A Bowl of Laksa

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I am in my usual element, and when I am in my element, I love to lecture with cartoon. Which turns a very naggy and boring thing into something that can garner a bit of attention.

Tini's Story

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Tini's mom loves to nag. It is like her part time job. She nags in the daytime, the nighttime, the teatime and you get what I mean right? Tini couldn't manage the stress anymore, it was becoming a bit overbearing.

She was controlling herself, the tears were filling up her eyes and she thought to herself, she can't let this continue or her mom will continue to do this to her for a long long time.

"I am going to make her regret", Tini thought to herself. She left the house without carrying anything with her. It was a hasty decision but she has made up her mind, until and unless her mom apologises, she will not return to that hell house.

She walked some distance from home. The sky is turning dark. It has been a few hours since she left home.

'Isn't mom coming to apologise?'

Her stomach was growling. She realised she didn't carry any money with her.

She walked a bit more and she came across a food stall that sells Laksa. Laksa is a curry like noodle, a favourite local dish. She was wondering if the lady would be nice enough to give her a bowl of laksa to quell her hunger.

She didn't dare ask, she sat under the tree and she started shivering from the hunger.

The laksa seller saw Tini under the tree. She guessed as much that Tini is hungry and she decided that she will do something for this child. She gave her a bowl of laksa.

Tini was shocked, she is so grateful. Why would a stranger do so much for her when her mother doesn't even care for her. All she cares was her nagging and finger pointing. Tini was sobbing in her heart. A stranger has shown her kindness when she couldn't find any at home.

The lady said,

'Girl, you look distraught. Is there something that is bothering you?'

Tini told her story and to her surprise the lady gave her a piece of advice that she shall remember till the end of time. She said,

'Girl, I only gave you a bowl of laksa. Have you ever thought how many bowls of laksa has your mom cooked for you? How many sacks of rice has she cooked for you? How many baskets of laundries she has cleaned for you? How many diapers she has changed for you? How much of tears has she shed for you?....

and here you are grateful to me for a simple bowl of laksa? Have you taken your mother's love for granted?

Tini realised that the lady was right. She had set expectation on her own mother. Unreasonable ones. She has been ungrateful. She is remorseful. She didn't finish her laksa and she thanked that lady. Her heart was about to burst from remorse. She felt like the most ungrateful child any parent could have.

Tini reached the doors of her house. Her mom was standing at the door looking worried. She couldn't leave Alif the baby brother alone. But she has informed the neighbours to search for Tini. Looks like she has been crying too. The first words that came out was,

'Tini, have you eaten?'

She wasn't even angry. The first few words was to know if Tini has taken her meal. That made Tini realised how much her mother actually love her. She didn't nag.

That night, Tini changed into a new person. She learned to be grateful and not to take her mother's love for granted. She now knows what love means.

credit to @zomagic