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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Wednesday 24 February 2010

Enough is enough!

Unable to visit Sofie at the hospital yesterday due to a long list of things to do, I called her around noon to find out what was wrong with her.

“Doctor cakap badan saya tak cukup garam dan terlebih oksigen.”

I told her I’d be visiting today and asked her if anybody was home since I wanted to send this month’s supply of groceries as well. I felt relieved when I was told that her older sister (not the one Sofie used to stay with, this is another sister staying in another state) was home looking after the needs of Sofie’s kids. They (the sister & her husband) were there over the weekend, but looking at Sofie’s fragile condition, decided to stay on for another week. They were the ones who arranged to send Sofie to the hospital. If it was up to Sofie herself, she’d rather suffer at home than being warded at the hospital.

This morning Sofie sent me a text message, saying that she may be discharged in the afternoon. I did tell her that if she was willing to wait until after 2.30 pm, I may be able to fetch her at the hospital. But at that time she herself wasn’t really sure what time exactly she’d be discharged, as she was still on drip, so I figured I’d just give her a call before I make a move from Ipoh.

Around 12.30 pm, Sofie called to say she had already been discharged and had already called her sister to fetch her at the hospital. She preferred taking the bus rather than wait another 2 hours or so for me to come and fetch her. I figured for whatever reasons, she couldn’t stand it anymore at the hospital.

Before going home from lunch this afternoon, I went over to the minimarket near my office to get this month’s supply of groceries for Sofie’s family.


I headed straight to Sofie’s house right after my zuhr prayer, and got there about 2.40 pm. I was pleasantly surprised to see Ika there. I thought her school session was in the afternoon and so she wouldn’t be home if I visit during weekdays afternoons. Apparently her school changed from afternoon to morning session after the recent CNY holidays. So today other than Saiful, Ika too helped to carry down the groceries from my car. Sofie’s bro-in-law too came out to help carry the things. I have already met Sofie’s sister & bro-in-law twice before this, so they are quite familiar with me already.

Anyway, Sofie had already asked to be discharged from the hospital yesterday, but the doctor wouldn’t allow her. This morning she asked again, giving the excuse that there was nobody at home to take care of her children. Well yes, Sofie’s sister was home, but all Sofie wanted was an excuse to go home. The truth was, she couldn’t stand it any longer at the hospital.

You see, most of the nurses at the hospital knew Sofie’s family. It had been quite some time since Sofie was last warded at that hospital (ever since she was diagnosed HIV+, she has been going to Ipoh GH for her appointments), and so this time, they asked her all sorts of questions. They asked about her husband, whom they had always known as a playboy. They asked about her HIV. Sofie couldn’t take it any longer, so she repeatedly asked to be discharged. The doctor finally agreed this morning although her BP was still rather low.

Worse, when Sofie’s bro-in-law went out to buy roti canai this morning, the roti canai seller asked him straight in the face, “*Sofie tu sah HIV positif ya?” And guess who told him? None other than Sofie’s other sister who stays nearby – the one whom Sofie had been staying with earlier. With Sofie hospitalised, that sister has even more stories to tell the neighborhood.

Sofie has had it with that particular sister. She intends to quietly move to a nearby town in one or two months time – without telling THAT sister. Last time she told me she may move at the end of the year. But now she intends to move as soon as possible and start afresh at a new place. In fact, she also intends to change to a new phone number. She has already identified a house, with the same rental rate as the present house. She will also need to arrange for her children’s change of school. Sofie’s sister and bro-in-law (the ones who came from another state to visit) had promised to help her out when she moves.

Sofie promised me that whatever and whenever she decides, she’d inform me first. I told her that if the timing is right, I don’t mind helping her move.

Poor Sofie. It’s tough when you’re staying in a small town where everybody knows you have HIV. Worse, when people start whispering every time you pass by. And with her own sister as the main source of news, all Sofie wants now is not only to get away from her neighbors – main thing is to get away from her sister!

