M'sian City Life #18: My Mother's Day Could've Ended Differently If Not For This Man
"I just smiled in embarrassment for doubting him."
By Tang Ruxyn — 23 May 2016, 08:40 PM
"Oi, what happened?! Why can't (you) start (your car)?"
Those were the first few words a man uttered to a family who was stranded on the road, on a wet and cold night in Klang Valley.
Nisha Ann Arumugam together with her husband and their two children were on their way back to Klang after celebrating Mother's Day on 8 May.
As they were approaching a Petron petrol station at Sunway, their car suddenly broke down and they weren't able to start it.
Two Indian men who were filling up their tanks nearby, came to push their car aside and tried to jump start the car. For about 20 minutes, they did everything they can to get the car running but nothing worked.
It was then, that Nisha heard a middle-aged Chinese man who shouted at them, asking why they couldn't start their car.
Having their car break down after such a pleasant evening with her family was unfortunate, but what made Nisha even more agitated was this stranger who was shouting at them
"I was really upset since he was too loud and rude," the 36-year-old said.
She ignored him. However, the man was persistent.
"I didn't answer at first but he shouted again and forced me to answer, 'I don't know!'," Nisha recalled.
The man went to fill up his car with petrol. Nisha was about to call the car towing service, when the man came over and parked his car right beside theirs.
"The man started to jump start our car while his wife was waiting patiently inside his car," Nisha said.
After about 10 minutes, their attempts to revive the car seemed to be successful as they managed to get the engine going.
Thankful for the help, Nisha and her family quickly extended their deepest gratitude to the man for assisting them at that odd hour.
"I just smiled in embarrassment for doubting him."
Just as they were departing from the place, the car's engine suddenly died again
The man, who was on his way back, saw what happened and quickly made a U-turn. He came to Nisha's family for the second time, offering his assistance once again.
Meanwhile, Nisha was clouded with worries as she saw how the rain continued pouring and thought about the possibilities of the car breaking down in the middle of the highway.
She was relieved for a moment, as the man managed to get the car up and running again.
However, this time, the man requested the permission to follow Nisha and her family back by driving his car behind them.
"He was staying somewhere around Sunway, yet he followed us up to Jalan Kebun in Klang, just to make sure that we are safe!"
"I've learned not to judge people by their first look."
Thinking about the incident that day, Nisha is extremely grateful for the help that was extended to her by the strangers she met.
"To the two anne (elder brother in Tamil), thank you."
"WMH 3850. A blue Proton Iswara sedan. To Chinese gentleman, whoever you are, thanks a million!"
Nisha believes that the rain that night, that came at a time when Malaysia is enveloped in heat, was rather symbolic.
"It was raining because people like them still exist."
Living in the city ain’t a piece of cake but it could also be exciting and adventurous. How are you coping? How are you making the best out of things? Do you have a story or experience to share?
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