The Taxi - His Working Wife, Please Be Home, Now!

"Pergi mana, yang?"

Something not right ringing in my ears as I answered CIQ.

"Kerja petang ya, yang?"

"Taklah, tak kerja." It was 3.30pm when I boarded the taxi.

"Habis, pergi Singapore buat apa kalau tak kerja?"

"Saja, jalan-jalan."

"Ustazah ya yang?"

"Taklah, duduk rumak saja."

"Betul bukan ustazah? Macam ustazah aje. Ada anak yang?"

"Ada."

"Dah besar?"

"Dah besar, sangat-sangat."

"Betul ke dah besar? Tak macam ada anak besar, je. Awak ibu tunggal, ya yang" For the umpteenth time, he's been adjusting and re-adjusting the mirror in front of him for better rear view.

"Taklah."

"Kenapa tak jalan dengan suami?"

"Kerja." I started to feel very much uneasy.

"Bila balik yang?"

"Habis jalan, baliklah."

"Pukul berapa yang?"

"Tak pasti, jam ke tidak."

"Bukan ibu tunggal ke yang? Macam ibu tunggal je. Pukul sepuluh dah balik yang?"

"Tak pasti, jam ke tidak."

"Telepon saya boleh? Saya tunggu," Then he said out his phone number.  

****** 

"Rumah kat mana?" My turn to ask him to stop his yang, yang, yang that makes hair stands.

"Kat Bukit xxxxx. Pernah dengar tempatnya?" 
"Pernah." 
"Tau tempatnya?"

"Tau dan pernah pergi." 

"Rumah saya besar. Ada empat bilik. Cantik rumah saya."

"Orang rumah ada kat rumah?" I tried to remind him he has someone dearest in his life.

"Taklah, dia kerja."

"Rumah cantik, tapi orang rumah keluar kerja. Rugilah tak boleh nekmat cantiknya."

"Malam jangan lupa telepon tau." Again, he said out the number.

"Anak berapa?"

"Lima. Semua dah kerja. Ramai eh, anak saya."

"Taklah, sepuluh pun ok kalau kita didik betul-betul."

"Sebenarnya anak saya lapan, bukan lima. Malu nak cakap, ramai sangat." He chuckled upon admission. 

"Pada saya tak ramai. Anak dah besar, semua kerja, kenapa orang rumah kerja lagi? Kalaulah rumah saya cantik sangat, keluar rumah pun saya tak nak. Nak duduk dalam saja. Rugi tinggalkan lama-lama rumah cantik."

"Orang rumah saya kerja kemas-kemas bilik hotel. Balik sebulan sekali."

"Hah?" I was surprised upon hearing the once a month coming home.
"Dia kerja kat Singapore." It surprised me more. Just across the causeway. 

"Ramai kerja kat Singapore, tapi saya nampak dia orang hari-hari balik."

"Dia kerja dekat dengan Orchard Road."

"Taklah jauh sangat kalau nak balik. Senang naik MRT sampai Kranji. Hotel apa tu?"

"xxxx xxxxx. Pernah dengar hotel tu?"

"Pernah."

"Semua awak tau, ya yang. Agak-agak pukul sebelas dah balik? Saya tunggu. Kalau malam saya selalu ada dekat dengan CIQ. Saya round satu Johor makan-makan."

"Kalau orang rumah ada kan boleh bawak dia makan. Anak tak masak?" This man is damn lonely.

"Anak semua kat Singapore. Sebulan sekali balik. Dengan emaknya sekali. Dia orang semua bawak kereta besar-besar."

Then he mentioned various places in the central and eastern side of Singapore where his children are staying. They will return to JB with their mother, a Singaporean, before coming back again the following month.

An ex navy who used to serve KD Malaya in Woodlands, he used to dive looking for treasures from shipwreck, and he is still diving for the treasures, which he is unable to bring them home.

He said there are aplenty at the seabed which he mentioned a specific beach in Johor.
He offered me bronze and porcelain.

But in between the conversations, there were many pleadings to use his taxi service, reminding me of his phone number, kept insisting that I'm a religious teacher and a single mother.

