Today I planned out a perfect lunch date before taking the train back to campus with the beau. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the plan was ruined. Instead, both of us sat for hours in Uncle Lim's while listening to his usual stories. Around the evening, we took a train to Sentral for the transit to another route. As usual during the peaks hours and the incompetent public transport system in Malaysia, the train was delayed and the station was packed with a sea of hastiness people. After waiting for an hour, we managed to get on the second train.
Halfway through the journey, I had a short conversation with a Malay girl, Bella who sat beside me. She told me of the unfortunate incident that happened in the train. As mentioned, it was the peak hour and everyone was rushing back to their lovely abode to make it in time for dinner. Due to the insufficient space provided for the large amount of users in the commuter, the train was packed. Hence, at times befall the uncomfortable feeling of strangers leaning towards your body for support and not forgetting, the need of tolerance towards another person's body odour.
Initially, Bella was standing up upon going into the commuter. She soon felt an uncomfortable feeling behind her back as if someone was grabbing her behind. The moment she turned her head, a dark skin foreigner man at a distance of approximately 5 centimeters away from her face, glanced away quickly. Immediately, she moved forward and was lucky enough to find the seat beside me. Like a hawk, Bella continued to observe the man as he was leaning forward towards the back of a middle aged woman.
At one point, she noticed the man was taking advantage of the woman by grabbing her behind. Immediately, Bella yelled at him and warned the woman to stay away from the pervert. The man backed off from the woman but did not respond any signs of communication towards Bella or the woman. Instead, he got off at the next stop. Bella's valiant and courageous manner to acknowledge and yell at the pervert is a good example how women should always be aware of her surroundings and NEVER to give anyone, even a split second, for a moment to 'touch' your body parts.
Bella takes the commuter back to UKM each time during her working days. She works as a part-timer in Krispy Kreme at Mid Valley whilst studying to alleviate the financial burden of her tuition fees for her family. Her mother, the breadwinner, has to take care of her other 16 siblings. Bella told me she enjoys communicating with people and hopes to learn Korean language in the future. We exchanged our views about a few Korean dramas and our experiences working as a server. When she soon realized that she has arrived at her stop (UKM), Bella acknowledged us that we missed the stop for our station (Kajang)!
As we were negotiating to take a cab or to wait for another train back to campus, she waved goodbye with her adorable smile. Before checking out, she turned back and handed me half a dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts. I declined her generous offer but she insisted that I take it for the journey back to campus. Out of courtesy, I accepted it and wished her all the best.
Her act of kindness reminds me that there are still compassionate, bold and kind human beings around. This simple interaction made me realize that every individual leads a different life, from various backgrounds and comes from a variety of cultures. Why the racist judgements and why the inequality of social stance? Why can't the KTM service provide a more larger or faster commuters to enhance their system? Why didn't the man responded to Bella's words?
Questions, questions, questions.
Initially, Bella was standing up upon going into the commuter. She soon felt an uncomfortable feeling behind her back as if someone was grabbing her behind. The moment she turned her head, a dark skin foreigner man at a distance of approximately 5 centimeters away from her face, glanced away quickly. Immediately, she moved forward and was lucky enough to find the seat beside me. Like a hawk, Bella continued to observe the man as he was leaning forward towards the back of a middle aged woman.
At one point, she noticed the man was taking advantage of the woman by grabbing her behind. Immediately, Bella yelled at him and warned the woman to stay away from the pervert. The man backed off from the woman but did not respond any signs of communication towards Bella or the woman. Instead, he got off at the next stop. Bella's valiant and courageous manner to acknowledge and yell at the pervert is a good example how women should always be aware of her surroundings and NEVER to give anyone, even a split second, for a moment to 'touch' your body parts.
Bella takes the commuter back to UKM each time during her working days. She works as a part-timer in Krispy Kreme at Mid Valley whilst studying to alleviate the financial burden of her tuition fees for her family. Her mother, the breadwinner, has to take care of her other 16 siblings. Bella told me she enjoys communicating with people and hopes to learn Korean language in the future. We exchanged our views about a few Korean dramas and our experiences working as a server. When she soon realized that she has arrived at her stop (UKM), Bella acknowledged us that we missed the stop for our station (Kajang)!
As we were negotiating to take a cab or to wait for another train back to campus, she waved goodbye with her adorable smile. Before checking out, she turned back and handed me half a dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts. I declined her generous offer but she insisted that I take it for the journey back to campus. Out of courtesy, I accepted it and wished her all the best.
Her act of kindness reminds me that there are still compassionate, bold and kind human beings around. This simple interaction made me realize that every individual leads a different life, from various backgrounds and comes from a variety of cultures. Why the racist judgements and why the inequality of social stance? Why can't the KTM service provide a more larger or faster commuters to enhance their system? Why didn't the man responded to Bella's words?
Questions, questions, questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment