“Sorry for not getting you a cake,” I apologized on behalf of the office to Alis who would be leaving in a few days time. The office had an almost-custom practice of buying a cake for the person who’s leaving or being transferred to another place. Alis had just received the offer to work in a higher institute of education in Terengganu and simply could not wait to join her husband there. The office had a farewell party for her but because many officers were away – on leave or otherwise – the collection gotten for the party was lesser than the usual amount and thus no cake. Oh, kek pisang was part of the menu, courtesy of a colleague – but that wasn’t ‘the real thing’.
“No worry,” Alis reassured me. “This is more than enough,” she said, referring to the simple party – we had some Mamak fried noodle, teh tarik, melon, rambutan, vadai, apam balik and kek pisang for high tea. Agreed, it was okay for a farewell party – but the missing cake could have made it even better. Almost as if she was reading my thought, Alis half-teasingly continued, “but if you want to make it up, you could get me that nice kuih siput bilis”. I smiled.
Alis had been a big fan of the kuih siput bilis that I got as a gift for Eidul Fitri last year. In fact, she practically finished them all. Which was okay for me since I had never been a big fan of kuih siput myself and needed help to finish the whole crystal-like-glass container of that kuih. She asked me to find out from where she could get more such kuih, but due to personal reasons, I was reluctant to get in touch with the guy who sent me that kuih just to find out who the kuih’s supplier was.
When Alis insisted on finding out the supplier before she left the office, I knew I had no choice but to contact that guy and asked for his help. I did just that – called him up in a no-nonsense voice, and immediately asked for the kuih siput bilis’s supplier’s contact details. It must had been my lucky day – the contact person was with him then, so he just passed on his phone to her. I introduced myself, let her know that my colleague is highly interested in getting more of the kuih siput bilis and I would be very grateful if she could assist me in getting hold of some by the end of the week. She said ok, she would contact her friend, the supplier, to find out if there was any in stock and she would contact me later on to set the time and place for the delivery.
I wouldn’t have gone to that kind of trouble had it not been for Alis– calling up somebody I prefer not to be in touch with to find out more about some kuih’s supplier. But Alis had been an industrious, dependable staff during the past three years or so I’d worked with her – sacrificing my pride a bit is nothing compared to all that she had contributed for me and the small unit we were both in.
Always ready with a sunny smile with a cheerful disposition, Alis almost always reminded me that only a few lucky people like her get up bright and early – the rest, like me, just get up early. I told her that she would be missed by all of us, especially by officers in our Unit who had been relying on her dedication and resourcefulness. She did all the typing quickly. She arranged for meetings efficiently. She was quick to offer her assistance with anything. She rightfully deserved the award of excellence she received recently. And she would definitely be sorely missed.
“But I didn’t do much, I didn’t contribute that much,” she argued. “I was just doing my job”
“Then, you did more than just good job,” I replied with a smile. “You did great”
She wanted to refute that – but I quickly changed the topic. “Insya Allah you will get that kuih siput bilis by the end of the week,” I assured her, patted her back and then left her to chat with other officers.
As I walked up to the door, leaving that farewell party, I felt confident that Alis would be okay wherever she goes – good things, insya Allah, will follow those who do good – like her.
2 comments:
as a member of the same unit as Kak Alis, i would also like to express my highest gratitude to Kak Alis for assisting me most of the time, since i'm still new in the office. Like Cik Azra had mentioned, Kak Alis is very efficient in her job and is always there whenever i need assistance. I would surely miss her joyful personality that always brighten up my day whenever i feel down due to the heavy burden of my task.
To Kak Alis, I wish u all the best in your future undertaking, may you and your family always be blessed by the Almighty God, and may happiness always shine at your doorstep. Thank you for everything. :)
Alis is leaving? Yup..she's all that. I remember her..she reminds me of the wife of a friend - when I was still studying. She's from this big family, pious and didn't have the chance to go further in her study - for the obvious reason i.e. she's a woman. Some families are still that way in the 80s. Initially, I pity her. But then again, after I've got to know her - [despite the shorts & t-shirt, I do attend 'usrah' every one day in the week] - that's how i befriended her. I realize her courage. Come to think of it, she's lucky even without studying or knowing any English, she's able to come and live in the States, of course with her husband. Nuha - that's her name. She's quiet but bright and ever willing to learn, especially the English language. Being in her shoe I will die of fear. At that young age, married to a stranger, leaving your family right after that to a far away land and not knowing the language on top of everything. Takes courage to do that. Some people are just worth knowing and even if we won't travel on the same track, I'm glad I know her. And Alis, she can be someone that you're willing to put an extra effort for. I wish her the best too.
-Hamdiah-
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