"Dahlah, cakap orang rumah tak payah kerja lagi. Duduk rumah lagi bagus, tengok rumah cantik, sayang tinggal-tinggalkan." I tried to hint the importance of his wife's presence and togetherness in his life.

"Itulah, rumah saya selalu kosong. Sebab itu kalau awak balik 2 pagi pun saya boleh tunggu. Nanti telepon ya, yang."

When the usual fare is around RM9.00, it was RM12.00 yesterday, as he was too absorbed looking for companion. 

"Kenapa macam nak lari? Jangan lupa telepon tau. Pukul 10 saya dah ada, tunggu  kat sini, ya yang," as passed me his phone number.

I alighted the taxi with soft limbs and shakened.

Last night, the incident led to me having a bad dream of the outcome of hopefulness and frustration of  his deserted inner soul.

Should any drastic action is taken by this 'angau' driver, and crime committed, situation at home needs a good reflection.
Contemplation is very much needed.

Marriage is between two parties.
Physical presence is very important.
Yes, absent makes the heart grows fonder.
But too long, grave consequences do usually cross the paths.

The longer the marriage is, sense of loss is always felt.
Whenever the other half is not around, funny feeling is there whenever we go around alone, by ourselves.
The invisible attachment is always there.

******

"And among HIS Signs is This, 

that HE Created for you, 

mates from among yourselves, 

that you may dwell in tranquility with them, 

and HE has put love and mercy between your hearts. 

Verily in that are Signs for those who reflect." 

- Surah Ar Rum: 21.

******

Girls, daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers and all readers, money provides us great living comfort, but there's thing that money can't buy.

Wives, you have children, who will have their other halves.
They will have their own lives.

Wives, your husbands are the other half of yours - Complete them.
Live your lives, you and spouse.
That's complete living.

*** Another pining heart is here.    


  

      

The Maid - Unholy Acts In The Holiest Place (4)

 
An unnamed man doubted his maid’s intentions after finding talismans and other magic items in her room.

'Kabar' Arabic language daily, on Tuesday reported the arrest of an Indonesian housemaid and her magic items seized.
Her employer told Saudi authorities that she was planning to harm his family through sorcery.
The employer had since filed charges against his maid.

******

A 32-year-old Asian housemaid, during the first week of December last year, was caught by her employer adding dirt to the water tank at the house in the eastern town of Tarut, a Saudi newspaper reported.

She was then brought to the police, and she told them that she had done so to make the family love her and make family members love each other more.
She claimed such was the practice in her country.

A week later, Saudi online Arabic language paper Ajel reported that a Saudi employer saw the Indonesian housemaid adding urine to the food she cooked for the family in the central town of Buraida.

She admitted to have adding it to the family’s food with belief that her doing will make the family love her and prevent them from hurting her.

****** 

With nearly one million maids from Indonesia and other Asian nations work in Saudi Arabia, some employers, or their family members, especially the females, are “forced” to protect themselves against their maids.

There are cases where maids allegedly put a spell on her employer, usually the husband.

There was a case when the employer's wife suspected witchcraft because her husband kept defending the maid from criticism every time she neglected her work.

But unknown to the wife, the bewitched husband adored the maid, and was carrying out all her wishes.

The maid took refuge in sorcery to make her male employer  likes her.

