Hazia’s Reflections

I’m penning down my third entry for the day, all long ones too, hehe… This one is on the Indian driver of the taxi that I took to the clinic just now. He wished me good afternoon and said I was lucky to be his first customer, not just for today but he had been off work for 37 days.

Apparently, he was hospitalised at GH for heart problems and surgery, something to do with bleeding and clogged vessels, etc. He was both diabetic and had high blood pressure. His left arm (the joint) was swollen like half of a tennis ball. When he scratched his arms, white lines appeared and won’t go off, he said it showed lack of blood circulation.

He couldn’t afford IJN. He said he wrote a letter to GH. They interviewed him and agreed to charge him RM3000 only for the whole thing. He had to pay RM700 upon registration. The balance was due in 2 months time.

He just got discharged at 10am this morning and was supposed to rest for 2 weeks. He wanted to take his family back to his parents house in Temerloh. However, when he got home, he found out that his wife and 5 kids had been surviving on bread and Maggi mee for a week already. A pack of Maggi was shared by 2 people. He had only been married for 11 years but he had 2 pair of twins (a son, twin son and daughter, twin daughters). His wife couldn’t go to work because the younger twins were only 1 year old.

He was disappointed that none of his friends or family members (the higher income ones) came forward to help his family while he was away. He called them up this morning to borrow some money to buy rice and grocery but they said they had no money, he had to wait till end of the month. Now, he knew who his friends were.

There was no other solution. He had to start work straight away, saying that he promised his children they’d have rice today. He couldn’t rent a cab, he had to pay RM50 for rental. So, he managed to convinced his friend to lent his cab for a few hours.

The guy was only 37 and he had been diabetic since he was 24. He said to tell my diabetic brother to never be careless with his medication, the effect could be serious. His mother passed away in her 40s due to kidney failure from diabetic, she hailed from India and married young. He was the only child.

He had to work 7 days a week, 14 hours a day but he could earn RM2000 to RM2500 a month, enough to support his family. He couldn’t work with an employer because he was a sick man, had to take MC, had to go for check-up, it was difficult. If he worked on his own, he didn’t have to be scared of anyone.

He couldn’t even afford the bus tickets to take his family back to Temerloh. His wife couldn’t drive. He was in pain, he was also worried that he might faint. I asked him to park somewhere and rest after sending me but he said he’d rather take a few more passengers and then go home and rest for good.

I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I might be poorer due to that crooked doctor, but I was still doing much better than him. So, I gave him an RM50 bill (my fare was RM11.50). He acted surprised, but I knew he wasn’t. Anyway, if he was telling the truth, that RM38.50 could take him somewhere. It sure wouldn’t take me anywhere.

Another thing to be thankful for. It did make me feel much better:)