The Other Day

The other day I went to a wedding, a friend had accomplished in finding matrimony. You know how these days before you enter the wedding hall, you register and the person behind the table will tell you which table you are supposed to be seated in? So I was given a number. I headed inside and my eyes were studying each table. Fortunately the numbers were written big enough that I had no trouble in locating where I was supposed to be seated in. Many familiar faces were already seated there. Though I wasn’t close to them, it still gave me a sense of comfort. I greeted them and sat down.  A guy from high school then asked me what I did for a living, I answered him and to continue the conversation, I asked him about his job; he stated that he works in KL. He lives in Subang, so I almost by default started asking him about the traffic jamm he ought to face each day.

 Thinking about it now I am not sure if he was being arrogant but at that moment I was sure there was an air of arrogance in the way he spoke. This is what he said, “I don’t have to worry about that, I am the boss. I go in whenever I like, if I don’t feel like it then I don’t go to work”. I don’t know why but I sensed he was being cocky, so I lost interest in the conversation and starting talking to others at the table. As the wedding went on and after having something to eat, I felt the urge to head home. Sitting on my left was a ‘friend’ who was well known for being wealthy. He was speaking to his friends on how his friend just bought a house despite not being very studious in school and of more people owning this and that. I just nodded and laughed in agreement when I was supposed to. The urge to head home got stronger. I wanted to give my wedding gift to my friend which was a 50 Ringgit note in a Hari Raya sampul. I decided to give it to my friend which was what I did. This guy then proceeds to take my sampul and immediately opens it up and looks into it. After taking a peek, he muttered noddingly, “this is good enough”.  I was taken aback and almost gave in to my anger—but then I made the right decision and walked away. As I was walking, I thought to myself what if I had given 20 ringgit instead? I also thought of how the value of 50 ringgit could mean something to so much for some people and so little to some. For that I should be grateful.

The other day at work…a  colleague of mine who I am close with,  a middle aged man... My cubicle is set across my supervisor’s room. My supervisor is about 28-29 of age. He calls my colleague and starts talking to him in a loud disrespectful tone and said things like, “You get this done and only then you go back home today”. I was listening from outside. It just didn’t feel right. For one I always knew this world was anything but fair but then to daily live and witness this unfairness nullifies one’s optimism.  Having said that, I must be a heck of a positive person for despite the bitterness—I still believe in being hopeful.