******  

Fear Of Black Magic Forces Maids’ Probe 

Fatima Sidiya | Arab News

JEDDAH: Allegations about maids casting spells and being involved in black magic has driven fearful housewives to call on the help of investigators. The main purpose of calling these women is to investigate maids before they go back to their countries.
The majority of investigators are non-Saudis who have lately been joined by some Saudi graduates unable to find proper jobs. The job of the investigators involves checking the personal property of maids in search of sponsors’ photographs, hair or clothes that can then be used for magic when the maid returns home.
Googling “maid investigator” in Arabic brings up over 1,800 results of women looking for maid investigators. Housewives exchange names and contact details on Internet forums, and warn each other about maids who do magic.
Um Muhammad is an Egyptian investigator who followed up on maids for five years but then stopped because her husband expressed concern that she might get attacked.
“I used to receive telephone calls from housewives asking me to investigate their maids before they’re sent home,” said Um Muhammad, who used to check two to three maids of different nationalities each day. One Riyadh-based investigator whose number is widely distributed on Internet forums said she is ready to travel to Jeddah to investigate maids.
“Don’t worry, keep her with you and I’ll investigate her,” she said, adding that housewives who telephone her can watch her do her work as long as they’re not scared.
The investigator explained that in order to do her work properly, she needs the housewife to play along with her and tell the maid that she has been sent by a government body and that her checks are part of the repatriation process.
Investigators also show particular concern in winning over new customers by exaggerating the threat of black magic and slashing fees. The investigation process is normally conducted in two parts — the first involves searching a maid’s belongings, and the second her body and clothes. Investigators usually ask for between SR400 and SR500 for each investigation, which takes about two hours. Some housewives give only SR200 for the internal investigation and carry out the external investigation themselves.
Most Saudis, it seems, are more concerned with maids dabbling in black magic rather than stealing valuables. Suad Afif, a sociologist and professor at King Abdulaziz University, asked why housewives use people who they do not know to investigate their maids, adding that such women are not even specialists in such work.
Afif said that Islamic morals prevent women from checking their maids’ personal stuff and that they look for others to do this. Some also fear their maids may lash out or have little experience in how to check on their maids. Afif said if checking maids before their final exit has become a necessity then there needs to be an official body that can do this job. This would ensure housewives remain safe.
“Black magic and the evil eye are there, but in the end it is as Allah says. Nothing can ever reach us except what Allah has destined for us,” said Afif, adding, “We should not become anxious all the time. Not every maid comes into our homes to perform black magic.”
Afif also warned housewives about investigators who are more concerned with earning money than helping people.

Are These "Gila Talak" Too?

Man torches mosque after ex-wife remarries
A 30-year-old man allegedly burnt down a mosque in Kampung Limau Manis, Sepang, to vent his anger after his former wife remarried.
He was believed to have been drunk when he used petrol to start the fire at 11.30pm on Tuesday, Harian Metro reported.
Imam Samsuddin Mat Daud said he noticed flames and smoke from the mosque and decided to check on it.
He said he found the front door locked, so he entered through a rear door before discovering the man sleeping at the main prayer hall.
However, he did not dare go near him because he was afraid that the man might be armed.
He said he sought help of villagers to put out the fire. By the time they reached the mosque, the man had already fled.
Villagers contacted the Fire and Rescue Department to ensure the fire did not spread to other areas.
The blaze caused an estimated loss of RM300,000. The prayer area was damaged, besides the carpet, copies of the Quran and cupboards.
Sepang district police chief Supt Zahedi Ayub confirmed the incident, saying police were tracking down the man.

******

This is what that is reported in today's Star.

Back home, Rizal continuously pleaded for his wife to accept him back.

After more than 15 years of marriage life, early this year, Rizal decided to throw in the towel.
He missed his swinging days and wanted to be with any women whom he chose. So, he went to Syariah Court to file for divorce.
When he realised there's no reason for his separation, he wrote 'change of lifestyle'.
He then moved out renting a room from his friend but would occasionally return home to be with his children or when it's almost end of the month when all his pockets are very dry.

All these while, his wife let him do what he wanted to do with his life. She has had enough of him.
He is a good man whom women throw themselves to, a good father who loves his children but neither a good breadwinner nor a good husband.

She let him went to court alone for filing as she had dragged him before, for counselling during the initial years of their married life, but he refused to attend the session.
He pronounced the talaq not too long after they had their first child.

All through the married life, he spent most of his salary on himself and his car. The figure S$500 is too big amount for him to give to his wife. Family's responsibility are mostly shouldered by his Mrs.

Much as Rizal wanted to continue the single path where he had left, he still love his family, if not his wife.
He opted to strike out his wife's name as a co-tenant to their 5-room flat but still allow them to stay there as he still wanted her to cook for him.

I do not quite agree with the terms when this was highlighted to me.
The wife, soon going to be his ex, will have no life for herself. She has to move on, build her future and choose her future man.
She is a daughter-in-law whose mother-in-law loves more than the mother's own Rizal.

