. But the kampong does not really have the facilities to help him get the best of his abilities, of which I think he has a lot.

Anyway......So, everybody thought Ayob is going to be a burden to his family when he grew up. His parents might have to continuously look after him even when he reaches adulthood.

I graduated, got married, and got kids of my own. Ayob, it seems, remains as he was when we were kids but with a much bigger body. His face does not show the maturity of his age, and supposedly the taints of the minds of people his age. Ok.

So, I entered the house and see this old lady taking care of her husband as well as about 5 other grandchildren sent by her other kids to her house. And I thought, compared to Ayob, the other kids got education and secured jobs with it after their parents decided to school them, and not Ayob. And my auntie still has to look after Ayob. How ... inconsiderate. The least they could do is pool some funds and hire a maid to help the mother in the house. I thought.

Then I went into my uncle's room and see his condition and make me thought that I'd rather die young than be in his shoe!!! The Prophet went at 63. I pray I wont pass that age too far. Aaaahhh .... how could they leave my auntie with all these? I thought.

I chatted with the old man and tried to make him as comfortable with me as possible and I am quite sure that he saw me being very uncomfortable looking at him. Then he asked me for a favour..... if I could help him to withdraw his pension form the bank in town. He needs to at least go to the bank and let the bank officer see him in the car while someone else take the money from the counter from him. And I cant refuse his request. "But can u get up or even move", I asked. He said,"I can use the wheelchair, just tell your auntie about it".

I went out and relay his wishes to my auntie. And she said, "Ayob.....ooo...Yob..... Ayah engko nak pegi bank tu. Siapkan dia." AAAAAAA....... My jaw almost dropped. And the scene of what happened after that really dropped my jaw and I was quite sure I felt tears running down my eyes. Ayob obediently and gently prepared his father for the journey. And I mean literally prepared him; with all the clothing, diapers, washings, cleanings, carrying him onto the wheelchair, with all the harsh words and crying and whining and complaining coming out of his father's mouth seeming to be music to Ayob's ears. He just smiles and go about preparing his father with all the softness of a mistress seeking money from her sugar daddy. AAAAAA...... I did cry. And my auntie said that she wont know what to do with her husband if Ayob were not around. AAAA....... Her grandchildren just go about playing amongst themselves during all these. Where are your parents, kids? Too busy applying all that knowledge learnt in school at work and earning money so that there's food on the table, I guess. Or, so that they could buy and brag about the new clothes, big houses, new cars etc etc. Tsk tsk tsk.

Ok, that was just part of the story.

Later that night, I told my sister of what I saw. And did she have a story for me too......

My own mother stayed alone (with a maid, not with us) for a while after my father past away. One day the neighbour saw here climbing the stairs alone and asked where are her children. And she said...... " Ini lah dia balasan nya kalau kita hantar anak kita belajar tinggi2"........ AAAAAaaarrrrggghhhh......... I felt like the fire of the hell has reached me!!! and pulling me deeper into the furthest of the bottomless pit.

Moral of the story, dont send your kids away for education. Send them for God.

Salam.