THEY WILL ASK thee as to what they should spend on others. Say: "Whatever of your wealth you spend shall [first] be for your parents, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, verily, God has full knowledge thereof." - Al-Baqarah (2:215)
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Monday 10 March 2008

Ada bilik kosong?

When Yah called me last time to tell me she was already working in Ipoh, I was made to understand that she was renting a room near her workplace. As such, I thought there should be no problem accommodation-wise. So when she called last Friday asking me about getting a cheap flat for her to rent, I was wondering why she would want to move further from her workplace.

Apparently when she said she was renting a room near her workplace, she was actually staying at her sister-in-law’s house. Now, if readers had been following Yah’s story from the beginning, you would remember that Yah had been having some problems with her in-laws – from mother-in-law, brother-in-law right to sister-in-law. They were very calculative people who would even charge for every single thing and they even had the cheek to ask Yah to pay them their share when Yah withdrew her EPF. It was Yah’s EPF in the first place, why on earth would Yah need to give a certain percentage to them?? All because of money, the in-laws became out-laws!

Despite all that, Yah still decided to stay with her sister-in-law when she got a job in Ipoh. Why on earth did she do that? Beats me! In the first place, I still feel Yah should have tried to get a job nearer to her kampong where her children are.

Now the problem is surfacing again. According to Yah, all her pay is gone having to pay for her sister-in-law’s household needs – especially since the husband is a drug addict! Now Yah wants to move out and she heard about the cheap flats for rent meant for poor people. That was why she called me.

Actually the flats are meant for poor families. Yah, on the other hand, wants to stay alone! No way will her application be approved unless she’s bringing all her children to stay with her. Well, if she does bring them here, then who will be taking care of them while she’s at work, especially when she has to follow her employer for outstation catering jobs?

When she found out that she’s not eligible for the flats, she asked if I could look around for rooms to let. Frankly, at the area where she works, there are lots of rooms to let. She would be the best person to scout around for one. She can’t expect me to be her kuli to look for a room for her to stay when she's more familiar with the area. I told her to take the initiative to find one herself.

On another note, her 2 daughters who went to an orphanage since the beginning of this year are now back at home for the school holidays. Earlier they were the ones who wanted to go to the orphanage, now they want out! According to Yah, her second daughter Kak Ngah, the chubby one, is now just as skinny as her Kak Long. Oh wow! She must have lost a lot of weight. She’s not happy at the orphanage as she said the seniors there like to bully her. Adoii… at an orphanage also like that ah?

Yah told them to give it another month or so before they should really decide if they want out for sure. Maybe they just needed some time to adjust. I guess we shall just wait and see, although I do hope Yah does not see them as a burden if they do come home for good.

Anyway, there was one thing I noticed. For the past 2 calls from Yah, she did not mention anything about Mr. Darling. Not a single word!

Hmmm… I hope… I really, really hope… that means good news. Ye think?

12 comments:

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

sian yah...dah jatuh ditimpa tangga lagi. but thats just things are everywhere. even in politics, in-laws can be a real jerk.

Pi Bani said...

Kerp:
Sempat lagi nak selit bab politik, eh? But never mind, that particular in-law will be the one who will jatuh from the tangga one day. The time will come - what goes up must come down...

Nightwing said...

Pity the girls...Sometimes children can be mean too. Hope everything will turn out rite for them.

Neny said...

Ni lah situasi yg org kata bg betis nak paha pulak. Bila Kak Pi dah byk tolong dia, tang yg senang cam cari bilik tu pon dia harapkan Kak Pi. Adoi...

Nasib baik Kak Pi jenis yg berterus terang, ye tak? Patut pon Kak Pi ckp centu, nanti suma dia nak harapkan Kak Pi.

Bab the girls, kesiannya dgr kena buli kat orphanage tu. Budak2 kat situ xde ke rasa insaf dgn keadaan hidup sendiri, lg nak buli sesama sendiri. Ke mungkin x cukup kasih sayang, jadi memberontak ngan cara membuli?

Ntah la ye, sbb kita x duduk di tempat diorg.Tak tau apa yg diorg lalui.

Pi Bani said...

Nightwing:
I don't know what really went on at the orphanage, so I can't really comment much on that. But yes, I do hope things will turn for the better.

Pi Bani said...

Neny:
Memang kena tegas and cakap terus terang. As I mentioned time and again, our intention is to help them become independent. Kalau benda simple-simple pun nak minta tolong orang buatkan, bila nak independentnya kan?

As for the girls at the orphanage, like I said to Nightwing, I don't know what really went on, so can't comment much on that.

david santos said...

Pi Bani, I go to ask for to the 187,000 blogues that they exist in Malaysia to place the image of NURIN JASLIN in day 25 of April of 2008.

It does not have justice, but NURIN JASLIN cannot be forgotten.

Also I want that you make me a favor.
That you translate me the text for your language.

I am to the wait of your reply. Thank you.

David Santos

Pi Bani said...

David Santos:
Hey, I love the special posting for Nurin Jazlin in your blog. I have no problem at all about putting up Nurin's image in my blog on 25 April 2008. But if I may ask, any special occasion?

And which text is it that you want me to translate?

You can email me direct at pibani@yahoo.com

silversarina said...

Ok jugak anak-anak tinggal bersama, kesian kalau mereka tak gembira di rumah anak yatim tu...

yah memang kena berdikari dalam hal-hal macam ni.

Pi Bani said...

Silversarina:
I sendiri wasn't keen about the idea of sending the kids to asrama anak yatim earlier. They're still too young. Tapi budak-budak tu sendiri yang minta nak pergi. Dah pergi, rasa tak happy pulak. Tapi yang banyak complain ni pun Kak Ngah. Kak Long nya tak banyak cerita. Agaknya budak-budak kat asrama anak yatim tu suka bully Kak Ngah pasal dia tembam kot? Sampai kurus le pulak budak tu sekarang...

Daphne Ling said...

Hi Kak Pi,

Wah...It looks like your 'clients' come to you for everything...Abit too much, don't you think? No offence, but you're there to be their friend and help them through difficult times, and not be, to quote you, their 'kuli'...

But I really salute you because you know how to put your foot down...Something I seem to have a problem doing...;p

You give lessons? Hehe...

PS: Let's hope Mr Darling stays outta the picture for good...*Fingers crossed*

Pi Bani said...

Daphne:
You want lessons? Caaan... but my professional charges very expensive one... ;)