She has her 3 children's future at heart and we were talking about children's maintenance when I touched and stressed about her alimony.
Amount of children's maintenance can wait as they have their father but her alimony is a one off payment which to my knowledge, many ex-wives overlook.

******

Rizal was all stressed out when his wife raised the issue.
He asked for advice from one of his friend who had just divorced his wife after 10 years together and the friend had to pay his ex-Mrs S$46,000.

Hearing the amount, that's where all the U turn start!!!
10 years - 46k, 15 years???

But the wife is too stressed out with the selfish Rizal.
She wants to move on from where she had left behind!!!

***Changes Made                       

The Taxi Story - His Yearning Heart Had Spoken

"Kakak sihat?" The taxi driver warm up to his passenger - me.

"Alhamdulillaah." I answered as I propered myself at the rear sit.

"Kakak selamat?" He continued.

"Alhamdulillaah selamat." A rare question asked - I answered anyway.

"Abang?" What's this? I asked myself.

"Selamat juga. Kenapa?" I had to ask him of his queer question.

"Kakak selamat, Abang selamat, Kassim selamat, saya tak selamat." What's exactly in the driver's mind?

"Kenapa doa macam gitu?" I was surprised with his statement.

"Betul Kak... Kakak selamat, Abang selamat, Kassim selamat tapi saya tak selamat." The taxi driver tried to convince me.

"Apa pun yang kita cakap, itu doa kita. Malaikat aminkan apa yang keluar dari mulut kita.Tak kisah cakap main-main ke cakap betul-betul. Malaikat tak tau gurau tu apa. Yang dia tau, dia bawak apa yang kita cakap pada Tuhan. Kita tunggulah bila cakap kita jadi betul. Itu orang cakap secara kebetulan." I needed to correct his choice of words that came out of his mouth.

"Kak, Kakak selamat, Abang selamat, Kassim selamat, saya juga selamat Kak..." He recorrected his statement.

"Alhamdulillaah semua selamat. Amin." I was relieved at last.

"Kak, saya sebenarnya engineer - kerja kat Australia. Kakak pernah dengar cari gali minyak kat tengah laut?" The man sobered with his words.

"Oil-rig engineer kat Australia kenapa taxi-driver kat Johor?" I was surprised with the 360 degrees transformation.

"Saya tinggalkan anak bini kat kampung. Suruh kawan tolong tengok diorang kat rumah. Tau-tau dia nak bini saya jadi orang-rumah dia." He started to open up.

"Lepas tu?" I was curious with his story.

"Lepas tu, saya lepaskan kerja. Saya kerja jauh sebab nak cari lebih untuk family. Sekarang family tak lengkap - cuma anak-anak saja."

"Kat Australia kan banyak perempuan cantik. Kawin satu aje orang sana - sayang kerja..." l tried to lift his spirit.


"Saya jarang jalan-jalan kat darat, selalu ingat bini. Saya sayang bini saya kak, dia baik. Sebab itu kawan saya pun sayang dia." The man started to falter with his words.

"Bini dah tak ada. Focus kerjalah." I lifted his spirit higher.

"Kak, Kakak cantik, Abang sayang. Anak-anak saya cantik Kak, saya sayang. Bini saya cantik, saya tak boleh sayang. Tapi saya tau saya tetap juga sayang. Anak-anak saya cantik kak. Saya sayang. Saya tak mau suruh orang jaga. Biar saya jaga sendiri. Saya tak nak diorang hilang macam bini saya hilang." His words start to pierce my heart. I was looking at him through the mirror - he's avoiding eye contact - He looked down occasionally...

"Berapa umur anak?"

"15 dengan 19. Diorang cantik Kak. Dah 8 tahun saya jaga sendiri kat kampung..." A loving father who talk affectionately of his daughters - A man with a very big loving heart who gave away his heart to his ex-wife only to be hijacked by his best friend.

He's suffocating...

He's yearning for the feeling not returned...

******

Finally I reached my destination before the taxi driver could finish his sentence.
As I paid my fare, he turned to me and I saw his watery red eyes.
I had to get out of his life-story fast.

"Keep the change." I hurried away from him...