Family Breakfast

Chong sat back in the chair, his face buried in the newspaper. It wasn’t that there was anything in it that particularly absorbed his attention. He did it idly. He just wanted a respite from the view in front of him.

Shusan sat opposite him. She had finished her thosai. She sat staring at the empty banana leaf on the table in front of her. The place was noisy, with crowds of people having their thosais and rotis canais while in animated conversation. Shusan looked ruffled. She always looked that way. Her face was often frozen in a scowl. She looked up and seeing her husband behind the paper irritated her even more.

“Listen, how long are you going to read that paper?” her voice was loud enough to make those at the next table turn to look at them.

Chong put down the paper and folded it. He got up.

“And where are you going now?” Shushan snapped.

“I’ll go settle the bill.”

Shushan looked at Liza, sitting next to her, nibbling at bits of the roti canai, while she dreamily played a game on her phone.

“You are taking ages to eat that roti! Come on. Put the phone away. Finish the roti. It’s just a small piece and you are taking forever.” Shushan thought her voice was a low whisper, but it had practically half the people in the restaurant looking at Liza.

“It may be a small piece for you, but its big for me.” Liza answered defiantly.

“Shut up and eat. Don’t answer back at me.”

“Mom, its still early…” Tom started.

Shushan turned on him, “Now you shut your mouth. I know when it is early or late.”

She glowered at him for a while. Then she saw Chong walking back and looked up at him, ready to snap at him.

“Do you have change for a 100 ? The guy doesn’t have change.” Chong held the RM100 note.

“What’s wrong with you ? Don’t you use your brain? You mean you just brought the RM100 note, and no small change ? How idiotic.”

“Well give me some small notes.”

“I don’t have my purse with me. Go change the money somewhere else. Serves you right.”

Liza looked at Tom and rolled her eyes. She continued nibbling at the roti canai. Tom sipped the Milo.

Chong sauntered away.

Shushan sat muttering under her breath. 

The Visit

He looked at the people sitting around the table.

“Ada soalan lain ?”

There was some fidgeting and some murmurings. He knew there were many questions in their minds. It was several months since he had met them. But somehow they all seemed to sense the urgency running through his mind. An urgency to get this over with.

“Mr Mark, saya nak tanya……” Rosli looked intense as he explained his problem.

Mark felt a mild irritation. But he answered, explaining patiently.

“Ok, kalau taada soalan lain, kita berhenti sini la,” he quickly gathered his papers, not letting his eyes linger on anyone. He didn’t want any more delays. It was almost four.

***

“Harbour Place”

“Lima belas encik.”

It was daylight robbery, and Mark instinctively began to protest. But he was already opening the door, and the driver knew he had the upper hand. He just smiled.

Mark got in. He drummed his fingers against the seat, as the taxi crawled through the traffic.

***

He waited. Where would she come from? He looked past the laundry. Then at the doorway near the minimarket. And then at the guardhouse. And back towards the laundry. And there she was. Walking towards him. A dancers walk, feet floating lightly over the ground. She looked tired. But she looked happy. 

***

The apartment was neat and functional. A light breeze gave a cool feeling as Mark sank into the sofa. Medical books with gruesome pictures were lying about.

“I made something for you.” She danced over to the kitchen. She returned with a small bowl. She handed it to him.

“I made it myself. Special for you. Less sugar.”

Mark looked at the yellow goo. He felt inexplicably good. Was this what it would have felt like ? If he had a daughter of his own ?  Someone who would care for him, think about his likes and dislikes, and make things for him? He looked down at the contents of the bowl again. It looked inviting now. He took a spoonful. And looked up, to find her watching him expectantly.

“Delicious.” She looked pleased. She mumbled something about the yellow colour. But Mark was overwhelmed by her simple loving act of taking the trouble in making the kesari…. for him.

He looked up to see her with a mug of water. Even the water was delicious and refreshing!

Time flew. He knew he had to leave soon. But he savored every moment. They talked about her studies, about gemstones in teeth and everything else. And then at last it was time to leave.

***

“Oops, I left my book upstairs.”

“Ok, you wait here , I’ll go get it.”

“ No, Ill come along. You probably won’t know where I put it.”

Several more minutes in her company.

***

She got out of the car to say a final goodbye. And then she was gone.