First 2 hours of a Sunday Morning

Sunday, 13 November 2005

Don't Worry - The handphone beeped. June has just smsed to say she has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It was 11:45 pm on Saturday, 12 November. It took more than half an hour to collect her luggage and walk to the entrance of the airport. I smsed her to get the KLIA transit to the Bandar Tasek Salatan station.

It was alread passed 12:30 am, Sunday 13 November, when she smsed to say the station was closed. I forgot that all the LRT stations were closed by 12:15 am if not 12:30 am. I phoned her and told her to take the taxi. Was 70 Ringgit okay, she asked? I quickly said "yes" because she only has one segment left in her battery indicator.

I calculated that it would take at least an hour to reach my place. I walked down to the front security guard's house. It was 01:25 am. At 01:30 am she smsed to say she was almost there!!

Minute after minute passed, still no sign of a taxi. By 02:00 am, I was really worried. The security guard advised me to phone her and jot down the taxi number. I rang June's cellphone. It was off!! Oh dear! Was June's cell phone battery out completely? Was she alright? I could not block out the stories of unreliable taxi drivers!!

The security guard said that most likely the taxi driver was lost, being unfamiliar with the area. He was right. I was so relieved when a taxi (the only taxi during the time I waited) finally appeared at 2:15 am, stopped at the entrance , with a familiar face sitting in the passenger seat. It was indeed June and she was smiling. It took her 2 and a half hours from the time of arrival at the KLIA to my place. It didn't matter, so long she was safe.

Yes, the taxi driver was lost. She was not familiar with this area!

Security Guard - While waiting for June, I had the opportunity to talk to one of the 2 security men on duty. His name is Habit (Ha as sounded in "ha ha ha" and not "happy"). He knows his name has the same spelling as habit in the English vocabulary meaning routine/pattern. I have never encountered a Malay or a Muslim name like that - very interesting and unforgettable!! He is a retired government servant, worked in the Language/Library section of the Education Department. Except for his white hair, he looked young and healthy for his 60 years. He talked about his 5 children, who now have their own families, but come to visit him and his wife often. Even though he gets 900 Ringgit per month (daily paid) he is contented. Better than staying at home at night and doing nothing. When you are old, you don't need so much sleep!! Understandably, his wife would prefer him to stay home with her.

Taxi Driver - I could see she was a Muslim with the scarf over her head. She came out of her seat, opened the boot and lifted out June's luggage. I did not expect a lady taxi driver. I was relieved she was the taxi driver. She apologised for taking so long to take June to my place. She was lost and she was driving into the wrong lanes. With the direction of people they stopped to ask, she finally got to our lane. Would a male taxi driver do that - ask for direction? I wondered! What happened if June's taxi driver was a man? June said she was getting worried when the taxi driver said she was lost. Would she just gave up and dropped her at the side of the road? June was worried because she did not know the way to my place and even if the driver drove her somewhere else, she would not have any clue either. It was indeed frightening for her as well while I was frightened for her on my side. I wished this was in Miri. In Miri, the airport is not that far away and I would pick her myself.

Anyway, I learnt from June that the taxi driver is a widow. A friendly looking, small framed lady, she did not looked 55 years old either. She talked with June while driving. When her husband passed away 5 years old, she decided to take the wheels because her twin children (a boy and a girl) are grown! I asked her whether she was going home when she closed the boot. No, she wasn't. She has to drive back to KLIA. Her work has not finished yet!! I asked her whether she is scared. No, she isn't. She has gotten used to the work. It was her source of income.