#238

While I may not had the opportunity to linger in the comforts of my room or sit in front of the computer lately, I have been spending a good deal of time with Iman and brainstorming ideas for our wedding with my mother and auntie. Insya'Allah all with go smooth sailing.

Anyhow, my father just got back home from Tanjung Langsat Port, Johor. He had recently met a boy named Muhammad Zamani. A classic poor-boy-makes-good-story: Perhaps 12 or 13 years old who was born and raised in Masai town, Pasir Gudang, Johor. Muhammad Zamani  sells curry puffs (karipap) after school to support his family.  

My father had noticed the boy while he was at the Photoshop. His crew was getting their photos taken for their OSP (Offshore Safety Passport). My father was standing against a wall just observing aimlessly. He noticed a boy holding a red plastic basket admiring a display of watches. The boy later disappeared, within mere minutes he was back again at the same  spot mesmerized by the medley of watches. The shop owner told my father that it was a daily routine for the boy, he would come to her shop and just admire the watches. 

My father walked towards the boy, stood next to him and asked "Ada jam yang cantik?" (is there any nice watches) he nonchalantly replied "ada.. yang warna oren tu." (yes, that orange one). My father reckon it was too orange so told him to look for another one. He was contemplating between the green and black watch, so my father asked the shop owner to take out both watches to let the boy try. The boy was love struck by the black watch. My father asked him  if he wanted to buy it? He reckon it was too expensive. My father told him to just give a try. My father discreetly purchased the watch for the boy. 

My father said  to the boy“Zamani balik lah dulu” (Zamani go back first)  he replied “tapi jam ni pak cik?” (but Uncle, how about the watch?) my father replied ”oh ni Zamani punya”(It's yours). The boy was in disbelief by the words my father had uttered. My father had to repeatedly tell him that the watch belongs to him now. It must had been so surreal for Zamani because he was still shocked to utter a single word. 

Zamani kissed my father's hands. My father told him to take care of himself. My father parted ways with the boy as he needed to run off to work. 

As my father was crossing the road, it had dawned to him that he never took a picture of the boy. My father told Alif (the cool legal dude from the company) "I have got to get a picture of Zamani and show it to my kids." All six of them crossed the road and were chasing to look for the boy. They spotted the boy coming out from the shop. He went to get his watch set (My father has forgotten to ask the shop owner to set the watch for the boy). 

My father asked him if it was okay for him to take a picture of him. He asked "kenapa pak cik?" my father replied "saje nak buat kenangan".  They shook hands for the last time, this time the boy hugged my father . My father (such an emotional being, I know where I attained that trait from) was on the verge of tearing, he told Zamani to study hard as he would do the same thing too one day (insya'Allah). 

My father watched the boy go on the opposite direction. He must had been mesmerized by his new watch that he was oblivious to his surrounding and bumped into a herd of people.