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My mom has always enjoyed visiting her relatives and friends in her later years. "Being connected keeps you alive," she often says.
The other day, she asked me to drop her off at Transfer Road, Penang. After a series of phone calls to those she holds dear, it was time for her to visit them in person for a good, old-fashioned bonding session. As her ever-faithful chauffeur, I agreed.
After spending the day with her relatives, mom decided on a whim to visit one of her old classmates who lived nearby. They had spoken many times on the phone, but it had been years since they had seen each other face-to-face.
When mom knocked on the door, she was hoping to surprise her friend, Salmah. But instead of Salmah, a stranger answered.
"Is Salmah home? I'm Nisha, her old classmate," Mom asked.
The woman, Latifah, smiled and told mom that Salmah wasn't home yet.
"Please, come in. I’ll make you some Milo while you wait," Latifah invited warmly.
Mom hesitated, not wanting to impose. It was getting late, and she didn’t want to be a bother.
When she began to leave, Latifah gently took her hand.
"Please come in, I insist. My sister will be back soon, and you can wait inside."
Mom’s heart was touched by Latifah’s kindness. She stepped into the modest, almost empty house.
"You know, Kak Nisha, I used to watch you and my sister go to school together. I was 3 years younger than both of you," Latifah began, sharing memories from their youth.
As they reminisced, the small house filled with laughter and warmth.
"Let me make you some Milo," Latifah offered again after a while.
Mom, not wanting to trouble her, politely declined, claiming she wasn’t thirsty.
But Latifah persisted, "You know how happy you make me just by talking to me? Please, have a cup of Milo and make me even happier." She lightly brushed her hand.
Mom smiled, touched by her sincerity, and agreed.
"Come, follow me to the kitchen," Latifah said, leading her in. She quickly rinsed a porcelain cup with hot water and handed it to mom.
"Here's a spoon. I don’t know how many spoons of Milo you'd like. Don’t be shy—I have one full tin of Milo!" she said, her face beaming.
Mom couldn’t help but smile at her childlike enthusiasm.
"What do you do?" mom asked, stirring her Milo.
"I didn’t study much, so I’ve worked at small places. I’ve cleaned fish in factories, and now I arrange books in a bookstore. That’s what happens when you don’t study hard," Latifah laughed softly.
"Do you have a family?" Mom asked, trying to recall.
"No, nobody wanted me. So, I’m just growing old with my sister in our father's house. But I’m happy. I have everything I need here," she replied with a contented smile.
Mom sipped her Milo, feeling a warm sense of connection.
"Would you like some Roti Benggali? I made some fish curry the other day. There’s no fish left, but the curry would go well with the bread," Latifah said as she quickly moved to pour the curry into a bowl before mom could answer.
About half an hour later, mom stood to leave, thanking Latifah for her kindness and hospitality.
"When my sister comes home, I’ll tell her you stopped by. If you’re ever on the island again, please come by."
Mom left Latifah’s house feeling loved and full of warmth. That evening, on our way home, mom shared the story.
"You know, the best people are the ones who want to share whatever they have with you, even if they don’t have much. They’re not selfish or calculating. They just know how to love, and that’s what makes them so special. I can’t explain how, but I felt so much love in that little house."
Her words reminded me of my late grandmother, who always cooked more than enough food just in case someone showed up hungry. She never let anyone leave her house without a meal, believing it was a blessing to feed others with whatever we had.
Like Latifah, my grandmother wasn’t wealthy. She ran a small appam shop from her little kitchen in an old, rented house on Halfway Road in Penang.
In my life, I’ve met many people like Latifah—people who give what little they have to help others. They come from different walks of life and practice different faiths, but their kindness is always the same. They bless others with whatever they have, knowing that it’s a blessing to be able to help.
People like Latifah remind me that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness are the ones that touch our hearts the most. In a world that often seems so busy and detached, it’s the simple, genuine gestures that make all the difference. And for that, I’m thankful—thankful for the Latifahs of the world who still believe in the power of love, even in its most humble form.
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