15 comments:

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Pi,
It's so sad when your own blood and kin, whom you thought you could rely on, is the one who lets you down... Kesian Sofie. Tapi takpe, jom kita pakat ramai-ramai tolong dia, ye? Nak tukar-tukar sekolah ni bukannya kerja senang tau. purrr...meow!

Pi Bani said...

CiS,
Yes I know, nak tukar sekolah bukan kerja senang. But I tell you Sofie is one determined woman! Anyway, her other sister & bro-in-law promised they'd help her out. And insyaAllah I will help her out too bila perlu.

Nanti dia orang pindah Angelina nak tolong angkat barang ke?

mamasita said...

Strange..dahlah tak boleh tolong, ngumpat pulak..I believe oneday soon, Sofie's sister akan terima balasan setimpal dan akan menyesal tak habis2..Tuhan Maha Adil..

I rasa she ingat ngumpat2 tu takde bendanya..dia tak sedar the emotional damage she has caused Sofie and her kids..

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Pi ni suka usik Angelina tau! Kita mana reti angkat barang, beli barang bolehlah.... purrr....meow!

Pi Bani said...

Mamasita,
Some people memang dah jadi "hobby" suka bercerita kat orang. Some tu bangga dapat jadi the main source of info.

Anyway, Sofie is not the only one yang tak ngam dengan that sister. Sofie's other sister (the one yang I jumpa today) pun tak tahan dengan kakak yang tu. Bergaduh pun pernah. Macam-macam perangai manusia.

Pi Bani said...

CiS,
Ha'ah ya, kucing manalah reti angkat barang. Yang dia tau... makan, tidur, makan, tidur!

mekyam said...

kesian sofie! with a sister like that, she doesn't need enemies. lucky the other sister and hub are nice and helpful.

Pi Bani said...

Mekyam,
Itu lah pasal! Problem is, the other sister dok jauh, so susah sikitlah nak bergantung kat dia orang. Kalau sister yang dekat tu boleh harap senang sikit jalan ceritanya...

sherry said...

Cheese Burger King betul lah kat sister mulut tempayan Si Sofie tu. Geram kita membacanya! U tak gi 'sound" dia ke che Pi *wink *wink syaitan bertanduk i ni ..geram punya pasal!

sherry said...

Che Pi..

Tumpang pesan sikit kat Angelina ye.


Hi Angelina.
U suka beli barang @ soping? *wink *wink.. Aunty suka lah.. kali ni i don't mind tinggalkan Brad and bawak u teman i pi soping kat Paris! boleh gitu?

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hey Pi, looking at that photo of the monthly grocery supplies, that seems to be alot of stuff. If I'm not wrong, there's about 12 dozens eggs there, wow!!!That's about 5 eggs per day :) Tak jelat ke?

Oso that's the price u pay for living in a small community, everyone knows what u r up to, so no hanky panky lah :))

Salam,
Tommy

Pi Bani said...

Sherry,
Tugas I untuk bagi moral support to the HIV infected, bukan gi serang their family members yang mulut tempayan.

p/s
You nak gi shopping dengan Angelina in Paris? Jangan lupa beli kot bulu kucing ok? ;)

Pi Bani said...

Tommy,
According to Sofie, her children got selera makan if they get telur, ikan bilis or sardines. Once in a while when they get meat, they don't eat much. Anyway, I only give the list of items to the minimarket owner, he's the one who decides on the amount so that the total price comes up to RM300, as agreed by the charity club sponsoring the groceries for Sofie's family until the end of the year.

And yep, the price to pay when you live in a small community. Problem is, orang lain buat hal, orang lain jadi mangsa.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Huh? Aunty Sherry? Brad is no longer your favourite? You want to take shopping to Paris? Anytime baby!!!

Aunty Pi!!! Kot bulu kucing? Zalimnya! Nanti I beli kot "bulu" landak baru tau! purrr....meow!

Pi Bani said...

CiS,
Hehe... saja nak provoke Angelina tukar jadi landak... :)