At the place I stay now, there is this car wash service provider, which is being taken care by an Indian dude.
His name is Selvam and I know him a few years ago, when I was still staying at the condo next door, where he used to wash car downstairs, before he was promoted to man this new “stall” at the place I’m staying now.
Sometimes, when I drop my car at his place, we used to chat a bit as he can speak quite a fair bit of Malay.
Throughout conversation, I know him a little bit more and found out he has been working here since many years ago, in which he was being cheated to be a technician (or wireman) in Malaysia with a promise of better pay.
While he earns meager pay, majority of his earning is couriered back to his hometown in India, and in the end of the day, that leave him with little money to foot for his weekly mamak meal nearby the area.
Albeit the unfortunate incident (i.e. being cheated), he is quite optimistic and working hard to achieve where he is now, being trusted by the owner to take care of the place, where he is in charge of everything – from very hands-on labor work till to putting in the cash by end of the month, after deducting his own salary and related necessary expenses, which is good enough to show his level of integrity.
I’m quite compassionate with this young man, working hard to earn a living.
This morning, when I was about to leave for office, that’s when I realized that I left house keys in the car. No spare keys, my wife’s office is not around the area, those I know staying around have left and more importantly, I’ve a few important meetings to attend with clients today!
That’s when I thought of Selvam and the rest, as they say, it’s history.
The incident made me think hard and those who know me well do know I can be quite talkative, and for whatever reason, sometimes, I find myself talking to guards, maids, cleaning workers, hawker stall owners, etc. etc.
Most of the time, friends would be wondering why am I talking to them, not like they’re able to offer me anything or can be great help in the future, as they’re mostly labeled under the “cheap labor” category?
To be honest, I don’t have a clue for them, however, based on my encounter today, I think it’s good enough to explain why.
The moral of the story – Don’t ever underestimate people around you, show them equal respect as everyone else deserves, be nice to them regardless of the social standing and you’ll never know that, in the end of the day, it’s those people that you normally ignore would be the one who lend you a hand when you ever need one.
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Err…your story seems lacking the ending woh, so what’s the ending?? He “borrows” you a washing-in-progress BMW to go to work?
Good post. Most people often do not notice the “ordinary” people around them. They only have eyes for people with titles and qualification.
It’s these ordinary people that make the world tick. Imagine not having the rubbish man to pick up the thrash, the workers to sweep the streets and clear the drains. What about if bus/taxi drivers were to go on strike, the world that we live in will turn chaotic.
i got gone thru a lot of blogs and article at many blogsite, this is the one truly inspired me, nice article to educate people nowadays to treats other people equally for good.
way to go SK
“Everybody comes from the same source. If you hate another human being, you’re hating part of yourself.”
Elvis Presley, American rock ‘n’ roll icon (1935-1977)
Steve – I was stuck at home, can’t even move!
He came up to my house, I gave him the car key and he helped to retrieve the house keys for me. :)
this is a shit story. LOL wtf the car wash dude has to do with u missing the key?
this is a tergantung story…I think you need to edit this story…you missed out the climax!