By Muhammad Basir Roslan
œNot all the things that we see in this world are truly beautiful, Nur. And not all the things ugly in your eyes are truly ugly though, said Mak, while her old eyes staring deep into Nurs retinas. That beautiful and sweet girl looked back at her mum in silence. Even though she did not agree with her own mum still she remembers the golden advice she received from her late Abah that heaven truly lies under the feet of her mother. And for sure, it was true since everyone including her teacher at school always reminded her of the same exact word.
Ustazah Salmah once recited one hadith from Muawiyah bin Jahimah as-Salami about the importance of being respectful to our own mother. In that hadith, Jahimah asked Rasulullah S.A.W that he wanted to join Rasulullah S.A.W in the battlefield but had been stopped by the Messenger of Allah with the question, œDo you still have your mother? And Jahimah said, œyes. So Rasulullah S.A.W then said that he must serve his own mother because his heaven lies under his mothers feet.
œUh, please stop confronting your own mother, Nur! She was talking with herself, because still she cannot accept what Mak had said before. She actually wanted Mak to buy her the new shoes since it was badly torn because she had been using it for about three years already. The condition of that shoes, uh¦ she just cannot describe it in words but it was very bad and old. Mak refused to buy but she did not state the reason why she couldn’t do it.
She bit her own lips. It really hurt but she could really feel her lips shaking from anger with Maks decision. Her chest felt like it would be blown up because of the rage filled up simultaneously and tightly. She did not want to see Mak again, as she lift up herself and went to her room feeling disappointed. She slammed her room’s door loudly to express her anger towards Mak. She knew that Mak was shocked with what she had done but let it be like that, because she was very angry at that time! Tears flowed from her eyes.
She quickly wiped her tears. She was more angry than feeling sad. She was wondering, why Mak always rejected what she really wanted. Mak is not like Abah who always tried to fulfil her desires even though he did not have enough money. Even if he cannot fulfill it at that time, he will promise that he will get it the next time.
Abah was so different from Mak, and that was why she felt like losing half of her soul following the departure of her beloved Abah from this world. She really miss her dearest Abah so much. Even though Abah was just an ordinary fisherman, he always tried to cheer her up and bought the things she wanted. While she was crying and let her emotion out, she did not realise that she had fallen asleep and did not notice that Mak had covered her body with the blanket.
She set up the insects green net and burned the mosquito repellent to make sure that Nur sleep well without any disturbance. Mak took that old shoes of her while she was sleeping. Nur did not realise that Mak did not sleep the whole night because Mak had to settle the curtains and baju kurung ordered by the customers. Mak did not sleep because she patched the hole that appeared at her old shoes to make sure she can use it again. Oh, Nur really did not realise all of those!
The day passed and Nur was still in a bad mood, unhappy and unsatisfied. She looked straight into her patched-with-fabric shoes, as it had become a joke and had been ridiculed by her friends at school. She looked again at the shoes, staring and pondering questions like œWhy cant I change to another pair of new shoes? Why am I still using you, my old buddy? and those were the questions hovering inside of her mind. Because of this ugly shoes, she had become wisecrack all around the school. She felt so ashamed because of it! She really hated that ugly shoes!
The saddest part was that she had been harassed in school by one student, Akmal, who was from a rich family. He and his showboat friends always made fun of her just because she came from a poor family, unlike them. Is it wrong to be born in the penniless, meagre family? Why must they ridicule her? Is it too despicable for them to accept her that she had come from a fishermans family?
œBoo..Boo..Look at Nurs shoes guys, is it beautiful? It looks like Cinderellas shoes ha haha! Akmal shouted at her until almost of her classmates can hear those words. He pushed Nur and laughed like a devil. All of her friends laughed and looked at her until she couldn’t stand any more and forced her to cry. Why were they so cruel to her? Why?
