Non-city folks are so much better. Being humble as they are, they potray another face of Malaysians which we so seldom see. Although they do not live in riches like we do, but I believe, in their contented community, they are 'rich' in their own way. And they share this 'richness' in them with every other people. Even for an outsider like me. Why do I say so? Allow me to tell you what happened.
My client's place is situated a little out of town. At a more kampung area I would say. And because it's a rush job, I have to go in alone. Some where during the day, I realised I needed a certain file which I left in my car. So I went back down to get it. Because there was not many spaces to park, I had to put my car at the back of the office building. At the back lane la in short.
As I reached the turning to the back lane, I saw this almost naked Indian man loitering around the parked vehicles at the back lane. He was walking up and down with only some plastics wrapped around his body. No proper clothing. The first thing I thought was, "Oops. Mad man near my car. How on earth am I suppose to get my file?" Worrying that he might come and attack me if I go near, I decided to turn around and come back again later. When he's gone.
As I turned around, I saw this small lorry rolled slowly and the uncle inside it was leaning out at the window. He was waving towards me and said something. Thinking that he was trying to ask me something, I stopped and tried to listen to what he was trying to say. He spoke in mandarin. It turned out to be that he saw me hesitating to walk to the back lane and he told me not to be afraid. He said the mad man lives around the area and he never hurts anyone. He ignores people if people ignored him.
I told him I needed to get something from my car back there and I'm afraid to walk over. He kept telling me not to be afraid. When he knew that he couldn't convince me, he gunned down his lorry and said, "You go on along to your car. I'll watch over you from here." Seeing that he looked like an honest man and I was sort of lazy to come down again later, I trusted him and went on to my car. My heart was beating fast all the way. And I kept my distance from the mad man.True enough, the mad man didn't even glanced at me and the uncle stood watch the whole time. I quickened my pace, got my file and hurried back to the uncle.
I thanked him a zillion times. He just smile and said I don't look familar. I told him I'm just there for a few days to work on something. Don't think he would understand my profession anyway. So, I made it simple. Seeing that I was safe, he started his engine and continued his journey. I can't deny that I was touched by his actions. I didn't expect a stranger would be concerned about someone he hasn't even seen before. He was kind enough to offer himself. Now how often do you see this these days? Where people observe their surroundings and cared for each other?
So what if you own the world? So what if you have everyone at your feet? It's life simple pleasures like this that gets you going.
