Definitely an eye and and also heart opener.
One morning, I was RUSHing to work (I am always rushing because I let the snooze button take over my life). Took my usual route - NPE towards KL. Reached the toll area and sped to the touch n go lane. An old mercedes was infront of me. In it, were two old couple - I know they were old because I can see from their rear windscreen. The husband (I assume) who was the driver, was struggling to find their touch n go card. I could see the both of them rummaging through the front of the car trying to locate the card.
They were taking too long. I was antsy. I almost honked at them, but I didn't, because they were elderly, and I was afraid I'll shock their already weak hearts...or did I? If I did it was just a soft honk. Then, these words came out of my mouth -
"old people should not leave home too early in the morning when people are rushing to work"
God. How awful did I sound, right? But I meant it in a good way, in that, they should spend early mornings in bed, or jogging/brisk walking or taichi or whatever. Because the road is just not a nice place during rush hour. But, I know, however good my intentions were when I uttered those words, it was still VERY unpleasant of me.
FINALLY, they found the touch n go card and swiped it at the card reader, and off they went. So it was finally my turn, touch n go card ready in my hand, screen already down, and I swiped my card on the reader before the barrier that opened up for the old couple went down completely. Usually, that would not have been a problem, people do it all the time, swiping their cards before the barrier went down completely, especially in smart tag lanes. The barrier would just bounce back up.
So, I swiped my card, and heard a soft and short "beep", but it wasn't the usual "beep" that you'll hear once your card is validated. The barrier didn't bounce up back as it would usually, instead it went down completely, and the prompter said "SELAMAT DATANG". HUH? I thought probably I didn't swipe it rightly. By that time, my car has already passed the reader, because once I swiped the card I didn't wait for the barrier to bounce up, thinking that it would, like always. So, I had to reverse my car so I can swipe again.
There was a car behind me and as I was reversing, the guy in the car behind honked at me! WTF. "Sabar la wey" I said. Then I swiped my card again. The prompter then said "KAD TIDAK SAH". Double WTF!
I am pretty sure my card still has balance, and it would have said "BAKI TIDAK CUKUP". Instead it said "KAD TIDAK SAH". Of course by then a few cars had lined up behind me. Some impatient cars started honking. Then a toll-staff came and said, I had to pay cash. Paid her RM1.60. She swiped her card and the barrier came up. Off I went, still confused on why my card was invalid.
I was not satisfied, so at the next toll, I went to the cash-lane, but, opted to try the touch n go reader that it also had (some toll operators have t n g readers at their cash lanes), just to confirm whether there is actually something wrong with the card. If it was still invalid, I could just pay cash and not cause a que like I would if I am trying my luck at the touch n go lane, right? So, I swiped my card at the reader, and guess what? It was FINE. The barrier came up as usual. Nothing was wrong with my card. And the whole day and days after that, my card was perfectly fine, even at the same toll which declared it invalid that fateful morning.
It got me thinking. Was it KARMA?
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"Keredhaan Allah bergantung kepada keredhaan ibu bapa dan kemurkaan Allah bergantung kepada kemurkaan ibu bapa"
"Dan Tuhanmu telah memerintahkan supaya kamu jangan menyembah melainkan kepada-Nya dan hendaklah kamu berbuat baik pada ibubapamu dengan sebaik-baiknya. Jika salah seorang di antara keduanya atau kedua-duanya sampai berumur lanjut dalam pemeliharaanmu, maka sekali-kali janganlah kamu mengatakan kepada keduanya perkataan "ah" dan janganlah kamu membentak mereka dan ucapkanlah kepada mereka perkataan yang mulia."
p/s: I guess this applies to other people's parents as well. Treat the elders nicely. They are precious human beings. Don't be selfish and impatient. Sabar separuh daripada iman.