Back from school, Nur was waiting for her older brother in front of the door of our house. She waited patiently until she could hear the sound of his EX5s motorcycle from the distance. She run into him as soon as he parked his motorcycle and without patience and hesitating she asked, œAlong, did you take an over time today at your factory? as she smiled and looked deeply inside Alongs eyes. He is Nur’s only brother.
Along just nodded up and down. He looked so tired and lifeless. Maybe Along was too exhausted to entertain Nur. Along got a job as a factory worker to produces electronic cable in town. He was always like that because he needed to work over time every day. If his shift was in the afternoon he would continue until morning. When he felt too tired, he decided not to do over time. But the money was still not enough and Nur did not know why.
Along leaned at the door. He sighed a few times out of stress. He then said that his neck was in pain, as Nur voluntarily seated behind him and started to massage his neck slowly.
œAlong¦ my shoes ripped. Can you buy me a new pair, please? Nur asked without hesitation.
œWho knows you have extra money so can buy me North Star shoes like Akmal has, the son of the owner of the jewellery shop in town. Every day, he wore those shoes and I like them so much, Nur added trying to persuade him. The North Star shoes with dark blue on the shoes. Oh! She really love that pair of shoes, so elegant!
Suddenly, Mak appeared at the door. œJust a small rip Along, and I have repaired. I have patched them. Mak interrupted their conversation. Nur pulled her face to express her disappointment to Mak.
œYou have always been like this! When I want something, you offend me quickly. Youre not saying yes or no but you always beat around the bush! Nur shouted angrily towards Mak. She was in dispute with her word.
Nur got up from her seat and ran into her room. Tompok meowed at the door but she just ignored. Her broken heart needed to be treated!
Mak coughed badly outside. Meanwhile, her leg busy pulled the pedal so that the old sewing machine can keep functioning as she had to deliver the curtains ordered by her customer. Mak massaged her chest.
œNever mind! Along is there! Nur was ignoring her.
Mak was still coughing. This time her coughing sounded serious. She stopped pedalling the sewing machine every five minutes. Mak was shouting Nurs name but she just kept ignoring her.
œGo and call Along! I don’t care!
Along who was busy repairing his motorcycle just entered when he heard Maks voice became softer.
œYa Allah, Mak! Along embraced Mak who had fainted at the end of the stairs. Nur was shocked when Along shouted and then with haste she ran to the kitchen to find any medicine but there was nothing.
œNur! Mak fainted. Please help me to support Mak. We need to go to the hospital right now! Along shouted at Nur with tears in his eyes. Nur was worried. Nur nodded quickly. Nur hugged Mak tightly. œMak, what’s wrong with you?Nur cried.
While on their way to hospital in an ambulance, Nur touched Maks body which felt cold and her face looked pale. The evening breeze that greeted them made Nur felt so worried.
œMak, please stay strong, Im so sorry!Nur was so scared to lose her mum.
When they arrived at the hospital, Mak was taken directly to the emergency room. Along kept walking back and forth. He sat beside Nur. She bit her lips. Guilt crept inside.
œWhy did you not answer Mak when she called you?Along asked Nur. He looked so upset with Nur. She was incoherent at the time. She just stared at the floor regretfully, afraid with her Alongs anger.
œDont you love Mak? Dont you?Along asked Nur again.
œAlong, I really love Mak! Im so sorry! Im guilty! Im angry because Mak seemed to ignore all my requests!Nur replied and cried. Along just kept silent.
œTheres no use if I scold you right now. Youre too young to understand about life. Along calmed Nur down after seing her crying madly after that.
œForgive me Mak and Along!Nur was begging for forgiveness from both of them.
They were waiting outside the emergency room patiently for their mum and prayed for the good result from the doctor.
Since Mak got sick, Nur did not complain about her ugly shoes anymore. In fact, the shoes that Mak patched were very beautiful in Nurs eyes. These shoes were different from the others, as it had its own uniqueness and sentimental value.
She believed deeply in her heart that her shoes were a valuable present from her late Abahs hand and it had saccharine values to her. Along said, Mak worked hard to repair that shoes. Mak ensured that the shoes did not perforate so that the shoes will not get wet if hit by water.
