On a wake up call

Just as I have promised you.....here is the story about this little sweetie. So, as I was being so much of a tourist yesterday, I unconcsiously became more "mesra alam" (friendly) than usual. You know how I don't talk to strangers unless they initiate the conversation.

At KL Central station, this little boy and his mother got up the LRT and stood in front of me. I was smitten by his sweet face and the name that I saw on his school shirt. It says, LAZARUS. Never heard of it before. And so I asked..." So, your name is Lazarus?" He didn't reply but kept holding his mom's hand and smile. His mom then translated in Tamil...which I presume to be something like "The akka is asking your name". But the little boy still didn't answer me and kept smiling. I guess...he is either very shy or doesn't speak English that much.

But his mom was very pleasant.She looks just like any other ordinary Indian lady. Wearing t-shirt and pants and was carrying Lazarus's school beg and his drinking bottle. Lazarus was just standing easily next to her. I whispered to myself...typical mother. Always get everything done for their child!

I asked her...how old Lazarus is and she told me he is 10. Looking at the school badge sewed to his school shirt, I knew the boy is shooling in one of the Indian school in Brickfield. I asked the mother where were they from and she answered Wangsa Maju. I was surprised! All the way to Brickfield? I'm sure there are other schools nearer to their place. When I asked her ,she said the school Lazarus went to is a good school. Again...I whispered to myself...mothers always want the best for their children.

I started asking more questions. I later found out that Lazarus's mother is working and that's her routine every single day. Send Lazarus to school in LRT early in the morning before she goes to work and fetch him from school also in LRT. She told me Lazarus has no father and she has to do it all by herself. But it stopped there and I just didn't want to offend her by asking further about the father. They are staying with her parents and so the grandparents will take care of Lazarus whenever the she goes to work.

No wonder Lazarus looks very attached to the mother. His mother keeps rubbing his back passionately while she told me their story. Her eyes showed how much she is going through as a single mother and how Lazarus meant the world to her. I was touched by the way they would gaze at each other in between our conversation. It was filled with love and hope. At this point,I almost broke into tears but had to hold it. Come on! Not in a packed LRT.

So, in my shivering voice(because I was holding my tears) I told Lazarus in Malay as he might not understand english, "Bila you sudah besar, sudah kerja, you mesti mau jaga amma ok! Tengok macam mana amma jaga you and sangat sayang sama you " (When you grow up and start working, you must take care of your mother because she takes a good care of you and loves you so much). He nodded and pushed himself close to his mom. Man, now I would cry out loud!!

When I reached KLCC station, I gave my seat to them and the boy shook my hand and said goodbye. I really wanted to tell Lazarus's mother to stay strong and how much she has inspired me but my my lips were sealed as I was still trying to hold my tears.

That was indeed the most meaningful 20 minutes journey of my life. It was like a wake up call for me. I came to realize how ungrateful I've been. I whine about how unfair life has been to me, how I am earning so little compared to all my friends, how much I hate my work, complaint how hubby was not being helpful with the little one and the house chores, on how I need more money to raise my child and how much I want this beg, that shoes ......blablablablablabla. Now I realize that I have to stop complaining because there are many others out there that is going through far worse than I am.

On hubby's not really helping, I have to accept the fact that I have to tell him what to do rather than expecting him knowing what to do, because he doesn't possess that motherly instinct. It's better to have someone there for me rather than having to do it all by myself. On mother's sacrifices, I have appreciated what my mother has done to me more than I ever before since I became a mother myself. On single mother's struggle, I will now try to understand what my mother in law has gone through in raising up my husband and how sky high every mothers place their hope on their children.

For that....I am a grateful daughter, a proud wife and a dedicated mother! I love you mak! I love you Mr.Hubby! I love you Iman Nadyne!