Passing it on...

I must say that hubby and I are very much indebted to Ridzuan - who has been acting as our courier man twice already, bringing us packages from Malaysia. When asked what we can do as a way to repay his kindness (apart from treating him out at Deniz in Takadanobaba, our favourite Turkish restaurant), he quickly replied that no, he doesn't expect anything in return, that it has been his pleasure to be of help. “Friends used to help bringing packages for me when I was a student myself. Since I can’t repay them, why shouldn’t I carry on the gestures to others?” This – from somebody we never met in person when he first offered (by e-mail) to bring some stuff for us from KL to Tokyo.

His words reminded me of what Mak used to tell me – whenever possible, try to help others and don’t expect anything in return, because when you sincerely help others, Allah will help you in ways you never expected. It might not happen immediately, it might not happen soon – it often happens when you most need it and least expect it. And like Ridzuan said, when you have been the recipient of an act of kindness and you can’t repay the person who has been helpful to you, you might as well pass it on to others.

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Talking about acts of kindness reminds me of Kak Liza and Abang Bad – or maybe I should address him as Dr Badrol since he had already gotten his PhD and now a professor in UTP, Tronoh – who took me in their home one summer holiday a long time ago. I flunked some papers and had to re-sit some exams, and since the exams were held during vacation, I had nowhere to live because my dormitory was not yet opened.

Kak Liza welcomed me to stay at their home for the two weeks course, not asking for a single penny in rental or utilities. She even asked me to join her little family (there were Kak Liza, Abang Bad, little Iqbal and his sister Aula – but I’m quite sure the family has expanded since then) during meals. She always asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink, and checking to make sure that I was comfortable. She didn’t allow me to do much housework, “Go study, it’s more important for you to pass the papers. Just leave the houseworks for me, no big deal”, she would have said. I didn’t want to impose but I also didn’t want to offend her by paying when she has implied that she did not expect me to do so. So, sometimes I bought cakes and some food for her kids – which of course, was nothing compared to what Kak Liza and Abang Bad must had spent on me. The accommodation, the utilities I consumed, the food I ate…

So, when a friend recently asked if he could bunk in at the mosque for maybe a couple of weeks before he leaves Tokyo next spring – I gladly told him that he’s welcomed anytime. It won’t be as comfortable as his current place, and he would probably has less privacy, but if it’s alright by him, then, by all means, he's most welcomed. I probably won’t be as hospitable as Kak Liza, but I guess it might be a chance of some sort for me to pass Kak Liza’s and Abang Bad’s kindness on to someone else…