Actually Mak loved Nur wholeheartedly. Along said again, that her problem was the ripped shoes, then when Mak patched the shoes there should not be a problem anymore. Nur agreed, because what Along said was true. Between need and necessities, Nur just already knew how to differentiate that.
œEh Nur, your shoes are so beautiful! Akmal said with sarcastic laughter. Akmal wore a new pair of branded shoes. Nike shoes with all-white design.
œShoes with patches. Ha haha! Akmal laughed out loud followed by his other friends.
œMy mum sewed and repaired it. Maybe it is not beautiful in your eyes but never mind, I really do not care anymore. Nur told him but sadness was all inside her heart. At the same time, Alongs motivations disappeared from her. On that same evening, she was going home with tears in her eyes.
œAlong¦ Along¦ why is it that our money is never enough for us? Nur asked Along. She really need edthe answer from Along. At least she will not feel so upset when facing her friends again at school.
œOur problem was that money was never enough.Why cant money fall from the sky? Nur asked for the second time. Alongs mouth was shut, silent.
œNur¦ did you see my motorcycle? Nur nodded her head in agreement. She was looking at their late Abahs motorcycle in front of them.
œThis motorcycle, my sister, despite it being an old and ugly motorcycle but in my eyes this is the most beautiful motorcycle in this world. Why? Because it is a gift from our beloved Abah, said Along and then added, œnot all the ugly things are bad, but if they give benefits to us, then it is the beauty of that thing. Along smiled and touched her hair softly. Nur understood his words.
œLike your shoes, even it was torn but you can still use it. Especially when Mak had patched it. Do you remember the first time you got that shoes from Abah? asked Along, waiting for Nur to answer.
Gulp. She swallowed. How can she forget that moment when Abah bought it with his salary when he did the part-time job as a farmer at Haji Dolahs paddy field? At first, Nur really took care of it but then when the shoes got ugly, she just ignored it. She forgot that it was from Abah!
œI am so sorry Along! I promise that I will take care of this present! Nur hugged Along tightly. She cried like crazy and Along just let her cry to let out all the emotion.
One evening, Along was having tea with Mak. Nur silently heard their conversations back from the door.
œMak, you should do the operation. Your neck is getting worse, I am so worried for you, Mak. Along said rather worried. Mak just smiled calmly.
œNothing to worry about. We must settle your fathers debt. It is more important than my operation. Mak answered Along’s question and poured tea in his glass.
œO Allah, Mak was sick and I really do not have any idea about it? What is it O Allah? Nur was pondering and at the same time she really wanted to cry when she knew about it.
Along was silent. Mak was such a stubborn woman. Every single money that she and Along earned, Mak will prioritise it to pay off Abahs debt. She said that she did not want to burden Abahs soul in the after-world. If she was not around, she was worried that her son had to pay for it. Mak said that it was her job to pay for it and was always mad when Along pushed too hard on working part-time job.
That night, Nur cried heavily. She was so angry with herself because she had become so selfish and did not care of their sacrifices towards their family.
œO Allah, I really need my mum more than the new shoes. I really need Along more than other things in this worldly life. They are my priority. Please help and ease them, O Allah! Nur prayed to Allah and ask for His forgiveness.
From that moment, Nur made a promise to herself to study hard and get a better life to help them from this hardship of this world especially to find enough money for Maks operation.
œMak and Along. Now, I understand. All the things in this world has its own reasons. Forgive me! Nur promised herself to give her best for the sake of her family.
That was the story two years ago. Now, Nur is studying Tourism Planning and Hospitality Management at this beautiful International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), under the sponsorship of one private scholarship at her state. She looked back at her ‘old-but-gold shoes’ that had been a beautiful present from Abah and she smiled. Nur still uses the pair of shoes until today to bring along the spirit from Abah with her and she really wants to study hard and succeed in her own life to help her little beloved family. She promised to make them the happiest people in the world, Insya Allah!***
Photo credited to ****